Debian sarge on Asus M2400-N
Hello,
please find below my experience of installing Debian sarge on an Asus
M2400-N laptop.
Comments/corrections/additions are as always most welcome (cc: me, since
I'm not subscribed to the list)
Thanks to all, who have shared their experience before. Without you, I
would still be trying.
Cheers,
Erich
**** Debian GNU/Linux (sarge) on Asus M2400N ****
===============================================================================
** Change history: **
2004-02-12 initial document
2004-02-22 added note: acpi/powernowd working, xfree86 4.3 moved to unstable
===============================================================================
** Links **
Debian installer cd images gluck.debian.org/cdimage/testing/
Debian Homepage www.debian.org
Debian installer devel site www.debian.org/devel/debian-installer/
Suspend to Disk patchesswsusp.sourceforge.net
Most importantly check www.tuxmobil.org and references therein.
site of the original synaptics package
Also check out linux-on-laptops.com and references therein
===============================================================================
** Overview **
I used a non-official install-cd image of the new debian-installer with xfs
support (not yet included in official image). So / is a xfs filesystem in /dev/
hda3 (4GB), grub bootloader is installed in the MasterBootRecord, I installed
kernel 2.4.24 initially and 2.6.2 soon thereafter. The -i386 kernels work, the
-686 did lock up during boot.
The AmiBios version is 0206.
_____________________________________________________________________________
|feature___________|description__________|works________|comment_______________|
| |intel pentium m | | |
|cpu |centrino 0.6 ... 1.4 |ok |with -386 stock kernel|
|__________________|GHz__________________|_____________|______________________|
|memory____________|256+512_MB_(upgrade)_|ok.__________|______________________|
|acpi | |ok |needs boot options and|
|__________________|_____________________|_____________|modules_______________|
|graphics chip |onboard intel i810/ |ok |needs XFree86 4.3 |
|__________________|855GM________________|_____________|______________________|
|display___________|1024x768_____________|ok___________|______________________|
|touchpad__________|synaptics____________|ok___________|package_tpconfig______|
|external_usb_mouse|_____________________|ok___________|needs_modules_________|
|disk______________|40_GB_Toshiba________|ok___________|______________________|
| | | |as with all centrino |
| | | |chips, this needs |
| | | |ndiswrapper and the |
| | | |Windows drivers, or |
|wireless lan | |haven't tried|the drivers by |
| | | |linuxant.com (cost |
| | | |some money). Or |
| | | |someday Intel will |
| | | |publish native linux |
|__________________|_____________________|_____________|drivers,_maybe._______|
|ethernet__________|10/100_Mbit/sec______|ok___________|module_8139too________|
|dvd-rom___________|_____________________|not_tested___|______________________|
| | | |needs module ide-scsi |
|cd-rom/r/rw |Toshiba |ok |with 2.4, ide-cd with |
|__________________|_____________________|_____________|2.6_kernel____________|
|pcmcia | |ok |needs module |
|__________________|_____________________|_____________|yenta_socket__________|
|usb |2 ports usb 2.0 |ok |tested with memory |
|__________________|_____________________|_____________|stick_and_usb-storage_|
|firewire__________|_____________________|not_tested___|modules_load_ok.______|
|sound |ac97 compatible |ok |OSS: i810_audio |
|__________________|_____________________|_____________|module,_ALSA:_to_do___|
|parport___________|_____________________|not_tested___|modules_load_ok_______|
|IrDA | |not tested |modules load ok, |
|__________________|_____________________|_____________|daemon_starts_ok,_too_|
|external_display__|_____________________|not_tested___|______________________|
|Function Keys |Fn-5,6 change display|ok |/proc/acpi/events |
|__________________|brightness___________|_____________|works,_no_hacking_____|
|Powerbutton_______|to_shutdown__________|ok___________|with_acpid____________|
|closing lid | |ok |does switch off |
|__________________|_____________________|_____________|display_______________|
|suspend_to_ram____|_____________________|not_tested___|______________________|
| | | |apparently needs |
|suspend to disk | |not tested |kernel patches |
|__________________|_____________________|_____________|(swsusp)______________|
===============================================================================
** Initial Installation **
I used an unofficial image of the new debian-installer in a variant including
the xfs filesystem. I installed a minimal sarge system (did not run tasksel,
did not install X) with bootloader "grub" installed into MBR (master boot
record). I'm not going into details here, since the new debian-installer is
still under heavy development.
Alternatively, install a woody minimal system, edit /etc/apt/sources.list to
point to "testing" (currently same as "sarge"), and "apt-get update", "apt-get
dist-upgrade" should get you to a working "sarge" system as well.
The network works out of the box (module 8139too) and is assumed functional for
the rest of this article.
Edit /boot/grub/menu.lst to add vga=791 for more characters on the display.
< # kopt=root=/dev/hda3 ro
---
> # kopt=root=/dev/hda3 ro vga=791
run update-grub to activate these settings.
Install hdparm and run hdparm /dev/hda to check that DMA is enabled. hdparm -
t /dev/hda does timed disk writes. The resulting rate should be larger than 20
MB/sec.
pallas:~# hdparm /dev/hda
/dev/hda:
multcount = 16 (on)
IO_support = 3 (32-bit w/sync)
unmaskirq = 0 (off)
using_dma = 1 (on)
keepsettings = 0 (off)
readonly = 0 (off)
readahead = 256 (on)
geometry = 65535/16/63, sectors = 78140160, start = 0
pallas:~# hdparm -t /dev/hda
/dev/hda:
Timing buffered disk reads: 82 MB in 3.05 seconds = 26.91 MB/sec
Neccessary changes can be made on the command line but will be lost during
reboot. To make changes persistent over boot, add the settings to /etc/
hdparm.conf
/dev/hda {
mult_sect_io = 16
io32_support = 1
dma = on
}
===============================================================================
** Make ACPI work **
Add the following acpi boot parameters into /boot/grub/menu.lst like described
above.
acpi=on acpi_irq_balance acpi_irq_isa=3,12
Add the following modules to /etc/modules
acpi ac battery button fan processor thermal
Now reboot. Check that the modules are loaded, check that acpi if functional by
playing with the LEDs on the front side:
echo 1 > /proc/acpi/asus/mled
echo 1 > /proc/acpi/asus/wled
echo 0 > /proc/acpi/asus/mled
echo 0 > /proc/acpi/asus/wled
Install a daemon to control cpu-speed (powernowd, cpufreqd, cpudyn, maybe
more). I selected powernowd. Of course it needs a few more modules to run:
speedstep-centrino cpufreq-powersave cpufreq-userspace
Load them with modprobe -v modulename and add them to /etc/modules. I have not
yet checked, whether powernowd really does something. However, the daemon
starts up without complaints.
Note: (20040222) I found that reading .pdf files with acrobat reader (embedded
in mozilla) will push cpu usage to 100% (xserver process), will increase cpu
frequency to 1400 MHz, and will power up the fan. Even though the cpu
consumption is most probably a bug, it shows that powernowd does it's thing,
and cpu frequency is indeed adjusted.
To make use of the hotkeys and the powerbutton, install acpid. It will listen
to /proc/acpi/event. Match patterns and actions are located in /etc/acpi. The
powerbutton works out of the box and issues a init 0 when called. More examples
are located in /usr/share/doc/acpid/examples.
===============================================================================
** Install Xfree86-4.3 **
I didn't compile Xfree86-4.3. Instead I found that it is available in the
experimental section of the Debian apt repositories. My /etc/apt/sources.list
contains these lines:
deb http://artemis/apt-cacher/ftp.de.debian.org/debian stable main contrib
non-free
deb http://artemis/apt-cacher/ftp.de.debian.org/debian testing main contrib
non-free
deb http://artemis/apt-cacher/ftp.de.debian.org/debian unstable main contrib
non-free
deb http://artemis/apt-cacher/ftp.de.debian.org/debian experimental main
contrib non-free
I also created the file /etc/apt/apt.conf:
APT::Default-Release "testing";
APT::Cache-Limit 10000000;
This marks testing as the preferred release (maybe sarge would be more
appropriate). Now run apt-get update to fetch the latest package lists. To
install a minimal set of Xfree86 run
apt-get -t experimental install mdetect read-edid x-window-system-core xterm
fluxbox
and watch the show. This is what I chose for configuration
subpixel text rendering? yes
autodetect hw ? yes
xkb ruleset xfree86
keyboard model pc105
keyboard layout de
keyboard variant nodeadkeys
keyboard options ctrl:nocaps
mouse detection? yes
mouse /dev/input/mice, ImPS/2
emulate 3 buttons yes
enable scroll events yes
monitor autodetection? yes
LCD device? yes
hsync, vsync leave defaults
modes 1024x768 800x600 640x480
color depth 24
Note that the keyboard layout is pc105 (not pc104). Plug in the external usb
mouse und run startx. It didn't work on the very first attempt, but with the
second :-)
Note: (20040222) xfree86 4.3 has apparently made it into "unstable", so you
should not need the "experimental" section any more for this.
** Make the touchpad work **
I found out that the so called synaptics package (not to be confused with the
apt frontend synaptic) is available prepackaged as tpconfig, not to be confused
with tpconf. So this was a piece of cake.
apt-get install tpconfig
Make sure that the modules
mousedev psmouse usbmouse
are loaded. If you run startx now, the touchpad and its 2 buttons should work.
Note that the middle scroll button does not work (yet) with this package.
===============================================================================
IMHO this is a good place now, to install all the stuff you want, ranging from
anacron, ssh, to kde/gnome/xfce and the like. Just make sure to install the
experimental (or unstable) packages for everything in the Xfree86 region.
===============================================================================
** USB **
The USB mouse worked immediately. I also successfully connected a memory stick
as a scsi device (module usb-storage). Note that the module names are different
between kernel versions 2.4 and 2.6.
===============================================================================
** CD-R/RW writer **
I learned that the use of ide-scsi is deprecated with kernel 2.6. Instead load
ide-cd and use /dev/hdc to access the writer as well. /etc/fstab
/dev/hdc /cdrom iso9660 ro,user,noauto 0 0
Test the CD-writer
mkisofs -o test.iso -R -T -J /etc
cdrecord -v dev=/dev/hdc -blank fast # unless the CD is blank
cdrecord -v dev=/dev/hdc test.iso
mount /cdrom
umount /cdrom
eject
Everything worked well for me. Note that apparently not all CD-RW flavours are
liked.
===============================================================================
** PCMCIA **
The default i82365 driver failed to load, but yenta_socket loads. To make this
change permanent, edit /etc/default/pcmcia accordingly. If there is still an
error message about this during boot, then most probably discover tries to load
i82365. I removed the start link /etc/rcS.d/S36discover. However, I may remove
discover alltogether. While searching for the error I found out, that bootlogd
is disabled and thus no /var/log/boot file is written, which also receives the
error messages during boot. To enable, edit /etc/default/bootlogd
===============================================================================
** Suspend to disk **
If you want this to work, compiling a custom/patched kernel is the road to go.
Check swsusp.sourceforge.net for patches and instructions.
===============================================================================
** Ethernet **
In order to make different network connections easy, there is a number of
packages available: laptop-net, laptop-netconf (which is a different package
and not a configuration front end for the first :), guessnet, divine, netenv,
and probably more. All of them try to accomodate different setups for ethernet
in different locations (home, office, offline, abroad-with-modem, abroad-with-
dsl, and so on).
I have laptop-net at the moment, for no particular reason.
===============================================================================
** Firewire (ieee1394) **
module loads ok (ieee1394). Could not test myself.
===============================================================================
** irda **
installed irda-common and irda-tools. Modules load ok, irattach service starts.
But again, I cannot test.
===============================================================================
** Sound **
OSS works out of the box (modules i810_audio, ac97_codec, soundcore).
ALSA I did not get it to work yet. The modules load ok, alsamixer displays and
I can adjust the volume, xmms (configured to alsa output) will play something
happily (watch the visual spectrum thingy), however: no sound.
Note that the CD-Rom will play AudioCDs even when the notebook is shut down.
Buttons are on the front side.
===============================================================================
** Bottom drawer **
* I found that with modest work the battery will last for more than 6
hours!
* I managed to create a blowfish encrypted /home file system, which is
cryptloop mounted. The key is stored on a USB stick. So it is only
available if the stick is there initially. Maybe its possible to
automatically unmount as well, if the stick is removed. (Linux Magazin
03/2004). The bad news is, it didn't survive the kernel update to 2.6.2 -
it mounts fine with the older 2.6.0 kernel. :-(
* So I'll wait for this to become stable.
Todo:
* test whether the cpu frequency is really adjusted up and down. works ok.
* check whether xfree86 is using framebuffer or not.
* test IrDA connection
* test firewire
* get the middle button on the touchpad to work
* test dvd-rom
* maybe get WLAN to work, I don't need it so far
* make ALSA sound work properly
* make software suspend work properly
* make crypto-loop mounted home filesystem again. Make them survive kernel
updates
===============================================================================
** Files: **
* /etc/X11/XF86Config-4
* /etc/modules
* output of lspci
* output of lsmod (kernel 2.6.2)
* p>
=========================================================================
** /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 **
# XF86Config-4 (XFree86 X server configuration file) generated by dexconf, the
# Debian X Configuration tool, using values from the debconf database.
#
# Edit this file with caution, and see the XF86Config-4 manual page.
# (Type "man XF86Config-4" at the shell prompt.)
#
# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xfree86 package upgrades *only*
# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xfree86
# package.
#
# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated
# again, run the following commands as root:
#
# cp /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 /etc/X11/XF86Config-4.custom
# md5sum /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 > /var/lib/xfree86/XF86Config-4.md5sum
# dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xfree86
Section "Files"
FontPath "unix/:7100" # local font server
# if the local font server has problems, we can fall back on these
FontPath "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/Type1"
FontPath "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/CID"
FontPath "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/Speedo"
FontPath "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/misc"
FontPath "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/cyrillic"
FontPath "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi"
FontPath "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi"
EndSection
Section "Module"
Load "GLcore"
Load "bitmap"
Load "dbe"
Load "ddc"
Load "dri"
Load "extmod"
Load "freetype"
Load "glx"
Load "int10"
Load "record"
Load "speedo"
Load "type1"
Load "vbe"
EndSection
Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
Driver "keyboard"
Option "CoreKeyboard"
Option "XkbRules" "xfree86"
Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
Option "XkbLayout" "de"
Option "XkbVariant" "nodeadkeys"
Option "XkbOptions" "ctrl:nocaps"
EndSection
Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Configured Mouse"
Driver "mouse"
Option "CorePointer"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
Option "Protocol" "PS/2"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "true"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection
Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Generic Mouse"
Driver "mouse"
Option "SendCoreEvents" "true"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
Option "Protocol" "ImPS/2"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "true"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection
Section "Device"
Identifier "Intel Corporation 82852/855GM Integrated Graphics Device"
Driver "i810"
BusID "PCI:0:2:0"
VideoRam 8192
EndSection
Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Generic Monitor"
HorizSync 28-50
VertRefresh 43-75
Option "DPMS"
EndSection
Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Device "Intel Corporation 82852/855GM Integrated Graphics Device"
Monitor "Generic Monitor"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Depth 1
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 4
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 8
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 15
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
EndSection
Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Default Layout"
Screen "Default Screen"
InputDevice "Generic Keyboard"
InputDevice "Configured Mouse"
InputDevice "Generic Mouse"
EndSection
Section "DRI"
Mode 0666
EndSection
===============================================================================
** /etc/modules **
# /etc/modules: kernel modules to load at boot time.
#
# This file should contain the names of kernel modules that are
# to be loaded at boot time, one per line. Comments begin with
# a "#", and everything on the line after them are ignored.
# acpi
asus-acpi
ac
battery
button
fan
processor
thermal
# powernowd (speedstep)
speedstep-centrino
cpufreq-powersave
#proc_intf
cpufreq-userspace
# mouse/touchpad
mousedev
psmouse
# ethernet
8139too
#pppoe
# usb
uhci-hcd
ehci-hcd
usbmouse
usbkbd
usb-storage
# ieee1394 firewire
ieee1394
# cd-rom/r/rw
ide-cd
#ide-detect
===============================================================================
** output of lspci **
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corp. 82852/855GM Host Bridge (rev 02)
00:00.1 System peripheral: Intel Corp.: Unknown device 3584 (rev 02)
00:00.3 System peripheral: Intel Corp.: Unknown device 3585 (rev 02)
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corp. 82852/855GM Integrated Graphics
Device (rev 02)
00:02.1 Display controller: Intel Corp. 82852/855GM Integrated Graphics Device
(rev 02)
00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corp. 82801DB USB (Hub #1) (rev 03)
00:1d.1 USB Controller: Intel Corp. 82801DB USB (Hub #2) (rev 03)
00:1d.2 USB Controller: Intel Corp. 82801DB USB (Hub #3) (rev 03)
00:1d.7 USB Controller: Intel Corp. 82801DB USB2 (rev 03)
00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corp. 82801BAM/CAM PCI Bridge (rev 83)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corp. 82801DBM LPC Interface Controller (rev 03)
00:1f.1 IDE interface: Intel Corp. 82801DBM Ultra ATA Storage Controller (rev
03)
00:1f.5 Multimedia audio controller: Intel Corp. 82801DB AC'97 Audio Controller
(rev 03)
00:1f.6 Modem: Intel Corp. 82801DB AC'97 Modem Controller (rev 03)
01:03.0 CardBus bridge: Ricoh Co Ltd RL5c476 II (rev a9)
01:03.1 CardBus bridge: Ricoh Co Ltd RL5c476 II (rev a9)
01:03.2 FireWire (IEEE 1394): Ricoh Co Ltd R5C552 IEEE 1394 Controller (rev 01)
01:04.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL-8139/8139C/
8139C+ (rev 10)
01:05.0 Network controller: Intel Corp. PRO/Wireless LAN 2100 3B Mini PCI
Adapter (rev 04)
===============================================================================
** output of lsmod (kernel 2.6.2) **
Module Size Used by
snd_pcm_oss 47268 0
snd_mixer_oss 15872 1 snd_pcm_oss
agpgart 29608 0
md5 3968 1
ipv6 222144 8
ds 15108 4
yenta_socket 15488 0
pcmcia_core 60512 2 ds,yenta_socket
irda 171968 2
snd_intel8x0 28932 0
snd_ac97_codec 45956 1 snd_intel8x0
snd_pcm 87460 2 snd_pcm_oss,snd_intel8x0
snd_timer 22916 1 snd_pcm
snd_page_alloc 11140 2 snd_intel8x0,snd_pcm
snd_mpu401_uart 7040 1 snd_intel8x0
snd_rawmidi 22688 1 snd_mpu401_uart
snd_seq_device 7816 1 snd_rawmidi
snd 46820 9
snd_pcm_oss,snd_mixer_oss,snd_intel8x0,snd_ac97_codec,snd_pcm,snd_timer,snd_mpu401_uart,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq_device
soundcore 9696 1 snd
af_packet 20360 0
ipt_state 2048 2
iptable_mangle 2816 0
iptable_nat 21676 0
ip_conntrack 30128 2 ipt_state,iptable_nat
iptable_filter 2944 1
ip_tables 16384 4
ipt_state,iptable_mangle,iptable_nat,iptable_filter
dm_mod 35104 0
ide_cd 37508 0
cdrom 34464 1 ide_cd
ieee1394 73392 0
usb_storage 58304 0
usbkbd 6784 0
usbmouse 5376 0
ehci_hcd 22404 0
uhci_hcd 29456 0
usbcore 98396 7 usb_storage,usbkbd,usbmouse,ehci_hcd,uhci_hcd
8139too 22528 0
mii 4864 1 8139too
crc32 4608 1 8139too
psmouse 17160 0
mousedev 9684 2
cpufreq_userspace 5796 2
cpufreq_powersave 1920 0
speedstep_centrino 4868 0
freq_table 4356 1 speedstep_centrino
thermal 13456 0
processor 14372 1 thermal
fan 4236 0
button 6296 0
battery 9612 0
ac 5132 0
asus_acpi 10264 0
rtc 11960 0
xfs 516152 3
jfs 156668 0
reiserfs 197488 0
isofs 32184 0
ext3 103720 0
jbd 54168 1 ext3
sd_mod 15520 0
ata_piix 7684 0
libata 35840 1 ata_piix,[permanent]
scsi_mod 109112 3 usb_storage,sd_mod,libata
ide_disk 15872 5
ide_detect 1408 0
piix 11680 1 [unsafe]
ide_core 144792 5 ide_cd,usb_storage,ide_disk,ide_detect,piix
unix 25520 192
fbcon 26176 0
font 8576 1 fbcon
vesafb 5452 1
cfbcopyarea 3968 1 vesafb
cfbimgblt 3328 1 vesafb
cfbfillrect 3712 1 vesafb
===============================================================================
page created with Emacs
by Erich Wlde
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