Difference between revisions of "Installation notes ca.2007"

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(←Created page with 'notes: 6/07 I'm upgrading from {{A31p}} to {{T42p}} and am going to document Linux installs. I previously had an {{A30}} which was very nix friendly, but the A31p was ano...')
 
(minor edits and HW config)
 
(4 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
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notes:
 
notes:
  
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6/07 I'm upgrading from {{A31p}} to {{T42p}} and am going to document Linux installs. I previously had an {{A30}} which was very nix friendly, but the A31p was another story altogether. I also have an {{X22}} with {{Fedora Core}}6 and a {{T23}} with PCLinuxOS 93a.
+
6/07 I'm upgrading from {{A31p}} to {{T42p}} and am going to document Linux installs. I previously had an {{A30}} which was very nix friendly, but the A31p was another story altogether. I also have an {{X22}} with {{Fedora}}6 and a {{T23}} with PCLinuxOS 93a.
  
 
When I purchased the A31 over 2 years ago getting a fully functional Thinkpad using an ATI vid card in Linux was over my head. Not that I've become an expert by any means, but I feel confident I can get the T42P working for personal and work use.  
 
When I purchased the A31 over 2 years ago getting a fully functional Thinkpad using an ATI vid card in Linux was over my head. Not that I've become an expert by any means, but I feel confident I can get the T42P working for personal and work use.  
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Now after settling into the job (Net Admin f/ISP) and deciding to stay for a while, I find I need Internet and network access from 3 different locations as well as to have a light, small, long-lived PC for field work. I used to use the T23 for field work, but it's no lightweight. Now I'm using the X22 and am very, very happy with it. I plan to upgrade it next to an {{X31}} or {{X40}}. For the 3 different locations (Office, Apt, Home) I had 3 different PCs and OSs! Now I'm planning to carry the T42p, it being w/o battery almost 3 lbs lighter than the A31p, between Homes and Office and the X22 will remain in my field pack for onsite work.
 
Now after settling into the job (Net Admin f/ISP) and deciding to stay for a while, I find I need Internet and network access from 3 different locations as well as to have a light, small, long-lived PC for field work. I used to use the T23 for field work, but it's no lightweight. Now I'm using the X22 and am very, very happy with it. I plan to upgrade it next to an {{X31}} or {{X40}}. For the 3 different locations (Office, Apt, Home) I had 3 different PCs and OSs! Now I'm planning to carry the T42p, it being w/o battery almost 3 lbs lighter than the A31p, between Homes and Office and the X22 will remain in my field pack for onsite work.
  
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Circumstances, I sold the A31 and haven't received the T42 yet, cause me to use the T23 temporarily as my desktop. Also, when I get the T42 I'll have to slam XP onto it and get back to work, because the T23 can't handle some of the app's I use. Also I still need to figure out Kisio and Google Earth Pro in Linux to replace Visio and TopoUSA in Winderz. Until I do that and migrate all of my proprietary files, I can't go Linux at work.
+
Circumstances, I sold the A31 and haven't received the T42 yet, cause me to use the T23 temporarily as my desktop. Also, when I get the T42 I'll have to slam XP onto it and get back to work, because the T23 can't handle some of the app's I use. Also I still need to figure out Kivio and Google Earth Pro in Linux to replace Visio and TopoUSA in Winderz. Until I do that and migrate all of my proprietary files, I can't go Linux at work.
  
 
Since I'll be using the T42 for personal as well as work use, I'll be dual-booting by day 2. My current favorite personal desktop distro is PCLinuxOS 93a and I'll be trying that first to see how it likes the T42.
 
Since I'll be using the T42 for personal as well as work use, I'll be dual-booting by day 2. My current favorite personal desktop distro is PCLinuxOS 93a and I'll be trying that first to see how it likes the T42.
  
 
I'll be back @ 7/07 to submit the initial installation notes.
 
I'll be back @ 7/07 to submit the initial installation notes.
 +
 +
06-24-2007 - Installed PCLinuxOS 2007 after using the LiveCD for an evening. The install has a few quirks that need attention for full laptop functionality.
 +
 +
First thing is to get cpufreq working, because mine was running full-speed all the time. Temps were @ 60c until I added an Antec cooling pad, which reduced temps to @ 52c. After config of cpufreq, about 15 min ago, my cpu temp is @ 48c. Hopefully a good cleaning and some Artic Silver will drop the temps some more.
 +
 +
10-02-1007 edit:
 +
The cpufreq info below needs an edit, because I disabled the script and have gotten better functionality with KCC and the Laptop module config. After trying a number of different BIOS, ACPI, Power/Battery settings I managed a fully functional ACPI with Suspend to RAM and CPU Throttling working very well
 +
 +
The cpufreq script is located at /etc/sysconfig/cpufreq on my machine.
 +
I added the min_freq and max_freq values, the rest are default entries.
 +
 +
#uncomment to set cpufreq governor after module load
 +
#possible choices are ondemand powersave userspace performance
 +
GOVERNOR=ondemand
 +
#minimum frequency
 +
MIN_FREQ=600
 +
#maximum frequency
 +
MAX_FREQ=1600
 +
#Uncomment to use acpi-cpufrq as fallback
 +
#USE_ACPI_CPUFREQ=yes
 +
 +
I found quite a bit of discussion regarding cpufreq previously and will have to search for it again. I may edit the above accordingly.
 +
And, I'll edit this whole mess and make it a standard wiki page when I get back from vacation.
 +
 +
9/11/07 - A tardy update...like with the T23 and PCLinuxOS 93, I stumbled on a working config after initially having serious problems with the install. And unfortunately like the T23 install, I didn't keep track of what worked and what didn't. In both cases I thought I would have to re-install and possibly even with another Linux distro. And in both cases I ended up with a very functional, albeit relatively slow, virtually bug-free and enjoyable OS.
 +
 +
Of the numerous Linux distros I've used over the last few years PCLinuOS continues to surprise and satisfy me. I'm actually using it full-time for work and personal use, have a mash up of our DB and Google Earth working and only boot Winderz to edit existing network diagrams with Visio and run a couple of  other proprietary apps.
 +
 +
For now I'll list my current HW config and summarize the OS config...next....
 +
 +
Hardware:
 +
 +
T42P 2379-DYU
 +
1.8GHz Centrino
 +
Fire-GL 128MB, etc.
 +
Seagate 80GB, 7200RPM
 +
2x1GB Samsung PC2700 RAM
 +
and 2xPort Replicator II

Latest revision as of 05:18, 3 October 2007

notes:

6/07 I'm upgrading from A31p to T42p and am going to document Linux installs. I previously had an A30 which was very nix friendly, but the A31p was another story altogether. I also have an X22 with Fedora6 and a T23 with PCLinuxOS 93a.

When I purchased the A31 over 2 years ago getting a fully functional Thinkpad using an ATI vid card in Linux was over my head. Not that I've become an expert by any means, but I feel confident I can get the T42P working for personal and work use. When I assumed the position...hehe...I have at work 1 1/2 years ago I chose to provide my own PC rather than use what was offered (D*ll! pos!) So the A31 migrated from personal desktop replacement (DTR) to my work DTR. Since then that's where it's been, not mobile and running a custom WinXP. Now after settling into the job (Net Admin f/ISP) and deciding to stay for a while, I find I need Internet and network access from 3 different locations as well as to have a light, small, long-lived PC for field work. I used to use the T23 for field work, but it's no lightweight. Now I'm using the X22 and am very, very happy with it. I plan to upgrade it next to an X31 or X40. For the 3 different locations (Office, Apt, Home) I had 3 different PCs and OSs! Now I'm planning to carry the T42p, it being w/o battery almost 3 lbs lighter than the A31p, between Homes and Office and the X22 will remain in my field pack for onsite work.

Circumstances, I sold the A31 and haven't received the T42 yet, cause me to use the T23 temporarily as my desktop. Also, when I get the T42 I'll have to slam XP onto it and get back to work, because the T23 can't handle some of the app's I use. Also I still need to figure out Kivio and Google Earth Pro in Linux to replace Visio and TopoUSA in Winderz. Until I do that and migrate all of my proprietary files, I can't go Linux at work.

Since I'll be using the T42 for personal as well as work use, I'll be dual-booting by day 2. My current favorite personal desktop distro is PCLinuxOS 93a and I'll be trying that first to see how it likes the T42.

I'll be back @ 7/07 to submit the initial installation notes.

06-24-2007 - Installed PCLinuxOS 2007 after using the LiveCD for an evening. The install has a few quirks that need attention for full laptop functionality.

First thing is to get cpufreq working, because mine was running full-speed all the time. Temps were @ 60c until I added an Antec cooling pad, which reduced temps to @ 52c. After config of cpufreq, about 15 min ago, my cpu temp is @ 48c. Hopefully a good cleaning and some Artic Silver will drop the temps some more.

10-02-1007 edit: The cpufreq info below needs an edit, because I disabled the script and have gotten better functionality with KCC and the Laptop module config. After trying a number of different BIOS, ACPI, Power/Battery settings I managed a fully functional ACPI with Suspend to RAM and CPU Throttling working very well

The cpufreq script is located at /etc/sysconfig/cpufreq on my machine. I added the min_freq and max_freq values, the rest are default entries. 

#uncomment to set cpufreq governor after module load
#possible choices are ondemand powersave userspace performance
GOVERNOR=ondemand
#minimum frequency
MIN_FREQ=600
#maximum frequency
MAX_FREQ=1600
#Uncomment to use acpi-cpufrq as fallback
#USE_ACPI_CPUFREQ=yes

I found quite a bit of discussion regarding cpufreq previously and will have to search for it again. I may edit the above accordingly. And, I'll edit this whole mess and make it a standard wiki page when I get back from vacation.

9/11/07 - A tardy update...like with the T23 and PCLinuxOS 93, I stumbled on a working config after initially having serious problems with the install. And unfortunately like the T23 install, I didn't keep track of what worked and what didn't. In both cases I thought I would have to re-install and possibly even with another Linux distro. And in both cases I ended up with a very functional, albeit relatively slow, virtually bug-free and enjoyable OS.

Of the numerous Linux distros I've used over the last few years PCLinuOS continues to surprise and satisfy me. I'm actually using it full-time for work and personal use, have a mash up of our DB and Google Earth working and only boot Winderz to edit existing network diagrams with Visio and run a couple of other proprietary apps.

For now I'll list my current HW config and summarize the OS config...next....

Hardware:

T42P 2379-DYU 1.8GHz Centrino Fire-GL 128MB, etc. Seagate 80GB, 7200RPM 2x1GB Samsung PC2700 RAM and 2xPort Replicator II

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