Hardware Compatibility List
Encyclopedia
A hardware compatibility list (HCL) is a list of computer hardware
(typically including many types of peripheral
devices) that is compatible with a particular operating system
or device management software. In today's world, there is a vast amount of computer hardware in circulation, and many operating systems too. A hardware compatibility list is a database of hardware models and their compatibility with a certain operating system.
HCLs can be centrally controlled (one person or team keeps the list of hardware maintained) or user-driven (users submit reviews on hardware they have used).
There are many HCLs. Usually, each operating system will have an official HCL on its website.
Computer hardware
Personal computer hardware are component devices which are typically installed into or peripheral to a computer case to create a personal computer upon which system software is installed including a firmware interface such as a BIOS and an operating system which supports application software that...
(typically including many types of peripheral
Peripheral
A peripheral is a device attached to a host computer, but not part of it, and is more or less dependent on the host. It expands the host's capabilities, but does not form part of the core computer architecture....
devices) that is compatible with a particular operating system
Operating system
An operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system...
or device management software. In today's world, there is a vast amount of computer hardware in circulation, and many operating systems too. A hardware compatibility list is a database of hardware models and their compatibility with a certain operating system.
HCLs can be centrally controlled (one person or team keeps the list of hardware maintained) or user-driven (users submit reviews on hardware they have used).
There are many HCLs. Usually, each operating system will have an official HCL on its website.
Examples of HCLs
- Microsoft WindowsMicrosoft WindowsMicrosoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
: http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/hcl/ - Ubuntu Linux: http://www.ubuntuhcl.org/
- Red Hat LinuxRed Hat LinuxRed Hat Linux, assembled by the company Red Hat, was a popular Linux based operating system until its discontinuation in 2004.Red Hat Linux 1.0 was released on November 3, 1994...
http://hardware.redhat.com/hcl/ - Other Linux distributions: http://www.linuxquestions.org/hcl
- Solaris: http://sun.com/solaris/hcl
- openSUSE HCL
- Mandriva
- ArchLinux