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
Samsung Chromebook (2012 ARM one)

Sub-models options :
- CPU: Samsung Exynos5 Dual
- Video card: Mali T604
- Screen size: 11.6"

Overall Status

Core Components

[ATTACH]

Boot Standard Kernel:

[?] (used Chromium kernel binary so far)

Detect hard drives:

{OK}

Extra Features

CPU Frequency Scaling

{OK}

Hibernation

[?]

Sleep / Suspend

{OK}

Xorg

{OK}

- OpenGLES

X-(

- Resize-and-Rotate(randr)

{OK}

Switch to External Screen

{OK}

Mouse

- Built-in (Touchpad)

{i}

Wireless/Wifi

{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 non-free driver and or firmware

Important Note

There are several methods of installation other operating systems on Chromebook.

TODO: add some information about them

Configuration

Display

There is a driver for X11: xf86-video-armsoc. It was created from xf86-video-omap one but forked quite long time ago. There is armsoc driver at Linaro git server but it does not have Mali T604 support at all.

Xorg.conf snippet (taken from Chromium OS): 

Section "Device"
        Identifier      "Mali FBDEV"
        Driver          "armsoc"
        Option          "fbdev"                 "/dev/fb0"
        Option          "Fimg2DExa"             "false"
        Option          "DRI2"                  "true"
        Option          "DRI2_PAGE_FLIP"        "false"
        Option          "DRI2_WAIT_VSYNC"       "true"
#       Option          "Fimg2DExaSolid"        "false"
#       Option          "Fimg2DExaCopy"         "false"
#       Option          "Fimg2DExaComposite"    "false"
        Option          "SWcursorLCD"           "false"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
        Identifier      "DefaultScreen"
        Device          "Mali FBDEV"
        DefaultDepth    24
EndSection

Audio

Do not play with ALSA mixer - you may fry your speakers!

UCM profiles from Chromium OS are on a way to be included in Debian. In meantime copy /usr/share/alsa/ucm/ directory contents from Chromium OS.

Touchpad

Two choices exists:

Second option requires small xorg.conf snippet: 

Section "InputClass"
        Identifier "touchpad"
        MatchIsTouchpad "on"
EndSection

Power Management

Suspend to memory works but looks like battery usage is higher than expected.

Not tested hibernation.

WiFi

Works fine.

System Summary

lsusb

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

Bus 001 Device 002: ID 0424:3503 Standard Microsystems Corp.
  bDeviceClass            9 Hub
  bDeviceProtocol         2 TT per port
  iProduct                0
  bDeviceClass            9 Hub
  bDeviceProtocol         0 Full speed (or root) hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
  bDeviceClass            9 Hub
  bDeviceProtocol         0 Full speed (or root) hub
  iProduct                2 S5P EHCI 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 EXYNOS OHCI Host Controller
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
  bDeviceClass            9 Hub
  bDeviceProtocol         1 Single TT
  iProduct                2 xHCI Host Controller
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
  bDeviceClass            9 Hub
  bDeviceProtocol         3
  iProduct                2 xHCI Host Controller
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 2232:1037
  bDeviceClass          239 Miscellaneous Device
  bDeviceProtocol         1 Interface Association
  iProduct                1 WebCam SC-03FFM12339N
      (Bus Powered)
  bDeviceClass          239 Miscellaneous Device
  bDeviceProtocol         1 Interface Association
  (Bus Powered)

Resources

List of loaded modules

Module                  Size  Used by
hidp                   12084  1
isl29018                6412  0
industrialio           14340  1 isl29018
uvcvideo               59681  0
videobuf2_vmalloc       2732  1 uvcvideo
sbs_battery             6441  0
joydev                  8277  0
rfcomm                 21424  12
mwifiex_sdio           11492  0
mwifiex               102827  1 mwifiex_sdio
cfg80211              159128  1 mwifiex
btmrvl_sdio             7952  0
btmrvl                 11681  1 btmrvl_sdio
bluetooth             165503  25 hidp,btmrvl,rfcomm,btmrvl_sdio
spidev                  4304  0

Attachments

Some configuration files and sample outputs.

Credits