bittmann's Journal: Linux on a Dell Latitude D800

Going to list some of the triumphs and pitfalls of Linux on a Dell D800 "Centrino" system here. If it goes far enough, I'll update my own homepage with a Howto:...but want to get this down while I'm thinking of it.

Using RedHat 9.0.

RH9 installed "OK" out of the box. Needs a couple of things to get it going, and a little *more* work to get it actually usable.

1) Download Broadcom 5700 driver from Broadcom's site. Compile and get module ready. Set up /etc/modules to load driver when ethernet comes up. You can either use a (supported) USB or PCMCIA NIC, or do the floppy shuffle (it's small).

2) (optional) If you have access to high-speed Internet, go ahead and run up2date. Take the trouble to get the new RedHat kernel (it does IDE chipset DMA, and will make the rest of this less painful).

3) (optional) Get NVIDIA drivers from NVIDIA's site. Or, use the open-source 2d drivers...that'll work, too.

If you only get 1600x1200, you may need to add a modeline to XF86config to allow 1920x1200.

Section "Monitor"
                Identifier "Monitor0"
                VendorName "Monitor Vendor"
                ModelName "Dell 1920x1200 Laptop Display Panel"
                HorizSync 28-110
                VertRefresh 43-90
                Modeline "1920x1200" 162 1920 1984 2176 2480 1200 1201 1204 1250 +hsync +vsync
                Option "dpms"
EndSection

The box should now be usable. There's no power management, however (and you'll have to "push the button" to turn off the computer at shutdown).

What I did to make it "better":

Downloaded modem drivers (they build and connect... but I haven't tried them after upgrading the kernel. To-Do).

Downloaded 2.4.22-pre2 kernel, which has ACPI working. Quick and dirty: use one of the Configs in one of the RedHat sources directories (I used the "686" config from 2.4.20-18.9). Enable ACPI (I did it modularized for better control). Turn off APM. Turn off whatever else you don't want (ATM? whatever). Build. Set up modules to load in rc.local (or wherever).

Now, I have ACPI working!

Note: processor.o won't set anything but the first 2 clocking states. Haven't had time to look at it yet. Downloaded developer binary from Intel...it works for all 7 processor states. Now I can underclock to the lowest setting, and still play a video at full speed without buzzing the fan.

Note: The linux AGPGART has trouble with the lid switch...if the linux AGPGART is loaded, the lid switch will hang the machine. For now, don't load it (it won't load unless you set the "try unsupported" flag), and it'll work fine. Or never touch the lid switch :).

Downloaded acpid, and have "borrowed" a few scripts for suspend, power off, etc.

Note: Suspend works, but mouse is hung upon return. Can Ctrl_Alt_F1, the Ctrl_Alt_F7 to go back, and it'll work again.

Have added keymappings for volume up, down, mute. Note: Need to tell how under RH9...it isn't obvious (at least to me). Also added a command to the "menu selector" button (above F9) to pop up a terminal. Slick...

More to come...