GUIDE: SUSE 10.1 on Thinkpad T60 (1953-E4U) FOR BEGINNERS

Message

xtern0 · #1 Post by **xtern0** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 7:57 am

After discussions with some of my contractors and staff, and the fact that a ready guide for SUSE 10.1 on the Thinkpad T60 isn't out there yet, I decided to change distributions.

The other deciding factor was that after testing over the weekend, I discovered that EVERYTHING works on the T60 (with Intel 9xx video) under SUSE 10.1 with little or no kernel tweaking or module installs.

Regardless, here's the link change:

http://www.cryptosecurity.net/Suse_T60_DRAFT.htm

I will complete the Debian guide after the SUSE Guide. The Debian guide will not be as n00b-centric as the SUSE Guide.

Enjoy, and keep checking. Been quite a few years since I've authored an "beginners" document so it took me a lot longer than I anticipated. I went ahead and posted the local draft with only screenshots just in case some people out there were comfortable enough to jump ahead.

Cheers,

djc

xtern0 · #2 Post by **xtern0** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 3:55 am

OK, finally completed the really lame part - the step by step installation. My wife is able to install it, so it's sufficiently simple for anyone with a computer to install the operating system. I never even anticipated someone wondering what a hostname was. :0

The formatting is horrible, I'll work on this once the content is finalized. All I'm doing is importing from Word to html, so it looks like @ss right now. Ah, and please, no razzing for using MSWord in the beginning; I only have VMWare on my Windows box at the present time.

I guess the majority of the lurkers may become interested in the "Intermediate Users Start Here" section...or not.

Cheers,

djc

xtern0 · #3 Post by **xtern0** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 8:10 pm

Hey folks, sorry for the delay; the office has been crazy for the last couple of days.

Regardless, I'll be adding to it over the weekend. You should see something new by Monday for sure.

Cheers,

djc

xtern0 · #4 Post by **xtern0** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 3:17 am

OK, the HOWTO is updated to a point where the wireless network card now functions, patches are applied, etc.

I'll add screenshots tomorrow; I've got them all, just too darn lazy and its too darn late in the evening (morning?!) to do it.

Cheers,

djc

bitsoffish · #5 Post by **bitsoffish** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 6:52 am

could you kindly include how to setup xgl? i just couldnt get it working on my t60 with gma950

xtern0 · #6 Post by **xtern0** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 4:48 pm

OK, this is pretty straight forward...FOR INTEL GRAPHICS CARDS ON THE THINKPAD T60:

In no particular order:
1. Add the xgl package: YaST-->Software-->Software Mgmt
2. Add the compiz package: YaST-->Software-->Software Mgmt
3. Activate 3D acceleration in YaST (not sure it this needs to be done, but I did it just in case): YaST-->Hardware-->Graphics Card/Monitor.

Alternatively, you can follow the instructions at http://en.opensuse.org/Using_Xgl_on_SUS ... ing_Compiz

The above instructions basically tell you to create two executable files: /usr/local/bin/compiz.sh and /opt/kde3/env/kdewm.sh.

compiz.sh contains:
/usr/bin/compiz gconf & /usr/bin/gnome-window-decorator &

kdewm.sh contains:
export KDEWM=/usr/local/bin/compiz.sh

4. Log out and log back in to your window manager
5. Go to K Menu --> Utilities --> Desktop --> Control Center
6. Double click on "Desktop Effects" (this is one area where a double-click is required to open the new window).
7. Click on "Enable Desktop Effects."
8. Log out and log back in to your window manager
9. While holding down (Ctrl+Alt+leftmousebutton) move your mouse to drag your new screen cube.

Viola. You have xgl configured and working. Play with it, configure it, do whatever you like with it. But most importantly, have fun impressing the chicks with your three-dimensional johnson!

I will add this setup to the HOWTO as time permits.

Cheers,

X

bigtiger · #7 Post by **bigtiger** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 5:26 pm

xtern0, you are a real professional. I am studing your site and this thread. I may try SuSE someday on my X40. Thank you for your hard work.

christopher_wolf · #8 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 6:17 pm

Hey, really good job on the SuSE 10.1 guide.

Looks professional and well done; should be a very useful resource to quite a few people looking to install it on their T60s or other Thinkpads.

xtern0 · #9 Post by **xtern0** » Tue Jul 25, 2006 6:56 am

I have not forgotten about the HOWTOs, its just that I am tying up some loose ends at the office right now.

So don't lose heart, I will be updating regularly (aside from our company get together in Sturgis), throughout the rest of the summer.

I really want to get cracking on that Debian HOWTO as soon as possible, so my goal is to get the SUSE HOWTO to the point where all the Thinkpad hardware functions and then I'll migrate back to the Debian HOWTO.

Cheers,

X

xtern0 · #10 Post by **xtern0** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 6:35 am

Updated some more....

Still have to get the fingerprint reader up and running.

Left to test/do:

Fingerprint Reader
Modem/Fax
Bluetooth
Infrared
HDAPS
Integrated Securit Chip (this one is iffy)

After that its just a matter of properly formatting it and moving on the Debian Guide. Expect the Debian Guide to be ready sometime around the end of Augst (I'm heading off on vacation soon).

Cheers,

djc

xtern0 · #11 Post by **xtern0** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 4:26 pm

Updated with anchors, smoothed a lot of the formatting, fixed some bad links that happened after trying to work on this at 4 in the morning, etc.

I hate trying to make things look pretty.

djc

christopher_wolf · #12 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 7:51 pm

Awesome work on the upates; looks pretty enough to read for just about everyone.

Don't forget to relax on your vacation!

xtern0 · #13 Post by **xtern0** » Sat Jul 29, 2006 7:17 am

OK,

Been playing with the current/available fingerprint reader setups. A binary blob...should have known. As far as the bioapi: I was able to get it to compile and install with the qt librariies. However, the GUI bioapi configurator serves no recognizable purpose other than a very simple GUI interface. So I backed out and removed the qt3-devel packages and recompiled without the qt libraries.

The install is relatively straight forward; I'll be posting a modified SUSE 10.1 script shortly. There is no need to modify the the permissions on /proc/bus/usb, and configuring your PAM common_auth is straightforward.

BIGGEST ADVANTAGE: whenever you su or perform any system admin function, you simply swipe your finger; both in the GUI and at the CLI. I'm impressed.

On a lighter note, an open source driver has been written!
http://atrey.karlin.mff.cuni.cz/~pavel/ ... nkfinger.c

My hat is off to this gentleman...Now, let's hope it can be added into the bioapi sooner rather than later.

On a side note....what is the point of keeping driver code proprietary? IMHO its like not allowing anyone to publish or distribute a repair manual for an automobile.

After the HDAPS, the rest shouldn't be an issue. Although, it would be cool to use the Integrated Security Chip functionality.

djc

xtern0 · #14 Post by **xtern0** » Sun Jul 30, 2006 5:44 am

Fingerprint reader updated.

Time to go on vacation...out of pocket for the next couple weeks. Sorry guys. Feel free to post contributions for configuring the HDAPS and other stuff.

Cheers,

djc

pundit · #15 Post by **pundit** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 6:45 pm

While this is awesome, a recent bit of news (apparently) removed even this the installation hurdle from getting people to run Linux on their Thinkpads:

Lenovo announced that they're going to be selling T60ps with Suse Linux Enterprise Desktop preloaded!

xtern0 · #16 Post by **xtern0** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 6:45 pm

Yah. One of our clients just sent us an email with the article; this explains why everything works.

Such is life. I will be ordering the SUSE preload disks shortly.

Not sure if it makes any sense to continue the HOWTO, since it will become moot shortly.

Cheers,

X

a_d_y_a · #17 Post by **a_d_y_a** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 8:57 am

Could you/someone else post step-step fo Ati x1300 users inorder to enable XGL/compiz?

xtern0 · #18 Post by **xtern0** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 11:34 pm

Unfortunately, all we ordered were T60s in the configuration used for the Guide. In other words, I do not have access to a machine with an ATI chipset. I could wing it, but that would be poor form.

Anyone who does have this chipset would rank on my cool list if they could post the results and give permission for me to add them to the HOWTO.

Cheers,

djc

xtern0 · #19 Post by **xtern0** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 3:12 am

You may want to try the following:

1. Installing the kernel-source package via YaST; then
2. Going to http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-65353
and retrieving the ATI driver for the T60p.
3. Once you get the driver installed, the steps should be similar (I would hope).

Worked with the modem driver. (updating the HOWTO as I write this, just finished a test fax).

Please let me know if the above ATI driver install works and I will update the HOWTO.

djc

littlesaint · #20 Post by **littlesaint** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 10:20 am

xtern0 wrote:You may want to try the following:

1. Installing the kernel-source package via YaST; then
2. Going to http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-65353
and retrieving the ATI driver for the T60p.
3. Once you get the driver installed, the steps should be similar (I would hope).

Worked with the modem driver. (updating the HOWTO as I write this, just finished a test fax).

Please let me know if the above ATI driver install works and I will update the HOWTO.

djc

The problem I found with Lenovos driver is anytime you update your kernel, you have to download the new kernel source and re-install the ATI driver (which is just the fglrx driver) so you get an updated kernel module. You may be better off just installing the xorg fglrx driver (which includes the kernel module) for your kernel. It should be listed in YaST.

xtern0 · #21 Post by **xtern0** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 12:08 pm

Sounds like an intentional breaking to me. I'll check their package installers and see what I find. If I figure out a work-around, I'll post it for God and the whole world to use.

However, it seems you have identified and resolved the problem, so this is probably a moot point.

Not sure if I would blame Lenovo or ATI; probably both in this particular circumstance.

Cheers,

X

a_d_y_a · #22 Post by **a_d_y_a** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 10:36 pm

Driver install works partially.
I get good speed in glxgears. But when you run sax or anything else it shows vesa framebuffer device. So when I enable Xgl it says 3d not supported. I am confused.

I would be glad if someone posted a nice step by step how to for xgl on suse 10.1

NightStorm · #23 Post by **NightStorm** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 1:33 pm

Nice guide, thanks!

Comments:
I was trying the fingerprint reader install. It might be helpful to explicitly note that the mkdir fingerprint is mkdir /root/fingerprint (which is how this works out anyway after doing the su - but in the explicit form there is no danger if someone leaves off the dash from the su command).

I found that downloading the script did not work because it comes down with embedded CRs in it. I had to do a tr or a dos2unix on it before it would work, so you may want to add that (i.e., "dos2unix < SUSE101_T60_fingerprint_installer.sh > SUSE101_T60_fingerprint_install-2.sh", then chmod u+x <file>; ./<file>).

After I did that .. it works!

Brian Wallen · #24 Post by **Brian Wallen** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 2:26 am

xtern0, thanks for the guide. It was enough to get me thinking that I'd be willing to use SUSE on my new T43, since I can't get Xandros 4 to install and even if I could, I'd probably not get many of the TP features to work.

A condition that I have to assure myself of is that I can get Crossover to play well with SUSE. I don't need many W32 apps, but I can't get along without Notes, Dreamweaver and Photoshop 7. Any opinion--about Crossover compatibility, not my choice of W32 apps?

You are looking for the applicability of your guide to other Thinkpads and I am willing to be a guinea pig and a collaborator in whatever way you think is appropriate. The T43 seems like a good candidate. I know that the HD subsystem is different in the T43 (I can think of other colorful metaphoric descriptions precluded by the rules of the forum) and might be a major problem for T43 installation. My T43 has the Intel GMA video option. If there are other gottchas that you are aware of that might save hours of travail if I try this.

I share your criteria about ease of use of Linux for Windows users. I think that the Xandros group make a strategically good choice when they bundled Crossover. Running Windows apps may be against your weaning policy, but I do limit myself to non-MS apps, which seems to follow the spirit of your approach and I get an immense amount of pleasure from running Windows apps without WIndows.

NightStorm · #25 Post by **NightStorm** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 9:37 am

Brian,

I've run Crossover under SuSE since 9.1 and it works well. I now run it under SUSE 10.1 on this Thinkpad T60p. My apps don't include your list so I can't comment, but for QuickBooks, Word, and Excel viewers it does what I need.

I don't know how different the T43 is from the T42, but I have a friend who I helped install 9.3 on his T42. The only problematic part was the built in Intel wireless which he could not get to work with WEP. For that he just punted and bought a cheap wireless PCMCIA card.

You could also consult Thinkwiki.org for your model.

Brian Wallen · #26 Post by **Brian Wallen** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 4:48 pm

Nightstorm, thanks for confidence-building in the SuSE/Crossover pairing. I've just never used Crossover with another distro.

The T43 HD subsystem is different in that it incorporated a newer Intel chipset that supports SATA, but then IBM/Lenovo didn't make a physical provision for a SATA connectors and included a SATA<=>PATA bridge so that the primary PATA HD would work with the SATA MB circuit. This limits the T43 to PATA drives, just like the T42, except that the T43 HD subsystem seems to have been a major kludge that provide no added user functionality over the T42. The problems that this caused are intensively described in the T43 forum here and are nicely summarized at http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Problems_ ... ux#Patches . According to my reading, SATA (at least as implemented on the T43) is not supported in the 2.6.15 kernel used currently in Xandros 4 and Xandros tech support has said I would likely have problems similar to those described by another user in the Xandros forum. Other distros may have found ways to patch this effectively.

It wouldn't be surprising to find that Lenovo has cleaned up this problem in the T60, since it does use SATA drives and I noticed that they have just released a new 2nd HDD Ultrabay Slim adapter for that may support SATA and perhaps even PATA drives as well.

I'll be happy if I find that SuSE deals equably with the T43 HD subsystem, but also not surprised if I have signficant problems.

NightStorm · #27 Post by **NightStorm** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 8:55 pm

Brian,

Sorry to hear about the T43 problems. I was not aware of the issues with that model visavis Linux. I guess that I'm fortunate that I did not upgrade my VAIO for a Thinkpad until late in the game.

Currently I've both SLED10 and SUSE 10.1 on this T60p and they both went on w/o any issues. Even the ATI driver installation is very smooth. Perhaps you've room for a small 6G trial partition just to see how it goes? Give one or both a try and let us know how you make out.

Brian Wallen · #28 Post by **Brian Wallen** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 4:06 am

Just some tracks here to assure others who may be following this thread that I had no problems with the SATA drive in installing either Xandros 4 nor openSuSE 10.1 on my T43. I did buy an extra Lenovo branded drive to try to avoid firmware problems.

guinness · #29 Post by **guinness** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 11:41 am

xtern0,
this is great guide, it help me a lot. I am linux newbie and your guide made configuring Suse on my T60 piece of cake.

I have troubles with xgl:

i installed XGL and COMPIZ via yast
updated ATI latest drivers from IBM (lenovo) web page

than when i go to yast control center and Graphic Card and Monitor properties "Activate 3D acceleration" is grayed out.

My LT is T60 with ATI X1300 card (2623D6U)

do you guys have any ideas why is not working?
thx

guinness · #30 Post by **guinness** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 4:59 pm

I got it

i used following steps to install the latest ATI driver:
Update your Kernel via YOU (YaST Online Update). Use

YaST -> Software -> Change installation Source -> Add

Protocol: http
Server Name: : www2.ati.com
Directory on Server: suse

to add the ATI http server as additional installation source.
Now use

YaST -> Software -> Install and Delete Software

to install the ATI/fglrx driver. Select the following packages:

x11-video-fglrx
ati-fglrx-kmp-<kernel-flavor>

and i can tell with this driver the screen looks amazing, beautiful. Friend of mine Apple fan is being jealous. Especially when i start to spin my desktop

spin it baby

ofcourse i have another problem, since i enabled the finger reader on log in screen when i type user name and password, press enter it takes up to 3 min to log in. It just sits there, it doesn't move, waits waits and than after 3min it starts to log in.

GUIDE: SUSE 10.1 on Thinkpad T60 (1953-E4U) FOR BEGINNERS

GUIDE: SUSE 10.1 on Thinkpad T60 (1953-E4U) FOR BEGINNERS

Whew! Got the lame part done with....

Sorry for the delay...

HOWTO (no screenshots yet) updated

SETTING UP XGL ON THE THINKPAD T60 - WITH THE INTEL 9xx GC

Re: HOWTO (no screenshots yet) updated

Updated

Fingerprint Reader

fantastic article

ATI Graphics driver setup....

Re: ATI Graphics driver setup....

Who is online