Entry created
2023-01-12

Translation(s): none

DebianOn is an effort to document how to install, configure and use Debian on some specific hardware. Therefore potential buyers would know if that hardware is supported and owners would know how get the best out of that hardware.

The purpose is not to duplicate the Debian Official Documentation, but to document how to install Debian on some specific hardware.

If you need help to get Debian running on your hardware, please have a look at our user support channels where you may find specific channels (mailing list, IRC channel) dedicated to certain types of hardware.

Models covered
Dell XPS 17 9720

Sub-models (mid-level graphics) options :
- Intel i5-12500H CPU
- Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- 17" UHD+ 3840 x 2400 60Hz screen with touch.

Overall Status

Core Components

[ATTACH]

Boot Standard Kernel:

{OK}

Detect hard drives:

{OK}

Secure boot:

{OK}

Extra Features

CPU Frequency Scaling

[?]

Hibernation

[?]

Sleep / Suspend

X-(

Wayland

{OK}

- OpenGL

{OK}

- Resize-and-Rotate(randr)

{OK}

Switch to External Screen

{OK}

Mouse

- Built-in (Touchpad)

{i}

Audio

X-(

Webcam

{OK}

Bluetooth

X-(

Wireless/Wifi

X-(

Keyboard's Hotkeys

{i}

Legend :
{OK} = OK ; {X} Unsupported(No Driver) ; /!\ = Error (Couldn't get it working); [?] Unknown, Not Test ; [-] Not-applicable
{i} = Configuration Required; X-( = Only works with a non-free driver and or firmware

Important Note

Skipping Windows

This machine is shipped with Microsoft Windows by default. On boot, it will prompt you to run through the Windows first-run setup. If you want to skip this entirely and just install Debian, you can reset the machine. The power button does not reset this. Instead, you have to execute a command in a hidden command prompt. Do this by first pressing Shift+F10 (might need Fn). That will pop up a cmd.exe shell window. In that window, type: shutdown /s /t 0. Then be sure to press F12 or F2 when you see the Dell logo to choose the device to install Debian from.

BIOS

Under "Storage', change the SATA/NVMe Operation settings from the default "RAID On" to "AHCI/NVMe". This will allow Linux to detect the NVMe SSD. This might break the existing Windows installation.

You might also want to consider doing:

Configuration

Display

Audio

Firmware is required, and allows full functionality. 

apt-get install firmware-sof-signed

Microphone

The laptop has several mic channels and the appropriate channel has to be unmuted before the mic will work. Open alsamixer, press F6, then in sof-soundwire:

Keyboard

The keyboard worked at first in the Debian Installer, then at the Hostname prompt, it stopped working. I plugged in an external USB keyboard to finish the install. It worked fine after booting into the new install.

Power Management / Keyboard's Hotkeys

apt-get install -t bookworm-backports linux-image-amd64 firmware-misc-nonfree

You might have to get this package from bookworm.

Going to "Power" settings in the BIOS and disabling "Block Sleep (S3)" makes this promising message show up in the kernel logs: 

Low-power S0 idle used by default for system suspend

WiFi

apt-get install -t bullseye-backports firmware-realtek firmware-iwlwifi

You might have to get these packages from bookworm.

System Summary

lspci

$ lspci -nn
00:00.0 Host bridge [0600]: Intel Corporation Device [8086:4621] (rev 02)
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: Intel Corporation Device [8086:46a6] (rev 0c)
00:04.0 Signal processing controller [1180]: Intel Corporation Device [8086:461d] (rev 02)
00:06.0 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation Device [8086:464d] (rev 02)
00:07.0 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation Device [8086:466e] (rev 02)
00:07.1 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation Device [8086:463f] (rev 02)
00:07.2 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation Device [8086:462f] (rev 02)
00:07.3 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation Device [8086:461f] (rev 02)
00:08.0 System peripheral [0880]: Intel Corporation Device [8086:464f] (rev 02)
00:0d.0 USB controller [0c03]: Intel Corporation Device [8086:461e] (rev 02)
00:0d.2 USB controller [0c03]: Intel Corporation Device [8086:463e] (rev 02)
00:0d.3 USB controller [0c03]: Intel Corporation Device [8086:466d] (rev 02)
00:12.0 Serial controller [0700]: Intel Corporation Device [8086:51fc] (rev 01)
00:14.0 USB controller [0c03]: Intel Corporation Device [8086:51ed] (rev 01)
00:14.2 RAM memory [0500]: Intel Corporation Device [8086:51ef] (rev 01)
00:14.3 Network controller [0280]: Intel Corporation Device [8086:51f0] (rev 01)
00:15.0 Serial bus controller [0c80]: Intel Corporation Device [8086:51e8] (rev 01)
00:15.1 Serial bus controller [0c80]: Intel Corporation Device [8086:51e9] (rev 01)
00:16.0 Communication controller [0780]: Intel Corporation Device [8086:51e0] (rev 01)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation Device [8086:51bb] (rev 01)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge [0601]: Intel Corporation Device [8086:5182] (rev 01)
00:1f.3 Multimedia audio controller [0401]: Intel Corporation Device [8086:51c8] (rev 01)
00:1f.4 SMBus [0c05]: Intel Corporation Device [8086:51a3] (rev 01)
00:1f.5 Serial bus controller [0c80]: Intel Corporation Device [8086:51a4] (rev 01)
01:00.0 Non-Volatile memory controller [0108]: SK hynix Device [1c5c:1959]
aa:00.0 Unassigned class [ff00]: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTS5260 PCI Express Card Reader [10ec:5260] (rev 01)

lsusb

$ lsusb
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 005: ID 27c6:63ac Shenzhen Goodix Technology Co.,Ltd. Goodix USB2.0 MISC
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0c45:6732 Microdia Integrated_Webcam_HD
Bus 001 Device 008: ID 8087:0033 Intel Corp.
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

$ sudo lsusb -v 2>/dev/null | grep -E '\<(^Bus|iProduct|bDeviceClass|bDeviceProtocol)'
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
  bDeviceClass            9 Hub
  bDeviceProtocol         3
  iProduct                2 xHCI Host Controller
Bus 001 Device 005: ID 27c6:63ac Shenzhen Goodix Technology Co.,Ltd. Goodix USB2.0 MISC
  bDeviceClass          239 Miscellaneous Device
  bDeviceProtocol         0
  iProduct                2 Goodix USB2.0 MISC
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0c45:6732 Microdia Integrated_Webcam_HD
  bDeviceClass          239 Miscellaneous Device
  bDeviceProtocol         1 Interface Association
  iProduct                1 Integrated_Webcam_HD
Bus 001 Device 008: ID 8087:0033 Intel Corp.
  bDeviceClass          224 Wireless
  bDeviceProtocol         1 Bluetooth
  iProduct                0
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
  bDeviceClass            9 Hub
  bDeviceProtocol         1 Single TT
  iProduct                2 xHCI Host Controller

USB Host controllers entries (without OHCI, UHCI, EHCI) are removed too.

Resources

Attachments

Some configuration files and sample outputs.

Other reports

Credits

CategoryLaptopComputer