Translation(s): none

(!) ?/Discussion

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
Inspiron Mini 9

Sub-models (LIST OF MODEL REFERENCE NUMBER) options :
- Video card (Intel) (adapt this list to actually match options available. Common features are listed below)
- Screen size (8.9")
- Wireless card
- Disk and Ram size, optical device
- Other options, like fingerprint reader, bluetooth...

Overall Status

Core Components

Boot Standard Kernel:

{OK}

LAN network card:

{OK}

Detect CD/DVD:

[-]

Detect hard drives:

{OK}

Extra Features

CPU Frequency Scaling

{OK}

Hibernation

{OK}

Sleep / Suspend

{OK}

Xorg

{OK}

- OpenGL

{OK}

- Resize-and-Rotate(randr)

[?]

Switch to External Screen

{OK}

Mouse

- Built-in (Touchpad)

{OK}

Wireless/Wifi

{OK}

Webcam

{OK}

Keyboard's Hotkeys

{OK}

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 proprietary driver

Important Note

You can install using the USB method: Preparing Files for USB Memory Stick Booting.

If you have Grub or Lilo installed, you can install without any USB key. Follow the instructions here: Booting from Linux Using LILO or GRUB.

Configuration

LAN Network card

The network adapter is 

04:00.0 Ethernet controller [0200]: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8101E/RTL8102E PCI Express Fast Ethernet controller [10ec:8136] (rev 02)

It works and was detected by Debian Installer automatically.

Display

The display adpater is 

00:02.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GME Express Integrated Graphics Controller [8086:27ae] (rev 03)

It works with intel driver integrated in xorg, and was detected automatically during the xorg configuration.

If you use KDE, apply this fix from the Acer One howto to get your screen less chunky: open /etc/kde3/kdm/kdmrc

find the line that reads ServerArgsLocal=-nolisten tcp and change it to ServerArgsLocal=-nolisten tcp -dpi 96

If, for some reason, you need flashplayer on your netbook, consider to install FP10 instead FP11 in this way you can use acceleration provided by GPU on your Intel 945. (see this)

Audio

The sound adapter is 

00:1b.0 Audio device [0403]: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) High Definition Audio Controller [8086:27d8] (rev 02)

It works with module snd_hda_intel, and support is present in the stock Debian kernel.

To get audio work I had to add a module config for snd-hda-intel, e.g. in /etc/modprobe.d/local.conf 

options snd-hda-intel model=dell

Mouse

Works out of the box.

Power Management

Hibernation and suspend works out of the box.

WiFi

The WiFi adapter is the main problem with this computer, if it is from Broadcom. 

03:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Broadcom Corporation BCM4312 802.11b/g LP-PHY [14e4:4315] (rev 01)

The low-power bcm4312 chip is supported in the b43 module from kernel 2.6.32 (see b43 and b43legacy (squeeze: BCM4312 LP-PHY chipset (PCI-ID 14E4:4315))).

Webcam

The integrated webcam works out of the box.

Touch Pad

The Touch Pad works out of the box.

To enable Synaptics features set SHMConfig in /etc/X11/xorg.conf 

Section "InputDevice"
        Identifier      "Configured Mouse"
        Driver          "mouse"
        Option          "SHMConfig"     "true"
EndSection

System Summary

lspci

00:00.0 Host bridge [0600]: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GME Express Memory Controller Hub [8086:27ac] (rev 03)
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GME Express Integrated Graphics Controller [8086:27ae] (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 02)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 1 [8086:27d0] (rev 02)
00:1c.1 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 2 [8086:27d2] (rev 02)
00:1c.2 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 3 [8086:27d4] (rev 02)
00:1d.0 USB Controller [0c03]: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #1 [8086:27c8] (rev 02)
00:1d.1 USB Controller [0c03]: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #2 [8086:27c9] (rev 02)
00:1d.2 USB Controller [0c03]: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #3 [8086:27ca] (rev 02)
00:1d.3 USB Controller [0c03]: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #4 [8086:27cb] (rev 02)
00:1d.7 USB Controller [0c03]: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller [8086:27cc] (rev 02)
00:1e.0 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge [8086:2448] (rev e2)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge [0601]: Intel Corporation 82801GBM (ICH7-M) LPC Interface Bridge [8086:27b9] (rev 02)
00:1f.1 IDE interface [0101]: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) IDE Controller [8086:27df] (rev 02)
00:1f.3 SMBus [0c05]: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) SMBus Controller [8086:27da] (rev 02)
02:00.0 System peripheral [0880]: JMicron Technologies, Inc. Device [197b:2382]
02:00.2 SD Host controller [0805]: JMicron Technologies, Inc. Device [197b:2381]
02:00.3 System peripheral [0880]: JMicron Technologies, Inc. Device [197b:2383]
03:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Broadcom Corporation BCM4312 802.11b/g LP-PHY [14e4:4315] (rev 01)
04:00.0 Ethernet controller [0200]: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8101E/RTL8102E PCI Express Fast Ethernet controller [10ec:8136] (rev 02)

lsusb

lsusb -v | grep -E '\<(Bus|iProduct|bDeviceClass|bDeviceProtocol)' 2>/dev/null 

Bus 005 Device 004: ID 0c45:63e5 Microdia
  bDeviceClass          239 Miscellaneous Device
  bDeviceProtocol         1 Interface Association
  iProduct                1 Integrated Webcam
      (Bus Powered)
  bDeviceClass          239 Miscellaneous Device
  bDeviceProtocol         1 Interface Association
  (Bus Powered)
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
  bDeviceClass            9 Hub
  bDeviceProtocol         0 Full speed (or root) hub
  iProduct                2 EHCI Host Controller
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
  bDeviceClass            9 Hub
  bDeviceProtocol         0 Full speed (or root) hub
  iProduct                2 UHCI Host Controller
Bus 004 Device 003: ID 413c:02b0 Dell Computer Corp.
  bDeviceClass          224 Wireless
  bDeviceProtocol         1 Bluetooth
  iProduct                2 BCM2046 Bluetooth Device
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
  bDeviceClass            9 Hub
  bDeviceProtocol         0 Full speed (or root) hub
  iProduct                2 UHCI Host Controller
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
  bDeviceClass            9 Hub
  bDeviceProtocol         0 Full speed (or root) hub
  iProduct                2 UHCI Host Controller
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
  bDeviceClass            9 Hub
  bDeviceProtocol         0 Full speed (or root) hub
  iProduct                2 UHCI Host Controller

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

Resources

Attachments

Some configuration files and sample outputs.

Credits