Linux on Sony Vaio Z?

Joined Hoping that will help

 

I've only tested it using the Intel card, but I can control screen brightness with the command:
xrandr --output LVDS --set BACKLIGHT_CONTROL legacy
and the power manager brightness applet.

This is on Ubuntu 8.10

 

Not long ago, I recently purchase a Sony VAIO Z, and decided to install Ubuntu 8.10.

Well eventually, I got most of the hardware working, but not for graphic "NVIDIA". At least Intel 4500HD work, and compiz will work on it. For wireless, the kernel that come with Ubuntu 8.10 will sometime drop connection, and the fix for it would be to compile kernel 2.6.28 or so to get it working. The internal mic won't work, unless you have a headset or plugin mic. The only way to get suspend, hibernate to work is to install Ubuntu without any duo booting since Ubuntu 8.10 need to have full access of the hardware without other os installed. Often during or after screensaver when idle for a long time, the system freeze up, and when trying to push a button or move the mouse won't work.

Hopefully in due time, there will be a way to load in two gpu, new code for hardware or so, and more support if one has time.

 

Are you able to adjust the screen brightness?

 

Well when I compile kernel 2.6.28, and when I unplug my power cord, my lcd display automatically change brightness from bright to low bright. I remember reading a forums somewhere about getting fn key for brightness working by shortcut command or script.

 

Yes, using Ubuntu 8.10. Followed instructions in post number 60 earlier in this thread.

 

hi, i have just purchased one of these laptops and i have been trying to get the graphics working for a week or so now. at the moment i am having to start xp and then crash it to enable the light on the switch to come on and effectively block one card. although intel still shows in lspci.

my thought was something booting before (just) windows must be sending a signal from the switch to the cards. does anyone know how to created boot scripts etc for linux?

another thought my friend had is for all of us z users to chip in and pay a developer to include kernel support for our laptop in their next relece.

i really dont want to return the laptop but i dont think i can keep booting xp to start linux.

any thought as to solutions from others?

 

Can you tell me how you did that?

 

Whether it's a Dell or Sony or Thinkpad with the dual or switchable graphics, no Linux OS supports this feature (yet?). I believe you have to install the driver for one of your GPUs and use that one. So, for example, if you want to use your Nvidia 9300 GPU, you need to 'choose' that chip to use in your BIOS and then install the Nvidia driver in your Linux OS. However, some distros have a Nvidia driver already installed but if you want a later version, you have to install the up-to-date Nvidia driver manually. It's at ver. 180.22 as of this post.

So, if you are using the Intel GPU in the BIOS but you want to switch to the Nvidia one, you need to uninstall that Intel X4500 driver and use some generic VESA (VGA) driver for the meantime while you prepare for the Nvidia drive install. When you uninstall the Intel graphics driver and use the VESA driver, you can reboot and go into your BIOS. In the BIOS, you change the setting to use the Nvidia GPU and then reboot again to your Linux OS (for e.g., Ubuntu). I know this sounds like a PITA but I'm relatively sure, this is how you need to do it. The feature is supported in Windoze because the manufacturers make their hardware compatible in Windoze before it's compatible or supported in anything else. It's all about the dolla.

There's a lot of pages that describe how to install the Nvidia driver if you want the most up to date one. Have fun doing that! It can be scary sometimes...

 

you cant turn off card (nvidia/intell) in BIOS. It is impossible.

 

You're just disabling one, right? That's what I mean.

 

dude, if it where that easy i wouldnt have been going insane all week! bios is typical mainstream, no settings apart from time and boot sequence.

sorry, i didnt mean to be rude! my z has just broken, graphics cards of all things haha... after 4 days use i was using all nvidia drivers, i hope i didnt over write firmware! heyho!

oh, and the latest version of nvidia is 180.27, some had problems with .22

i think im going to have to send this laptop back (apart from the fact its broken) i really like it but i cant use linux and i hate windows (makes me shudder to even write it)

clutching at straws i know but, anyone got it going in linux properly yet?

i forgot to ask if anyone had tryed sleep mode in linux (suspend to ram)? does keeping the hardware partly powered get rid of the problem of having to start xp before linux?

 

freebsd and slackware works fine on my TT FYI:

 

what kernel and drivers are you running |SONY|? do you have the ability to switch cards? if so, hot or cold?

... interesting

 

I have a TT so only GMA45. Suspend to disk is a pain to get working but it works, suspend to ram is useless, since I forget to charge my sh7t for an extended period of time and given that the comp is somewhat 'suspended' it drains the battery in a week or so.

As for the kernels; 2.6.26 vanilla for the slack and the generic for FBSD 7.1

 

I have install SuSE 11, OpenSUSE and Solaris Desktop on my Z.

I cheated. I use VMware.

 

Here i write a small HowTo for the Z Series, where likely all things work! Without necessary to start WindowsXP before linux... so this HowTo is for linux standalone, like it need to be!

First, download Ubuntu Jaunty X64 or x32 (better X64):
http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/releases/jaunty/alpha-4/

Install it with ext4 as filesystem, its much faster as ext3, trust me! And make a swap partition...
After the installation, please make a full update and upgrade! If not, there will nothing work, and it hangs all the time and all...
After the Update it works perfekt... likely all things work!
MemoryStick, SD Sticks works, Intel Graphic 3D/2D works, Wlan with packetInjection works, Sound works, Bright Setting works (not the Keys, but in system), 99% of the laptop works with the new Jaunty Version!

What to do, that all keys work? There are 2Ways to realise that, the first way is for experts, they need to download the 2.6.28 vanilla kernel from kernel.org, or maybe the 2.6.29 and patch them to the latest version...
And Configure and Compile the kernel, if you configure, you need enable Sony Utilitys in the Kernel Configuration... And Compile the kernel, and add a entry in Boot/Grub/Menu.lst the to kernel...

The other way to get the Keys working is easyer, the volume keys works, and the brightnes in linux works, too, what you need to do, that the brightness keys works? You need to assume the funktion to the fn keys... i don't found out how, but i will...


But the MAIN Fact is, that all works with Ubuntu Jaunty! Only the StaminaSwith, the Nvidia 9300 and the Brightness Keys don't works!

But Intel x4500 Full works with all compiz effects, and all... Brightness works to, if you add to the bar the brightness setting tool... And Volume Keys, Sticks, all other works! So pls test out!

Cheers

 

What about Nvidia 9300m ? Listed in LSPCI ?
In that case, it drains too much battery and is not (for me ^^) an acceptable compromise.

Can you tell us more about estimated battery time with ubuntu ?

Thanks

 

I can ask, in Ubuntu Jaunty, the battery life is not so high as in vista, look:
Vista: ~5h
XP: ~4h
Ubuntu: ~3h

In Xp is the battery time not so high like in vista, i think that comes, that vista can disable the cd/dvd/bd drive....
But if you compile a vanilla kernel, you can make an option in configs, that you can enable the hot-plug function for the dvd/bd drive....

So in linux i see only one problem, that the swith don't works....
I think, since the brightness in the new 2.6.28 kernel works, that the new kernel uses only one graphic card...

I think linux haven't so high battery life, because the memory stick stack, the express stack, the cd/dvd/bd drive and the modem card aren't turned off, at the energy saving mode, like in vista.... and there are not the option, that you can set in eergy saving, that it uses only 40 frames, and not all the time 60 frames....
But you can solve all that problems, with some work arounds, and i think it's not so hard....

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/acpi-support/+bug/17213

Cheers

 

its a shame the switch still doesnt work. i am intrigued to know if booting xp and then sleeping linux (suspend to ram) keeps the selected graphics card active! could someone try this for me? my z has been returned and im awaiting a refund so i can buy another one

with regards to the battery saving options available to the linux user, there are options to disable certain hardware with battery run levels and you can turn your cpu down and run your hard drive at a slower rate. at least, you can in gentoo...

 

No switch is not very important for me...but I want only one GPU to be running and powered! (intel 4500 for better battery).
When a kernel will provide this functionnality, I will install arch on my beautiful Z and play with ACPI

 

I think since the brightness works, there is only one gpu running in the new 2.6.28 Kernel....
So you need only Install Ubuntu Jaunty and Upgrade it to the newest version....
And test.... there like all things works... really....

And on my system, i have 5 Partitions:
1 Primary: Vista X64 (160GB)
2 Primary: XP X32 (100GB)
3 Logic: Ubuntu Jaunty X64 (40GB)
4 Logic: Ubuntu Swap (3GB)
5 Logic: Data Partition for Sharing files... (10GB)

I need Ubuntu for the first thing, that it hide the other windows partition, if one starts... I need here the Grub boot loader...
So The Vista have C: as main, and XP have C: as main too.... but 2 different partitions... So here i need Grub...

Thats why i use Linux.... I need Grub...

But if you start Windows XP and after that Linux, you can use Both Cards...
You can use the 9300 as only one GPU, or the Intel x4500 as only one...
But you need start than every time Windows XP before you start Linux....

What i want now to say is... You dont need to start Windows XP if you have Ubuntu Jaunty with Linux Kernel 2.6.28...........
Here only the Intel Card works 100%! Brightness, and all.....
And the Nvidia Card are not present... you cant see it in the system and all...


Cheers!

 

Good news.
I will try soon to install archlinux with 2.6.28 kernel.

 

can anyone try booting to xp and sleeping linux for me with the nvidia card enabled?

i would really like to see if suspend to ram works!

thanks

 

How you mean that, i can test it for you, in the linux the sleeping mode works perfectly, there are options if you open the laptop that it starts again.... and close, it go to sleep....
The sleeping mode in Linux works better as in Windows...
And you mean sleeping with the nvidia card?

I tested only with intel card, go test now with nvidia...

 

i would just like to know if the light next to the stamina/speed switch stays lit when returning from sleep mode and if the selected graphics card still works!?

 

Works really! The light is On!

 

Hey everyone, just bought mine Z today

Does anyone have news regarding linux on it?

 

So, after testing with Ubuntu Jaunty I think it does work without the need to boot XP...

At least only the Intel shows up on lspci, this should mean that the nVidia is off, but if so, why does the battery runs so fast? I wish we got at least 4 hours

Hopefully by 2.6.10 we'll be able to use both cards!

 

After a few more tests I see that even though the nVidia doesn't show up in lspci it must be still on...

Does anyone have any Vista dumps while switching graphics?

Btw, what about that TIC made by the disk that people are reporting, any news?

 

ive upgraded my ubuntu 8.10 to 9.04 via wi-fi and now my eth0 and wifi card doesnt work i cant connecto to any network :| thats sux...

 

It's working fine here...

 

ok ive installed ubuntu jaunty alpha 5 from cd and then full update via wire int. but i still cant get wi-fi to work with my uk router. :| i can see other networks but mine doesnt show.
btw card reader doesnt work, and intel cardled either.

can someone from uk or europe can tell me how to get mine wifi working?

 

Dudes, I got it work!!!!!

Both cards without the need to boot XP! Just 2 different DSDT for each one!

http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=1949122&postcount=46

 

nice, pls ask me what you have done in grub?

It's a easilly menu.lst edit, or you need grub2 with scripts?

Cheers

 

better tell me how you menage to get wifi working?
unless you are from usa ;p

 

Wifi works Out Of the Box.... All intel cards works...
Cheers

 

Yeah, Wifi works out of the box for me too and I'm on Portugal...

So, for BOTH CARDS WORKING WITHOUT BOOTING XP just go here http://blog.shiftreduce.org/?p=13

If you have any doubts just ask!

 

These are distro-specific instructions, and will not work on other distros (nor generic linux from scratch). Which you only find out after going through 2/3 of the instructions, and then suddenly the distro-specific stuff blocks the rest.
Perhaps change the title to include "Ubuntu", so people won't waste their time?

 

Hello to everyone.
I have some info that I think will be useful to people like me that don't have a Z yet and is interested in running Linux on it.
Some days ago I went in a SonyStyle store and the guys in the shop allowed me to boot the VGN-Z690YAD in exhibition with an Ubuntu 8.10 CD. I rebooted the machine with the switch in speed (not stamina) mode.
So I hope that the "Xorg.0.log" and "/var/log/messages" files and the output of the "lspci -vv" and "dmesg" commands can be useful.
As you can see from lspci both the nvidia and the intel cards are detected (but maybe this is only because I rebooted from Vista).
Xorg used the intel card. When I tried to activate desktop effects (compiz) a window appeared saying that the nvidia proprietary driver could not be downloaded beacuse the machine was not connected to a network :/. So I cannot say if the nvidia card would really work.
For what concerns the dmesg output the only problem that I see is with the module "sonypi" but as the log itself suggests one should try with "sony-laptop" module instead.

Sorry if my english is not good, I'm still learning it.

Best,
Mauro

 

Hey rfer, i have the dsdt only in a compiled mode, i can't look in it... it's unreadable...
If i look in the file with "sudo vi /proc/acpi/dsdt" i see only crypted things... not like in your dsdt...

I need only the Intel part to be working.... for what we need the nvidia part? playing games on linux^^ LOL

I use Ubuntu Jaunty Alpha 5 (with latest updates...) works very good...

 

You're right, just edited the posted.

 

I followed that guide and now the card is properly started and so on. BUT, the backlight is not adjustable anymore! Any suggestion?

 

I've written a small guide, basing upon rfer's suggestions and other guides found on the net.
Here it is
Hope this will help...

 

I just finished installing Ubuntu 9.04 here.

Stamina and Speed led are both blank. So I have to look into that.

If backlight is no longer adjustable, you can try if it still responds to the power options.

WiFi works out of the box here (Asian model, but model numbering seems to be the same as Europe). Just a single click on the WiFi icon shows the networks found. That's in the top bar of Gnome.

 

Something odd here. First I burned the 32 bit version to a CD-RW and later I burned the 64 bit version onto the same CD-RW. If I look at the text documents in the root of the CD, I see it says 64 bit edition. And that's the one I installed.

But when I look in the System Monitor (System -> Administration), it tells me 3.7 GiB Memory. Something went wrong here? I thought the 64 bit edition should give me the full 4GB?

 

You have 4 GB of memory. Some of the memory is also borrowed by the graphics card, or used by other hardware.

 

Just another quick question.
Did anyone find some user friendly software for Ubunto 9.04 to toggle hardware devices?
I want to lower my battery consumption.

One is Bluetooth (rarely use it) and other things (like modem) would be nice too.
It has to be an app that can toggle hardware status when your session is already started.

 

Well, I just stumbled upon this one.

Haven't tried it yet.

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=988309

 

I had a big struggle with Skype on Ubuntu 9.04 64 bit.
I read I had to disable PulseAudio. I didn't feel like that and found the solution (I think I missed it the first time I read it):

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Skype#Message: "Problem with ..."

The only input that worked for me so far was "HDA Intel(hw:Intel,0)".

The only thing is that the built-in mic doesn't seem to be working. Or at least, so far it didn't work for me. I plugged a mic (actually a headphone) into the mic jack and all started to work. It could be that you have to unmute the mic in the system audio settings.

https://lists.launchpad.net/sony-vaio-z-series/msg00029.html

If anyone had any luck getting the built-in mic to work with Ubuntu, I would love to hear that.