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Acer Travelmate 290/292LMi & Linux Debian (Sarge/testing)
Created 14/9/2003 by Joan Tur. Eivissa - Spain Discontinued 03/06/2005 (*) (*) I've sold my Acer... I was happy with it, but... you know... I was looking for something with a bit more screen resolution (the 1400x1050 is not sold in Spain AFAIK), and a bit lighter. My new adquisition is a Benq Joybook 7000 (I'll hang a page about linux on it in a short while) ;) This page has been written for you to know about my experiences with Debian Sarge/SID & a brand new Acer TM292LMi laptop (bought juny 2004; I had a 290LMi before). Feel free to contact me if you have any question (espańol, catalŕ, english, français & (ein bischen) deutsch) ;) All Acer TM29X seem to have almost the same hardware. Mine (292LMi), for instance, has a different touchpad than my "old" 290 (it's working with sid's xfree86-driver-synaptics driver), chipset 855PM & Ati Radeon Mobility 9700 (working with fb -no dpms, no 3D-, radeon -no 3D- & Ati's driver) instead of chipset 855GM with integrated Intel graphics card, and the integrated wifi card is an Intel 2200BG (it was before a 2100B) -updated 27/06/04-. I've also been told by Joshua Kovach (added 13/2/04) that the same laptop is being sold by PowerNotebooks.com. You can find more info about linux on laptops at TuxMobil.org and Linux-laptop.net. There's also another web page (in spanish) about this laptop here made by Javier González (new 18/11/03). Specifications: Acer TM292LMi-M11
Still not working (updated 29/01/05) Feedback is welcome!! ;)
"lspci" output (updated 27/06/04) Acer TM290LMi: 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.3 SMBus: Intel Corp. 82801DB/DBM SMBus 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) 01:00.0 FireWire (IEEE 1394): VIA Technologies, Inc. IEEE 1394 Host Controller (rev 80) 01:01.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL-8139/8139C/8139C+ (rev 10) 01:02.0 Network controller: Intel Corp. PRO/Wireless LAN 2100 3B Mini PCI Adapter (rev 04) 01:04.0 CardBus bridge: ENE Technology Inc CB1410 Cardbus Controller (rev 01) Acer TM292LMi: 0000:00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corp. 82855PM Processor to AGP Controller (rev 21) 0000:00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corp. 82801DB (ICH4) USB UHCI #1 (rev 03) 0000:00:1d.1 USB Controller: Intel Corp. 82801DB (ICH4) USB UHCI #2 (rev 03) 0000:00:1d.2 USB Controller: Intel Corp. 82801DB (ICH4) USB UHCI #3 (rev 03) 0000:00:1d.7 USB Controller: Intel Corp. 82801DB (ICH4) USB2 EHCI Controller (rev 03) 0000:00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corp. 82801BAM/CAM PCI Bridge (rev 83) 0000:00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corp. 82801DBM LPC Interface Controller (rev 03) 0000:00:1f.1 IDE interface: Intel Corp. 82801DBM (ICH4) Ultra ATA Storage Controller (rev 03) 0000:00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corp. 82801DB/DBM (ICH4) SMBus Controller (rev 03) 0000:00:1f.5 Multimedia audio controller: Intel Corp. 82801DB (ICH4) AC'97 Audio Controller (rev 03) 0000:00:1f.6 Modem: Intel Corp. 82801DB (ICH4) AC'97 Modem Controller (rev 03) 0000:01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc RV350 [Mobility Radeon 9600 M10] 0000:02:00.0 FireWire (IEEE 1394): VIA Technologies, Inc. IEEE 1394 Host Controller (rev 80) 0000:02:01.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL-8139/8139C/8139C+ (rev 10) 0000:02:02.0 Network controller: Intel Corp. Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 2200BG (rev 05) 0000:02:03.0 CardBus bridge: ENE Technology Inc CB1410 Cardbus Controller (rev 01) Installing linux (updated 14/02/05) Updated 28/06/04: I'm now remastering latest knoppix (v.3.7), to fit catalan & spanish preferences. I've set the default release to testing -I use Kde, and it's using latest version- with some unstable packages. You can have more info at Club Ibosim web site ;) I've choosen Knoppix (version 3.2 dated 07/2003) because of its hardware detection and easy set up. Once it's been installed I've modified /etc/apt/sources.list and /etc/apt/apt.conf to match testing's and run "apt-get update && apt-get dist-upgrade": ------- root@quinipt:/home/quini# cat /etc/apt/apt.conf APT::Default-Release "testing"; APT::Cache-Limit 10000000; Apt::Get::Purge; root@quinipt:/home/quini# cat /etc/apt/sources.list # Unstable / SID deb http://ftp.de.debian.org/debian testing main contrib non-free deb http://ftp.de.debian.org/debian-non-US testing/non-US main contrib non-free ------- Here you can get the output from dmesg (TM290). Note: I've heard from people who have had problems installing Knoppix 3.2; version 3.3 solved their problems (new 17/10/03); I've also been told by some people that other linux flavours also fit fine in this laptop (SuSE, Mandrake, Fedora Core...) (updated 28/06/04). Debian users: Stefan Tomanek has built some useful debian packages for the TM29X; you can find them here (added 20/09/04). Xfree 4.3 (updated 10/11/04) Working out of the box; you can find an Acer TM29X with the integrated Intel graphics card or with an Ati Radeon Mobility 9700 (290-D series), and it can have XGA or SXGA resolution (1). You can download XFree config files for Intel and Ati (2) for XGA LCD, and also a config file for Xinerama mode with an external monitor, thanks to Thomas Hess (3) (updated 10/11/04). I've got feedback from Sebastian Bleikamp (thanks!) about an Ati powered TM291, and now I've got an Acer TM292-Ati; it's working fine with the framebuffer device (no DPMS, no 3D), the XFree86 Radeon driver (no 3D), & Ati's nonfree fglrx drivers (updated 04/07/04) (1) it seems that 1400x1050 resolution doesn't work out of the box; Paolo antinori has given me a solution. It's a tool you can download here (new 04/07/04). (2) the above config file works fine (2D & 3D) with Ati's driver 3.11.1. It uses the kernel AGP support and you have to avoid compiling Radeon's DRM support into the kernel (thanks to Matteo Falsetti, 07/07/04; updated 21/08/04). -Debian users: you'll be able to use apt to retrieve and install Ati's drivers just adding the following lines to your sources.list file. Packages you have to install are fglrx-4.3.0-kernel-src & fglrx-4.3.0-driver: deb http://www.stanchina.net/~flavio/debian/ ./ deb-src http://www.stanchina.net/~flavio/debian/ ./ (3) Works fine with the radeon driver, but not with the fglrx driver. TV Out (updated 28/06/04) Despite I don't need to use the TV-Out feature I've been asked for my experiences with it. Here's the feedback I've got; all feedback is referred to Intel's graphics card unless specified (thanks to all of you who contribute with your feedback):
LCD / CRT switching (updated 22/03/05) Despite I haven't tryed to use an external monitor I've got feedback about that; all feedback is referred to Intel's grapics card unless specified (feedback is welcome!!):
Touchpad (updated 24/08/04) -TM292: I'm successfully using synapics drivers under XFree86 4.3; in the XFree section you can download my X config file. Thanks also to Heiko Szymanek who helped me here ;) (updated 01/07/04). -TM290: despite Knoppix v.3.X sets XFree86 v.4.3 to use any mouse (ps2, usb and serial), I had to change protocol from IMPS2 to PS2 in order for it to work. I sometimes use an usb mouse with no problems. -To install the Synaptics driver to make our touchpad work as a "wheelmouse" you can have a look at my XF86Config-4 in the XFree section. Wired LAN Works fine (8139too module). Wireless LAN (updated 14/02/05) Recent TM29X no longer have an Intel ipw2100B 11Mb wifi card, but an Intel ipw2200BG 54Mb one. All of the following links are referred to both cards (added 30/06/04).
We can switch it on using acerhk: echo 1 > /proc/driver/acerhk/wirelessled # to enable wlan switch. Thanks to Acs Gergely (updated 15/07/04). Modem (updated 15/07/04) -Driver is available in both Debian unstable and testing (apt-get install sl-modem-source sl-modem-daemon). Thanks to Jakob Englhauser who has sent me that info (added 15/07/04). -Matthias Friedrich has made me know that driver v.2.9.6 works fine with kernel 2.6.3 (new 23/02/04). Thanks, Matthias ;) -I've been told by Ugo Viti that we need driver v.2.9.4 to make the modem work under kernel 2.6 (he's tested 2.6.0 under Fedora Core 1). Here you can download that driver. -Nils Wigginghaus (thanks!) has made me know that it works (2.4 kernels) using Smart Link's driver v.2.7.10 with the following changes in line #75: #define PCI_DEVICE_ID_ICH3 0x2486 to: #define PCI_DEVICE_ID_ICH3 0x24C6 Here you can download the driver (already modified!) ;) ACPI & kernel (updated 14/02/05) I'm now using kernel 2.6.9 with cko3 patch (includes supermount patch); here you can get my .config file (updated 14/02/05). It powers off, screen turns off after x minutes under X, cpu runs cooler and fan is almost never on (check centrino section). Important: the above kernel config file has reiserfs built into the kernel (as I'm using it for "/"), and Ati Radeon support; change any of those settings if they don't match your configuration. Thanks to Marvin Massih who told me that this info could be useful (10/10/04) ;) Suspend / hibernate (updated 29/01/05) I haven't tryed myself to suspend or hibernate the laptop, so I'm posting here the feedback I've received from other TM29X owners (feedback is welcome ;) ):
Centrino's speedstep (updated 07/04/05) Centrino's SpeedStep support is included in 2.6 kernels; this feature together with cpudyn makes it work really cold: it always runs at 600mhz unless it needs more power. Cpudyn speeds the CPU up when needed and lows its speed down when not (you can know the speed it is working at through /proc/cpuinfo or adding the glx86info to gkrellm). Updated 07/04/05: I've read about Pentium-M specifications, and successfully added 400 mhz speed (also 100/200 mhz, but speed is up by cpudyn too easily). Modify file /usr/src/linux/arch/i386/kernel/cpu/cpufreq/speedstep-centrino.c as follow: /* Intel Pentium M processor 1.50GHz (Banias) */ static struct cpufreq_frequency_table banias_1500[] = { /* OP( 100, 716), OP( 200, 812),*/ OP( 400, 844), OP( 600, 956), OP( 800, 1116), OP(1000, 1228), OP(1200, 1356), OP(1400, 1452), OP(1500, 1484), { .frequency = CPUFREQ_TABLE_END } }; The above lines show frequency & voltage parameters; the commented lines are the minimum voltage parameters I read about. Note that "Use ACPI tables to decode valid frequency/voltage pairs" has to be set to off (thanks to Luca Manganelli ;) ). Battery life (updated 30/06/04) Of course it depends on the use; my experience with this laptop, thanks to speedstep support & cpudyn, is about 4h 40' hours battery life time (have a look at Optimizing your linux). DVD+/-RW (updated 14/02/05) 29XLMi models have a DVD-RW or a DVD+/-RW recorder. Mine is now (TM292) a LiteOn DVD+/-RW SDW-431S, able of 2,5x (DVD+R(W)), 2x (DVD-R(W)), 24x (CD-R) & 10x (CD-RW) recording, and my old TM290 had a Toshiba DVD-RW SD-R6112, able to record DVD-R at 2x, DVD-RW at 1x, and 16x/10x CD-R/RW. I'm using K3b, the KDE CD/DVD recording program, to record CDs & DVDs; you can also use Xcdroast & cdrecord.prodvd (non free, but free for a non commercial use). Note that under 2.6 kernels you no longer need scsi emulation. PCMCIA (updated 17/10/03) Works fine out of the box (tested with Prism based 802.11b cards & hostap/orinoco drivers). USB 1.1 (updated 18/02/04) It's working almost fine. Since I changed to kernel 2.6 I'm having problems with USB wireless cards; I've tryed an Amper and a ZyXEL cards. Dmesg shows: ----- hub 2-0:1.0: new USB device on port 1, assigned address 4 usb 2-1: device not accepting address 4, error -110 hub 2-0:1.0: Cannot enable port 1. Maybe the USB cable is bad? ----- The Amper one was working fine under kernel 2.4, and the ZyXEL one works fine under XP; help is appreciated O8-) I'm still trying to make an USB-to-RS232 adapter work (it was working fine under mandrake); if any of you has this kind of device working under debian please make me know! (updated 17/10/03) ;) Works fine when using a Logitech usb mouse & an usb floppy drive. USB 2 (updated 13/04/04) Feedback received from some of you (thanks!):
Firewire (updated 13/04/04) Feedback received from some of you (thanks!):
IrDA (updated 05/08/04) I've been able to sync my -old- Palm m515 & my brand new Tungsten T3 using IrDA (at 115kbps). Follow the following steps:
Thanks to Bernd Edler who has told me how to proceed ;) To do: it seems to have a supported chip by SMC, but I haven't been able to make it sync with my Palm m515 8-( Please contact me if you make it work! Insmoding smc-ircc shows: ----- found SMC SuperIO Chip (devid=0x5a rev=00 base=0x002e): LPC47N227 SMC IrDA Controller found IrCC version 2.0, firport 0x230, sirport 0x3f8 dma=3, irq=4 IrDA: Registered device irda0 ----- Keyboard, extra buttons & function buttons (updated 06/11/04) I was used to HP's keyboards and it's been a bit painfull to get used to Acer's keyboard, but once I know it, it works even better than HP's. Here you can see the Acer's keyboard, where you can see the page up/page down near the arrow keys, the big & on the ritght side "enter" key or the ctrl key at bottom left. This laptop has got 2 extra buttons, called P1 and P2. You can give them any function using acme, xev (thanks to Jukka Helinko, 21/11/03), lineak (thanks to Mattias Nissen; here you can download his lineak config file), or modifying /etc/X11/xkb/symbols/inet file (thanks to Olaf Märker, 6/11/04). Note: P1 & P2 keys worked out of the box with my old TM290, but you'll need to use acerhk to make them work with a TM292/291; try "modprobe acerhk force_series=290 usedritek=1 verbose=1". Thanks to Acs Gergely who helped me (us) here ;) (updated 15/07/04). It's also got the usual function buttons (Fn) you can find in any laptop. The ones I've tryed and are working by default are the numeric keypad, pad lock, scroll lock and increasing/decreasing lcd luminosity; supported also by acme: increasing/decreasing volume and mute. It's also got 2 more function keys I haven't tryed: Fn+esc (sleep), and Fn+F5 (switch between crt and lcd). Thanks to Laurenz Wolter and Patric Schenke who helped me here ;) Sound (updated 30/06/04) The intel integrated sound card works fine with alsa (I had to run /etc/int.d/alsa-autoconfig after installing knoppix to hd). 3D (DRI) (updated 13/07/04) -Intel Extreme Graphics: works fine (tryed tuxracer at 1024x768 ;) ); it also performs quite fine under windows, tryed DOD 1.0 at 1024x768 & 50 fps... much better than my old video card, a Savage4 (don't purchase one of these if you'd like to game!). Both 2.4 & 2.6 kernels support 3D acceleration with the integrated Intel video card. -Ati Radeon Mobility 9700: 3D is only suported by Ati's non-free drivers (tryed 3.9.0). HD & DMA (updated 24/01/04) Under Debian you have to add "ide0=ata66" to lilo.conf to make it use UDMA100 (without this line it uses UDMA33); thanks to Jakub Strnad who told me today ;) Optimizing your linux (updated 14/02/05) I'm going to post here all tricks you're sending me:
Help / suggestions are appreciated ;) |
