Linux on the X220

I'm sorry to say, but Realtek's hardware and software is generally complete junk. There's a reason that their drivers tend to stay in staging for a *long* time. Honestly, I think you might be better off just getting an Intel-based card...

Still, rtl8192ce is now in mainline as of 2.6.39, so my advice would be to try the latest mainline kernel. Natty is likely using an older kernel, so the driver there might still be staging-quality...

Oh, and I'd ignore pretty much anything that Realtek says. In my experience their concept of what makes a good Linux driver is "Could one of our devs compile it and run it for a minute? Great! We're done."

Disclaimer: I'm pretty obviously very biased against them. That's due to the pure joy that I've had dealing with their NICs. In the last three years alone I've had a wireless NIC that locked up randomly (as in the hardware simply ceased responding to anything), a desktop NIC that would hard lock the kernel as soon as you sent more than about 100 kbit/s over it, and a second desktop NIC that would simply fail to register a change in plug state. YMMV... I hope it does.

 

I didn't, but perhaps it got switched on automatically? I found a fix via google, we'll see if it works, but so far so good.

 

haha... Back in the days, I too had a pleasure using Realtek NICs as well. It's one of the first things I look at laptops / motherboard / PC I am purchasing. Maybe they're better now, but I can't say for sure. Haven't used it for a long long while.

From my experience, wifi power saving feature is turned off by default on Natty. I turned it on a couple of times and my connectivity went bad.

Glad to know that you got it fixed.

 

Missing that retro feel? Then you'll be pleased to know that they're every bit as bad as they used to be. Good to know that some things don't change.

 

is ubuntu the best bet for this system?

 

Has anyone tried Linux Mint 11 on the X220. I know that it is based on Ubuntu, but the question is whether a lot of the problems with Ubuntu 11.04 have been caused by the Unity/Gnome 3 interface.

 

Currently it's certified to run on ubuntu. You will need a distro running kernel version 2.6.38 to run it. phronix stated that the sandy bridge has a regression in 2.6.39 which also has usb 3.0 support. Won't be really done until 2.6.40 which is actually going to be 3.0 as linus decided to bump the number out of the 2.x series.

btw I did run ubuntu for about a week while waiting for ram. It worked well. I currently am running Funtoo( Gentoo variant). I may play with Debian sid down the line while awaiting FreeBSD graphics support.

~

 

Has anyone here running linux noted the throttling issue that is plaguing the windows i7 variants?

 

good question

 

Since I'd said I'd give my experiences with FreeBSD...

I spent a lot of time trying to get my FreeBSD+ZFS setup to work. Ultimately, I've reverted back to Linux. (I went with Fedora; the latest version has support for everything but the Bluetooth adapter.)

First off, the standard -RELEASE or -STABLE kernels will not boot on an X220. At least, not without tweaks. There are two choices to make them work: Either disable atkbd (the keyboard autodetect/driver) in the kernel, or disable USB booting in the BIOS. In all likelyhood if you go that route, you'll need to do both, at different times: Disable atkbd while running the installer, so you can boot from the CD, and then disable USB booting in the BIOS to allow further booting. (And to allow you to use the built-in keyboard...) (Instructions on how to do this are in the freebsd-questions archive.)

-CURRENT has a work-around for this at the moment, but the developers do not consider it a fix. However it does work and will allow normal booting and install.

-CURRENT also has a new installer, which has some bugs yet; check that your disk partitioning is sane if you are going that route.

As mentioned by others, FreeBSD doesn't yet support the integrated graphics fully. This means the screen is detected in VERSA mode. (And squishing what you see.)

I might have still stuck with that, but for some reason no matter what I did, I could not get my laptop to boot from a ZFS setup. Which meant the main reason for going with FreeBSD (for me) wasn't working. As I never solved it, I'm not sure what the problem was, and there might be a simple fix I couldn't see, but I'd spent enough time playing with it.

I did run the laptop for a while running -CURRENT on a standard UFS install. Which worked fine, as expected. You'll want powerd running to max battery life, but once that is set to start FreeBSD appeared to have better battery life than Linux. (I never pushed it, but it listed battery life in the range of the default Windows install.) You are of course left to configure the box however you want, and that works fine. (Although I don't believe there are many ports built for -CURRENT, so give yourself some time to compile things. KDE or GNOME each take about a day on an i3.)

 

the middle button doesnt work, the one between the two mouse clicks, the one you use to scroll doesnt work in ubuntu any idea how to fix it?

 

If you notice throttling this might work (may not be a great idea on battery power):

 

Some links for what your trying to accomplish:

Root On ZFS @ FreeBSD9-Current - The FreeBSD Forums
HOWTO: Modern FreeBSD Install (vermaden way) - The FreeBSD Forums

Quick question. Which wifi card do you have and did wifi and bluetooth run on FreeBSD?

Good things come to those who wait. zfs will be supported in the new installer next release. Video driver is in the works! I love this little machine. All lenovo needs to do is give us open source users the option to opt out of purchasing it with windows installed and it would be perfect.

 

Linux / open source compatibility has always been my primary reason for sticking with Thinkpad even though build quality is getting worse these days.

It would even be more awesome if I didn't have to pay Windows tax.

 

Lenovo - ThinkPad laptops with DOS

 

Dang! I wish I had seen it before pulling the trigger. Thanks for pointing that out. I'll be sure to order from this Laptops with DOS next time.

 

Trust me, I read everything. I spent about a month working on this. (And I have another FreeBSD box running a ZFS root system.) I was in a discussion with the person who wrote that guide during my final tries. (BTW: point people to this link instead: Root On ZFS @ FreeBSD 9 Current | aisecure.net It's got some fixed typos, and a couple lines that are missing in the original post have been added.)

I have the Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300 (yeah, I splurged on WiFi). It didn't work under -RELEASE, but worked fine under -CURRENT.

I'll admit I never tried to set up the Bluetooth under FreeBSD, so I can't say anything on that. (Well, I can say this: I don't see it in the dmesg I have saved off, so I suspect it wasn't supported yet.)

I intend to come back to FreeBSD on this machine, in a few months or so. Basically, my current plan is to run Fedora while I'm waiting.

 

They seem to offer the 90W adapter upgrade for free with DOS. Is this only for dos? I don't think I've seen that before.

 

Bump

 

sudo apt-get install gpointing-device-settings
run Pointing Devices in the menu
click TrackPoint, enable either Middle Mouse button OR Wheel emulation.

AFAIK you can't have both worlds. personally I choose wheel.
-edit-wait it looks like you can enable both, but middle-click in Firefox requires double-clicking or something?

 

Wish I knew as well. Thank you for the link.

 

I don't use Ubuntu, but here is some information that should help.

How to configure the TrackPoint - ThinkWiki

 

Is the Premium HD the IPS one? (when choosing the LCD)

thx!

 

Yes. It's also called "WideView" (not to be confused with Widescreen).

 

or anyone interested in this laptop, williumbillium created a page on community documentation site:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/X220

Would be great for others to add their experiences there too. he's particularly interested in improving the support for the clickpad; it's a bit lacking at the moment.

In general this laptop works very well out of the box though.

 

thanks for that link

im debating between debian and ubuntu for this lappy

 

Just installed Fedora 15 Gnome and Mageia 1 KDE on this X220 (along with Win 7). Both are working fine, but haven't tested either very much yet.

 

is there a way to change the speed of the trackpoint?

edit:

Code:

    # echo -n 120 > /sys/devices/platform/i8042/serio1/serio2/speed
    # echo -n 220 > /sys/devices/platform/i8042/serio1/serio2/sensitivity

did it

 

I just came back for a sec to say, I'm VERY impressed by this Lenovo! If you continue offering systems with DOS, you will be first on my list when I consider buying a new system. I wish more companies would step up to the plate and offer these options with no windows! I sincerely hope you stay with it Lenovo!
I wish computer makers would realize there is a growing market for systems without windows and there are people out there willing to buy them, and some are even looking for exactly that.

 

This is kind of odd problem. Never experienced it with other laptops before, and don't know how to fix it.

I assume this problem is Linux/Ubuntu-only so I'd just add the issue to this thread.

When running on the battery, external mouse will work for a few secs after plugging in. After that, the cursor wouldn't move unless you click a button. Then after it's left idle for a few secs, it wouldn't move again. Rinse and repeat.

The problem would go away right after plugging in an ac adaptor.

I think it might have something to do with the power saving feature and/or thinkpad acpi but I have no clue to do further investigation.

Here's dmesg if USB mouse is attached in while on a/c

Code:

[  611.423433] usb 2-1.2: USB disconnect, address 3
[  615.966666] usb 2-1.2: new low speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 4
[  616.072680] input: Microsoft Microsoft Optical Mouse with Tilt Wheel as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.0/usb2/2-1/2-1.2/2-1.2:1.0/input/input11
[  616.073103] generic-usb 0003:045E:00D1.0003: input,hidraw0: USB HID v1.11 Mouse [Microsoft Microsoft Optical Mouse with Tilt Wheel] on usb-0000:00:1d.0-1.2/input0

Here's dmesg if USB mouse is attached while on battery

Code:

[  948.956072] ehci_hcd 0000:00:1d.0: PCI INT A disabled
[  948.956165] ehci_hcd 0000:00:1d.0: PME# enabled
[  948.972128] ehci_hcd 0000:00:1d.0: power state changed by ACPI to D3
[  956.043103] ehci_hcd 0000:00:1a.0: power state changed by ACPI to D0
[  956.058948] ehci_hcd 0000:00:1a.0: BAR 0: set to [mem 0xf262a000-0xf262a3ff] (PCI address [0xf262a000-0xf262a3ff])
[  956.058973] ehci_hcd 0000:00:1a.0: power state changed by ACPI to D0
[  956.059006] ehci_hcd 0000:00:1a.0: restoring config space at offset 0xf (was 0x100, writing 0x10b)
[  956.059050] ehci_hcd 0000:00:1a.0: restoring config space at offset 0x1 (was 0x2900000, writing 0x2900002)
[  956.059106] ehci_hcd 0000:00:1a.0: PME# disabled
[  956.059117] ehci_hcd 0000:00:1a.0: power state changed by ACPI to D0
[  956.059126] ehci_hcd 0000:00:1a.0: power state changed by ACPI to D0
[  956.059144] ehci_hcd 0000:00:1a.0: PCI INT A -> GSI 16 (level, low) -> IRQ 16
[  956.059157] ehci_hcd 0000:00:1a.0: setting latency timer to 64
[  956.059203] ehci_hcd 0000:00:1a.0: PCI INT A disabled
[  956.059274] ehci_hcd 0000:00:1a.0: PME# enabled
[  956.059321] ehci_hcd 0000:00:1d.0: power state changed by ACPI to D0
[  956.074941] ehci_hcd 0000:00:1d.0: BAR 0: set to [mem 0xf2629000-0xf26293ff] (PCI address [0xf2629000-0xf26293ff])
[  956.074966] ehci_hcd 0000:00:1d.0: power state changed by ACPI to D0
[  956.074999] ehci_hcd 0000:00:1d.0: restoring config space at offset 0xf (was 0x100, writing 0x107)
[  956.075042] ehci_hcd 0000:00:1d.0: restoring config space at offset 0x1 (was 0x2900000, writing 0x2900002)
[  956.075099] ehci_hcd 0000:00:1d.0: PME# disabled
[  956.075111] ehci_hcd 0000:00:1d.0: power state changed by ACPI to D0
[  956.075120] ehci_hcd 0000:00:1d.0: power state changed by ACPI to D0
[  956.075138] ehci_hcd 0000:00:1d.0: PCI INT A -> GSI 23 (level, low) -> IRQ 23
[  956.075151] ehci_hcd 0000:00:1d.0: setting latency timer to 64
[  956.075185] ehci_hcd 0000:00:1a.0: power state changed by ACPI to D3
[  956.294799] usb 2-1.2: new low speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 7
[  956.401400] input: Microsoft Microsoft Optical Mouse with Tilt Wheel as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.0/usb2/2-1/2-1.2/2-1.2:1.0/input/input14
[  956.401671] generic-usb 0003:045E:00D1.0006: input,hidraw0: USB HID v1.11 Mouse [Microsoft Microsoft Optical Mouse with Tilt Wheel] on usb-0000:00:1d.0-1.2/input0

This shows up after a few secs (when mouse stops responding)

Code:

[  962.934071] ehci_hcd 0000:00:1d.0: PCI INT A disabled
[  962.934162] ehci_hcd 0000:00:1d.0: PME# enabled
[  962.950034] ehci_hcd 0000:00:1d.0: power state changed by ACPI to D3

... clicked a button. Mouse worked for a few secs, then stopped.

Code:

[ 1029.858493] ehci_hcd 0000:00:1a.0: power state changed by ACPI to D0
[ 1029.871531] ehci_hcd 0000:00:1a.0: BAR 0: set to [mem 0xf262a000-0xf262a3ff] (PCI address [0xf262a000-0xf262a3ff])
[ 1029.871555] ehci_hcd 0000:00:1a.0: power state changed by ACPI to D0
[ 1029.871589] ehci_hcd 0000:00:1a.0: restoring config space at offset 0xf (was 0x100, writing 0x10b)
[ 1029.871632] ehci_hcd 0000:00:1a.0: restoring config space at offset 0x1 (was 0x2900000, writing 0x2900002)
[ 1029.871689] ehci_hcd 0000:00:1a.0: PME# disabled
[ 1029.871700] ehci_hcd 0000:00:1a.0: power state changed by ACPI to D0
[ 1029.871709] ehci_hcd 0000:00:1a.0: power state changed by ACPI to D0
[ 1029.871727] ehci_hcd 0000:00:1a.0: PCI INT A -> GSI 16 (level, low) -> IRQ 16
[ 1029.871740] ehci_hcd 0000:00:1a.0: setting latency timer to 64
[ 1029.871787] ehci_hcd 0000:00:1a.0: PCI INT A disabled
[ 1029.871861] ehci_hcd 0000:00:1a.0: PME# enabled
[ 1029.871908] ehci_hcd 0000:00:1d.0: power state changed by ACPI to D0
[ 1029.887521] ehci_hcd 0000:00:1d.0: BAR 0: set to [mem 0xf2629000-0xf26293ff] (PCI address [0xf2629000-0xf26293ff])
[ 1029.887546] ehci_hcd 0000:00:1d.0: power state changed by ACPI to D0
[ 1029.887579] ehci_hcd 0000:00:1d.0: restoring config space at offset 0xf (was 0x100, writing 0x107)
[ 1029.887622] ehci_hcd 0000:00:1d.0: restoring config space at offset 0x1 (was 0x2900000, writing 0x2900002)
[ 1029.887679] ehci_hcd 0000:00:1d.0: PME# disabled
[ 1029.887690] ehci_hcd 0000:00:1d.0: power state changed by ACPI to D0
[ 1029.887699] ehci_hcd 0000:00:1d.0: power state changed by ACPI to D0
[ 1029.887717] ehci_hcd 0000:00:1d.0: PCI INT A -> GSI 23 (level, low) -> IRQ 23
[ 1029.887730] ehci_hcd 0000:00:1d.0: setting latency timer to 64
[ 1029.887764] ehci_hcd 0000:00:1a.0: power state changed by ACPI to D3

 

I just took that deal. I second that motion

 

I'm guessing this is caused by USB autosuspend, though I've never seen it cause such problems for mice.

Check this link out for more information.

 

Thank you!

Edited "/etc/laptop-mode/conf.d/usb-autosuspend.conf" and added "usbhid" to blacklist and it's now working great.

 

Hi!

I'm experiencing the same problem with Natty on an X220. However, there is no usb-autosuspend.conf file anywhere. Any advice on how to proceed?

Thanks,

Martin

 

What times are people getting on theirs X220 with 6 and 9 cell bats (and linux)?

cheers!

 

I think I'm getting somewhere between 3.5-5.5 hours on mine, running (k)Fedora at this point. Largely dependent on what I'm doing, of course.

 

I am getting around 6 1/2 hours on my X220 (i7, 4 gig RAM, 320 gig HDD) while running Linux Mint 11. That is with a 9-cell battery, Wifi always on, USB mouse working, Bluetooth on (oops), several OpenOffice windows, Thunderbird and Firefox open.

 

Well I installed Linux Mint 11 on my X220T via USB. It worked great for a while and then for some really bizarre reason it booted to a black screen. I then tried to reinstall using USB and it kept booting to command prompt.
Went back to Linux Mint 10 which is a little glitchy by comparison. Will report back when I have more information.

 

Sorry to double post, but I have posted a review of the X220T with Linux on Tablet PC Review.
Lenovo X220T Outdoor Display - Linux Mint 11 (A brief review)

 

On power issues: The Leading Cause Of The Recent Linux Kernel Power Problems

I haven't tried the fix yet; I'm at work and my laptop is at home.

 

I havent noticed huge power issues with 2.6.38. The major issue I have noticed with Linux and Sandy Bridge is that the graphics speed is lacking. Cannot run even basic games at a decent speed.

 

There was a discussion earlier in the thread about power issues. I thought this might be worth looking at.

As for graphic speed: I'm not a heavy graphics user, so I haven't noticed it, but I have noticed that the needed driver is very new. It's quite possible it hasn't been optimized.

 

Phoronix reported that Sandy Bridge graphics had regressed during the development time of 2.6.39: [Phoronix] Whoops, Intel SNB Is Borked At The Last Minute In Linux 2.6.39

 

Thanks for the link ctown. I tried installing 2.6.39 and found the graphics performance to be worse. This kernel upgrade was meant to fix some of the problems in 2.6.38 and I was wondering why this wasnt the case.

 

Intel is working a new driver for the next kernel release, it's supposed to be significantly faster, so I think that the wait may be worth it . [Phoronix] Intel Just Released A Crazy Fast Acceleration Architecture

 

Id love for this to be integrated into the 3.0 kernel release.

 

anyone tried kernel 3 yet?

 

No, sorry. i would love to give it a try, but I am not experienced enough to manually update this by myself

To quote Phoronix; " First and foremost, while the latest Linux code is now delivering this impressive performance, most Linux users won't be using this code until the end of the year when hitting the next round of updated Linux distributions. For most end-users, upgrading the open-source Linux graphics driver stack is a pain due to needing to upgrade all of Mesa, the respective X.Org driver, often libdrm, and then most problematic can be needing to upgrade the entire Linux kernel. Even with this latest code we had to manually enable semaphores with the Intel DRM driver for the system to not crash due to the last-minute 2.6.39 revert and the "out of the box" Ubuntu 11.04 experience is troubling."

Original article here: [Phoronix] Intel SNB Linux Driver Can Out Run Windows Driver

 

Even if you where, most people don't have the time to run testing. They try to trick you with shiny new things to beta test. If you have real work to do on your system it's not in your best interest in running anything from a testing branch.

Though if your interested in compiling your own kernel I would be able to guide you in the right direction.

 

May I need any special caution to have a dual boot (ubuntu 11.04 + win 7) on a X220 with the mysterious UEFI firmware ?

Thanks in advance,
Paul