HP Tx2

The tx2 is a neat little notebook with novelty features such as a finger print scanner, touch screen, stylus, memory card docks and more. These may create difficulties for out-of-the-box linux distros and configuration hassle for gentoo users to get all/most features working. Instead of everyone independently struggling to get an optimized system, this page is intended to allow some collaboration on the best system for this laptop.

In particular, an optimised make.conf, a minimal completely working kernel config and fully featured xorg.conf for KDE4. With these a super fast gentoo system will be possible with one hour of system configuration (plus the traditional gentoo over night build) instead of a week of tinkering. This will save many of us time and should make gentoo - the linux OS of chose for TouchSmart owners.

New installations should use this page in conjunction with the Gentoo AMD64 Handbook

You may want to consider encryption. This tablet has been verified to work with the DM-Crypt with LUKS architecture using ext3-boot & ext4-root.

There are currently two camps detailed on this page for the HP TouchSmart tx2z 1300: --Camp A is with the gentoo-sources-2.6.31-r10 kernel for use of uvesafb (aka v86d) which allows for a framebuffered high-res console. This information will be merged with the next when a bug is resolved. --Camp B is with vanilla-sources-2.6.33.1 kernel for its improved support for the hardware of this tablet.

If you enjoy v86d's high-res console and do not mind waiting for the boot res' bug to be fixed, then go with Camp A. If you absolutely must have multi-touch right-now choose B, then see the recommendations to unmask .33.1 below.

grub.conf
uvesafb is a cool way to load a framebuffer for a high-res console. Here's what's recommended:

1) Configure the kernel; in the "Device Drivers" section select: Connector - unified userspace <-> kernelspace linker and Graphics support ---> Support for frame buffer devices ---> Userspace VESA VGA graphics support (that's CONFIG_CONNECTOR=y and CONFIG_FB_UVESA=y)

2) Edit /boot/grub/grub.conf---note  below, which matches the tablet's native resolution: (example only; please be sure to use the right boot & root locations for your box)

make.conf
The following example focuses primarily on the, which you will note are as simple as possible. In fact, allowing gcc to set its own flags by using " " perfectly compiles the software just for that box.  Therefore we recommend these settings for the HP TouchSmart tx2z 1300 after countless hours compiling and recompiling  &   using (for reference) all of these options: If you want to built a "stable system", use "-march=native" as shown here:

If you have already emerged world with, then after changing to ^above it is recommended to   and  , and then replace/reemerge any remaining k8-CFLAGS-packages using the following script-command: 

These settings have been tested to be stable with sys-kernel/gentoo-sources-2.6.31-r10. Kernel version selected for compatibility with uvesafb (v86d); notation here will be updated as soon as the resolution bug has been resolved.

This is another contributed make.conf, however it must be warned that the following  have been tested and do work, but nowhere near stable and reliable system. The best option for any system is to set " " allowing gcc to intelligently determine all of the CPU's available features. The following example has been left for continuity, however it is recommended to use the first example above^

Kernel Configuration
Camp A: gentoo-sources-2.6.31-r10

Kernel-version simply chosen for current support of v86d

Recommendations listed below have been verified to work with herein mentioned kernel revision.

WiFi Functionality 1) Kernel Configuration: Device Drivers --->        [*] Network device support  --->             Wireless LAN  --->                            [*] Wireless LAN (IEEE 802.11)                                 .                                 .                                 .                                           IEEE 802.11 for Host AP (Prism2/2.5/3 and WEP/TKIP/CCMP)                             [ ]     Support downloading firmware images with Host AP driver                                   Host AP driver for Prism2/2.5/3 in PLX9052 PCI adaptors                                   Host AP driver for Prism2.5 PCI adaptors

2)

Sound Functionality

edit the following file to get the right sound card drivers

/etc/modprode.d/alsa.conf: (append to the bottom of file) options snd-hda-intel model=toshiba

FYI-- "By the way, the newest alsa-driver (1.22.x) has a better driver for the tx2 soundcard. You will need to remove the alsa portion from the kernel and emerge the newest alsa-driver though. The new version does not need the toshiba option anymore and it also provides SPDIF support from the headphone port."

Sound Keys support:

Kernel Configuration: Device Drivers ---> [*] X86 Platform Specific Device Drivers --->   HP WMI extras {*}  WMI

Camp B: vanillla-sources-2.6.33.1

The following was tested on unmodified 2.6.33.1 linux kernel. To prevent compatabiliy problems you may wish to get the same kernel with the following commands.

Autounmask is a great tool to automatically unmasks packages. Always remember that packages are normally masked for good reasons and carelessly unmasking packages may break your system. The eselect is Gentoo's multi-purpose configuration tool. It normally is used to read news for Gentoo World and to choose between certain packages. In this case the kernel, the only thing it seems to do is creates one symbolic link. Remember to enter the correct number after the word set in the last command. If you rather do this manually

The following is a minimal fully feature and stable kernel for the standard hardware of the tx2. As this is a specific for the device, built-in functions over modules will be preferred.

xorg.conf
Choose a driver from those available.

Camp A: gentoo-sources-2.6.31-r10

The following recommendations have been tested to work well with ^this kernel and xorg-server-1.8.0 & 1.7.x

/etc/X11/xorg.conf

Note ^this file is for xorg-server-1.8.X utilizing evdev and the following input configuration file:

/etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/10-evdev.conf

Problems
fingerprint scanner ............. AES1600

stylus button

WebCam
Sound is clicky as all hell when you're using the "ondemand" governor.
 * Works fine with the Linux UVC driver, keep in mind it's YUV-only

There are some good recommendations for quieting fan speed, buttons and also screen rotation functionality @


 * note: Many touch-enhancements are available in kernel v2.6.32+ as noted, though possible with .31 with some fanageling

Wireless Broadcom BCM4322
WARNING WORK IN PROGRESS - Check back in a weeks time. IF YOU HAVE A GOOD WORKING SYSTEM, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PASTE YOUR KERNEL, MAKE.CONF AND XORG.CONF AND I WILL TEST. Currently having problems with stylus button, still to looked at fingerprint scanner.

Vendor: HP