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Toshiba Satellite Pro 2100 with Linux Red Hat 7.3

A Starter Guide – July 2004

Mario Capurso email m.capurso[no spam]@libero.it

The following notes could be useful to people owning a Toshiba Satellite Pro 2100 (PS210E-004HM-IT) and trying to install Red Hat Linux 7.3

Toshiba Satellite Pro 2100 is a 1.9 GHz Pentium IV-M based notebook sold in 2003 by Toshiba with  256Mb RAM, 30 Gb HD, nVidia graphics, a Secure Digital slot, a wireless card, an infrared port, NO serial port, plus DVD/Rom, USB, floppy, parallel port and Windows XP Professional preinstalled.

Using Partition Magic I resized the Win XP partition, leaving 3 Gb in the final part of the hard disk.

Then, I got Red Hat 7.3 on three CDs and rebooted with the first one in the DVD/Rom.

On reboot on the SP2100 pushing F12  you can select the boot device: in this case you choose to boot from CD.

First, you choose the language, the keyboard, the mouse (choose a three button mouse: after you will have to modify a file by hand in order to support the little wheel on the pointing device. As an alternative, you could choose Logitech Wheel Mouse).

Next, following the wizard, you will create the main  partition in the free space (ext3 or ext2 in the drop down box) , associated to the root file system /   (2.5 Gb is enough, remember to check on the primary partition check box, if you think to make it bootable) and the swap partition (use the final free space for the swap area).

When you are prompted for the type of installation (workstation, server…), choose the personalised one, and select the group of things you are interested to do with your Linux box BUT REMEMBER to choose KERNEL DEVELOPMENT if you want to support all the device drivers you will NEED to compile later.

Remember also to select the options Networked Workstation and Dial up Workstation if you want to use your internal modem, Windows compatibility if you need the Windows emulator, MSDOS compatibility if you need to exchange files with your FAT  Windows XP partition.

Choose KDE as Graphics User Interface (I prefer KDE) and go on with the wizard.

After creating the root user and at least another user, the wizard will recognize your network card.

At this point OR you use a network address (if you don’t have one, you can use the 192.168.1.1 because you have the addresses 192.168.x.x free to use internally in an organization) OR you will ask for an address (it means through a DHCP server).

REMEMBER that if you choose to request an address AND you don’t have a DHCP server in your network, your Linux box will wait 60 seconds at every boot before discovering that there is no DHCP server. IN THIS CASE, there is a modification to do by hand.

Next, the wizard will start installing the packages and will prompt you for the three CDs.

At the end, it will recognize your nVidia card BUT NOT your monitor. Choose a Generic SuperVga 1024x768 monitor BUT REMEMBER that for each selection you make, IN EVERY CASE your graphics screen will be garbled: you will have to modify a file by hand. (The only possibility for you to see something is to put an external screen at the VGA connector before power on).

REMEMBER to choose NO GRAPHICS SCREEN LOGIN (because if you say yes, the screen will be garbled and you will not be able to login).

Finally, the wizard will ask you to create a boot floppy: say YES. Put a good floppy and you will be ready. Protect the floppy and you can consider the initial installation done.

Now, get out the CD, insert the floppy and reboot (remember the F12 : select floppy).

The boot should go on (wait some time on the network if you chose to use the DHCP and you have no DHCP server) and you should have your textual login prompt.

Login as root and perform by hand the following modifications:

1 Correct the usage of your graphics card

2 Correct the usage of your wheel on the pointing device

3 Correct the difficulties with your keyboard

4 Reduce the wait time on DHCP answer

In order to perform the first point, you will need to use Linux tools in  textual mode.

Vi is the standard tool for Linux, but for a starter I suggest to use pico (a full screen text editor that recalls Wordstar or Easywriter (1982 vintage)).

If you use vi, remember to use i(for inserting. Press esc to end insertion) and esc : x (escape colon x ) to exit and save.

1 Correct the usage of your graphics card

Edit the file /etc/X11/XF86Config-4

In the Section  “Device”  (there is only one Section “Device”) change the line

Driver    “some characters with nVidia in it”         with

Driver   “vesa”

Save it.

Now try the graphics screen. Cross the fingers and from the prompt write the command startx  .

If everything goes OK (I hope), you will see your GUI.

Now let’s return to textual mode with the keys CTRL-ALT-Backspace . It is time to enable your graphics screen login.

Edit the file /etc/inittab and change the line   id:3:initdefault:      changing the 3 to 5  . Save and you are done.

Your next boot will have a graphics login.

2 Correct the usage of your wheel on the pointing device

Edit the file /etc/X11/XF86Config-4

In the Section  “InpuDevice”  (there is NOT only one Section “InputDevice”, choose the one dealing with the mouse) change the line

Option “Protocol” “PS/2”    to

Option “Protocol” “IMPS/2”

to activate your IntelliMouse PS/2 protocol.

3 Correct the difficulties with your keyboard

If you are too quick, sometime your characters will be duplicated. I have NOT this problem, (I write with two fingers) but if you feel the problem annoying,

Edit the file /etc/X11/XF86Config-4

In the Section  “InpuDevice”  (there is only NOT one Section “InputDevice”, choose the one dealing with keyboard) uncomment (delete the initial #) the line

Option “XbkDisable”

BUT remember that this selection will disable the possibility to use the Alt-Gr key combinations.

Because I need them, I prefer to keep the line commented.

4 Reduce the wait time on DHCP answer

Open /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifup   (that is a link to /sbin/ifup  )

and find the fragment where there is the assignment to the variable DHCPCDARGS

...

if [ -n "${DYNCONFIG}" ]; then

    PUMPARGS=$PUMPARGS

    DHCPCDARGS="$DHCPCDARGS -t 5 -n"

...

set the assignment to the value before (wait time 5 seconds, was 60)

DHCPCDARGS="$DHCPCDARGS -t 5 -n"

Moreover, if you have /sbin/pump in your installation (find if you have /sbin/pump) create the file /etc/pump.conf and add the line

device eth0 { timeout 5 }

Finally, if you want to see your dvd-rom and your windows partition, go to the Desktop, click with the right button and create a link to the devices (floppy, Windows hard disk partition and dvd-rom).

Let's consider now the modem.

In order to understand what kind of hardware supports your modem, you need to run the command lspci -v . Here is the output.

[root@localhost root]# lspci -v

00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corp. 82845 845 (Brookdale) Chipset Host Bridge (rev 04)

        Subsystem: Toshiba America Info Systems: Unknown device 0001

        Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0

        Memory at f0000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=128M]

        Capabilities: [e4] #09 [d104]

        Capabilities: [a0] AGP version 2.0

00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corp. 82845 845 (Brookdale) Chipset AGP Bridge (rev 04) (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])

        Flags: bus master, 66Mhz, fast devsel, latency 64

        Bus: primary=00, secondary=01, subordinate=01, sec-latency=64

        Memory behind bridge: fd000000-fdffffff

        Prefetchable memory behind bridge: ebf00000-efffffff

00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corp. 82801CA/CAM USB (Hub  (rev 02) (prog-if 00 [UHCI])

        Subsystem: Toshiba America Info Systems: Unknown device 0001

        Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 11

        I/O ports at efe0 [size=32]

00:1d.1 USB Controller: Intel Corp. 82801CA/CAM USB (Hub  (rev 02) (prog-if 00 [UHCI])

        Subsystem: Toshiba America Info Systems: Unknown device 0001

        Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 11

        I/O ports at ef80 [size=32]

00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corp. 82801BAM/CAM PCI Bridge (rev 42) (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])

        Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0

        Bus: primary=00, secondary=02, subordinate=05, sec-latency=64

        I/O behind bridge: 0000d000-0000dfff

        Memory behind bridge: fce00000-fcefffff

00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corp. 82801CAM ISA Bridge (LPC) (rev 02)

        Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0

00:1f.1 IDE interface: Intel Corp. 82801CAM IDE U100 (rev 02) (prog-if 8a [Master SecP PriP])

        Subsystem: Toshiba America Info Systems: Unknown device 0001

        Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 11

        I/O ports at cff8 [size=8]

        I/O ports at cff4 [size=4]

        I/O ports at cfe8 [size=8]

        I/O ports at cfe4 [size=4]

        I/O ports at cfa0 [size=16]

        Memory at 10000000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=1K]

00:1f.5 Multimedia audio controller: Intel Corp. 82801CA/CAM AC'97 Audio (rev 02)

        Subsystem: Toshiba America Info Systems: Unknown device 0001

        Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 11

        I/O ports at 1000 [size=256]

        I/O ports at 1400 [size=64]

00:1f.6 Modem: Intel Corp. 82801CA/CAM AC'97 Modem (rev 02) (prog-if 00 [Generic])

        Subsystem: Toshiba America Info Systems: Unknown device 0001

        Flags: medium devsel, IRQ 11

        I/O ports at 1800 [size=256]

        I/O ports at 1480 [size=128]

01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation NV17 [GeForce4 420 Go] (rev a3) (prog-if 00 [VGA])

        Subsystem: Toshiba America Info Systems: Unknown device 0001

        Flags: bus master, 66Mhz, medium devsel, latency 64, IRQ 10

        Memory at fd000000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16M]

        Memory at ec000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=64M]

        Memory at ebf80000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=512K]

        Expansion ROM at <unassigned> [disabled] [size=128K]

        Capabilities: [60] Power Management version 2

        Capabilities: [44] AGP version 2.0

02:07.0 FireWire (IEEE 1394): Texas Instruments: Unknown device 8023 (prog-if 10 [OHCI])

        Subsystem: Toshiba America Info Systems: Unknown device 0001

        Flags: medium devsel, IRQ 11

        Memory at fce00000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [disabled] [size=2K]

        Memory at fce04000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [disabled] [size=16K]

        Capabilities: [44] Power Management version 2

02:08.0 Ethernet controller: Intel Corp. 82801CAM (ICH3) Chipset Ethernet Controller (rev 42)

        Subsystem: Toshiba America Info Systems EtherExpress PRO/100 VE

        Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 64, IRQ 11

        Memory at fceff000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4K]

        I/O ports at df40 [size=64]

        Capabilities: [dc] Power Management version 2

02:0b.0 CardBus bridge: Toshiba America Info Systems ToPIC95 PCI to Cardbus Bridge with ZV Support (rev 32)

        Subsystem: Toshiba America Info Systems: Unknown device 0001

        Flags: bus master, slow devsel, latency 168, IRQ 11

        Memory at fce01000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4K]

        Bus: primary=02, secondary=04, subordinate=04, sec-latency=0

        I/O window 0: 0000d000-0000d0ff

        I/O window 1: 0000d400-0000d4ff

        16-bit legacy interface ports at 0001

02:0b.1 CardBus bridge: Toshiba America Info Systems ToPIC95 PCI to Cardbus Bridge with ZV Support (rev 32)

        Subsystem: Toshiba America Info Systems: Unknown device 0001

        Flags: bus master, slow devsel, latency 168, IRQ 11

        Memory at fce02000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4K]

        Bus: primary=02, secondary=05, subordinate=05, sec-latency=0

        I/O window 0: 0000d800-0000d8ff

        I/O window 1: 0000dc00-0000dcff

        16-bit legacy interface ports at 0001

02:0d.0 System peripheral: Toshiba America Info Systems: Unknown device 0805 (rev 03)

        Subsystem: Toshiba America Info Systems: Unknown device 0001

        Flags: medium devsel, IRQ 11

        Memory at fce00800 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [disabled] [size=512]

        Capabilities: [80] Power Management version 2

Your Toshiba Notebook has what is called a winmodem, compatible with a proprietary standard named AC'97 defined by Intel Corp. and based on a chip 82801CA/CAM AC'97

The AC'97 standard deals with chips able to produce audio for the speakers and for your phone line (modems, fax modems and voice modems).

After many trials with open source PCTEL drivers, Intel HAM drivers and proprietary drivers, I was able to have the modem running only with the driver Smart Link Soft Modem for Linux version 2.7.9-0 (See Smart Link Ltd.  http://www.smlink.com Apr 12, 2002)

Now I will explain how to make your modem happy.

First of all, download the file slmdm-2.7.9.tar.gz 

Second, be sure to have the source of your kernel installed.

Next, you must be sure to have /usr/source/linux as the directory hosting the source. Normally this is not the case.

In Red Hat Linux 7.3, the source is in /usr/source/linux-2.4.18-3

In any case, run the command          uname -r

[root@localhost root]# uname -r

2.4.18-3

Therefore, you should define a symbolic link from /usr/source/linux-2.4.18-3 to /usr/source/linux

ln -s  /usr/source/linux-2.4.18-3  /usr/source/linux

Now you are ready to build your rpm. Create a directory in /root/Desktop , copy slmdm-2.7.9.tar.gz in it , open a console, go into the directory and run  the command

rpm -ta slmdm-2.7.9.tar.gz

It will build in your RPM directory: (/usr/source/redhat/RPMS/i386 )

   - slmdm-2.7.9-0.src.rpm       - Source SRPM package

   - slmdm-2.7.9-0.i386.rpm      - Core Modem RPM package

   - slmdm-amr-2.7.9-0.i386.rpm  - AMR/CNR/PCI Modem driver

   - slmdm-usb-2.7.9-0.i386.rpm  - USB Modem driver

Install the Modem core package (from the console or graphically using kpackage)

rpm -i /usr/source/redhat/RPMS/i386/slmdm-2.7.9-0.i386.rpm

Install the Modem hw driver

rpm -i /usr/source/redhat/RPMS/i386/slmdm-amr-2.7.9-0.i386.rpm

This will install:

   - modem kernel modules slmdm.o (modem core), slfax.o (fax)

     into '/lib/modules/2.4.18-3/misc' directory

   - hardware specific kernel module slamrmo.o (for AMR/CNR/PCI)

     into '/lib/modules/2.4.18-3/misc' directory

   - country settings data file 'country.dat' into directory '/etc'.

   Also it will:

   - create character tty device entry '/dev/ttySL0' with major

     number 212 and symbolic link 'dev/modem'.

   - config you '/etc/modules.conf' file in order to provide

     possibility for loading the modem modules into kernel on demand

     when you are going to use them.

In order to test everyting, run minicom , check that it is using /dev/modem

( press CTRL-A Z O  Serial port setup and set it to /dev/modem)

If you write ATZ  return you should have OK

If you write ATI1 you should have

Smart Link 56K Voice Modem

unknown

Version 2.7.9

OK

The last thing to do is to define the area code. If you don’t live in US it is necessary in order to follow your local modulation standards.

In slmdm-2.7.9.tar.gz there is a program named slver.

Run it as

[root@localhost floppy]# ./slver -c

Supported countries:

02      ALGERIA

07      ARGENTINA

09      AUSTRALIA

0a      AUSTRIA

0c      BAHREIN

0f      BELGIUM

16      BRAZIL

1a      BRUNEI

1b      BULGARIA

20      CANADA

25      CHILE

26      CHINA

100     CTR21EUROPE

2d      CYPRUS

2e      CZECH_REPUBLIC/SLOVAKIA

31      DENMARK

36      EGYPT

101     ESTONIA

3c      FINLAND

3d      FRANCE

42      GERMANY

46      GREECE

50      HONG_KONG

51      HUNGARY

52      ICELAND

53      INDIA

54      INDONESIA

57      IRELAND

58      ISRAEL

59      ITALY

00      JAPAN

5e      JORDAN

61      KOREA

62      KUWAIT

103     LATVIA

64      LEBANON

104     LITHUANIA

69      LUXEMBOURG

6c      MALAYSIA

70      MALTA

73      MEXICO

77      MOROCCO

7b      NETHERLANDS

7e      NEW_ZEALAND

82      NORWAY

83      OMAN

84      PAKISTAN

88      PERU

89      PHILIPPINES

8a      POLAND

8b      PORTUGAL

8e      ROMANIA

b8      RUSSIA

98      SAUDIARABIA

9c      SINGAPORE

105     SLOVAKIA

106     SLOVENIA

9f      SOUTHAFRICA

107     SOUTHKOREA

a0      SPAIN

a1      SRILANKA

a5      SWEDEN

a6      SWITZERLAND

108     TAIWAN

a9      THAILAND

ad      TUNISIA

ae      TURKEY

b3      UAE

b4      UK

b7      URUGUAY

b5      USA

bc      VIETNAM

You will find the value of the parameter for your country (ITALY, for me).

Then, edit your /etc/modules.conf adding  the line

# country code for intel ac 97 modem

options slmdm country=ITALY

Here is my complete /etc/modules.conf  (for your help)

alias parport_lowlevel parport_pc

alias eth0 eepro100

alias usb-controller usb-uhci

alias sound-slot-0 i810_audio

post-install sound-slot-0 /bin/aumix-minimal -f /etc/.aumixrc -L >/dev/null 2>&1 || :

pre-remove sound-slot-0 /bin/aumix-minimal -f /etc/.aumixrc -S >/dev/null 2>&1 || :

# for intel ac 97 winmodem

alias char-major-212 slmodem

alias slmodem slamrmo

# country code for intel ac 97 modem

options slmdm country=ITALY

To finish, you are ready to run kppp and to configure it as you would do in Windows for Remote Access.

I hope you will be lucky.

Mario Capurso (m.capurso[no spam]@libero.it)

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