EeePC
Kernel
2.6.24.4
This is the default kernel that comes with Xandros. It is patched to work with a few things. It's ugly and some of the modules don't work correctly when the kernel is transplanted into Slackware.
The source is available from Asus.
2.6.26.3
As of writing, 2.6.26.3 is the latest stable kernel.
The acpi functionality has been merged into the kernel. but the ethernet and wireless require patching / external code to work
2.6.27rc5
As of writing this is still in testing.
The ethernet patch is now in-kernel, not requiring a patch. The wireless still requires external code.
701
Wireless
The 701 uses the Atheros chipset. Use madwifi-hal-0.10.5.6.
- http://madwifi.org/ticket/1192
- http://wiki.eeeuser.com/ubuntu?s=madwifi#wireless_internet_using_native_madwifi_drivers
901
Network
The network card uses the atl1e module, which requires a patch for the 2.6.26.3 kernel. as of writing it is slated to be merged into the 2.6.27 kernel.
http://www.rootshell.be/~nix4me/EeePC/0001-atl1e-Atheros-L1E-Gigabit-Ethernet-driver.patch
cd /usr/src/linux-2.6.26.3/ patch -p1 < 0001-atl1e-Atheros-L1E-Gigabit-Ethernet-driver.patch
The following instructions have been tested (and work) on a fresh installation of Slackware 12.1 on the EEE 901 running the generic kernel 2.26.24-5-smp:
http://www.patch-village.com/2008/oct/23/installing-ubuntu-804-server-asus-p5q/
The kernel source code was installed from the second installation disk (in directory 'k').
Wireless
The wireless uses the rt2860sta module, an open source module from ralink.com. The source code can be downloaded from here:
http://www.ralinktech.com/ralink/Home/Support/Linux.html
Compiling is straightforward in Slackware 12.1 (see instructions below). It does however require patching to work with the 2.6.26.3 kernel.
http://www.rootshell.be/~nix4me/EeePC/rt2860sta-patched.tar.gz
There are some patches which need to be applied to this source both to get it to work, and to modify the code to the 2.6.26 way of using network devices, namely dev_nd->net is now dev_net(dev).
The source above has the patches applied and the code fixed to work with 2.6.26.3
It should work with WPA, but I haven't tested it.
tar -xzf rt2860sta-patched.tar.gz cd 2008_0708_RT2860_Linux_STA_v1.7.0.0 make make install modprobe rt2860sta
Sound
Front Mic does not work out of the box with Slackware 12.1. Compiling Alsa driver 1.0.18 solves this problem. However, doing this seems to remove the USB sound driver (copying back snd-usb-audio.ko resolves it). Be warned that other sound modules are missing after this procedure. This is a useful link:
http://wiki.debian.org/DebianEeePC/HowTo/Sound
ACPI
The acpi extras require the eeepc_laptop module, kernel config is CONFIG_EEEPC_LAPTOP. In make menuconfig, it is under device drivers -> misc devices, near the bottom.
You need to configure /etc/acpi to make acpi act on events. By default nothing happens.
/etc/acpi/events/hotkey
event=hotkey ATKD .* action=/etc/acpi/hotkey.sh %e
/etc/acpi/hotkey.sh
#!/bin/sh
case $3 in
#Fn+F2
#Wireless/Bluetooth button
#Fn+F7
00000013)
#Mute button
amixer set Master toggle
;;
#Fn+F8
00000014)
#Volume Down
amixer set Master 10%-
;;
#Fn+F9
00000015)
#Volume Up
amixer set Master 10%+
;;
esac
Camera
The camera uses uvcvideo module: http://www.slackware.com/~alien/slackbuilds/linux-uvc/
| module | used by |
|---|---|
| uvcvideo | |
| compat_ioctl32 | uvcvideo |
| videodev | uvcvideo |
| v4l1_compat | uvcvideo,videodev |
| usbcore | uvcvideo |
X
Slack 12.1 uses the same xorg version as the xandros that comes with the 901 linux eee currently.
xorg.conf
For the 901, for basic functionality, no configuration of X is required (no xorg.conf). The intel video driver from the 'x' directory of disc 1 is needed.
This xorg.conf is a copy of the xandros one with a few changes. It allows you to scroll using two fingers and dragging, and middle click by tapping with two fingers.
Touchpad
http://rlworkman.net/pkgs/ Grab the xf86-input-synaptics package.
Need synaptics for the touchpad.
Battery Display
gkrellm is a nice little program that can be made to show battery life. It comes with slack 12.1
Wireless Configuration
Wicd works nicely to make connecting to wireless networks easy.
http://rlworkman.net/pkgs/ Grab the Wicd package.