USB to serial dongle for Linux

[tbenner_forums]

An associate has a laptop running Linux. The computer has 4 USB ports and she needs a serial output. She purchased a dongle at Radio Shack and she doesn't think she needs a device driver. I've been telling her that from my experience with Windows, you need to have a device driver on the computer to create the virtual serial ports.
My questions are:
> Is is possible to use one of these dongles on a laptop without a device driver?
> Can anyone recommend a USB/serial dongle which has a device driver for Linux?

Thanks!

[Tim]

[ltx71cm]

There are exceptions (namely non-integrated graphics and the like) but most drivers in Linux are built into the kernel or kernel modules. Common Linux distributions like Ubuntu have great OOB hardware support. The more common the device the more likely the driver is already available. I'd be surprised if her USB to serial adapter didn't just work. It will most likely appear as /dev/ttyUSB0

[Rodney]

That is one of the many nice things about Ubuntu, most devices are already covered with no need to search for drivers etc.