Installing Red Hat Linux on an ASUS L8400B notebook

This documents how we installed and configured Red Hat Linux 6.2 on an ASUS notebook.

The specs are:

ASUS L8400B

PIII 650

192M RAM

DVD drive

Integrated sound, modem, and NIC



We maxxed out the RAM because we are using this laptop as a Thin Xlient server to demonstrate the types of networks that we sell. (http://www.pcxperience.com for more info) We did NOT dual boot this machine for the aforesaid reason. The only way WindowsTM is running on this thing is in a Virtual Machine (see http://www.vmware.com). First we did some prep work in case we needed to restore windows to the machine.

  1. Booted the machine with a floppy diskette to determine the NIC.

  2. Compiled a kernel with support for Realtek 8139 Network card (since BIOS does not initialize the NIC) and created a boot disk.

  3. Booted the laptop as a thin xlient and gzipped Windows 98 to the server.

This is the actual installation

  1. Rebooted with Red Hat 6.2 CDROM in DVD drive.

  2. Used Disk Druid to delete Windows partition. Left the Suspend to disk partition in place. Created Linux partitions.

  3. Installed Linux.

  4. Configured X windows by using the framebuffer.

  5. Later found Accelerated X server



We are using RedHat 6.2 with a 2.2.17 kernel. Some of this information may change with newer versions.

NETWORK
The integrated network chipset is a Realtek 8139. The stock kernel has no problem with this card. If you recompile your kernel, COMPILE SUPPORT FOR THIS CARD AS A MODULE!!! See SUSPEND section for details.

SUSPEND
The BIOS has an option to suspend to RAM or suspend to DISK. Suspend works but it does not initialize the sound card or the network module properly when it comes back up. The machine hangs or crashes after resuming it and using these devices. The workaround is to unload and reload the modules.
IF YOU COMPILED THE NETWORK CARD INTO THE KERNEL (NOT A MODULE) YOU CANNOT USE THE NETWORK AFTER YOU SUSPEND. IT WILL CRASH THE MACHINE! PCMCIA services may also be affected by this, but we have not checked yet.

VIDEO
We originally used the framebuffer to get X working but later found an X server that works with the Savage MX at http://www.probo.com/timr/savagemx.html. Xfree86 3.3.6 says it supports this chip-set but it does not work properly. The accelerated works much faster than the framebuffer.

AUDIO
We downloaded the module from this guy's site. http://www.logicomm.it/pub/doc/asus-l8400b/

MODEM
We have not tried to get the modem working yet. There is some hope for it in the linmodem projects. We are using the port for the network anyway and doubt that we can use them simultaneously.

You will find more information on this model laptop from others who have it at linux-on-laptops.com



Last updated $Date: 2002/03/25 22:27:23 $

http://www.pcxperience.com