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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 Inspiron 6400

picture.png


- Video card: Intel Corporation
- Mobile 945GM/GMS/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller
- RAM: 2Go
- Hard disk drive: 100Go
- Processor: Pentium Dual-core 1.86GHz (T2130)
- Ethernet card: Broadcom Corporation BCM4401-B0 100Base-TX
- Wifi Card: Intel Corporation PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection
- Optical device: DVD+RW
- Screen WSXGA+: resolution=1200x800, size=15,4" wide

Overall Status

Core Components

Boot Standard Kernel:

{OK}

LAN network card:

{OK}

Detect CD/DVD:

{OK}

Detect hard drives:

{OK}

Extra Features

CPU Frequency Scaling

{i}

Hibernation

{i}

Sleep / Suspend

{i}

Xorg

{OK}

- OpenGL

{OK}

- Resize-and-Rotate(randr)

{OK}

Switch to External Screen

{OK}

Mouse

- Built-in (Trackpoint)

[-]

- Built-in (Touchpad)

{OK}

Modem

[?]

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/firmware

Configuration

Display

You will need to install the 915resolution package:

# apt-get install 915resolution xserver-xorg-video-intel
# 915resolution

The 915resolution will try to get highest resolution, you can change this at /etc/default/915resolution.

If you wish to enable DRI, GLX, etc. see Xorg.conf_Lenny_DellInspiron6400.txt . My configuration works fine with Compiz.

If using newer "xserver-xorg" (version 7.3 +), do not install "915resolution" as it conflicts with "xserver-xorg-video-all" and "xserver-xorg-video-intel". Also install "libgl1-mesa-dri" (and this also installs "libgl1-mesa-glx") for OpenGL support. Use "glxinfo | grep direct" to check for direct rendering. The "glxinfo" util comes with the "mesa-utils" package. (Thanks to enouf and Nemoder on #debian@OFTC)

Hibernation and Sleep/Suspend

Works fine. Install,

# apt-get install acpid hal pm-utils uswsusp powermgmt-base

We will need to unload the "b44" module before hibernating, add the following to "/etc/pm/config.d/unload_modules":

SUSPEND_MODULES="b44"

The wireless drivers will be automatically handled by pm-utils. You should then be able to hibernate:

# pm-hibernate

And suspend:

# pm-suspend

Note that if you are trying to hibernate/suspend from within GNOME, you will need to be a member of the " powerdev" group.

CPU Power Scaling

Add a few modules to be loaded,

# echo "acpi-cpufreq" >> /etc/modules
# echo "speedstep_centrino" >> /etc/modules

Then, install the "powernowd" daemon:

 # apt-get install powernowd 

Powenowd's default settings should be OK for most people.

Hotkeys

These are automatically configures by:

# apt-get install hotkey-setup

WiFi

We need to install the firmware:

# apt-get install firmware-iwlwifi

And it should work. If you get an error like "Kill switch must be turned off in order for wireless networking to work." during system boot, you need to press the magic Fn + F2 button.

I usually manage my wireless connections by using the wpa_supplicant. For information on this, see the ReadMe

# apt-get install wpasupplicant wpagui

System Summary

lspci

00:00.0 Host bridge [0600]: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/PM/GMS, 943/940GML and 945GT Express Memory Controller Hub [8086:27a0] (rev 03)
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller [8086:27a2] (rev 03)
00:02.1 Display controller [0380]: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS/GME, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller [8086:27a6] (rev 03)
00:1b.0 Audio device [0403]: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) High Definition Audio Controller [8086:27d8] (rev 01)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 1 [8086:27d0] (rev 01)
00:1c.3 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 4 [8086:27d6] (rev 01)
00:1d.0 USB Controller [0c03]: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #1 [8086:27c8] (rev 01)
00:1d.1 USB Controller [0c03]: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #2 [8086:27c9] (rev 01)
00:1d.2 USB Controller [0c03]: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #3 [8086:27ca] (rev 01)
00:1d.3 USB Controller [0c03]: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #4 [8086:27cb] (rev 01)
00:1d.7 USB Controller [0c03]: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller [8086:27cc] (rev 01)
00:1e.0 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge [8086:2448] (rev e1)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge [0601]: Intel Corporation 82801GBM (ICH7-M) LPC Interface Bridge [8086:27b9] (rev 01)
00:1f.2 IDE interface [0101]: Intel Corporation 82801GBM/GHM (ICH7 Family) SATA IDE Controller [8086:27c4] (rev 01)
00:1f.3 SMBus [0c05]: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) SMBus Controller [8086:27da] (rev 01)
03:00.0 Ethernet controller [0200]: Broadcom Corporation BCM4401-B0 100Base-TX [14e4:170c] (rev 02)
03:01.0 FireWire (IEEE 1394) [0c00]: Ricoh Co Ltd R5C832 IEEE 1394 Controller [1180:0832]
03:01.1 SD Host controller [0805]: Ricoh Co Ltd R5C822 SD/SDIO/MMC/MS/MSPro Host Adapter [1180:0822] (rev 19)
03:01.2 System peripheral [0880]: Ricoh Co Ltd R5C843 MMC Host Controller [1180:0843] (rev 01)
03:01.3 System peripheral [0880]: Ricoh Co Ltd R5C592 Memory Stick Bus Host Adapter [1180:0592] (rev 0a)
03:01.4 System peripheral [0880]: Ricoh Co Ltd xD-Picture Card Controller [1180:0852] (rev 05)
0b:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Intel Corporation PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection [8086:4222] (rev 02)

lsusb

Bus 002 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
  bDeviceClass            9 Hub
  bDeviceProtocol         0 Full speed (or root) hub
  iProduct                2 UHCI Host Controller
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
  bDeviceClass            9 Hub
  bDeviceProtocol         0 Full speed (or root) hub
  iProduct                2 UHCI Host Controller
Bus 003 Device 003: ID 045e:00e1 Microsoft Corp. Wireless Laser Mouse 6000 Reciever
  bDeviceClass            0 (Defined at Interface level)
  bDeviceProtocol         0
  iProduct                2 Microsoft Wireless Optical Mouse� 1.00
      (Bus Powered)
  (Bus Powered)
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
  bDeviceClass            9 Hub
  bDeviceProtocol         0 Full speed (or root) hub
  iProduct                2 UHCI Host Controller
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
  bDeviceClass            9 Hub
  bDeviceProtocol         0 Full speed (or root) hub
  iProduct                2 UHCI Host Controller
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
  bDeviceClass            9 Hub
  bDeviceProtocol         1 Single TT
  iProduct                2 EHCI Host Controller

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

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