Asus F3SV

If you also are a happy F3SV owner, at least drop a word in the talk page, or help to complete this wiki page.

The coresponding thread to this tutorial can be found in the Gentoo-Forums ''If you want to contribute here, please also post your update in the [forums.gentoo.org Gentoo Asus F3SV discussion thread] so we all know you have ;-)
 * [forums.gentoo.org Gentoo Asus F3SV discussion thread]

About this howto
This howto tries to summarize the configuration of Gentoo linux (or any linux for that matter) on the Asus F3SV. As this document doesn't cover the whole installation process, nor any other basic configuration measures, it will focus on the peculiarities concerned with this specific model. It isn't the ultimate truth either, as probably the most likely reason for it's existance is to serve as a written memory for users who have been through the ordeal of configuring such a system.

=The laptop= It has lot's of model names, for instance the Z53 is nearly identical I think. As submodel names there are AS018C, AS019C, AS016C, A1, AS087V, ...

Specifications for an F3SV-AS018C with processor and harddisk upgrade

 * 1) System:
 * 2) Processor:
 * 3) *Intel Core 2 Duo T7500 2.2GHz processor
 * 4) *4MB L2 cache on die
 * 5) *64kB L1 cache
 * 6) Platform/motherboard/chipset:
 * 7) *Intel Centrino Duo "Santa Rosa" platform
 * 8) *Mobile Intel 965PM Express north bridge chipset
 * 9) *ICH8-M south bridge chipset
 * 10) *800MHz front side bus
 * 11) *American Megatrends flash ROM BIOS
 * 12) Memory:
 * 13) *2GB (2x1GB) DDR2 667MHz SDRAM memory
 * 14) *Dual SO-DIMM socket, 1 slot user accessible
 * 15) *Expandable to 4GB
 * 16) Chassis
 * 17) *Dimensions: 365x269.5x28-40.5mm (WDH)
 * 18) *Weight: 2.95kg (incl. 6-cell battery)
 * 19) Storage and ports:
 * 20) Storage:
 * 21) Hard disk drive
 * 22) *internal SATA hard disk drive
 * 23) *160GB
 * 24) *7200rpm
 * 25) *Seagate Momentus 7200 ST9160823AS
 * 26) Optical drive:
 * 27) *DVD Super Multi internal drive
 * 28) *5X/8X/4X/8X/4X/24X/10X/24X/8X
 * 29) *LG HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GSA-T20N
 * 30) Card reader:
 * 31) *8-in-1 Card Reader
 * 32) *MMC/ SD/ Mini-SD /XD /Memory Stick/ MS Pro/ MS-Duo/ MS-Pro-Duo
 * 33) *Ricoh 5C832 (controller & IEEE1394 & multicard reader chipset)
 * 34) Ports and slots:
 * 35) Ports:
 * 36) *No serial, joystick, parallel or PS/2 ports
 * 37) *No infrared
 * 38) *1x Headphone-out jack: stereo, 3.5mm mini jack
 * 39) *1x Microphone-in jack: 3.5mm mini jack
 * 40) *1x Line-in jack: 3.5mm mini jack
 * 41) *1x RJ-11 Modem jack for phone line
 * 42) *1x RJ-45 LAN jack for ethernet LAN
 * 43) *4x USB 2.0 ports: 4 pins, backwards compatible with 1.0, at different sides
 * 44) *1x IEEE 1394 port: FireWire/iLink
 * 45) *1x DVI Port
 * 46) *1x TV Out (S-Video): PAL/...
 * 47) *1x VGA Port: Mini D-sub, external monitor video out 15-hole connector
 * 48) *1x covered RF-in for optional TV Tuner
 * 49) Slots:
 * 50) *Kensington lock socket
 * 51) *No SmartCard Reader slot
 * 52) *No PCMCIA slot
 * 53) *Express Card slot
 * 54) Audio and Video:
 * 55) Soundcard:
 * 56) *Built-in Intel High Definition Audio compliant audio chip
 * 57) *SoundBlaster Pro Compatible
 * 58) *Realtek
 * 59) *Support Audio Jack Detect for Vista Basic Logo
 * 60) *Support Audio CODEC criteria for Vista Premium Logo
 * 61) Speakers:
 * 62) *Built-in stereo speakers (1.5W) (dual)
 * 63) *Built-in microphone
 * 64) Videocard:
 * 65) *nVIDIA GeForce 8600M GS
 * 66) *256MB DDR2 VRAM memory
 * 67) *512/1024MB virtual VRAM memory with TurboCache
 * 68) *PCI Express interface
 * 69) *Highest resolution ...
 * 70) *Simultaneous LCD and CRT display at ...
 * 71) Display:
 * 72) *15.4" WXGA+ (1440x900) TFT colour LCD
 * 73) *16.7 million colours
 * 74) *Automatic LCD dim
 * 75) *Color Shine LCD
 * 76) Camera:
 * 77) *1.3M pixel swivel camera with LED lighting
 * 78) *Syntek AVStream STK-1135 USB2.0 1.3M WebCam
 * 79) Communication:
 * 80) Modem:
 * 81) *Intel High Definition audio modem
 * 82) *Motorola
 * 83) *Pass and support worldwide regulation
 * 84) *Onboard
 * 85) Wired network card:
 * 86) *10/100/1000 Mbps Base-T Gigabyte Ethernet card
 * 87) *Attansic L1
 * 88) *Pass and support worldwide regulation
 * 89) *Onboard
 * 90) Wireless network card:
 * 91) *Intel Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN
 * 92) *IEEE 802.11a/b/g/draft-n
 * 93) *Integrated as mini-PCI module
 * 94) *Pass and support worldwide regulation
 * 95) Bluetooth:
 * 96) *Bluetooth V2.0+EDR chipset
 * 97) *Onboard
 * 98) Controls:
 * 99) Keyboard:
 * 100) *Full-size 88-key regular non-curved keyboard
 * 101) *Inverted "T" cursor layout with 4 cursor keys
 * 102) *19mm spacing, 2.5mm key travel
 * 103) *12 function keys with these extra actions:
 * 104) **Fn+F1 Suspend switch
 * 105) **Fn+F2 Wireless (Bluetooth) switch
 * 106) **Fn+F3 E-mail
 * 107) **Fn+F4 Internet
 * 108) **Fn+F5 Brightness down
 * 109) **Fn+F6 Brightness up
 * 110) **Fn+F7 LCD on/off
 * 111) **Fn+F8 LCD/CRT switch display
 * 112) **Fn+F9 Touch Pad lock
 * 113) **Fn+F10 Volume on/mute
 * 114) **Fn+F11 Volume down
 * 115) **Fn+F12 Volume up
 * 116) **Fn+Space Power 4 Gear+
 * 117) **Fn+C Splendid
 * 118) *2 Windows keys
 * 119) *5 hotkeys: Instant launch Keys: Instant Fun PLUS, Power4 Gear +, Email, Internet, Touchpad Lock, Splendid
 * 120) *QWERTY US international layout
 * 121) *No Euro marking
 * 122) *Embedded numeric keypad
 * 123) *4 LED status indicators:
 * 124) **Power-on/Suspend
 * 125) **Battery Charging/full/low
 * 126) **Wireless indicator
 * 127) **Bluetooth Indicator
 * 128) Touchpad:
 * 129) *Built-in touchpad pointing device with two (seamless) buttons and scroll region
 * 130) *Can be disabled
 * 131) *Synaptics
 * 132) Fingerprint reader:
 * 133) *AuthenTec AES1610 (EntréPad)
 * 134) *Can also be used to scroll
 * 135) Energy:
 * 136) Battery:
 * 137) *6-cell Li-Ion removable internal battery pack
 * 138) *4800mAh
 * 139) *3S2P
 * 140) *53.28WHrs
 * 141) *2 hours battery life
 * 142) Powersupply:
 * 143) *AC adapter with 3-pin plug
 * 144) *Output: 19V DC, 90W, ?A
 * 145) *Input: universal auto-sensing 100—240V AC, 50/60Hz
 * 146) Power management:
 * 147) *ACPI2.0 support
 * 148) Tests and usage:
 * 149) Other parts:
 * 150) Security
 * 151) *BIOS Booting / HDD User Password Protection and security lock
 * 152) *Kensington lock hole
 * 153) *TPM (Trusted Platform Module)
 * 154) Mouse:
 * 155) *http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/business/products/mice_pointers/devices/153&cl=be,nl Logitech V100 optical wired]
 * 156) *OEM (Asus-branded) version
 * 157) Carry bag:
 * 158) *Asus-branded
 * 159) Software:
 * 160) *Asus Built or modified for Vista
 * 161) **Asus Win flash for BIOS and Driver live Update
 * 162) **MS Media Share Software
 * 163) **ASUS DVD 2000 / Cyber link Power DVD (w/ DVD model) w/ latest qualified version
 * 164) **Asus Screen Saver
 * 165) **Asus Live Update
 * 166) **Asus Life frame II
 * 167) **ASUS Multi-Frame
 * 168) **ASUS Wireless Console
 * 169) **Net 4 switch
 * 170) **Power 4 Phone
 * 171) **Asus NB Probe +
 * 172) **Color Enhancement (Splendid)
 * 173) **ASUS Security Protect Manager 2.0 (with Finger Print), ADSM (without Finger Print)
 * 174) **Infineon Security Platform Host SW
 * 175) **Instant Fun PLUS
 * 176) *Shipment bundle S/W:
 * 177) **Norton Internet Security 2007/3/25 (TrialVersion)
 * 178) **Adobe Reader Utility for read PDF files (V7.0)
 * 179) **Nero V6.x (Bundle with CD/DVD recorder)
 * 180) *Operating System
 * 181) **Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium NL/UK/FR
 * 182) Support:
 * 183) *2-year pick-up & return (limited global hardware warranty)
 * 184) *1-year battery pack warranty
 * 185) *On-line problem resolution through web interface (BIOS, Driver update)
 * 186) *OS install/uninstall consultation
 * 187) *Bundled software install/uninstall consultation
 * 188) *ASUS software supporting (Liveupdate, Power 4 Gear+, ASUS Probe)
 * 189) Also included:
 * 190) *Screen wiper
 * 191) *Cable wrapper
 * 192) *Power cable, manual, recovery cd's, warranty information
 * 193) Compliances:
 * 194) *Microsoft Windows Vista

Support
=Hardware= See Asus F3SV/Hardware.

=Kernel Config= Works with gentoo-sources kernel 2.6.22-r1 (optionally with suspend2 and reiser4 patches). (link to config to be added). =Hardware status=

Still very much in progress. = Pre-Installation Notes =

Wired networking
You need to get the atl1 driver seperately as it is not yet on many LiveCD's.

CPU & Compiler flags
Links:
 * Safe Cflags
 * HARDWARE_Intel_Core2_Duo

= Problems and Solutions =

ACPI & Hotkeys
ACPI basically works out of the box.

For the hotkeys and the LEDs there's the acpi4asus asus-laptop kernel driver. Normally, you should see an option for this in your kernel config (do not confuse with an older version called asus_acpi, make sure to disable 'ASUS/Medion Laptop Extras'!). The in-kernel version might work, but I only tried getting the latest from cvs and building it outside the kernel.

Unfortunately the DSDT is buggy as usual. To get all hotkeys working you need to correct the DSDT file. Download mine (or the latest) from acpi.sourceforge.net.

Here are some references: Asus G1,

Build it to check that it's warning and error-free and to get the dsdt.hex:


 * 1) iasl -tc dsdt.dsl

Copy dsdt.hex to /usr/src/dsdt_table.h

Modify your kernel configuration:

You will also need this (among other things) in your kernel configuration:

The video option should give control over the LCD brightness. Now load the other modules, the first to get the hotkeys to generate acpi events, the second to have a /dev/uinput for later:


 * 1) modprobe asus-laptop
 * 2) modprobe uinput

Run the following and press Fn+F12 for instance:


 * 1)  tail -f /var/log/acpid

You should see something like this:

tail -f /var/log/acpid You are obviously free to use any scripts that you like now to make use of these acpi events. You could start the asus-acpid init script for instance. That will work and will raise the volume in the background.

You won't get to see the gnome osd however because it calls amixer directly. My solution to this was to use acpi-support (something gentoo 'borrowed' from ubuntu), and in particular the acpi_fakekey app that converts acpi events to regular (old X) keycodes (as if you press a regular key).

The sunrise overlay has acpi-support-0.95 so get it from there. However only the acpi_fakekey.c from about acpi-support-0.49 did work for me, so I repackaged it. Or you could just emerge 0.95 and then copy this somewhere:

Then compile it:
 * 1) gcc -g -Wall -o acpi_fakekey acpi_fakekey.c

and copy it to /usr/bin/acpi_fakekey. (Re)Start both involved init scripts:


 * 1) /etc/init.d/acpid restart
 * 2) /etc/init.d/acpi-support restart

Now you should be able to define your key shortcuts in gnome-keybindings-properties.

Finally, you can copy these modified scripts (well, merged from asus-laptop and acpi-support actually) from me, which give you the best of both worlds (still volume control via amixer if gnome's not running):

/etc/acpi/mutebtn.sh

/etc/acpi/voldownbtn.sh

/etc/acpi/volupbtn.sh

Links: http://lapsus.berlios.de/

Multicard reader
This works practically out of the box, that is if you select the right kernel options:

Load the module with:

Then, when you insert a card, udev/hal/... should do it's work and you should be able to open it in your filebrowser.
 * 1) modprobe mmc_block

Webcam
The webcam has this usb id: Bus 003 Device 002: ID 174f:6a31

There is an experimental syntek driver at http://syntekdriver.sourceforge.net. Support for this device is in since revision 47. There also is an ebuild in the make at http://bugs.gentoo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=178946, but version 1.0.0 is not recent enough, you'll need svn for now.

At first you need to compile in videodev in your kernel:

You can then load the module as follows:
 * 1) modprobe videodev

Then checkout the svn repository using the following command:


 * 1) svn co https://syntekdriver.svn.sourceforge.net/svnroot/syntekdriver syntekdriver

Dig into directory containing sources and compile it:


 * 1) cd syntekdriver/trunk/driver
 * 2) make -f Makefile.standalone

If you fail with: "ctags - command not found" please emerge dev-util/ctags and link as following (or apply the ctags patch listed in the ebuild bug):


 * 1) ln -s /usr/bin/exuberant-ctags /usr/bin/ctags

Try to compile again and, if successful, copy the module to the right location: and load it


 * 1) make
 * 2) cp stk11xx.ko /lib/modules/2.6.22-gentoo-r1034/usb/video/stk11xx.ko
 * 3) modprobe stk11xx

The LED should flash briefly. There should be correct output in dmesg and you should be able to use the camera in apps using v4l like ekiga. For instance emerge camorama and launch it:


 * 1) emerge -av media-video/camorama
 * 2) camorama

With me the colours are reversed in camorama (blue and red) for some weird reason. The picture is great in other apps so not an issue.

You can also view the Asus screensaver that came with the Windows installation by opening "file:///Windows/Windows/Asus_Camera_ScreenSaver%20dir/ASUS%20Camara%20ScreenSaver.swf" (where the first Windows is the mountpoint for your C: partition) with firefox. The camera should work in flash as well.

Videocard
Use the latest binary nvidia drivers (100.14.09). But even they have still some issues: When using the framebuffer (vesafb or vesafb-tng) or bootsplash/gensplash, there is a problem switching tty's. On switching the screen turns black with lines (or coloured) and there is no other option than to reboot. Turning off the framebuffer and bootsplash/gensplash functionality makes it possible to switch tty's but ofcourse leaves out some things.

Links:
 * http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/nvidia-guide.xml
 * Nvidia
 * http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=482096
 * http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=1145683
 * http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/xorg-config.xml
 * X.Org

Soundcard
Typical alsa installation using hda-intel driver. Links:
 * http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/alsa-guide.xml
 * HOWTO_ALSA_Complete_%28includes_dmix%29
 * http://bugtrack.alsa-project.org/main/index.php/Matrix:Module-hda-intel

Bluetooth
Typical installation using in kernel modules and bluez. Links:
 * http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/bluetooth-guide.xml

DVD-recorder
Nothing device-dependent, typical installation of for instance cdr-tools.

Touchpad
Typical installation via the X.org Synaptics driver module.

The touchpad has a lot of friction so you will mostly need to set the options to more sensitive values. Also it has a dedicated scroll area on the right side. It seems this area was added to a regular touchpad without real hardware support for it. The area only has one x value, namely 8176 (using synclient). There are no x values between about 6000 and 8176 (it just jumps discretely when you move your finger). This means it cannot detect horizontal movement, as with the smaller touchpads where you just set the scroll area using software. This is confusing when you bring your finger too much to the right when moving your mouse normally (things become non-linear), as there is only an imaginary boundary and no real edge.

Links: Synaptics Touchpad

Wired networking
After the Gentoo installation this is just a typical configuration using the kernel atl1 driver.

Links:
 * http://atl1.sourceforge.net/
 * http://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic-t-566232-highlight-asus.html

Wireless networking
Typical installation using the iwlwifi 4965 driver. I used the latest version (not in portage) however. There also might be some small issues still (like needing to choose a low channel number).

Links:
 * iwlwifi
 * http://intellinuxwireless.org/
 * http://bughost.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=1390
 * http://bughost.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=1379

Modem
Alsa can make the winmodem look like a SmartLink softmodem for use with slmodem. Actually nearly all modems today are used this way. Then you can use a dialer like for instance wvdial. So, once again, this would be a quite typical installation.

There is however an slmodem/alsa bug and you will need to get the latest slmodem source and then patch it with the simple patch found at Hell Labs. As of the slmodem-2.9.11-20070813 tarball, this patch is still necessary.


 * 1) patch -p1 < slmodem-2.9.11-alsa-period-size.patch

Compile slmodem with:
 * 1) SUPPORT_ALSA=1 make
 * 2) SUPPORT_ALSA=1 make install

Then start slmodem manually (or later on use the gentoo init scripts, you can maybe copy these from the gentoo slmodem package): This is because of: You might get this if you don't use the patch:
 * 1) slmodemd --country BELGIUM --alsa hw:0,6
 * 1) card 0: Intel [HDA Intel], device 6: Si3054 Modem [Si3054 Modem]
 * 1) error: period size 48 is not supported by playback (64)

WvDial needs the line in /etc/wvdial.conf for it to work, but other chatscripts work.
 * 1) Carrier Check = no

I also needed to use with wvdial at least once to get past "No carrier detected". However gnome-ppp seems to be able to also do it with the default ATM1L3DT.
 * 1) Dial Command = ATDT


 * 1) wvdial

It never really stops dialing but seems to just work once you get DNS information output.

Links:
 * http://arrrr.com/dv6567cl.shtml
 * HOWTO_slmodem

TPM
Links:
 * http://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic-t-566950-highlight-tpm.html
 * http://trousers.sourceforge.net/faq.html

Fingerprint reader
No driver yet. Links:
 * http://gkall.hobby.nl/
 * http://www.ag-networking.com/
 * http://verifinger-standard-sdk-linux-demo.download-576-38625.datapicks.com/
 * http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/How_to_enable_the_fingerprint_reader

Hardware sensors
Links:
 * Lm_sensors