Disclaimer
This is freely available
information which comes with absolutely no guarantees. Use at your
own risk.
Summary
I describe the installation of Linux (Kubuntu 6.10) on a
Fujitsu-Siemens Amilo Pi1536 notebook.
The installation was flawless from the standard CD for Intel x86 architecture. After installation I had to install more packages from the Net.
Introduction:
This file contains
information relevant to installing and using Linux on a Fujitsu-Siemens Amilo Pi1536
notebook purchased in february 2007.
The notebook is equipped with an Intel Core Duo T2250 CPU @1.73 GHz, 1 GB of RAM, 120 GB disk, DVD Writer (double layer), Ethernet (10/100/1000), WiFi, memory card reader, 3 USB sockets, Firewire, integrated 56Kbps Modem.
Note: The architecture of Amilo Pi1536 is pretty similar to Amilo Pi1505 (the only
difference seems to be the graphic chipset), so you may find useful
the related document.
Installation:
I used Partition Magic 8.0 to shrink the space dedicated to Windows to 25
GB and free the remaining space for the Linux installation.
After that I simply bootstrapped from the kubuntu CD and, when I got the selection screen I launched the installation.
Notes: When asked about partitioning I selected: "install Linux on free space" and let the installation procedure to set up the disk.
The installation procedure proceeded without any problem whatsoever.
After the installation I modified the list of pakage repositories (as directed in http://www.ubuntuguide.org) to add more repositories, and installed the "synaptic" package (apt-get install synaptic); then I could do a full update and install more packages from a comfortable graphic interface.
Function Keys:
As usual the Pi 1536 has a few function keys to perform some adjustments.
Wireless:
The notebook is equipped with an Intel Pro Wireless 3945ABG chipset of
the "centrino" family.
The integrated wireless support is recongnized by the installation procedure and
all you have to do is to configure it properly. I use wlassistant
to start the wireless network with no problems.
Sound:
The soundcard is recongnized automatically and works.
Graphics:
The graphic support is provided by an "ATI mobility Radeon X800" video card.
It is not supported by the standard ATI drivers available on ubuntu repositories
In order to have it working at the proper 1280x800 resolution you have to install
the last driver provided by ATI itself (see: http://ati.amd.com/support/driver.html).
For your convenience you may a copy of the package which worked for me here.
Note: it is an executable which will extract and install the required driver, then
it will instruct you to use the utility aticonfig to set up the
xorg.conf file properly.
With the proper driver, the system provides many resolutions including
the default (1280x800)
for normal use and
the 1024x768 resolution to be used when connecting an external
projector.
Because the <F4> keys is not working, I've found a suggestion on how to modify
the Xorg config file to have the external monitor output always enabled (I did not test it on this
particular Laptop, but it should work.
You must locate into file /etc/X11/xorg.conf the Section "Device" and add two
Option lines as follows:
Section "Device"
Identifier .....
Driver .....
.....
Option "MonitorLayout" "CRT,LFP"
Option "Clone" "true"
EndSection
For your reference here is the xorg.conf file (without the
above modification because I cannot test it).
Modem:
I've not tested the Modem.
Remarks:
The Amilo Pi1536 looks remarkably well supported by current Linux.
The only untested device is the modem (if someone does the test,
please send me a note to be added to this "HowTo").
Luca Fini (lfini
arcetri.astro.it) ---
Home page