Linux on the M11x

some good info on acpi_call, its a tool to disable the discrete/nvidia card within linux on multi-GPU setups. I am using it and it 'seems' like it truly is disabling the discrete/nvidia video card, as the battery drain is seeming alot slower! anyone else running this, and actually tested voltage to see if the nvidia card is truly being disabled??

I updated the Arch linux Alienware M11x wiki page with acpi_call information, etc.

I am not 100% if u have to have vga_switcheroo loaded or not, someone want to clarify that part?

 

figured I'd see if anyone over here has an answer to this question :: fbcondecor (background image @ console) + NVIDIA proprietary drivers

 

So, couple of things - got sound to work in BackTrack using the Realtek drivers for 32bit (64 failed to build @ converting to 32), and also got ethernet and wireless to work.
One problem, the Broadcom 4353 wireless adapater we have does not allow monitor mode or packet injection for the time being, so I will have to buy an adapter for wireless security training and practice.

And for as to why I want the nVidia drivers in Linux, I want to impress people when my little netbook is blowing up the screen with Compiz =) There's a couple R1 youtube videos on these forums and I really want to do it

 

backtrack has a new kernel out which should fix some of the hardware issues. You can find info on hwo to do it here: BackTrack ISO Kernel 2.6.34 Upgrade


Has anyone been able to change the brightness when the laptop is using intel/switchable?

 

I can attest that that upgrading to 2.6.34 kernel, + all the other changes made to backtrack lately have helped out the m11x r1 a ton!

yes, I just got that fixed on mine tonight as a matter-of-fact... well a hack. check the newly updated Alienware M11x page @ archwiki for backlight brightness + more info

here's the gist

• When booting into arch linux using NVIDIA/discrete video card just change brightness using the FUNCTION+F4 = brightness up, and FUNCTION+F5 = brightness down - also 'nvidia-settings' should allow brightness settings changes too.
• When booting into arch linux using INTEL/onboard video card to change brightness, it involves passing a command thru 'setpci', the following script adapted from Samsung_N150-Backlight archwiki article does just fine.

1. create a file @ /sbin/backlight
2. sudo chown root:video /sbin/backlight
3. sudo chmod 750 /sbin/backlight
4. make sure to add the username allowed to change the backlight settings to the video group in /etc/group
5. create an alias in your shell startup, and turn the brightness up or down via command, in turn you could tie this to a button combination in your xwindow manager settings.

• .bashrc

Code:

alias brup='/sbin/backlight up'
alias brdown='/sbin/backlight down'
alias brget='/sbin/backlight get'

• .tcshrc

Code:

alias brup '/sbin/backlight up'
alias brdown '/sbin/backlight down'
alias brget '/sbin/backlight get'

/sbin/backlight

Code:

#!/bin/bash
# increase/decrease/set/get the backlight brightness (range 0-255) by 16
#
#get current brightness in hex and convert to decimal
var1=`setpci -s 00:02.0 F4.B`
var1d=$((0x$var1))
 case "$1" in
       up)
              #calculate new brightness
              var2=`echo "ibase=10; obase=16; a=($var1d+16);if (a<255) print a else print 255" | bc`
              echo "$0: increasing brightness from 0x$var1 to 0x$var2"
              setpci -s 00:02.0 F4.B=$var2
              ;;
       down)
              #calculate new brightness
              var2=`echo "ibase=10; obase=16; a=($var1d-16);if (a>15) print a else print 15" | bc`
              echo "$0: decreasing brightness from 0x$var1 to 0x$var2"
              setpci -s 00:02.0 F4.B=$var2
              ;;
       set)
              #n.b. this does allow "set 0" i.e. backlight off
              echo "$0: setting brightness to 0x$2"
              setpci -s 00:02.0 F4.B=$2
              ;;
       get)
              echo "$0: current brightness is 0x$var1"
              ;;
       toggle)
              if [ $var1d -eq 0 ] ; then
                      echo "toggling up"
                      setpci -s 00:02.0 F4.B=FF
              else
                      echo "toggling down"
                      setpci -s 00:02.0 F4.B=0
              fi
              ;;
       *)
              echo "usage: $0 {up|down|set <val>|get|toggle}"
              ;;
 esac
exit 0

lastly I wanted to post an update regarding acpi_call, I tested the battery length, and it is for sure extended once you issue the command to turn off the nvidia card. I got ~5hours15mins today while booted off the intel/onboard on the m11x r1. very good news =)

 

Hi,

I wonder if any of you also has a lack of the Bluetooth Adaptor in their Linux Distro. I just noticed today, that Opensuse 11.3 with the 'Desktop' Kernel variant, doesn't identify the built-in Bluetooth Adaptor.

Does anyone have any idea on how I could get this running?

Thanks and kind regards,

Adrixan


EDIT: OK, I deserve an award for stupidity (or maybe Microsoft does?): Anyway, here's the solution to the missing bluetooth module:
If you 'soft' disabled the adapter in Windows (by right klicking on the Bluetooth icon and klicking disable), it WILL NOT be found by Linux. So should you stumble across the same problem in a dual boot setup, give that a shot.

 

can any one send me the codec dump of the M11xR2? i can't re-partitions to install ubuntu right now >"<

Code:

cat /proc/asound/card0/codec#1 > ~/Desktop/codec_dump.txt

maybe codec#0 or codec#2...

Thanks in advance!

 

Or, some laptop has the 'switch'. Just turn on the switch. Some has key combination 'Fn+Fxx', some has explicit switch.

 

This used to be the same way for my dell mini 9 hackintosh, if you disable the module in windows then it won't detect it in osx86.

 

up plz
someone have tried Fedora 1x?

 

I ran the ACPI protocol without installing switcheroo. I ran the lines from this site: Linux Hybrid Graphics. The battery drain was definitely lower. Also the first time I ran it, I was on the discrete graphics (I have an R1) and when I ran the commands, the screen went blank/black...idiot I know, but at least it does shut the nvidia card off.

And the acpi, what I have read up about is a power management protocol. But I'm no pc expert. :/ So if anyone can clarify what the acpi actually is it would be appreciated.

 

yep, also confirmed here = acpi_call works, and quite well to disable the discrete video card in linux (while BIOS is set to ' switchable' ::

Code:

echo '\_SB.PCI0.P0P2.PEGP._OFF' > /proc/acpi/call

interesting... I did not know you could run it while in discrete mode. the command (which is issued when running the ' test_off.sh' script) is primarily used to disable the discrete card. it does have other uses too! so in a way that makes sense why it blanked yr screen...

one other thing, I updated Archlinux M11x page with details on this proceedure... feel free to edit the article if u have more info too =)

 

Hey guys, first of all this is my first post at your forum and this forum is really great!

I wanted to ask about the graphic drivers, is there a way to install the nvidia driver over ubuntu 10.04? been trying that and couldnt get it to work because of the optimus.
Just like in windows it doesnt recognizes it as an nvidia.

is there a way to fix it and use only the nvidia driver?

Thanks alot

 

Optimus works by having the discrete card reroute everything through the intel card
That is how it does seamless switching.

A fedora user made a hac ro allow swichng with the m11x r2.

 

fyi, I have the m11x R1 stock wireless adapter = 14e4:4353 "Broadcom Corporation Device 4353 (rev 01)" working using the newer brcm80211 linux kernel module, with arch linux + compat-wireless-patched AUR package (choosing to build 'all' compat-wireless drivers)
- alternatively, one could just use the build the brcm80211 modules all by themselves from compat-wireless manually using ' scripts/driver-select brcm80211' --or-- easier, just install compat-wireless-brcm80211 AUR package if running arch linux =)

- I think anything should be better then the original broadcom STA driver. so far connectivity with this driver (brcm80211) has been identical to the closed-source STA driver, so I am happy with it. I've yet to get monitor mode (nor injection) working yet, but you bet I'll keep trying...
(also updated the Alienware M11x archlinux wiki page with relevant info if anyone is interested)

 

Ok, I'm not sure if this was addressed here or not, this thread is pretty long. When I enable my "NVIDIA accelerated graphics driver (current version)" and reboot, it takes me into ttl, says that there is a fatal error, and that no screens were found. I had to log in into graphics failsafe mode and turn off the driver to get to my desktop. Any way to fix it? And is it even the driver? BTW, I'm running 10.10 Ubuntu.

 

Hi everyone,

first of all, great thread for getting linux running on the m11x

I'm pretty satisfied with my current Ubuntu 10.10 settings and would like to share some additional stuff which hasn't been written in here.

Some people experience cursorjumping if 2 or more fingers are placed on the touchpad. This can be easily fixed with:

Code:

xinput set-int-prop "SynPS/2 Synaptics TouchPad" "Synaptics Jumpy Cursor Threshold" 32 110

To shut down the discrete gpu automatically after suspend/hibernate:

Put the script below into /etc/pm/sleep.d/ with the name 98_gpu. That's all

Code:

#!/bin/sh

case "$1" in
	hibernate|suspend)
		;;
	thaw|resume) 
		/opt/gpu_down.sh 
		;;
	*) exit $NA
		;;
esac

Note: Obviously, you have to adjust the path to your shutdown script inside the thaw|resume section

The same thing can be done with the AlienFXlite as it doesn't work properly after suspend/hibernate.
Have fun!

 

hate to resurrect a really old thread.. but

does anyone know how i can get 3 finger swipes left/right to navigate back/forward.. ?
I'm running Ubuntu 10.10 :x been dying for this..

 

will it works on a hacked Mac too? since mac are made from Linux base?

 

hold on to yr hats boy's n girls (lol), bumblebee is confirmed working with the Alienware M11x R1 in linux! (archlinux x86_64 here, using kernel v3.0.3) no joke / finally!. what this means is that one can boot into linux using BIOS setting of "switchable" and truly be able to switch between onboard intel and discrete nvidia.

here is console output to prove it - screenshots too ::

Code:

fnord0@spaceface[09/08/2011 2:16am]{~}
>>> glxgears
Running synchronized to the vertical refresh.  The framerate should be
approximately the same as the monitor refresh rate.
289 frames in 5.0 seconds = 57.754 FPS
299 frames in 5.0 seconds = 59.761 FPS
290 frames in 5.0 seconds = 57.962 FPS
288 frames in 5.0 seconds = 57.560 FPS
286 frames in 5.0 seconds = 57.162 FPS
^C

Code:

fnord0@spaceface[09/08/2011 2:17am]{~}
>>> optirun glxgears
5011 frames in 5.0 seconds = 1002.065 FPS
5252 frames in 5.0 seconds = 1050.325 FPS
5123 frames in 5.0 seconds = 1024.467 FPS
5213 frames in 5.0 seconds = 1042.478 FPS
4966 frames in 5.0 seconds = 993.112 FPS
4470 frames in 5.0 seconds = 893.953 FPS
^C

Code:

fnord0@spaceface[09/08/2011 2:19am]{~}
>>> uname -a
Linux spaceface 3.0-ARCH #1 SMP PREEMPT Wed Aug 17 21:55:57 CEST 2011 x86_64 Genuine Intel(R) CPU U7300 @ 1.30GHz GenuineIntel GNU/Linux

fnord0@spaceface[09/08/2011 2:22am]{~}
>>> pacman -Qi linux
Name           : linux
Version        : 3.0.3-1
URL            : http://www.kernel.org/
Licenses       : GPL2
Groups         : base
Provides       : kernel26
Depends On     : coreutils  linux-firmware  module-init-tools>=3.16  mkinitcpio>=0.7
Optional Deps  : crda: to set the correct wireless channels of your country
Required By    : None
Conflicts With : kernel26
Replaces       : kernel26
Installed Size : 55872.00 K
Packager       : Tobias Powalowski <[email protected]>
Architecture   : x86_64
Build Date     : Wed Aug 17 12:59:37 2011
Install Date   : Sat Aug 27 04:59:24 2011
Install Reason : Explicitly installed
Install Script : Yes
Description    : The Linux Kernel and modules

the Alienware M11x archlinux wiki page I noticed has been marked out-of-date, so I am working on cleaning it up a bunch and getting all the info updated. all I did was follow the archlinux Bumblebee wiki page .. almost to the t ..
- only change I implemented was in the file " /etc/bumblebee/bumblebee.conf", I changed the line that says " DRIVER='nouveau'" TO => " DRIVER='nvidia'".

screenshots here => and

-fnord0