HARDWARE Dell Inspiron 8100

From Gentoo Linux Wiki

HOWTO: A Complete Setup on the Dell Inspiron 8100 Laptop

From: http://vergil.chemistry.gatech.edu/~park/dell.html . This document has since been removed so I am recreating it here. I will clean this up. For now it is a bit out of date so consider it ~.

[edit] Introductory Material

• Download burn the Gentoo Linux (i686) 0ISO.
• Follow the Preliminary Steps in the handbook for partitioning information. NOTE: You only need to do this if you plan on installing Windows 2000/XP before Gentoo. Here is my partition table for the curious:

    Disk /dev/hda: 255 heads, 63 sectors, 3890 cylinders 

    Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 bytes


    Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System

    /dev/hda1 1 13 104391 83 Linux

    /dev/hda2 * 14 1033 8193150 7 HPFS/NTFS

    /dev/hda3 1034 1164 1052257+ 82 Linux swap

    /dev/hda4 1165 3890 21896595 5 Extended

    /dev/hda5 1165 2184 8193118+ 83 Linux

    /dev/hda6 2185 3890 13703413+ 83 Linux

• Install Windows 2000/XP now if you wish to dual boot (this can be done at a later time as noted above).
• Insert the Gentoo CD and reboot.

[edit] Pre-Stage1 Installation

1. Note: nano -w should be used as your text editor temporarily until you can emerge your favorite editor. 2. Press enter at the boot: prompt. 3. Press enter through the keymap and the PCI autodetection. 4. Load the NIC driver: modprobe eepro100 5. Load the PCMCIA stuff:

insmod pcmcia_core
insmod i82365
insmod ds
 

Remove the 0x800-0x8ff line via nano -w /etc/pcmcia/config.opts. Insert your PCMCIA cards and then run cardmgr -f. 6. If you use DHCP, simply run dhcpcd eth0 or whatever ethernet interface you need. For static setups:

    /sbin/ifconfig eth0 192.168.1.101 netmask 255.255.255.0
    /sbin/route add -net default gw 192.168.1.1 netmask 0.0.0.0 metric 1

Be sure to use your own correct IP address! Now modify resolv.conf:

domain mydomain.com
nameserver 10.0.0.1
nameserver 10.0.0.2
 

Again, make sure your domain and nameserver lines match your configuration. 7. If you haven't already setup your partitions, now is the time to do so via fdisk. See above for an example partition table. I'm using ext3 for my linux partitions; you can use SGI's XFS or ReiserFS if you wish. Make the /dev/hda1 be the /boot partition. 8. Now initialize your partitions (I'll use my partition table as an example):

mkswap /dev/hda3
mke2fs -j /dev/hda1
mke2fs -j /dev/hda5
mke2fs -j /dev/hda6
tune2fs -i 0 -c 0 /dev/hda1
tune2fs -i 0 -c 0 /dev/hda5
tune2fs -i 0 -c 0 /dev/hda6
swapon /dev/hda3
 

Now we make mountpoints and mount the partitions:

mkdir /mnt/gentoo
mount /dev/hda5 /mnt/gentoo
mkdir /mnt/gentoo/boot
mount /dev/hda1 /mnt/gentoo/boot
 

[edit] Stage1->3 Installation

1. Using the Stage1 or Stage2 tarball is not recommended, instead you should go straight for the Stage3 tarball unless you really feel like bootstrapping or emerge'ing your system. 2. To unpack Stage3:

cd /mnt/gentoo
tar -xvjpf /mnt/cdrom/stage3-i686.tar.tbz2
mount none /proc /mnt/gentoo/proc
cp /etc/resolv.conf /mnt/gentoo/etc/resolv.conf
chroot /mnt/gentoo /bin/bash
env-update
source /etc/profile
emerge rsync
 

The last line downloads the Portage tree (~10MB), it's not necessary but recommended.

[edit] Post Stage 3 Installation

1. Set your correct timezone from /usr/share/zoneinfo:

    ln -sf /usr/share/zoneinfo/EST5EDT /etc/localtime

The above sets Eastern Standard Time. Use your appropriate timezone. 2. Time to compile the kernel:

    emerge sys-kernel/gentoo-sources
    cd /usr/src/linux
    make menuconfig

Make sure Dell Laptop Support, APM, devfs, ext3, eepro100 are selected. Take time to look through the options and select the correct ones, alternatively you can use my custom kernel config (Debian users, do not use this config file!) [ config-2.4.19-gentoo-r7 ] 3. Compile and install the modules:

    make dep && make clean bzImage modules modules_install
    cp /usr/src/linux/arch/i386/boot/bzImage /boot/kernel-2.4.19-gentoo-r7

4. Install the system logger and cron package:

    emerge app-admin/metalog
    rc-update add metalog default
    emerge sys-apps/vcron

5. Update your /etc/fstab file to correctly match your partition table (also add the user option to your cdrom line so non-root users can mount cd's). 6. Change the root password via passwd. 7. Update network files: /etc/hostname:

mymachine.mydomain.com

127.0.0.1 localhost
192.168.1.101 mymachine.mydomain.com mymachine

/etc/conf.d/net should be modified similar to how you configured it for Pre-Stage1 Installation, then run:

rc-update add net.eth0 default

8. Finally, it's time to configure grub. Type grub at the prompt and then enter in the grub commands:

    root (hd0,0)
    setup (hd0)
    quit

Now create a grub menu list via /boot/grub/grub.conf:

default 0
timeout 10
splashimage=(hd0,0)/boot/grub/splash.xpm.gz

title=gentoo linux 1.2 (kernel-2.4.19-gentoo-r7)
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/kernel-2.4.19-gentoo-r7 root=/dev/hda5 hdb=ide-scsi

If you are dual-booting to Windows, add:

title=windows
root (hd0,1)
chainloader +1

9. You're done installing the base Gentoo system! Type the following to reboot:

   exit
   cd /
   unmount /mnt/gentoo/boot
   unmount /mnt/gentoo/proc
   unmount /mnt/gentoo
   reboot

10. Run update-modules as soon as your system boots back up.

[edit] Post Installation

1. Add a regular user via: adduser -m username. Add the user into all the groups via usermod -G wheel,audio,cdrom,video,cdrw,users username. 2. We need to emerge a few things to get the Dell Fan and Buttons working:

emerge dev-lang/tcl dev-lang/tk

3. After Tcl/Tk has been compiled, get the i8kutils package.

 emerge i8kutils

4. If you wish to get your Dell Buttons working, see the appropriate Debian section below (you will also need to emerge the aumix package). Then run:

 rc-update add i8k default
 /etc/init.d/i8k start

5. Enable the portmapper for RPC services like NFS:

rc-update add portmap default

6. Fix the pam error with cdwriter, modify /etc/security/console.perms, find the root.cdwriter line, modify to:

<console> 0660 <burner> 0660 root.cdrw

7. Update the /etc/modules.autoload file to contain the following lines (sound will be later):

ide-scsi ieee1394 ohci1394 sbp2

Of course, if you didn't compile the firewire module or SCSI emulation module then the above isn't necessary. 8. Now is time to actually make your system useful. The window manager I will be using is KDE3. If you want to install something else, just emerge it.

[edit] Endless Compiling

1. This is why I said earlier you should do this an hour or two before you go to sleep. It's time to download and "emerge" your system. :) For the curious, emerging my system took 12-13 hours! But the payoff is well worth it. KDE3 feels more responsive than the Debian packaged WindowMaker (due to a variety of factors, i.e. pre-emptive kernel, -10 renicing of X11, and optimizations for the i686 arch). 2. Here is a listing of sources that I emerge'd:

• sys-apps/pcmcia-cs
• sys-apps/apmd
• sys-apps/hdparm
• sys-apps/wireless-tools
• net-misc/openssh
• media-sound/alsa-driver
• media-sound/alsa-utils
• app-editors/vim
• app-editors/emacs
• kde-base/kde
• dev-util/cvs
• net-www/mozilla
• net-www/lynx
• net-www/netscape-flash
• app-office/openoffice-bin
• app-text/acroread
• media-sound/xmms
• media-sound/alsa-xmms
• net-print/gimp-print-cups
• media-gfx/gimp
• media-gfx/imagemagick
• app-cdr/koncd
• net-im/kopete
• media-libs/divx4linux
• media-libs/xline-lib
• media-video/xine-ui
• media-video/xine-dvdnav
• media-video/xine-d4d
• media-video/xine-d5d
• media-video/xine-dmd
• media-gfx/gqview
• x11-themes/mosfet-liquid-widgets
• x11-themes/connectiva-crystal

Make sure you fix the /etc/._cfg000* files and clean old packages! 3. Add hdparm and apmd to your init scripts once everything finishes compiling:

rc-update add hdparm default rc-update add apmd default

[ /etc/conf.d/hdparm ] hda_args="-X69 -d1 -u1" hdc_args="-X69 -d1 -u1"

[edit] XFree86, KDE 3, and nVidia GeForce2 Go

1. It's time to fix the X Server to run with the GeForce2 Go card. Grab the 2802 drivers, not the 2960 drivers! [ nVidia Linux Drivers | NVIDIA_kernel 1.0-2802 | NVIDIA_GLX 1.0-2802 ]

2. Ungzip/tar these files into /usr/local/src and run make in each of the directories, however, it's suggested that you do the APM "hack" now. Read the Advanced Power Management information in the Debian section below. Remember to create the kernel driver first, then the GLX module.

3. Create an XF86Config-4 file using the readme provided with the kernel driver, or use my XF86Config-4 file. [ /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 | apm_i8000.tar.gz ]

4. Note with the above apm_i8000 script, you must modify the resume ifconfig and route lines to properly reflect your IP address settings.

5. Modify /etc/rc.conf to load kdm on startup, find the DISPLAYMANAGER line: DISPLAYMANAGER=kdm

Now, update the startup script:

rc-update add xdm default

6. Before your reboot, get USB and sound working in working order first.

[edit] USB Setup

1. USB should be working with a correctly compiled kernel, to mount the usbdevfs add to your /etc/fstab:

none /proc/bus/usb usbdevfs defaults 0 0

[edit] Modem Setup

note: This setup was writen for the Agere Systems WinModem 56k (rev 01) builtin modem and tested using kernel modules. If you have enabled modem support by building directly into the kernel and can confirm that works, or have a differnt builtin modem chipset, please return and edit the wiki.

1. Enable Kernel Modules

su -
cd /usr/src/linux
make menuconfig

1a. Enable Serial Ports

Device Drivers  --->
   Character devices  --->
       Serial drivers  --->
           <M> 8250/16550 and compatible serial support

1b. Enable PPP Support

Device Drivers  --->
  Network device support  --->
      <M> PPP (point-to-point protocol) support
      <M>     PPP support for async serial ports

1c. Ensure that Symmetric Multiprocessing Support is off.

Processor type and Features  --->
        < >  Symmetric multiprocessing support

1d. Also recommended kernel options to enable compresseion

Device Drivers   -->                                                                                                                                                         
  Network device support   -->                                                                                                               
      <M> PPP Deflate compression
      <M> PPP BSD-Compress compression

1e. Exit and save the kernel configuration. Then compile the modules.

make modules_install

2. Emerge required packages.

emerge -vDa wvdial ppp ltmodem

3. Modprobe all modules (note: omit ppp_deflate and/or bsd_comp if you did not build them)

modprobe ltserial
modprobe ltmodem
modprobe ppp_generic
modprobe ppp_async
modprobe ppp_deflate
modprobe bsd_comp

3. Add modules to autload (note: omit ppp_deflate and/or bsd_comp if you did not build them)

For the 2.6 kernel

echo ltserial >> /etc/modules.autoload.d/kernel-2.6
echo ltmodem >> /etc/modules.autoload.d/kernel-2.6
echo ppp_generic >> /etc/modules.autoload.d/kernel-2.6
echo ppp_async >> /etc/modules.autoload.d/kernel-2.6
echo ppp_deflate >> /etc/modules.autoload.d/kernel-2.6
echo bsd_comp >> /etc/modules.autoload.d/kernel-2.6

or for the 2.4 kernel

echo ltserial >> /etc/modules.autoload.d/kernel-2.4
echo ltmodem >> /etc/modules.autoload.d/kernel-2.4
echo ppp_generic >> /etc/modules.autoload.d/kernel-2.4
echo ppp_async >> /etc/modules.autoload.d/kernel-2.4
echo ppp_deflate >> /etc/modules.autoload.d/kernel-2.4
echo bsd_comp >> /etc/modules.autoload.d/kernel-2.4

4. Configure wvdial adding in your username, password and dial-up number.(note: There are other tools and advanced options for dial-up connections, refer to: HOWTO Setup a Dialup Connection for more options.)

wvdialconf /etc/wvdial.conf
nano /etc/wvdial

5. Start up the connection.

wvdial

6. If there are any errors, or your system required additional configuration, please take the time to edit this wiki.

[edit] ESS Maestro3i and ALSA Sound Setup

1. The alsa driver for the Maestro 3 sound card is not currently in the 2.6 kernel, so it is necessary to compile it separately as part of the alsa-driver package and to load it as a module. emerge the alsa-driver and alsa-utils sources if you haven't done so already. Modify the /etc/modules.d/alsa file, find the IMPORTANT: section and modify:

1. 1. ALSA portion

alias snd-card-0 snd-maestro3

1. 1. OSS/Free portion

alias sound-slot-0 snd-card-0

Add the following lines to /etc/modules.autoload:

snd-maestro3 snd-pcm-oss

2. Now run update-modules. Verify that the /etc/devfsd.conf file has the correct ALSA/OSS settings. Now it's time to set up the soundcard:

modprobe snd-maestro3 modprobe snd-pcm-oss /etc/init.d/alsasound start amixer set Master 80% unmute amixer set PCM 90% unmute rc-update add alsasound default

3. Give your system a reboot. X, KDE3, USB, and Sound should all be working!

[edit] Firewire Setup

1. If you added the lines into /etc/modules.autoload then we are almost to a point where we can use our firewire device (mine is a CD burner). 2. Download the rescan-scsi-bus.sh script and copy it into /usr/local/sbin. [ rescan-scsi-bus.sh ] 3. Plug-in your device and run the above script. Your devices should be automatically added/updated.

[edit] DVD Playback

1. First, create a /dev/dvd link:

ln -s /dev/scsi/host0/bus0/target0/lun0/cd /dev/dvd

2. emerge xine or ogle to play DVDs (I personally use xine with xine-dvdnav). 3. Run xine, change the memcopy method to SSE. 4. That's it! Enjoy your DVDs!