Debian Sid (Unstable) on Acer Ferrari 4005

Debian really is beginning to rock on AMD64 platform as well.

Install was quick as usual. Here are some notes from customizing Debian for my Acer Ferrari 4005:

X

• Out of the box, xorg.conf produced a black screen. I added the following to xorg.conf (Device section) and rebooted. X came back fine:

Option "CRT2Position" "clone"
Option "MonitorLayout" "LVDS,CRT"

Here is the full xorg.conf file:

---
Section "Files"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/misc"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/misc"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/cyrillic"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/cyrillic"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi/:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi/:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi/:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi/:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/Type1"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/Type1"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi"
# path to defoma fonts
FontPath "/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType"
EndSection

Section "Module"
Load "i2c"
Load "bitmap"
Load "ddc"
Load "dri"
Load "extmod"
Load "freetype"
Load "glx"
Load "int10"
Load "vbe"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
Driver "kbd"
Option "CoreKeyboard"
Option "XkbRules" "xorg"
Option "XkbModel" "pc104"
Option "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Configured Mouse"
Driver "mouse"
Option "CorePointer"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
Option "Protocol" "ImPS/2"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "true"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "ATI Technologies Inc Radeon Mobility X700 (PCIE)"
Driver "ati"
BusID "PCI:1:0:0"
Option "CRT2Position" "clone"
Option "MonitorLayout" "LVDS,CRT"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Generic Monitor"
Option "DPMS"
HorizSync 28-84
VertRefresh 43-60
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Device "ATI Technologies Inc Radeon Mobility X700 (PCIE)"
Monitor "Generic Monitor"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Depth 1
Modes "1680x1050"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 4
Modes "1680x1050"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 8
Modes "1680x1050"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 15
Modes "1680x1050"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "1680x1050"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1680x1050"
EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Default Layout"
Screen "Default Screen"
InputDevice "Generic Keyboard"
InputDevice "Configured Mouse"
EndSection

Section "DRI"
Mode 0666
EndSection
----

• Added msttcorefonts. apt-get install msttcorefonts
  
• Installed ndiswrapper and configured wireless. The following link was of great help:

http://ndiswrapper.sourceforge.net/mediawiki/index.php/InstallDebianEtch

One thing the above did not mention was the fact you need to add 'bcm43xx' module to the kernel module blacklist so that it does not screw up ndiswrapper:

Add 'blacklist bcm43xx' to /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.

Rebooting the server and subsequently using network-admin to configure the wireless card did the trick. Really smooth sailing here.

• Configured the bluetooth mouse by doing the following:

Edit /etc/default/bluetooth and set HIDD_ENABLED=1 as indicated.

Restart /etc/init.d/bluetooth and run hidd --search as root. hidd connects to the bluetooth mouse and you are all set.

Installing Sun JWSDP 2.0 on Fedora Core 6 (and other Unix types)

Before invoking the installer, ensure you set this parameter as shown in below:

_POSIX2_VERSION=199209 ./jwsdp-2_0-unix.sh 

Full details at:

http://bugs.sun.com/bugdatabase/view_bug.do?bug_id=6392008

Fedora 6 on Acer Ferrari 4005

Still a bit rough around the edges. Here's my configuration and customization efforts:

X

• The default xorg.conf generated was only able to set a max resolution 1440x1024. I had to use the xorg.conf (tried and tested) found in my blog and it is working fine. Still hangs on logouts.

WLAN

• Install ndiswrapper and kmod-ndiswrapper from rpm.livna.org
• Download Windows 64-bit driver for the broadcom wireless from Acer support site.
• Set it up the usual way (ndiswrapper -i bcmwl5.inf etc.)
• You got a functional wireless connectivity in no time.
  

Sun Java

• Simply download and install JDK 1.5.0_09 and JRE 1.5.0_09 (32-bit for JavaWS and plugin support) in /opt.
• Use alternatives to point system to use Sun Java rather than the native gcj. The sequence of steps below:
  

# alternatives --install /usr/bin/java java /opt/jdk1.5.0_09/bin/java 2

# alternatives --install /usr/bin/javac javac /opt/jdk1.5.0_09/bin/javac 2

# alternatives --config java

# alternatives --config javac

# alternatives --install /usr/bin/javaws javaws /opt/jre1.5.0_09/bin/javaws 2

# alternatives --config javaws

• Grab J2EE 5 Tools Bundle (includes Netbeans IDE) and get started quickly.

Other Add-on to make a functioning laptop

• EMACS
• vnc
• cvs
• subversion
  

IE7 rocks

Although it appears to have copied the tabbed browsing ideas from Opera and Firefox (or, is there such a thing as originality in Tech these days?), IE7 is performant and nimble.

Some sites don't work quite correctly. But it is certainly more than worthy of a quick upgrade.

Here's where you get can IE7 for WinXP and above:

Microsoft's IE Download Site

Opera 9.02 for Solaris x86 really rocks

It is blindingly fast compared to firefox or any other browser out there. Kudos to Opera Team!!

You can get it from the Opera download link

How to add Microsoft core fonts to openSolaris?

This is how I did it :)

• Download corefonts from here
• Extract contents of the above into a temporary location.
• Copy just the ttf files from /fonts into /usr/lib/X11/X11/fonts/TrueType
• Reboot the server (This is mandatory since the font caches etc. need to be updated)
• Voila, you see better web pages....
  

How to be happy?

How to get immediate peace in life?


Do your best and leave the results to God

Accepting the outcomes is equal to aligning yourself with God's thinking. Drives stress away immediately.

Be an observer and do not keep reacting to every event, stimulus or factor.

Does money buy happiness?

The emphatic answer is NO. It is a tool just like any other. Your mind, brain, hands, internet are all tools. Money is just a tool.

Some people who make less money than what is considered "enough" for normal material comforts seem happier than those that do. How is this possible?

I think it is the "attitude" and "temperament" that make one happy rather than any other external factor such as money, health, good friends, supportive relatives etc.

This is hard to believe especially for those who are "wallowing" in deep sorrow or sadness or trouble. If they think they are in deep doodoo, they will be and continue to be. If they think they are cool, they will be.

Mind is a funny animal. As Bhagwad Gita says, it can either be your best friend or worst enemy.

May happiness come to all of us from all directions!!!

Debian Etch on Acer Ferrari 4005

X.org config is always the fun part...

Here is a working configuration:

# /etc/X11/xorg.conf (xorg X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using
# values from the debconf database.
#
# Edit this file with caution, and see the /etc/X11/xorg.conf manual page.
# (Type "man /etc/X11/xorg.conf" at the shell prompt.)
#
# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only*
# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg
# package.
#
# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated
# again, run the following command:
#   sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

Section "Files"
       FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/X11/misc"
       FontPath        "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/misc"
       FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/X11/cyrillic"
       FontPath        "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/cyrillic"
       FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi/:unscaled"
       FontPath        "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi/:unscaled"
       FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi/:unscaled"
       FontPath        "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi/:unscaled"
       FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/X11/Type1"
       FontPath        "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/Type1"
       FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi"
       FontPath        "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi"
       FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi"
       FontPath        "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi"
       # path to defoma fonts
       FontPath        "/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType"
EndSection

Section "Module"
       Load    "i2c"
       Load    "bitmap"
       Load    "ddc"
       Load    "dri"
       Load    "extmod"
       Load    "freetype"
       Load    "glx"
       Load    "int10"
       Load    "type1"
       Load    "vbe"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
       Identifier      "Generic Keyboard"
       Driver          "kbd"
       Option          "CoreKeyboard"
       Option          "XkbRules"      "xorg"
       Option          "XkbModel"      "pc104"
       Option          "XkbLayout"     "us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
       Identifier      "Configured Mouse"
       Driver          "mouse"
       Option          "CorePointer"
       Option          "Device"                "/dev/input/mice"
       Option          "Protocol"              "ExplorerPS/2"
       Option          "Emulate3Buttons"       "true"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
       Identifier      "Synaptics Touchpad"
       Driver          "synaptics"
       Option          "SendCoreEvents"        "true"
       Option          "Device"                "/dev/psaux"
       Option          "Protocol"              "auto-dev"
       Option          "HorizScrollDelta"      "0"
EndSection

Section "Device"
       Identifier      "ATI Technologies, Inc. Radeon Mobility X700 (PCIE)"
       Driver          "ati"
       BusID           "PCI:1:0:0"
       Option  "CRT2Position"  "clone"
       Option  "MonitorLayout" "LVDS,CRT"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
       Identifier      "Generic Monitor"
       Option          "DPMS"
       HorizSync       28-84
       VertRefresh     43-90
EndSection

Section "Device"
       ### Available Driver options are:-
       ### Values: : integer, : float, : "True"/"False",
       ### : "String", : " Hz/kHz/MHz"
       ### [arg]: arg optional
       #Option "NoAccel" # []
       #Option "SWcursor" # []
       #Option "Dac6Bit" # []
       #Option "Dac8Bit" # []
       #Option "PanelOff" # []
       #Option "DDCMode" "false"
       #Option "MonitorLayout" # []
       Option "MonitorLayout" "LVDS,CRT"

       #Option "IgnoreEDID" # []
       #Option "UseFBDev" # []
       Option "MergedFB" "true"
       Option "CRT2HSync" "30-100"
       Option "CRT2VRefresh" "40-75"
       Option "CRT2Position" "Clone"
       #Option "MetaModes" # []
       #Option "MergedDPI" # []
       #Option "MergedXinerama" # []
       #Option "MergedXineramaCRT2IsScreen0" # []
#Option "MergedNonRectangular" # []
#Option "MergedMouseRestriction" # []
#Option "DisplayPriority" # []
#Option "PanelSize" "1680x1050"
#Option "ForceMinDotClock" # 
#Option "ColorTiling" # []
#Option "VideoKey" #
#Option "RageTheatreCrystal" #
#Option "RageTheatreTunerPort" #
#Option "RageTheatreCompositePort" #
#Option "RageTheatreSVideoPort" #
#Option "TunerType" #
#Option "RageTheatreMicrocPath" # 
#Option "RageTheatreMicrocType" # 
#Option "RenderAccel" # []
#Option "SubPixelOrder" # []
#Option "ShowCache" # []
#Option "DynamicClocks" # []
#Option "BIOSHotkeys" "true"
#Option "VGAAccess" # []
#Option "ReverseDDC" # []
#Option "LVDSProbePLL" # []
       Option "MetaModes" "1680x1050-1280x1024 1400x1050-1280x1024 1280x1024-1024x768 1024x768-1024x768"
       Identifier "Card0"
       Driver "ati"
       VendorName "ATI Technologies Inc"
       BoardName "Radeon Mobility X700 (PCIE)"
       BusID "PCI:1:0:0"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
       #DisplaySize 330 210 # mm
       Identifier "Monitor0"
       VendorName "SEC"
       ModelName "0"
       Modeline "1680x1050" 121.0 1680 1704 1792 1876 1050 1051 1054 1065 -hsync +vsync
       #Modeline "1680x1050" 147.14 1680 1784 1968 2256 1050 1051 1054 1087 -HSync +Vsync
       #HorizSync 28-100
       #VertRefresh 40-72
EndSection

Section "Screen"
       Identifier      "Default Screen"
#       Device          "ATI Technologies, Inc. Radeon Mobility X700 (PCIE)"
       Device          "Card0"
#       Monitor         "Generic Monitor"
       Monitor         "Monitor0"
       DefaultDepth    24
       SubSection "Display"
               Depth           1
               Modes           "1680x1050"
       EndSubSection
       SubSection "Display"
               Depth           4
               Modes           "1680x1050"
       EndSubSection
       SubSection "Display"
               Depth           8
               Modes           "1680x1050"
       EndSubSection
       SubSection "Display"
               Depth           15
               Modes           "1680x1050"
       EndSubSection
       SubSection "Display"
               Depth           16
               Modes           "1680x1050"
       EndSubSection
       SubSection "Display"
               Depth           24
               Modes           "1680x1050"
       EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
       Identifier      "Default Layout"
       Screen          "Default Screen"
       InputDevice     "Generic Keyboard"
       InputDevice     "Configured Mouse"
       InputDevice     "Synaptics Touchpad"
EndSection

#Section "DRI"
#       Mode    0666
#EndSection

I should still check out DRI.

Latest beta releases of most used software

Latest beta releases of most used software

Firefox 2.0rc2 and thunderbird 2.0alpha1 really rock. Speed is pretty impressive. For a release tagged alpha1, thunderbird 2.0 is really stable. I use both at my work and at home :)

Although performance improvement is obvious, I don't really see any significant features in these releases. Much like how KDE releases are these days... Big list of features listed but none that really stand out.

I feel a plateau coming for firefox / thunderbird in terms of significant features offered unless they start to think tangentially...

OTOH, GAIM 2.0 beta3 really rocks. I can really see qualitative improvements in the UI and it feels more fun than the stiff 1.5.x releases.

Fedora Core 5 on Acer Ferrari

Fedora core 5 on Acer Ferrari 4005

Installed Fedora Core 5 on my Acer Ferrari Laptop last week. Pretty Cool, really.

Xorg configuration

Had issues with default xorg.conf generated. Has to tweak the following sections to make it work:

• Monitor
• Device
• Screen

After the tweaks, the laptop screen is all of 1680x1050.

Java configuration

I really needed Sun JDK 1.5.0_06 and Netbeans 5.0 on my laptop for my java development. This is what I did to install and configure them:

• Downloaded and installed Sun JDK 1.5.0_06 (Linux ADM64 edition) from java.sun.com into /opt. I created a symbolic link '/opt/java' to point to this jdk.
• Used alternatives to make this jdk/jre default for the systeM:
• alternatives --install /usr/bin/java java /opt/java/bin/java 1500 -slave /usr/lib/jvm/jre jre /opt/java/jre --slave /usr/bin/rmiregistry rmiregistry /opt/java/bin/rmiregistry
• alternatives --display java

• Downloaded and installed netbeans 5.0 from netbeans.org.

Java Environment and Netbeans were fully functional and very performant!