ThinkVantage tools for linux

[ischg]

I just found out that lenovo actually ported its ThinkVantage tools for the SLED-supported T60p (thanks to Osho / linux-thinkpad digest for this info). The link is:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-65367

Right now I'm wondering whether any of these can be used for the T60 and whether I could/should put them on my T60 once it arrives ... . Btw, do you guys think that those tools are only usable in SLED or can they be used in other linux distros as well?

[mariner09]

You might have success on any rpm-based distro, not sure you could get it working in a debian system.

[littlesaint]

I'd like to see if these work under openSuse 10.1 or if they require SLED 10. The two are pretty much the same right now, but as openSuse moves forward, it may break something until SLED catches up.

[NightStorm]

I found that everything except the modem works under openSUSE 10.1. The modem (hsfmodem) tries to compile a kernel module and fails.

[yossarian]

One has to wonder whether the modem driver works under previous models of thinkpads...

I mean, it's bound to be a connexant modems..

Maybe it's worth investigation to see if it works on the t4x modems.

If not, we should petition lenovo to tweak their drivers so that it does.

[NightStorm]

I'm curious about the way Lenovo configures a SLED 10 install the a Thinkpad.

I have both openSUSE 10.1 and an eval. of SLED10 on my T60p. As I've already noted I installed these utilities under openSUSE 10.1. A while ago I booted into SLED10 and tried them there with an install of SLED10 that goes with the default GNOME interface. I notice that one or more of the utilities gives an error when it cannot find some subdirectory within the /opt/kde tree. Furthermore the install instructions that accompany these utilities refer to the "K" menu.

Normally SLED10 features GNOME but does Lenovo instead install it with KDE?

[littlesaint]

The last thing I read is they weren't installing anything. You get a blank HD and a copy of SLED, or you may even have to download SLED yourself.

[ischg]

That's correct. But once you have SLED installed, they provide some tools for various hardware issues. I'm especially interested in the power management package, since I have some high pitched noise problems when operating in CPU state 3/4 on battery (in combination with wireless). I just got my T60 yesterday and I'm not sure whether I should stick with it.

[littlesaint]

I'm curious about the way Lenovo configures a SLED 10 install the a Thinkpad.

I have both openSUSE 10.1 and an eval. of SLED10 on my T60p. As I've already noted I installed these utilities under openSUSE 10.1. A while ago I booted into SLED10 and tried them there with an install of SLED10 that goes with the default GNOME interface. I notice that one or more of the utilities gives an error when it cannot find some subdirectory within the /opt/kde tree. Furthermore the install instructions that accompany these utilities refer to the "K" menu.

Normally SLED10 features GNOME but does Lenovo instead install it with KDE?

It looks like the Thinkpad Configuration Utility requires KDE as I can't get it to run under GNOME, but most of what it does can be accomplished with YAST. I have the ATI driver working, but it looks like you have to re-install it anytime you update the kernel so it can build a new kernel module. Which means you have make sure you keep your kernel source up-to-date along with the kernel. Since it's basically just the fglrx driver, I don't know if it's worth the trouble either. I haven't tried Access Connections or Power Management yet.

[Bgradid]

KDE applications will work fine under Gnome as long as you have the libraries installed

[littlesaint]

KDE applications will work fine under Gnome as long as you have the libraries installed

The installer looks for KDE applet directories that are only created with KDE installed. I tried creating them manually, but it looks like these "apps" are some sort of applet that only runs under KDE's desktop. I'm a bit of a noob with gnome and KDE, so it is possible I'm doing something wrong, but if this is supported software, I would think it would work better with little to no user intervention to get it working.

[holr]

do you know if the access connections will work with atheros-based cards? I dont know what configurations the t60's can come in. I have a t43p and tried the software without joy. Sure its "designed" for the t60(p) but i thought Id have a little more luck than i did...

[NightStorm]

I tried it on a non-IBM laptop with an Atheros PCMCIA card under SuSE 10.1 just to see if it would work or not. It does not.

[kelvinq]

but no support for other models besides the T60p?

no R51 support? or X40/60? Not even T40?

the rest of us feels left out of the rain...

[tatwell]

For anyone who may be curious as to whether ThinkVantage Access connections will work on a T60...it will. I have a T60 1953D9U,running Suse 10.1 dual boot, I just installed the package from Lenovo and it installed without problems, and so far seems to be working correctly. I haven't tried it at another site to see how well it switches, but I suspect that it will work as it should. If I have any problems I'll report then here.

[gabebega]

Hi,

I have installed Access connections. It works ok with the following restrictions

1) I use Gnome. The notification of Access Connections is developed for KDE. If you want to change your location you need to start the Access connection program
2) Cannot get Fn + F5 to work. (Well I have several problems with Fn keys so maybe that is the reason)

3) In KDE, the Access Connection applet loads only after providing root password


Thats all

[tatwell]

After a few days working with access connections I found that it mostly works. I haven't had the auto switching feature work, I appear to have all the configuration correct, but it will not switch automatically. I do not have to input root password, but I did before I configured the adapter in yast, Fn+F5 doesn't work either, but I am not sure that all the function keys will work under linux with my model T60. All in all I find that access connections seems to be easier to use than network manager, at least for me. Before I got the T60, my old laptop was a 6 year old HP Pavillion and I used kwifimanager to manage my connections. Kwifimanager worked great for me, after I wrote a few scripts to automate the switching process. I am going to work with access connections some more, to see if I can get the switching process to work.

[Mr. The Guy]

After a few days working with access connections I found that it mostly works.

This almost finalizes a T60 purchase for me. I now use Gentoo, but will switch to SUSE if I can get the ThinkVantage tools to work on a T60...
Does everyone have a screen whining problem? I'm strongly considering a 1953EQU (Core 2 Duo) w/the 1400x1050 FlexView screen.
Is there a battery-performance hit using Linux?

[dfumento]

ThinkVantage tools worked for me when installing SLED 10. See:
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=31975

[tatwell]

I have not had a screen whining issue. MY t60 is a 1953D9U, I have had it a couple of months now, I originally put Suse 10.1 on it while waiting for sled to be delivered, thinkVantage tools worked on suse, and I have since removed suse and installed sled 10, once again the tools worked just fine, except for the auto switching, that does not work for me, and the fn f5 does not work, but it is not a big deal for me. I have not noticed that battery working time is less than under XP, so I can not answer that question until I do a time comparison, I think that I get 4 hours at least under sled, at least I did last night while doing a term paper, but I will at some point check it under windows and compare to sled. I am very happy with my T60, I wish I had bought one a long time ago. I have not used any other Linux os on it , so I can only comment on how well suse products work.