Linux on Laptops
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Linux is a freely-distributable clone of the UNIX® operating system.
It gives users and developers the freedom to use an open systems environment
on common PC hardware. And for many, the hardware of choice provides
the freedom of mobility to take their workstation with them wherever they
may go. This is a collection of information and documentation of interest
to those who now use or are considering using the Linux operating system
on a notebook or laptop computer.
Location:This page is available exclusively on the World Wide Web
at its original North American location,
http://www.cs.utexas.edu/users/kharker/linux-laptop/, and at
the following
official mirrors.
Last Modified: 12 April 1999
Hot Topics
Linux Laptop HOWTO
This dosument will tell you (almost) everything you might want to know about
running Linux on a laptop or notebook computer. Especially important is the
section about how to choose a notebook to buy that will be compatible with
the Linux operating system.
Windows Refund Center
You might be entitled to a refund for Microsoft Windows and any other
related OEM software that may also be included on your notebook computer,
if you have installed Linux on a machine which came preloaded with
Microsoft Windows. This web site contains extensive information, including
success stories, and advice. Fight back against the "Microsoft Tax!"
Toshiba
Publicity Experiment
Some owners of Toshiba notebook computers have been discouraged by Toshiba's
recent refusals to publish programming information about their proprietary,
notebook hardware, such as their infrared controllers. This site
proposes a way to get Toshiba's attention.
Linux Pre-Installed on Notebooks
Don't want to hassle with installing Linux yourself? Tired of paying the
"Microsoft Tax" just to buy hardware? The following companies will sell
notebooks and laptops with the Linux operating system pre-installed. Many
offer additional commercial software, such as X servers, or suites of office
utility programs designed to take advantage of Linux.
Running Linux on Specific Notebook Models
Several mini-HOWTO style documents describe setup and configuration of
Linux on specific brands of notebooks. (Listed in alphabetic order by vendor
name.) If you do not see a specific notebook brand or model listed here, it
is because no one has taken the time to document the specifics of installing
or running Linux for that machine. If you are looking for specific information
about a laptop not listed here, you might want to try searching the
Linux Laptop Volunteer Support Database for someone
willing to answer your questions. I highly encourage anyone using Linux on
some notebook not listed here to help by providing documentation! The best
way to contribute is to publish your information on a web page and email the
URL to kharker@cs.utexas.edu.
Please do not send me just XF86Config files; I don't have a good way of
handling them. Either put them on a web page and send me the URL, or
contribute them to the archive project.
Notebooks and XFree86
This section contains information relevant to configuring the XFree86
X Window System server on notebook and laptop computer LCD displays.
- Xfree86 server supporting
the NeoMagic chipsets
RedHat has been developing some (binary only) X servers, based on
the latest XFree86 release. The first one out is a NeoMagic driver,
with full acceleration.
- Xfree86 and the
NeoMagic MagicGraph 128ZV+ Chipset
Finally! Here is some hard information on how to run Xfree86 on
notebooks using NeoMagic video chipsets. This is an unaccelerated
X server with support for 8bpp and 16bpp at 800x600 resolution.
-
Notebook Graphics and PCMCIA Chipset Survey
A table listing the
video and PCMCIA controller chipsets used in many popular laptop computer
models. It also lists the bits-per-pixel one might expect under XFree86.
-
XF86Config Archive
A database of XF86Config files used by Linux
and FreeBSD users. If you need an XF86Config file for your notebook or
laptop, check out this site. (Some documents available in Japanese
only.)
-
XF86Config Archive (in Japanese)
A database of XF86Config files for many, many notebook computers
available on the Japanese market.
- X Windows
and Linux on Notebook Computers
Information about XFree86
compatibility with numerous video chipsets and display panels used in
what are now older notebook and laptop PC designs Has not been updated
for some time.
-
XFree86 Cirrus Logic Laptop Configurations
This site contains a
small repository of XF86Config files for numerous notebooks, particularly
those using the Cirrus Logic 7543 and 7548 chipsets.
-
Chips & Technologies 655xx Video Chips and XFree86
Chips and
Technologies 655xx video chipsets were once very commonly used in
notebook designs. This site contains some legacy information about
XFree86 development efforts for the chipset.
-
XFree86 and the CT65545 video chipset
Another source of
information about a new video chipset being used in some notebook
computers.
Information on Specific Notebook Components
Information about system configuration, PCMCIA support, power management, sound,
networking, parallel devices, and more.
-
Battery Powered Linux Mini-HOWTO
Help out other Linux notebook and laptop users optimize their battery
life and performance by providing your hints and suggestions to this
start-up document.
-
Linux PCMCIA Information Page
The authoritative source for the
latest information about the PCMCIA Card Services for Linux, including
documentation, files, and generic PCMCIA information.
- The Linux IrDA
Project
IrDA ("infrared") serial ports are built in to many
modern notebooks. The overall goal of this project is to incorporate
the IrDA protocol stack into the Linux kernel.
- Infrared Devices
Working With Linux
This index includes notebooks, laptops, palmtops, and PCMCIA cards
with IR devices that are known to work with the Linux operating system.
- External Parallel Port
Devices and Linux
Since many notebooks may be limited in their
expandability, using the parallel port is an attractive option. This
site contains information about the efforts to write device drivers for
many popular parallel port hardware devices.
- Diald dial
daemon
The Diald daemon provides on demand Internet
connectivity using the SLIP or PPP protocols. Diald can automatically
dial in to a remote host when needed or bring down dial-up connections
that are inactive.
- NetEnv
If you use your notebook in
multiple network environments, NetEnv might be useful for you. When
booting your laptop, it provides a simple interface from which
one can choose from among several custom network configurations.
- Linux Mobile-IP
A version of Mobile-IP is now available for Linux. This
package allows a portable computer access to the Internet from different
networks without changing its IP address.
- Linux and Linksys Ethernet Adaptors
A short note on the use of
the Linksys parallel-port ethernet adaptor under Linux. This is a
widely available networking adaptor that doesn't require a PCMCIA slot.
- Accton Pocket Ethernet and Linux
This ethernet adaptor uses a parallel
port and delivers approximately 110kBytes/s performance for those
notebooks that do not have PCMCIA slots.
- How to Install from CD-ROM without Boot and Supplemental Disks
This is a short description of how to install from a CD-ROM under DOS
without using boot or supplemental floppy diskettes. This is especially
useful for notebooks with swappable floppy and CD-ROM components.
-
Newton and Linux
This is
a mini-HOWTO document describing the various options for Linux-Newton
connectivity. It also includes pointers to emulators, NewtonScript for
Linux, NewtonLink, and printing on a Linux host.
-
PilotLink and XCoPilot
PilotLink is a utility that performs
data transfers from 3com PalmPilot handheld
computers to your Linux machine. XCoPilot is an emulator of the
PalmPilot operating system that runs under Linux.
-
PalmVNC
PalmVNC is an
implementation of the Virtual Network Client architecture that will
allow you to use a Linux or other UNIX machine to put up a (tiny)
X Window on a 3com PalmPilot.
-
PAO: FreeBSD Mobile Computing Package
FreeBSD is a version
of the UNIX operating system that runs on PC hardware. It uses a
different set of support for PCMCIA devices, APM, and other mobility
related issues.
Articles and Presentations
Articles, presentations, and talks specifically involving Linux running
on laptop computer hardware.
- "Using a Laptop in
Different Environments"r by Gerd
Bavendiek
This article appeared in the August, 1997 issue of
the Linux Gazette. This is an
excellent, short technical article describing an easy way to setup your
Linux notebook to boot into different network and printing
configurations, especially useful for those who use their machines
at home as well as other locations such as in the office, at school, or
at a customer site.
- "A Star is Born:
'Linux: From Freak-system to Windows Competition?'"
by Jürgen Kuri
This article appeared in the May, 1997 issue of
c't: magazin für
computertechnik. The article briefly introduces Linux to those
more familiar with Microsoft Windows brand operating systems and then
goes on to discuss using Linux on notebook computers in depth. It also
discusses the use of Linux and Fidonet.
- "IMEC/NIT" by
Erwin Glassee and Rudi Cartuyvels
This article appeared in the monthly Linux Means Business column
of the Linux Journal in the
December 1996 issue. The article outlines the benefits that IMEC and NIT
found in porting their high-power microelectronic fabrication process
simulator to Linux and how they use laptop computers to take
demonstrations directly to potential clients around the world.
Back issues should
still be available.
- "Linux on Mobile
Computers" by Kenneth E.
Harker
The Linux Laptop Home Page is
featured in this article which appeared in the June 1996 issue of the
Linux Journal.
Back issues should
still be available. This article is now available in Japanese - contact
SSC, Inc. for more information.
- "Linux in the Rugged Field" by Sid Hellman
This article, which
appeared in the
August, 1995
issue of the Linux Journal,
explains why having the source available helped make Linux the best
choice for a portable workstation used for field data analysis.
The Linux Laptop Volunteer Support Database
The
Linux Laptop Volunteer Support Database is an attempt to match those
people who use the Linux operating system on notebook or laptop computers and
who wish to give back to the Linux community and help other users with those
people who have questions, problems, or concerns about getting Linux running
on their mobile computers. The basic idea is that volunteers can leave their
name, e-mail address, and the brand name and model of the laptop or notebook
computer they are familiar with and willing to answer questions about, and
those with problems or questions can look up others who are willing to help.
Those who already using Linux on their notebooks or laptops are highly
encouraged to sign up - the value of this service to the Linux community grows
with the number of volunteers and the variety of hardware represented.
Utilities, Patches, and Files
Miscellaneous Linux kernal patches, utilities, and files of specific
interest to laptop and notebook computer users.
-
Xfiles: File Tree Synchronization and Cross-Validation
Xfiles is an interactive program that can be used to keep your laptop
file tree up to date with another machine, such as your desktop Linux
box or a file tree on a server. It's also useful as an alternative
backup strategy.
-
Mobile Update Daemon
This is a drop-in replacement for the standard "update" daemon that is
specially tailored for notebooks to reduce unnecessary hard disk
spin-ups.
-
Mergemem Project
Many programs contain memory areas of the same content that remain
undetected by the operating system. The mergemem program is able to
identify this, and reduces the overall memory consumption of Linux
processes.
-
Toshiba Linux Utilities
This is a set of Linux utilities for controlling the fan, supervisor
passwords, and hot key functions of Toshiba Pentium notebooks.
-
Synaptics Touchpad Linux Driver
The Synaptics touchpad is a
pointing device used in notebooks by Acer, Compaq, Dell, Gateway,
Olivetti, Texas Instruments, Winbook, and others.
-
LCDProc
LCDproc is a small piece of software that will enable your Linux box to
display live system informtion on a 20x4 line backlit LCD display. This
program shows, among other things, battery status on notebooks.
-
noblink Kernel Patch
The noblink kernel patch creates a
non-blinking block cursor on the Linux console. For many laptop and
notebook users, it is among the first things to install, as it can make
finding the console cursor significantly easier.
- APMD Utilities
A collection of simple utilities for use with the
Linux APM driver integrated into kernels 1.3.46 and beyond. It also
includes a C library for developing further APM-aware utilities.
- hdparm
hdparm is a Linux IDE disk utility that lets you set
spin-down timeouts and other disk parameters.
- Linux PCMCIA Package
FTP Site
This FTP site includes the latest version of Card
Services for Linux.
- Linux Compaq Concerto
Pen Driver
The latest version of the Linux Compaq Concerto Pen
Driver is available from its author's home page.
- A hacked rclock
Booker C. Bense has hacked the rclock program to include
a simple battery power meter on the clock face.
- xbatstat
A battery level status checker for Linux and X. The latest
version requires Xforms and the apmd utilities.
The linux-laptop Mailing List
There is now a linux-laptop mailing list available for
subscription. It has relatively little traffic, but can be a useful
place to discuss issues related to running linux on laptop computers.
The list is maintained by a
Majordomo
process. To subscribe, send an electronic-mail message to
majordomo@vger.rutgers.edu
with:
subscribe linux-laptop firstname lastname emailaddress
in the message body (your subject line can be empty - it will be ignored
anyway), where firstname and lastname are the first and last
names you'd like other people on the list to see when you send mail to the
list, and the emailaddress field is where you would like mail from
the list to be sent. You will receive a welcoming message from the server
with a little more information (that you should probably save for future
reference.)
There is also a mailing list devoted to installing Linux on the Toshiba
Portege series of notebooks.
There is now a new list about putting
Debian
Linux on notebook computers. Send email to
debian-laptop-request@lists.debian.org with the subject "subscribe".
USENET Newsgroups
The USENET newsgroups can provide a source of information about aspects of
running Linux on notebooks that haven't yet been documented. If you are
unable to find the information you are looking for here or on any of the pages
linked to from this site, a post to the USENET newsgroups may turn up an answer
from someone that can help you.
Linux Newsgroups
X Window System Newsgroups
Hardware Newsgroups
Magazines and Newsletters
Magazines and newsletters about PC laptops in general, about mobile
computing, about UNIX® in general, or about Linux.
General Laptop Information
These are sources of information of general use to laptop and notebook
owners, regardless of the operating system used.
-
Laptop Soup
This site offers a lot of information about what
companies produce which machines sold under which brand names. If you
need to know what company made your machine, this site may help you find
out.
-
Notebook Jungle
This is another site that offers information
about which notebooks are made by which manufacturers for which
resellers. There is a search engine and indices based on country.
-
The WWW Virtual Library: Mobile and Wireless Computing
This
site provides a world of information about scientific journals,
conferences, academic projects, and more that relate to state-of-the-art
mobile computing. There are also many references to developing
standards, non-profit and governmental organizations, and an index of
vendors, including wireless service providers.
- Federal Communications
Commission On-line Equipment Authorization Database
If you are having problems
identifying the manufacturer of a laptop or notebook computer
(or other electronic device,) this site lets you search the FCC
database based on the FCC ID number you can usually find on the
equipment if it was marketed in the United States of America.
- Replacement PCMCIA
Card Cables
If you have an older PCMCIA card and have lost the special
cable it need to work with the phone line, a network, or
a wireless phone, this site may have what you need.
General Linux Information
More documentation about general Linux installation and configuration, as
well as pointers to organizations and other sources of general Linux
information.
Comments
Please send any comments, suggestions, or updates about the information
presented here to me at
kharker@cs.utexas.edu. If there's something laptop-related that you'd
like to find, but can't - let me know about that, too, and I'll attempt to find
the information. Comments about specific information resources pointed to by
this site should go to the respective author(s) of the documents.
Disclaimers
For those concerned about such things, please note that there are a few
disclaimers about this publication and its content.
The Linux Laptop Home Page is copyright © 1997 Kenneth E. Harker.
Permission to make digital/hard copy of part or all of this work for personal
or classroom use is granted without fee provided that copies are not made or
distributed for profit or commercial advantage, the copyright notice and its
date appear, and notice is given that copying is by permission of
Kenneth E. Harker. To
copy otherwise, to republish, to post on servers, or to redistribute to lists
requires prior specific permission and/or a fee.
Linux: The Choice of a GNU Generation
Kenneth E. Harker
kharker@cs.utexas.edu
No Warranties: This information is provided "as is" without any
warranty, condition, or representation of any kind, either express or implied,
including but not limited to, any warranty respecting non-infringement, and the
implied warranties of conditions of merchantability and fitness for a
particular purpose.
In no event shall Kenneth E. Harker, the University of Texas Department of the
Computer Sciences, the University of Texas at Austin, or any directors,
trustees, or employees thereof be liable for any direct, indirect, special,
incidental, consequential or other damages howsoever caused whether arising in
contract, tort, or otherwise, arising out of or in connection with the use or
performance of the information contained on this web site.