Debian GNU/Linux Installation/Configuration

 
Below you'll find some notes on how to install and configure Linux (Debian) on the following hardware:

Debian on a Linksys NSLU2

August 17, 2008 Top

 

The NLSU2 is a small low-cost device made by Linksys, which makes external USB hard-drives available on your network. I own such a thing on which I had installed a community driven alternative (Unslung) of the original firmware. I hadn't used it for almost two years, but planned to reanimate it. And to my surprise I found that Debian now officially supports this device.

Installation

Most information I needed came from Martin Michlmayr's site.
The upgrade using the web-interface didn't work at all. It just silently died. upslug was the solution:
upslug2 --target=<MAC-ADDRESS> --image=di-nslu2.bin
But, once the device was up and running and the Debian installer started, I wasn't able to ssh into it. Turns out, that username and password were set to "installer" and "install" resp. Question is why is that not mentioned in the arm installation guide. As installation device I used a 4GB USB datastick and manually partitioned it to use 1 GB for root and 64MB as swap, which leaves enough to use the rest for other stuff. Installation took almost 3 hours.

Reducing memory footprint and flash device access

I mainly followed Martin Michlmayr's tips for running Linux on a flash device and reducing memory usage.
The Debian/NSLU2 FAQ and the nslu2-utils README contain some very useful general tips (LED states, automatic fsck etc.) including how to reduce the memory footprint (use dropbear instead of openssh-server etc.)

Booting with two devices attached

If you are unlucky the NSLU2 will not boot after you attach a second device. The troubleshooting wiki page has some advice. I used the MountDisksByLabel hack in combination with the initramfs hack, which is also mentioned there.

De-Underclocking

For some unknown reason old devices (except the most recent) ones have been underclocked by Linksys and run on 133 BogoMips. Here is how to De-underclock the device to run it on 266 BogoMips. Just open the case and remove one single resistor with a nail clipper! Seriously, no other tools needed.

Debian on a Dell Latitude D820

January 12, 2008 Top

 

As every time when you get a rather new piece of machine it takes some time to setup your Linux system properly. After getting my Dell Latitude D820 it took me a while to get suspend and Wifi up and running. Right now everything works just fine. The only exception is suspend to disk, which used to work but then broke at some stage (machine just freezes now).

Kernel

I've compiled a custom kernel from the Debian linux-sources version 2.6.21 and added the suspend patch to make suspend work (using powersafed).
Download my current kernel .config: config-2.6.21

Graphics

My machine has a nVidia Corporation Quadro NVS 110M. Nvidia's NVIDIA-Linux-x86-100.14.19-pkg1.run works just fine.
X is setup to support a second monitor/beamer. This Gentoo website has tons of information about this.
Download my current xorg.conf: xorg.conf

Wireless

Enabling the built-in Intel Pro/Wireless 3945ABG was a pain in the hole with previous kernel versions. The above kernel works now fine in conjunction with Intel's 3945ABG Driver for Linux.
I use the following versions: ipw3945-1.2.1, ipw3945-ucode-1.13 and ipw3945d-1.7.22.
Info: The 3945ABG Driver for Linux has been superseded by the iwlwifi. Haven't tried it yet.

Links

The following websites contain more and step-by-step instructions

Debian on a Thinkpad 600E (2645-3AU)

Some time before 2005 Top

 

The following info is probably outdated (2004) but might be useful for some. Unfortunately, I don't own this machine anymore.

Links

The following sites might be of interest for you:

Linux-on-laptops
Huge collection of information and resources
Thomas Hood's Debian GNU/Linux on IBM ThinkPad 600
The center of the Debian on the Thinkpad 600 universe
tpctl - ThinkPad Configuration Tools
Home of the Thinkpad resource configuration tools. There is also an official Debian Package

Kernel 2.4.26 with Prism Patch


Configuration

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