PCG-SRX51P
|
Size: 12477
Comment:
|
Size: 4173
Comment: gksudo instead of sudo
|
| Deletions are marked like this. | Additions are marked like this. |
| Line 76: | Line 76: |
| Beware! After installing the Linuxant modem driver, hibernate support might be broken because of some modules. To fix that read the modem install section of this report. == 7. Modem == For me, HSFModem from Linuxant.com is working - I'm no expert on other possibilities and not keen on compiling stuff into the kernel. For those daring to try, take a look at https://wiki.ubuntu.com/DialupModemHowto The free version of HSFModem is limited to 14K, when buying a licence for 14,99 US$ (12,5 €) the whole 56K are available. A special Ubuntu *.deb installation file is available from http://www.linuxant.com/drivers/hsf/full/downloads.php - choose your actual kernel version (you can find it by typing {{{uname -r}}} in a terminal). Follow the installation instructions on the website and install *.deb packages with {{{ sudo dpkg -i packagename.deb }}} If not already done during installation, run {{{ sudo /usr/sbin/hsfconfig }}} to enter the basic modem settings. After that I could configure the modem via {{{ System -> Administration -> Networking }}} I used auto-detect, added a number to dial and it worked! For actually dialing out you can use the network manager or the Gnome applet that monitors the modem – don't know the English name, as I run a German localization of Ubuntu. {{{wvdial}}} can also be run from the terminal, use {{{man wvdial}}} for infos. If all else fails, Linuxant also has a manual on how to install the source available on their website. And keep in mind: When installing from the source there's always a possibility that some required packages are not installed yet. After the error message use apt-get or Synaptic to install the missing packages and restart. '''Unfortunately, the modem installation breaks Hibernate support''' Thus, I tried putting one hsfmodem module after the other (have a look with {{{cat /proc/modules}}} ) in the {{{/etc/default/acpi-support}}} file. The one that actuall seems to be responsible in 5.10 is hsfmc97ich, so the acpi-support section looks like this: {{{ # Add modules to this list to have them removed before suspend and reloaded # on resume. It should look something like MODULES="e8300 yenta_socket" MODULES="hsfmc97ich" }}} Maybe in other settings, other HSF modules prevent the standby, just keep trying to find out which one is responsible for the problem. After saving the acpi-support file, these modules get unloaded before standby/hibernate and are loaded again during resume. == 8. Powernowd == It's installed and working – but it's configured to "rise CPU frequency quickly and drop slowly" (the aggressive setting) whereas I want the opposite, being the passive setting. Let's have a look at powernowd's manpage: {{{ man powernowd }}} gives us the following options: {{{ - sine = 0 - aggressive = 1 - passive = 2 - leap = 3 }}} To try how the different values work, first do {{{ sudo /etc/init.d/powernowd stop }}} so you don't end up with two instances of {{{powernowd}}} running and interfering. Now you can try the options given in the manpage {{{man powernowd}}}. I ended up with {{{ sudo powernowd -m 2 -l 50 -u 90 -s 50000 -v }}} as my desired value, giving the following output: {{{ powernowd: Settings: powernowd: verbosity: 1 powernowd: mode: 2 (PASSIVE) powernowd: step: 50 MHz (50000 kHz) powernowd: lowwater: 50 % powernowd: highwater: 90 % powernowd: poll interval: 1000 ms powernowd: Found 1 cpu: powernowd: cpu0: 600Mhz - 1600Mhz }}} In order to load these values at startup, a powernowd configuration file has to be made with {{{ sudo gedit /etc/default/powernowd }}} The options to enter in this file: {{{ OPTIONS="-q -m 2 -l 50 -u 90 -s 50000" }}} Save the file, and restart the system. == 9. Encryption == In my opinion every laptop computer should have an encrypted partition for one's private data files. Thus no one might gain access to your data in case of theft, or losing the laptop - it's just the hardware that will be gone. Of course, the SWAP and tmp files might reveal some personal files - but for the ordinary thief or finder this is safe enough. Thanks to http://www.ubuntu-de.org/wiki/sicherheit:twofish (not available anymore, as they say cryptoloop is old fashioned) the guide I used to setup my encrypted partition and from which I use parts in the following. :-) First, load the modules {{{cryptoloop}}} and {{{twofish}}} with {{{ sudo modprobe cryptoloop sudo modprobe twofish }}} Also add these to the {{{/etc/modules}}} with {{{ sudo gedit /etc/modules }}} add {{{cryptoloop}}} and {{{twofish}}}. All through this encrypted partition setup '''username''' will have to be exchanged with your actual username while installing this. Now make a directory in which to mount the encrypted partition we are about to create (for instance /home/username/encrypted). {{{ mkdir /home/username/encrypted }}} Now, partition the unused space on the harddisc (for instance with ext3) using {{{gparted}}} (get it via Synaptic, maybe Universe repositories have to be enabled) After that, encrypt the partition with {{{ sudo losetup -e twofish /dev/loop0 /dev/hda3 }}} assuming {{{/dev/hda3}}} is the partition you just made. Assuming you already entered your sudo password earlier, you will be asked for another password - the one for the encrypted partition. '''This password cannot be changed later on''', so remember it well! Make it at least 15 characters long. The encrypted partition has to get a filesystem: {{{ sudo mkfs -t ext3 /dev/loop0 }}} or {{{sudo mkfs.ext3}}} To make mounting the encrypted partition easier, we add an entry in the {{{fstab}}}: {{{ sudo gedit /etc/fstab }}} and add the line {{{ /dev/hda3 /home/username/encrypted ext3 user,noauto,noatime,nodiratime,loop,acl,user_xattr,rw,encryption=twofish }}} The {{{noauto}}} feature is added so you don't have to specify your passwort at bootup. Instead it is asked when actually mounting the partition. That's it with the setup of an encrypted partition. Now reboot, just to check whether everything works out fine after that (modules getting loaded etc.). Usage: To mount the encrypted partition, just do (no sudo needed this time) {{{ mount /home/username/encrypted }}} and the partition will be mounted to the directory {{{ /home/username/encrypted }}} Unfortunately, this directory is now owned by root... Even if you make it writable for yourself, the files are modified everytime you copy them to or from this directory. This leads to the modify times beig adjusted - very annoying when you sort your files by date before you actually rename them (like photos for instance). To fix this, we have to change the owner of the encrypted directories (only once). {{{ sudo chown -R username.username /home/username/encrypted }}} sets the owner and the group of the directory (and its subdirectories) to your username. Now everything can be used as though it were a normal subdirectory of home - remeber to save all your personal data to the encrypted directory. To unmount the encrypted partition, close the files you're working on from this partition and do {{{ umount /home/username/encrypted }}} Sometimes you get an error that the device is still busy, then do {{{ umount -l /home/username/encrypted }}} (l like "lazy"). Now you can put your laptop to standby and safely use the train's toilet or whatever you want to do at the public place you happen to be at that moment - your personal data is encrypted. ;-) == 10. Memory Stick Slot == Working out of the box - but obviously without MagicGate support. ;-) == 11. Bluetooth == I didn't test this, as I don't have the devices to do it (and I'm too lazy to borrow stuff and learn how to setup Bluetooth devices). The hardware was recognized and the corresponding modules seem to be loaded. That's it, I'm done. Hopefully everything works out alright with your SRX51P and feel free to edit this page in case I wrote something stupid! == Thanks to == all the fine people and webpages that laid the foundations of this installation report, mainly the Ubuntu Forums and Wiki pages. ---- CategoryLaptop CategoryHardware |
Beware! After installing the Linuxant modem driver, hibernate support m |
ContentsBRTableOfContents(3) |
Installation report for a Sony Vaio SRX51P
with Ubuntu Breezy 5.10 - written by Franko30
I'm using gedit in this report, but often nano is nice, too. 
This laptop works great with Ubuntu: WLAN, display 1024x768, graphics driver, CPU speedstep, LAN, PCMCIA slot, modem, USB, Firewire, touchpad, sound, Bluetooth and even the Memory Stick Reader work "out of the box" or can be configured as described in the following report. An external monitor needs to be connected on startup for having a clone of the Display available. Hibernate needs some tweaking.
Most hotkeys work right away, but some not in the way printed on them: Hibernate (Fn+F12), Print (Print key, saves a screen snapshot), Display brightness (Fn+F5 for darker, Fn+F6 brighter), mute (uses Fn+F2 instead of Fn+F3), volume up (Fn+F3), volume down (Fn+F4), Page up/down (Fn+arrow up or down), Pos1 (Fn+arrow left), End (Fn+arrow right). The Windows key can be configured to open the panel menu via Gnome System Settings.
The SRX51P uses BIOS R0221U2 (how can I turn off the link for the number?), has a 30GB harddisc, an 800 MHz speedstep PIII M low voltage CPU and 256MB RAM.
I completely removed Windows from the harddisc and made a 5GB primary partition for the Ubuntu system. A swap-partition with 764 MB (as suggested by the installer) is used and the rest of the harddisc was used to be the encrypted partition. When using Ubuntu and Windows in a dual-boot setup, bear in mind that you can only have 4 primary partitions on the harddisc (and no logical volumes after that) or you just use 3 primary ones and then several logical volumes.
1. Display and graphics controller
Standard installation of Ubuntu 5.10 was made with suggesting 1024x768 for the X-server.
After installation, Ubuntu 5.10 starts up fine with the graphical user interface working and everything being nice. Nevertheless glxgears for instance is painfully slow - this is not a gaming notebook 
2. Automatix
Go to the English or German forums and install Automatix to automatically install Java, Acrobat Reader and other stuf.
3.Synaptics Touchpad
The touchpad works fine after the Ubuntu 5.10 installation.
4. PCMCIA Slot
The PCMCIA slot is installed correctly and does automount when inserting, for instance, a Flash Card.
Unfortunately, Bug #14495 strikes again - the device automounts and disappears half a second later, see http://bugzilla.ubuntu.com/show_bug.cgi?id=14495 (strangely enough this doesn't happen with the Breezy Live CD).
Therefore you have to mount a card manually after inserting.
For instance, make a new directory called 'pcmcia-card' in your home directory. After that (the card still in the slot) mount it with (assuming it's formatted with FAT and it is /dev/hdc1):
sudo mount -t vfat /dev/hdc1 /home/yourusername/pcmcia-card -o uid=yourusername,gid=yourusername
and unmount it with
sudo umount -l /home/yourusername/pcmcia-card
Or simply start the system with the card inserted - then it gets mounted correctly.
5. WLAN
The standard driver works fine. Only WEP, no WPA.
6. Hibernate/Suspend
Suspend (to RAM) does not work - but as hibernate (to disk) works out of the box in 5.10 and is quite fast, this doesn't matter.
Unfortunately, hibernate needs some tweaking.
It behaved quite erratic until I disabled "Should we save and restore state using the VESA BIOS Extensions?" in the /etc/default/acpi-support file. Now the corresponding lines look like this (commented out):
# Should we save and restore state using the VESA BIOS Extensions? #SAVE_VBE_STATE=true # The file that we use to save the vbestate #VBESTATE=/var/lib/acpi-support/vbestate
I don't knwo why this works and what the lines do - but these were the first lines to fiddle with and it worked.
Beware! After installing the Linuxant modem driver, hibernate support m
LaptopTestingTeam/PCG-SRX51P (last edited 2010-03-01 22:51:23 by 94)