Linux on Laptops

Installing [Suse 10.0 and Mandrake 10.1] on [Acer 3614 WLMi]

Last updated: [09-01-2006]

General Hardware Specifications of [Laptop]:

Hardware Components	Status under Linux	Notes
Intel Celeron M 380 1.6Ghz	Works	No special procedure required during installation.
15.4 WXGA CrystalBrite TFT LCD	Works	Select AUO AUO Monitor 1024 x 768 (XGA) 16.7 Mi0. [24 Bit] Display in Installer
Intel 915 GM with 3D Accell	Works	Be sure to tick Activate 3D Acceleration
1024MB, DDR2	Works	No special procedure required during installation
80 GB Ultra ATA Hard Drive	Works	No special procedure required during installation
Modular Floppy Drive	Not Installed	Not Installed
Integrated Realtek 8139 Network Card	Works	No special procedure required during installation
AMBIT Microsystem Ethernet controller using Atheros 5212 chipset	Works	This requires post installation configuration. Instructions below
Internal 56k Modem	Doesn't Work	Winmodem unlikely to work.
Dual Layer DVD + RW Drive	Works	No special procedure required during installation
Lithium-Ion Battery	Works	No special procedure required during installation
Intel AC97 onboard Sound Card	Works	No special procedure required during installation

This laptop is operating under Kernel version [Suse 10.0 2.6.13-15-default]

Basic Installation of [Suse 10.0 OSS]:

General overview : The acer is a great peice of equipment. whilst I didn't get the Bluetooth going yet and the Winmodem is an ongoing problem overall I reall ylike this peice of Kit. and Suse 10.0 was able to get it up and running in great shape. Do take care during install when confuguring thet Video that you enable 3D acceleration this will save you having to do it later.

Additionally I was able to get this up and running in a similar stock way (i.e No Wireless, Bluetooth, Winmodem) With Mandrake 10.1 the only difference being that the Video was detected as VESA as Mandrake didn't seem to have th Intel 915GM video driver.

In addition I have to say that SuSE 10.0 really rocks..

My Rating 9/10 a great Laptop.

Getting things working :-

Onboard Wireless

The Acer 3614WLMI uses the Atheros 5212 Chip to provide 802.11 wireless. This is not directly supported by SuSe 10 as the required Kernel Module is non GPL. You therefore need to install the kernel-default-nongpl package to get it working

The installation DVD that I was using did not come with the default-kernel-nongpl extras on it so I had to add the following package repositories into YaST.

    http://download.opensuse.org/distribution/SL-OSS-stable/inst-source-java/
    http://download.suse.com/10.0/inst-source-extra/

Opensuse provides instructions on how to do this at

    http://www.opensuse.org/Package_Repositories

With the above package installed

kdenetwork3-wireless, this will allow you to control your wireless connection from KDE (I am sure there are others but this is what I used)

Configure the Wireless card correctly through YaST.

Use YAST > Network Devices > Netwrok Card > Edit > AMBIT Microsystem Ethernet > Advanced > Hardware Details.
add ath_pci into the Module Name.

Now Getting DVD, MP3, Windows Media and all that working. there is a really great set of instructions on this here.

http://softwareinreview.com/cms/content/view/2/17/

Unresolved issues

Bluetooth not configured
Windmodem unlikely to work

Contact Information (Optional)

support@adaptive-it.co.uk

Links:

http://download.opensuse.org/distribution/SL-OSS-stable/inst-source-java/
http://download.suse.com/10.0/inst-source-extra/
http://www.opensuse.org/Package_Repositories