Linux on Laptops
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General Laptop |
General Linux |
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Disclaimers
This is an index of information and documentation of interest
to those who now use or are considering using the
Linux operating system
on a notebook or laptop computer. This resource is available
on the World Wide Web at its original North American location,
http://www.cs.utexas.edu/users/kharker/linux-laptop/, and at
several
official mirrors.
Last Modified: 21 January 2001
Hot Topics
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Linux Laptop HOWTO
This document will tell you (almost) everything you might want to know
about running Linux on a laptop or notebook computer. Especially important
is the section about how to choose a notebook to buy that will be compatible
with the Linux operating system.
Windows Refund Center
You might be entitled to a refund for Microsoft Windows and any other
related OEM software that may also be included on your notebook computer,
if you have installed Linux on a machine which came preloaded with
Microsoft Windows. This web site contains extensive information, including
success stories, and advice. Fight back against the "Microsoft Tax!"
Running Linux on Specific Notebook Models
Several mini-HOWTO style documents describe setup and configuration of
Linux on specific brands of notebooks. (Listed in alphabetic order by vendor
name.) If you do not see a specific notebook brand or model listed here, it
is because no one has taken the time to document the specifics of installing
or running Linux for that machine. It does not necessarily mean that a
notebook will not run Linux. If you are looking for specific information
about a laptop not listed here, you might want to try searching the
Linux Laptop Volunteer Support Database for someone
willing to answer your questions. If the notebook is not listed here,
I do not have any specific information about it.
I highly encourage anyone using Linux on some notebook not listed here
to help by providing documentation! To contribute, publish your information
on a web page and email the URL to
kharker@cs.utexas.edu.
Do not send me just XF86Config files or HTML files. Either put them on a
web page and send me the URL, or contribute XF86Config files to the
archive
project.
Running Linux on Palmtops
Palmtops are generally smaller and less powerful than laptops and
notebook computers. Often, they do not feature hard disks, but rely
upon non-volatile RAM memory. They often run off of common AA dry cells
rather than special rechargable batteries. These links include both
getting the Linux kernel to run on the palmtop hardware, and software
tools for palmtop-to-Linux interconnection and development.
Notebooks and XFree86
This section contains information relevant to configuring the XFree86
X Window System server on notebook and laptop computer LCD displays.
- Xfree86 and the
NeoMagic MagicGraph 128ZV+ Chipset
Finally! Here is some hard information on how to run Xfree86 on
notebooks using NeoMagic video chipsets. This is an unaccelerated
X server with support for 8bpp and 16bpp at 800x600 resolution.
-
Notebook Graphics and PCMCIA Chipset Survey
A table listing the
video and PCMCIA controller chipsets used in many popular laptop computer
models. It also lists the bits-per-pixel one might expect under XFree86.
-
XF86Config Archive
A database of XF86Config files used by Linux
and FreeBSD users. If you need an XF86Config file for your notebook or
laptop, check out this site. (Some documents available in Japanese
only.)
-
XF86Config Archive (in Japanese)
A database of XF86Config files for many, many notebook computers
available on the Japanese market.
-
XFree86 Cirrus Logic Laptop Configurations
This site contains a
small repository of XF86Config files for numerous notebooks, particularly
those using the Cirrus Logic 7543 and 7548 chipsets.
-
XFree86 and the CT65545 video chipset
Another source of
information about a new video chipset being used in some notebook
computers.
Information on Specific Notebook Components
Information about system configuration, PCMCIA support, power management,
sound, networking, parallel devices, and more.
-
Battery Powered Linux Mini-HOWTO
Help out other Linux notebook and laptop users optimize their battery
life and performance by providing your hints and suggestions to this
Mini-HOWTO.
- 4MB Laptop HOWTO
This document is not a general HOWTO about installing Linux on laptops.
It simply describes a way of squeezing a large Linux distribution into a
very small space, citing two specific machines as examples.
- Linux PCMCIA Information
Page
The authoritative source for the
latest information about the PCMCIA Card Services for Linux, including
documentation, files, and generic PCMCIA information.
-
PCMCIA Card Survey
A survey of "unsupported" PCMCIA cards, which includes information about
some cards which are not in the official database of the PCMCIA
Card Services for Linux package, but which can be made to work with
Linux.
-
Linux and Advanced Power Management
The Linux Advanced Power Management Daemon (APMD) distribution is a
set of programs that controls the Advanced Power Management system
found in most modern laptop computers.
-
Linux Software Suspend
This is a kernel patch that
allows you to suspend a Linux machine and quickly restart it from
where it was suspended before. This does not require APM hardware
support.
-
How to Make Your Windows Keys Useful
You can map just about anything possible to the <Win95> and
<Start> keys. This document describes how to modify the Linux and
X Window System keytables to suit your purpose.
- The Linux IrDA
Project
IrDA ("infrared") serial ports are built in to many
modern notebooks. The overall goal of this project is to incorporate
the IrDA protocol stack into the Linux kernel.
- Infrared Devices
Working With Linux
This index includes notebooks, laptops, palmtops, and PCMCIA cards
with IR devices that are known to work with the Linux operating system.
- External Parallel Port
Devices and Linux
Since many notebooks may be limited in their
expandability, using the parallel port is an attractive option. This
site contains information about the efforts to write device drivers for
many popular parallel port hardware devices.
-
Internal Modem Devices Working with Linux
Many "internal" modems built into notebook computers will NOT work
with Linux, especially IBM MWave modems and so-called "WinModems."
-
Modems, WinModems, and Linux
This is a great reference on consumer modem devices. It helps
people identify which modems are really "WinModems," which modems
(including PCMCIA modems) are known to work well with Linux, and
which definitely will not.
-
Linux WinModem Support
The Linux WinModem Support project hopes to make something useful out
of the WinModem problem. Some WinModems are now actually working
under Linux, including chipsets in some notebook computers.
-
Linux Laptops with Video Ports
A survey of information about laptops with video ports (NTSC/PAL video
capture and output capability) and whether or not they are currently
supported by the Video4Linux API and drivers.
- Diald dial
daemon
The Diald daemon provides on demand Internet
connectivity using the SLIP or PPP protocols. Diald can automatically
dial in to a remote host when needed or bring down dial-up connections
that are inactive.
- NetEnv
If you use your notebook in
multiple network environments, NetEnv might be useful for you. When
booting your laptop, it provides a simple interface from which
one can choose from among several custom network configurations.
- IOMEGA Clik! PCMCIA
Card Drive under Linux
Iomega's Clik! hard drive is a 40M removable media drive in the shape
of a PCMCIA type II card. This contains instructions on how to get the
drive to work under Linux.
- Mobile IP for
Linux
A version of
Mobile IP is now available for Linux and Solaris. This package allows
a portable computer access to the Internet from different networks
without changing its IP address.
- Dynamics HUT Mobile
IP
Another implementation
of the Mobile IP concept, Dynamics, developed at
Helsinki University of Technology (HUT), is a scalable, dynamical and
hierarchical Mobile IP software for Linux operating system.
-
Linux Laptops with USB
This is a survey of experiences about laptops with Universal
Serial Bus (USB) ports, and whether or not they work with
the drivers from the Linux USB Project.
-
Linux USB Project
If you have a laptop with a Universal Serial Bus (USB)
port, you may wish to check out this site for the latest news
on the Linux USB support project.
- Linux and Linksys Ethernet Adaptors
A short note on the use of
the Linksys parallel-port ethernet adaptor under Linux. This is a
widely available networking adaptor that doesn't require a PCMCIA slot.
- Accton Pocket Ethernet and Linux
This ethernet adaptor uses a parallel
port and delivers approximately 110kBytes/s performance for those
notebooks that do not have PCMCIA slots.
- How to Install from CD-ROM without Boot and Supplemental Disks
This is a short description of how to install from a CD-ROM under DOS
without using boot or supplemental floppy diskettes. This is especially
useful for notebooks with swappable floppy and CD-ROM components.
- NOTEMIDI -
Linux Serial Port MIDI Interface
NOTEMIDI is a Linux interface for MIDI input and output via the RS-232
serial port on laptop computers. NOTEMIDI can be used with the MIDIator
MS-124W interface, Roland Sound Canvas sound modules or Yamaha MU-x
series sound modules.
- How to Use a Notebook as a
Firewall
This is a short description of how one person set up an old notebook
for use as a firewall/IP masquerading gateway that takes up very little
space.
Articles and Presentations
Articles, presentations, and talks specifically involving Linux running
on laptop computer hardware.
- "Using a Laptop in
Different Environments"r by Gerd
Bavendiek
This article appeared in the August, 1997 issue of
the Linux Gazette. This is an
excellent, short technical article describing an easy way to setup your
Linux notebook to boot into different network and printing
configurations, especially useful for those who use their machines
at home as well as other locations such as in the office, at school, or
at a customer site.
- "A Star is Born:
'Linux: From Freak-system to Windows Competition?'"
by Jürgen Kuri
This article appeared in the May, 1997 issue of
c't: magazin für
computertechnik. The article briefly introduces Linux to those
more familiar with Microsoft Windows brand operating systems and then
goes on to discuss using Linux on notebook computers in depth. It also
discusses the use of Linux and Fidonet.
- "IMEC/NIT" by
Erwin Glassee and Rudi Cartuyvels
This article appeared in the monthly Linux Means Business column
of the Linux Journal in the
December 1996 issue. The article outlines the benefits that IMEC and NIT
found in porting their high-power microelectronic fabrication process
simulator to Linux and how they use laptop computers to take
demonstrations directly to potential clients around the world.
Back issues should
still be available.
- "Linux on Mobile
Computers" by Kenneth E.
Harker
The Linux Laptop Home Page is
featured in this article which appeared in the June 1996 issue of the
Linux Journal.
Back issues should
still be available. This article is now available in Japanese - contact
SSC, Inc. for more information.
- "Linux in the Rugged Field" by Sid Hellman
This article, which
appeared in the
August, 1995
issue of the Linux Journal,
explains why having the source available helped make Linux the best
choice for a portable workstation used for field data analysis.
The Linux Laptop Volunteer Support Database
The
Linux Laptop Volunteer Support Database is an attempt to match those
people who use the Linux operating system on notebook or laptop computers and
who wish to give back to the Linux community and help other users with those
people who have questions, problems, or concerns about getting Linux running
on their mobile computers. The basic idea is that volunteers can leave their
name, e-mail address, and the brand name and model of the laptop or notebook
computer they are familiar with and willing to answer questions about, and
those with problems or questions can look up others who are willing to help.
Those who already using Linux on their notebooks or laptops are highly
encouraged to sign up - the value of this service to the Linux community grows
with the number of volunteers and the variety of hardware represented.
Utilities, Patches, and Files
Miscellaneous Linux kernal patches, utilities, and files of specific
interest to laptop and notebook computer users.
-
QuickSwitch
QuickSwitch is a utility that lets Linux/Unix laptop users create and
use roaming network profiles.
-
The Iomega Clik!/PocketZip PC Card Drive under Linux
Linux support for a 40M removable media drive in the shape of a PCMCIA
type II card.
-
lanoche
lanoche generates a HTML report showing hardware information about your
laptop.
-
Linux lphdisk
lphdisk is a Linux utility to format hibernation partitions for use
with the APM Suspend-To-Disk features on laptops with Phoenix NoteBIOS.
-
KDE Laptop Control Panels
This set of control panels for the K Desktop Environment implements
laptop computer support functions, including a battery status
monitor, and a warning when power is getting low, and a configuration
tool for power saving options.
-
tpctl: ThinkPad Configuration Tool for Linux
tpctl is a program that does some of what PS2.EXE does under DOS and
the ThinkPad Configuration program does under Windows. tpctl gives
the user access to all the functions of the SMAPI BIOS that are
documented in the various ThinkPad Technical Reference manuals.
-
Linux Trackpoint Utilities
The Linux Trackpoint Utilities is a user mode driver / daemon for
IBM TrackPoint devices that makes advanced TrackPoint features
available under the Linux operating system.
-
Xfiles: File Tree Synchronization and Cross-Validation
Xfiles is an interactive program that can be used to keep your laptop
file tree up to date with another machine, such as your desktop Linux
box or a file tree on a server. It's also useful as an alternative
backup strategy.
-
Mobile Update Daemon
This is a drop-in replacement for the standard "update" daemon that is
specially tailored for notebooks to reduce unnecessary hard disk
spin-ups.
-
Mergemem Project
Many programs contain memory areas of the same content that remain
undetected by the operating system. The mergemem program is able to
identify this, and reduces the overall memory consumption of Linux
processes.
-
Toshiba Linux Utilities
This is a set of Linux utilities for controlling the fan, supervisor
passwords, and hot key functions of Toshiba Pentium notebooks.
-
Synaptics Touchpad Linux Driver
The Synaptics touchpad is a
pointing device used in notebooks by Acer, Compaq, Dell, Gateway,
Olivetti, Texas Instruments, Winbook, and others.
-
Linux Touchscreen Drivers for Fujitsu Lifebooks
This document describes a new device driver for using the touchscreen on
certain Lifebook models of Fujitsu notebooks.
-
LCDProc
LCDproc is a small piece of software that will enable your Linux box to
display live system informtion on a 20x4 line backlit LCD display. This
program shows, among other things, battery status on notebooks.
-
noblink Kernel Patch
The noblink kernel patch creates a
non-blinking block cursor on the Linux console. For many laptop and
notebook users, it is among the first things to install, as it can make
finding the console cursor significantly easier.
- APMD Utilities
A collection of simple
utilities for use with the Linux APM driver. It also includes a C
library for developing further APM-aware utilities.
- hdparm
hdparm is a Linux IDE disk utility that lets you set
spin-down timeouts and other disk parameters.
- Linux PCMCIA
Package FTP Site
This FTP site includes the latest version of
Card Services for Linux.
- Linux Compaq Concerto
Pen Driver
The latest version of the Linux Compaq Concerto Pen
Driver is available from its author's home page.
- A hacked rclock
Booker C. Bense has hacked the rclock program to include
a simple battery power meter on the clock face.
- xbatstat
A battery level status checker for Linux and X. The latest
version requires Xforms and the apmd utilities.
Discussion Forums
Mailing lists, internet reflectors, and web-based dicussion forums are a
great place for discussions related to running Linux on laptops and notebook
computers. Most of the reflectors are run using one of a few popular list
server programs. To join these reflectors, you must "subscribe" to them with
your e-mail address. Send an email to the reflector subscribe address with the
word HELP in the message body. You should receive detailed information
about how to subscribe, unsubscribe, and more. Each reflector might have
slightly different ways of doing this. A few reflectors have web-based
list management.
USENET Newsgroups
The USENET newsgroups can provide a source of information about aspects of
running Linux on notebooks that haven't yet been documented. If you are
unable to find the information you are looking for here or on any of the pages
linked to from this site, a post to the USENET newsgroups may turn up an answer
from someone that can help you.
Linux Newsgroups
X Window System Newsgroups
Hardware Newsgroups
Magazines and Newsletters
Magazines and newsletters about PC laptops in general, about mobile
computing, about UNIX® in general, or about Linux.
General Laptop Information
These are sources of information of general use to laptop and notebook
owners, regardless of the operating system used.
-
Laptop Soup
This site offers a lot of information about what
companies produce which machines sold under which brand names. If you
need to know what company made your machine, this site may help you find
out.
-
Notebook Jungle
This is another site that offers information
about which notebooks are made by which manufacturers for which
resellers. There is a search engine and indices based on country.
-
The WWW Virtual Library: Mobile and Wireless Computing
This
site provides a world of information about scientific journals,
conferences, academic projects, and more that relate to state-of-the-art
mobile computing. There are also many references to developing
standards, non-profit and governmental organizations, and an index of
vendors, including wireless service providers.
- Federal Communications
Commission On-line Equipment Authorization Database
If you are having problems
identifying the manufacturer of a laptop or notebook computer
(or other electronic device,) this site lets you search the FCC
database based on the FCC ID number you can usually find on the
equipment if it was marketed in the United States of America.
General Linux Information
More documentation about general Linux installation and configuration, as
well as pointers to organizations and other sources of general Linux
information.
Comments
Please send any comments, suggestions, or updates about the information
presented here to me at
kharker@cs.utexas.edu. If there's something laptop-related that you'd
like to find, but can't - let me know about that, too, and I'll attempt to find
the information. Comments about specific information resources pointed to by
this site should go to the respective author(s) of the documents.
Disclaimers
For those concerned about such things, please note that there are a few
disclaimers about this publication and its content.
The Linux Laptop Home Page is copyright © 1995-2000 Kenneth E. Harker.
Permission to make digital/hard copy of part or all of this work for personal
or classroom use is granted without fee provided that copies are not made or
distributed for profit or commercial advantage, the copyright notice and its
date appear, and notice is given that copying is by permission of
Kenneth E. Harker. To
copy otherwise, to republish, to post on servers, or to redistribute to lists
requires prior specific permission and/or a fee.
Linux: The Choice of a GNU Generation
Kenneth E. Harker
kharker@cs.utexas.edu
No Warranties: This information is provided "as is" without any
warranty, condition, or representation of any kind, either express or implied,
including but not limited to, any warranty respecting non-infringement, and the
implied warranties of conditions of merchantability and fitness for a
particular purpose.
In no event shall Kenneth E. Harker, the University of Texas Department of the
Computer Sciences, the University of Texas at Austin, or any directors,
trustees, or employees thereof be liable for any direct, indirect, special,
incidental, consequential or other damages howsoever caused whether arising in
contract, tort, or otherwise, arising out of or in connection with the use or
performance of the information contained on this web site.
