Acer_Aspire_One_A110L

1 Hardware status
2 Hardware
3 Intro: Pre-installation notes
- 3.1 CFlags for Intel Atom
4 Kernel config
- 4.1 Kernel notes:
5 Video
- 5.1 Installing X.org
- 5.2 Configure X
6 WLAN
7 Sound
8 Webcam
9 SDCard Reader
- 9.1 See also

Hardware status

Device	Works?	Note
Intel 82801G RTL8101E PCI-E Ethernet	Yes	No RTL8101E support at installation time!
Intel 82801G Atheros AR5006EG Wireless	Yes	Works with Kernel >=2.6.27_rc6
X11	Yes
Intel 82801G High Definition Audio	Yes	Works with Kernel >=2.6.27_rc6
Internal SD card reader	Yes	Currently cannot be hotplugged.
Webcam	Yes
Suspend to ram	Yes

Hardware

Code: lspci

00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Unknown device 27ac (rev 03)
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Unknown device 27ae (rev 03)
00:02.1 Display controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03)
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) High Definition Audio Controller (rev 02)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 1 (rev 02)
00:1c.1 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 2 (rev 02)
00:1c.2 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 3 (rev 02)
00:1c.3 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 4 (rev 02)
00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #1 (rev 02)
00:1d.1 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #2 (rev 02)
00:1d.2 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #3 (rev 02)
00:1d.3 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #4 (rev 02)
00:1d.7 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller (rev 02)
00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge (rev e2)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation 82801GBM (ICH7-M) LPC Interface Bridge (rev 02)
00:1f.2 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82801GBM/GHM (ICH7 Family) SATA IDE Controller (rev 02)
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) SMBus Controller (rev 02)
02:00.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8101E PCI Express Fast Ethernet controller (rev 02)
03:00.0 Ethernet controller: Atheros Communications, Inc. AR5006EG 802.11 b/g Wireless PCI Express Adapter (rev 01)

If however you see this:

Code: lspci

02:00.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8101E PCI Express Fast Ethernet controller (rev ff)

Then you need the driver from: http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/downloadsView.aspx?Langid=1&PNid=7&PFid=7&Level=5&Conn=4&DownTypeID=3&GetDown=false#RTL8100E/RTL8101E/RTL8102E-GR as it's not in the stock kernel yet.

Intro: Pre-installation notes

Since the RTL8101E NIC is unsupported by the 2008.0 LiveCD/USB, and there is no optical drive, you have several options:

Use the SystemRecueCD installed to a usb drive. (tested with v. 1.0.4).
Create a Gentoo LiveUSB installer using the LiveUSB HOWTO and perform a networkless install (Note: Hard drive, wired and wireless will not be recognized),
Connect an external optical drive, and perform a networkless install,
Connect a supported external USB Ethernet NIC with either of the above and perform a network enabled install, or
Use a different distro whose LiveCD/USB supports the RTL8101E NIC.

Once you are ready to install, follow the normal installation process as described in the Gentoo Installation Handbook.

Note: The machine boots the LiveCD almost perfectly, but I had a difficult time with framebuffer. So, it's probably best to use gentoo-nofb when the LiveCD boots.

CFlags for Intel Atom

The Aspire One comes with the new Intel Atom Diamondville CPU. This means that you need to set the correct CFLAGS in /etc/make.conf, or GCC won't compile stuff and you won't install Gentoo (I used a 32 bit i686 stage3 tarball). Note that GCC as of 4.2 supports the -march=native cflag, this will automatically set the correct flags for your CPU. For older versions of GCC, use -march=prescott

CFLAGS="-march=native -O2 -pipe" 
CXXFLAGS="${CFLAGS}"

For more info, go check out this thread on the Gentoo Forums.

Warning: This CPU DOES NOT support 64-bit!

Kernel config

Linux Kernel Configuration:

 General setup --->
     [*] Initial RAM filesystem and RAM disk (initramfs/initrd) support
     (/usr/share/v86d/initramfs) Initramfs source file(s)
 [*]Enable loadable module support --->
      [*] Automatic kernel module loading.
 -*- Enable the block layer -->
     IO Schedulers --->
         Default I/O scheduler (No-op)
 Bus options (PCI, PCMCIA, EISA, MCA, ISA) --->
     PCCARD (PCMCIA/CardBus) support --->
         < > PCCard (PCMCIA/CardBus) support
 Networking --->
     Wireless --->
         <*> Improved wireless configuration API
         <*> Generic IEEE 802.11 Networking Stack
 Device Drivers --->
     < > ATA/ATAPI/MFM/RLL Support
     <*> Serial ATA (prod) and Parallel ATA (experimental) drivers --->
     <*>   AHCI SATA support
     <*>   Intel ESB, ICH, PIIX3, PIIX4 PATA/SATA support
     <*>   Generic ATA support
     <*>   Intel PATA MPIIX support
     <*>   Intel PATA old PIIX support
     [*] Network device support --->
     [*]   Ethernet (1000 Mbit) --->
     <*>     Realtek 8169 gigabit ethernet support
           Wireless LAN --->
     [*]     Wireless LAN (IEEE 802.11)
     [ ]   PCMCIA network device support --->
      Multimedia devices --->
             <*> Video For Linux
             <*> DAB adapters
         Character devices --->
     <*>   Direct Rendering Manager (XFree86 4.1.0 and higher DRI support)
     <*>     Intel 830M, 845G, 852GM, 855GM, 865G (i915 driver) --->         
     Graphics support --->
     <*>   Support for frame buffer devices
     <*>   Userspace VESA VGA graphics support
     <*>   VESA VGA graphics support
     <*>   Intel 830M/845G/852GM/855GM/865G/915G/945G support (EXPERIMENTAL)
           Console display driver support --->
     <*>     Framebuffer Console support
     [*]       Map the console to the primary display device
         Sound --->
     <*>   Sound card support
     < >   Advanced Linux Sound Architecture
     < >   Open Sound System
     <*> MMC/SD card support --->
     <*>   Secure Digital Host Controller Interface support (EXPERIMENTAL)
     <*>   TI Flash Media MMC/SD Interface support (EXPERIMENTAL)

Kernel notes:

"Automatic kernel module loading" is needed for Wifi drivers to install.
If Intel 82801G RTL8101E PCI-E Ethernet doesn't work after you boot your freshly compiled kernel, then remove "<*> Realtek 8169 gigabit ethernet support" from above and get the driver as written in Acer Aspire One A110L#Hardware
I used Core2 as the processor family in the Kernel config. It seems like the appropriate choice because the processor family matches in /proc/cpuinfo. Vsnine 16:30, 22 August 2008 (UTC)

Prevents the kernel from searching for the non-existing floppy drive

Linux Kernel Configuration:

 Device Drivers --->
   [*] Block devices
     < > Normal floppy disk support

A working config for the 2.6.27 kernel can be found here.

Video

Installing X.org

To install X.org with everything you need, edit /etc/make.conf, and add VIDEO_CARDS and INPUT_DEVICES:

Code: Editing: /etc/make.conf

VIDEO_CARDS="i810"
INPUT_DEVICES="keyboard synaptics mouse"

This will keep your settings, and supply support for the keyboard, touchpad, and external mice.

Now install xorg-x11:

Code: Install X.org

emerge -av xorg-x11

Now go get a cup of coffee, or two, because this will take very long time to complete.

Configure X

After xorg-x11 is installed, configure it by running xorgcfg. Once the configuration program is loaded (we only need it to see if X window system works and for a raw config file), hit Ctr+Alt+Backspace to go back to the command line prompt. Copy the ~/xorg.conf.new to /etc/X11/xorg.conf.

Now fire up your favourite text editor (ex.: nano) to add the following to /etc/X11/xorg.conf:

Warning: Pay special attention to the comments (text after #). They are necessary to set a proper font size. Otherwise the fonts in various programs will be quite large.

To configure the graphics card:

Code: Editing: /etc/X11/xorg.conf

Section "Device"
	Identifier  "Card0"
	Driver      "i810"
	VendorName  "Intel Corporation"
	BoardName   "Mobile 915GM/GMS/910GML Express Graphics Controller"
	BusID       "PCI:0:2:0"
	Option "NoDDC" # You need this to set correct DPI (HUGE font issue).
EndSection
 ...
Section "Monitor"
	...
	DisplaySize  195 113 # This whill set correct DPI (96 x 96) 
	...
EndSection
 ...
Section "Screen"
        ...
        SubSection "Display"
                 Viewport   0 0
	         Modes     "1024x600"
	         Depth     24
        EndSubSection
EndSection

NOTE: - I believe that xorgcfg will select the driver "intel" for the graphics card. YMMV.

To configure the touch pad:

Code: Editing: /etc/X11/xorg.conf

Section "InputDevice"
	Identifier  "Mouse0"
	Driver      "synaptics" # This will enable scrolling, etc...
	Option	    "Protocol" "auto"
	Option	    "Device" "/dev/input/mouse0" # Touchpad.
	Option	    "ZAxisMapping" "4 5 6 7"
	Option      "CorePointer"
EndSection

To configure an external USB mouse:

Code: Editing: /etc/X11/xorg.conf

Section "InputDevice"
        Identifier  "Mouse1"
	Driver      "mouse"
	Option      "Device" "/dev/input/mouse1"
	Option      "Protocol" "auto"
	Option      "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
	Option      "Buttons" "5"
	Option      "SendCoreEvents" # '''DON'T FORGET THIS'''
EndSection

WLAN

See Atheros 5xxx and if you are using MadWifi, see the AR5006EG guide. Configure your card as described at Wireless/Configuration.

If you get the WLAN device up and working but can't list or associate with any access points, try flipping the wireless switch on the front-right of the laptop. It appears to have a physical switch which turns the wireless device off. Without the LEDs, it's difficult to tell if it's on or off.

I had to use the madwifi drivers from a recent snapshot [1] (not the trunk) otherwise the driver module would load, but fail to create any device. You can verify by using dmesg and checking for a problem reported by ath0 re the HAL and 0xe2. Also make sure you add 'madwifi' to your USE flags before compiling wpa_supplicant or it will not find the madwifi driver.

Sound

The was no support for Intel 82801G High Definition Audio in kernel-2.6.25. If, for some reason, emerge alsa-driver fails at compile time. You need to download latest alsa-drivers and install them manually (download latest alsa-driver from official ALSApage):

Code: Installing sound card

tar xvjf alsa-driver-1.0.17.tar.bz2
cd alsa-driver*
./configure --with-cards=hda-intel --with-sequencer=yes
make
make install

Now, go and emerge alsa-utils. After that just run alsaconf and voila: you have you sound card configured. Use alsamixer to adjust volume (the sound level is *very* low by default). And don't forget rc-update add alsasound boot!

Works perfectly with Kernel 2.6.27_rc6 and newer -- 87.234.90.39 16:06, 1 October 2008 (UTC)

note* if you set ALSA_CARDS="hda-intel" on /etc/make.conf emerge will compile just the hda-intel driver and do not fails, probably the problem in the ebuild is for some other driver. It should work =)

Webcam

Code: Install your webcam

ACCEPT_KEYWORDS="~x86" emerge linux-uvc

Code: Check if your webcam is detected

# modprobe uvcvideo
# dmesg | grep -i video
...
uvcvideo: Found UVC 1.00 device USB 2.0 Camera (0c45:62c0)
...

It seems everything is okay. However to be sure, we need to emerge luvcview and record some movies.

Code: Capturing video

# ACCEPT_KEYWORDS="~x86" emerge luvcview
# luvcview -f yuv

Warning: If luvcview fails for some reason, try using "-f yuw" instead of "-f yuv"

SDCard Reader

I had trouble getting the SD Reader to use a SD card. It took me a while to figure out the info from the quote below. (not needed with linux 2.6.27-rc7)

From the Debian Wiki: The card reader is hidden for some reason, so you have to add "setpci -d 197b:2381 AE=47" to your rc.local script to unhide it on boot. A script to poll the card reader for card and power events (AC unplugged etc) is included on the recovery DVD shipped with the machine within the "hdc1._.tar.bz2" archive as /usr/sbin/jmb38x_d3e.sh.

Additionally, the SD Card must be inserted before the laptop boots to be properly detected.

You should see this if the machine has sucessfully detected a card in either slot.

Code: dmesg | grep mmc

mmc0: new SD card at address 1234
mmcblk0: mmc0:1234 SD01G 995328KiB
mmcblk0: p1

It shows that it found a 1GB card with a single partition, p1.

You can use the following device node to mount the card. /dev/mmcblk0 is the node of the whole card, like /dev/hda, and /dev/mmcblk0p1 is a partition on the card.

Code: Mount first partition on SD card

mount /dev/mmcblk0p1 /mnt/sd

Gentoo Wiki

Acer_Aspire_One_A110L

Contents

Hardware status

Hardware

Intro: Pre-installation notes

CFlags for Intel Atom

Kernel config

Kernel notes:

Video

Installing X.org

Configure X

WLAN

Sound

Webcam

SDCard Reader

See also