Aqeel Zafar’s Randomness

I recently did a fresh install of Kubuntu 8.04 (hardy) on my Sony Vaio (VGN-NR220E), this is a list of notebook hardware that does or doesn’t work with linux. It is mostly based on my experience with kubuntu 8.04, but it should be pretty much same with other distributions, using latest kernel.

First of all, a little about hardware:

• VGA: Intel X3100 - chipset: Intel Mobile GL960
• Audio: Intel 82801H HDA (ICH8 Family)
• Modem: Conexant HDAUDIO SoftV92 Data Fax Modem with SmartCP
• Ethernet: Marvell Technologies 88E8039
• Wireless: Atheros AR5007EG (most probably)
• Misc: Builtin Card Readers (SD/MMC/Express Card/Sony Memory Stick)

Works:

• Audio: Works out of the box.
• VGA: Works out of the box
• Ethernet: Works out of the box, it uses “sky2″ module, so, if it doesn’t work in your distro, make sure it is loaded.
• Card Readers: Works out of the box, Only tried with SD card, but I assume others should work too.
• Wireless: Atheros AR5007EG drivers are available from madwifi, but they are quite new, and currently they are not available in any distro that I know of. You can manually install the new/patched madwifi drivers.
  Step-by-step instructions are provided at ubuntu forums. Ubuntu users can follow it step-by-step, others can look at it to get the general idea.
• LCD Brightness: You will need xbacklight (a command-line only program) to change the LCD brightness. You can change brightness using the following command:
  xbacklight -set X
  where X is any value from 0 - 100, if that doesn’t work, then run
  xrandr --output LVDS --set BACKLIGHT_CONTROL native
  and then try again. Hopefully this will work now. For future, you can add the xrandr line in your ~/.profile file (that is .profile file in your home directory), so, that you won’t have to run it yourself after every login.

Doesn’t Work:

• Modem: Drivers for conexant are available from linuxant.com for “a modest price”. I don’t really need modem so, I never tried hard looking for open source drivers but the quick google search didn’t return any satisfactory results.
• Keys: FN keys, S1 and AV Mode.

I am still trying to get the keys to work, if you have any idea, please let me know.

Once again, we are observing DST (Daylight Saving Time) in Pakistan; tonight at midnight, all clocks were moved one hour ahead - causing an hour early power load-shedding :(.

If you are living in Pakistan and haven’t changed your computer clock yet, you can update the zone info and have your computer automatically change it’s time (both tonight and at the end of DST).

For more information click on your operating system: Microsoft Windows or Linux (unix, bsd, solaris).

Update: Corrected the link for linux, which reflects the DST changes in Pakistan, that is, DST will continue till October 31st, instead of August 31st.