Redhat 9.0 Linux on Dell Inspiron 5100

Jan Marik, jmarik@ucdavis.edu

Updated: 12/21/2003, 5/12/2004

Installation

The 30G ntfs partition was modified by ntfsresize and fdisk supplied on Knoppix 3.2 CD Linux. Then RH 9.0 was installed from CDs, and kernel was upgraded to 2.4.22.

Update 12/21/2003 kernel 2.6.0:

For the general instructions how to migrate to kernel 2.6.0 see somewhere else. Note that CDROM does not use ide-scsi anymore and USB modules have different names. Since Redhat 9 initscripts does not work properly with 2.6.0 kernel some modifications are necessary. I added this to rc.local (probably not the best solution):

KERNEL_VER=`uname -r`

if [ "${KERNEL_VER}" = "2.6.0" ]; then
  echo "Loading modules for 2.6.0"
  `/sbin/modprobe iso9660`
  `/sbin/modprobe ntfs`
  `/sbin/modprobe vfat`
  `/sbin/modprobe smbfs`
  `/sbin/modprobe usb_storage`
  `/sbin/modprobe ide-cd`
  `/sbin/modprobe i810_audio`
  `/sbin/modprobe tun`
  `/sbin/modprobe evdev`
  # Put whatever you need here.
fi

Video Card

Detected automatically.

/etc/X11/XF86Config:

Section "Device" 
	Identifier "Videocard" 
	Driver "radeon" 
	VendorName "Videocard vendor" 
	BoardName "ATI Radeon Mobility 7500" 
	VideoRam 32768 
EndSection

Update 12/21/2003 kernel 2.6.0:

Modules for making X happy:

agpgart, intel_agp, radeon

Display

Model Name was chosen during installation.

/etc/X11/XF86Config:

Section "Monitor" 
	Identifier "Monitor0" 
	VendorName "Monitor Vendor" 
	ModelName "Dell 1024x768 Laptop Display Panel" 
	HorizSync 31.5 - 48.5 
	VertRefresh 59.0 - 75.0 
	Option "dpms" 
EndSection

Sound Card

Detected during installation.

Modules:

i810_audio, ac97_codec, soundcore

Update 12/21/2003 kernel 2.6.0:

I could not get ALSA working so I use deprecated OSS driver. Modules:

i810_audio, ac97_codec, soundcore

Update 5/12/2004 kernel 2.6.6:

ALSA works fine. See the modem section below. Modules:

snd_intel8x0,...

Touchpad

Detected during installation.

/etc/sysconfig/mouse:

FULLNAME="Generic - 2 Button Mouse (PS/2)" 
MOUSETYPE="ps/2" 
XEMU3="yes" 
XMOUSETYPE="PS/2" 
DEVICE=/dev/psaux

/etc/X11/XF86Config:

Section "InputDevice" 
	Identifier "Mouse0" 
	Driver "mouse" 
	Option "Protocol" "PS/2" 
	Option "Device" "/dev/psaux" 
	Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5" 
	Option "Emulate3Buttons" "yes" 
EndSection

Update 12/21/2003 kernel 2.6.0:

Synaptic Touchpad support compiled into the kernel. Works perfect after XF86config update and inserting evdev module. Look here for more.

Ethernet

Broadcom BCM4401 built-in card is not supported by kernel 2.4.18, supported by 2.4.22 module name is b44. However, the native driver is available at www.broadcom.com.

Module name:

bcm4400

Update 12/21/2003 kernel 2.6.0:

Works. Module:

b44

Wireless

The Dell TrueMobile 1400 wireless card (aka. Broadcom BCM4309-802.11a+b+g) is not supported by RH9. Fortunately, the driver is available at www.linuxant.com for cca $20, and trial 30day license is available. (driverloader-1.44-1.i386.rpm)

Module name:

driverloader

Update 12/15/2003:

Do not waste your money and try this GPL ndiswrapper . The device ID is 14e4:4324 and winXP drivers BCMWL5.INF and BCMWL5.SYS.

Update 12/21/2003 kernel 2.6.0:

The version of ndiswrapper I tested is not 100% reliable. Module:

ndiswrapper

But it works with driverloader.

Modem

Not supported by RH9. It is built-in Broadcom BCM v.92 56k WinModem, BCM9415M according to the sticker at the bottom of the computer. Detected by scanModem script as:

Primary PCI_id: 8086:24c6 
with VendorID: 8086 
and DeviceID: 24c6 
SubSystem PCI_id: 14e4:4d64 
with subVendorID: 14e4 
and subDeviceID: 4d64

Dell provides linux driver for older Broadcom winmodems but it does not work with this one. See BCOM_WAN_V20_SOURCE_A.tar.gz. As far as I know Dell does not plan to upgrade the driver in the near future. The Linuxant HSF driver (hsfmodem-6.03.00lnxt03112100free-1.i386.rpm.zip) for 8086:24c6 device works for Conexant chipset only. And the Smartlink drivers slmdm-2.7.14.tar.gz and slmodem-2.9.2.tar.gz did not work as well although the device is recognized by the latter one.

Eventually, I purchased a real modem on PCMCIA card and it works without any problem. Conexant Fax Modem PC Card V.90 & K56flex, V.34, FCC 68 ID: 5HRTAI-25229-M5-E.

Update 5/12/2004 kernel 2.6.6:

The internal Broadcom modem works with ALSA module and Smartlink driver slmodem-2.9.6. Follow the instruction for ALSA supported modems and 2.6.x kernels. Modules:

snd_intel8x0m

Firewire

Detected automatically. Not tested.

Module name:

ohci1394, ieee1394

ACPI

Supported by 2.4.22 kernel but does not work without new dsdt.

Update 12/21/2003 kernel 2.6.0:

The ACPI support was compiled into kernel. Battery and CPU temperature monitoring work. Lid and powerbutton do not work (yet).

jm 2003-11-30