M50VM & Linux - Atheros Wi-Fi Card problem

I would like to know if anyone have already installed linux on his m50vm notebook? I did so and tried Ubuntu and Fedora, but I can't find any suitable driver for wifi card on both of them. I read a bunch of tutorials about atheros cards on linux but I guess our one is the newest one and maybe not compatible yet.
Anyone have the same problem or maybe have wifi card working on linux and could share some solutions?

 

Hi, I've got the M50Vm-B1 on 8/11, and an hour later started to install Kubuntu 8.04.1 64Bit on it.
It was not difficult, but there are important things still that doesn't work out of the box, this is the list of the things working and the things that still (need to find the way but its always possible in linux) doesn't. -remember to not erase the first 10GB aprox. partition, I beleive it has the ExpressGate software, or maybe its the restore partition, dont know exactly yet. -for me ExpressGate is still working, so- (its linux based and there most things work so lets look drivers on it)

M50Vm-B1:

Working -Kubuntu out of the box-:
-Power saving, CPU frequency scaling, etc
-Webcam UVC
-Nvidia 9600 with generic drivers 2D acceleration only
-Touchpad, also the scroll/volume zone at right side -but not the media buttons-
-Network wired card

Working after "googling" and patience:
-LCD Brightness control thru the keyboard's hotkeys
-NVIDIA 9600 with proprietary nvidia drivers -GPU/Memory Frequency scaling
-Fingerprint sensor (working great but bothers you every time you use "sudo" command or needing a password)

Not working by now -as I said its a matter of time-
-Sound card (Intel HDA)
-Wireless card (Atheros)
-Media touchpad

I think its all by now, will post later for more updates, by the way, here are the webpages from where I got the info the get things working and stuff related:

http://seethisnowreadthis.com/2008/05/19/how-to-install-ubuntu-804-hardy-heron-on-the-asus-m50sv-a1/

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/251664

http://ge.ubuntuforums.com/showthread.php?p=5509526

 

Yeah, I got pretty the same stuff going... I had some troubles installing ubuntu with graphical installer coz it screw up everytime on partitioning (i'm using windows too and want to have my own partition table that coz trouble with ubuntu partitioner) However when you use alternative installer (text one) everything goes smooth...
So now we have to wait for our wifi drivers and hope they will be developed soon, coz I spent 2 days fighting with ndiswrapper, madwifi and so on with no results

 

I found that there is driver called ath9k from guys that made madwifi and it works with new atheros cards, however currently don't have time to test it... maybe someone tried it allready and could write simple tutorial?

 

It's the Recovery partition.

ExpressGate is built into the motherboard somewhere.

 

It's not entirely clear that ExpressGate is on the motherboard, I think Express Gate is either installed onto the HDD or at least depends on the bootloader on the HDD. I'm saying this because people report they need to reinstall ExpressGate after a Windows install/recovery.

But the 10GB partition, yes, that's definitely the recovery.

 

Hmmm. OK, I guess I missed that part around here. I wonder where the darn thing truly lives then.

 

Perhaps a separate partition?

 

According to makers of Splashtop (aka Express Gate) part of the program is stored in memory on the motherboard, and part of it is on the hard drive.
http://www.splashtop.com/how_splashtop_works.php

 

I think it's more either-or, rather than having components in both places. At least from looking at that description.

The BIOS part, yes, that's required for booting, but that's not Splashtop itself.

 

It's been a while since my question... Maybe now anyone know any linux distribution that got our atheros card working by default or by simple system package/kernell update?

 

Haven't tried, my M50 in shipping, but http://madwifi.org/ looks promising...

 

Hey, I've found that the Linux kernel, from versions 2.6.27-rcx (where x is a number) are starting the development or including already developed ath9k driver that manages the Atheros card in the M50VM-B1
I've tried Kubuntu Intrepid -alpha4- that has some of this latest kernel version and the card was perfectly identified and working with ifconfig, etc, but I coulndt hook up into my wireless network nor any of the neighbors.. but its an advance.

Im downloading now Kernel 2.6.27-rc8 to try out on my Slackware current. and also Im seeing Kubuntu 8.10 Beta out for testing so, lets check that too...

Regards,
Janux

 

Well, good news!!
After compiling the 2.6.27-rc8 kernel version on Slackware (on my M50Vm-B1 notebook) and after checks the checkbox to enable Atheros a/b/g/n drivers on the kernel options -its disabled by default-, I've been able to use it, as far as Im now writing this post with the M50Vm and onboard wireless card!! -my wireles has wpa1 tkip, so at least that works here.

And about the sound, well almost, it now shows all the volume controls for pcm, master, headphones, front, front mic, etc.. not the basic 3 as the first time.. but no sound as far as I tried..

Note: this is my .config file I used to compile the new kernel for Slackware current -I think that you should disable alsa in the kernel if you are using *buntu's, I didnt as is shown here-

will copy soon to this location, so keep trying downloads if doesnt work the firt time.

http://cyberconex.cjb.net/DOWNLOAD/config-2.6.27-rc8_M50Vm

Keep up the hope guys!!
Regards,
Janux

 

Hello again,

I recently discovered the reasons while the Wireless (atheros) wasn't connecting to any wireless even with the card showing up and running.

Remember the options in Vista to disable the wireless and the bluetooth devices? well, there is an option to do this in linux, with the asus_laptop kernel module, that has also some more options to play with.

So "enabling" (setting a "1") for the wireless card from this path in the kernel, we are able to connect to the networks (tested in Kubuntu 8.10 with base kernel 2.6.27-7 and 2.6.27-9 -last version from ubuntu-)

These is the location of the options that the asus_laptop:

/sys/devices/platform/asus-laptop/

This is the "file" list saw with: ls /sys/devices/platform/asus-laptop

ls_switch #Brightness switch - “1” Auto control (Light sensor)
# “0” Manual control (button keys)
command: echo 1 > /sys/devices/platform/asus-laptop/wlan

ls_level # It's set to “0” by default and don't know what it does yet.
command:

display # It's set to “1” by default and don't know what it does yet.
command:

bluetooth #Bluetooth Control - “1” On / “0” Off
command On: echo 1 > /sys/devices/platform/asus-laptop/bluetooth
command Off: echo 0 > /sys/devices/platform/asus-laptop/bluetooth

wlan #Wlan Control - “1” On / “0” Off
command On: echo 1 > /sys/devices/platform/asus-laptop/wlan
command Off: echo 0 > /sys/devices/platform/asus-laptop/wlan

Remember that you need to execute the commands as root or with sudo.

Regards,
Janux