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03/03/2006

New kernel new troubles with winmodem! I've installed Mandriva 2006 (cooker) with kernel 2.6.12-13 and the modem doesn't work anymore! It dials the number but after handshake nothing happens.. so it's necessary to try a new way different from the old one. I've choose to see how works the ALSA support, so I've loaded two kernel modules (snd-intel8x0m and snd-page-alloc) then I've recompiled slmodemd daemon with ALSA support (you must go in modem dir then do a make ALSA_SUPPORT=1) and copied it in /usr/bin/. I have also modified the init script to make all the necessary things at the boot time but please note that is needed to execute it BEFORE ALSA otherwise modem will conflict with the sound system! You can use KsysV to simply modify init script order execution for runlevel 5 and 3.
Now the modem is available on the device /dev/ttySL0 working perfectly; some tests have showed that it's very stable and faster.

This is the new script. Please read it carefully to make the necessary modification for your system. You can download here the modem software, it's the most recent I've found.
At last, please note that here you can find a very useful program that make easier understand how to configure and install your modem.



29/05/2005

Good news: it's possible to resolve modem driver's problems applying a simple patch. Below the simple steps to do it:

1) Download the patch
2) Copy it into directory patches
3) Now from the main directory of SmartLink driver (slmodem-2.9.10) apply the patch with patch -p0 <patches/slmodem-2.9.10-abby.diff

A message like this will be shown:
patching file drivers/amrmo_init.c
Hunk #1 succeeded at 695 (offset 3 lines).
Hunk #2 succeeded at 722 (offset 3 lines).
Hunk #3 succeeded at 737 (offset 3 lines).
Now it's possible to compile the driver (make install) and load it with modprobe slamr. Doing dmesg you can verify that all is ok:
slamr: SmartLink AMRMO modem.
slamr: probe 1039:7013 SiS630 card...
ACPI: PCI interrupt 0000:00:01.6[C] -> GSI 5 (level, low) -> IRQ 5
slamr: mc97 codec is SIL26
slamr: slamr0 is SiS630 card.
If you wish you can use my script, like shown here, so your modem will be automatically ready at every boot of your system.



13/04/2005

Warning: I've installed the 2.6.11 kernel from Mandrakelinux 10.2, then I've found that the modem driver can't be loaded, even if it compiles well! Nothing to do, it's necessary to rewrite the driver's code.



10/03/2005

Well, there are many problems between winmodem SmartLink HAMR5600 and Mandrakelinux 2.6.8 kernel: it doesn't work anymore! So I've found this solution:

1) verify that binary daemon is installed properly
2) verify that the modem driver, for the current kernel, is supported and installed in the system
3) load the driver above
4) run daemon binary and make necessary symbolic link to the device

First two points aren't strictly necessary while at the row 77 I've added a pause of 2 seconds neeeded to my system to load the driver into the kernel and to create the device for the daemon binary /usr/sbin/slmodemd. Try to decrease or remove this time if your system doesn't need it. You can verify if your modem works with /etc/init.d/slmodemd start while with /etc/init.d/slmodemd stop you can stop the service.
At row 91 the symlink /dev/modem will be created because some Kppp versions seem not work properly with non standard device; so setup Kppp to point to /dev/modem.
Other things are at rows 34-26, like some variables to modify the modem type (USB-AMR), the country, etc. All the script if fully commented, read it and try any modifications your system may needs.
In any case use my Guestbook to inform me of your results, thanks.

Update: Hmmm, modem seems to works choppy.. nothing to do for now :-(



27/10/2004

The only way to make working 3D acceleration on Mandrake Linux 10.x is install X.org (I've tried 6.8.1 version) and copy the newest video driver from here in /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/drives/. So, I've tested the system (setting in the bios 32MB of shared video memory) with glxgear and Tuxracer obtaining, respectively, 230 fps and 20 fps (average value).
Please note that with X.org some files have changed their name, like XF86Config-4 that becomes xorg.conf.



24/06/2004

I've tried the new Mandrake Linux 10.0 Official that introduce the kernel 2.6.3 version and KDE 3.2. So there are some small changes to do on the notebook Asus A1, essentially on the touchpad and modem. The first one needs a new driver version to work correctly, infact the "touch" doesn't reproduce a click as aspected. I've used this version of Synaptics software and I've modified the /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 file adding this lines:
Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier "Touchpad"
    Driver "synaptics"
    Option "Protocol" "auto-dev"
    Option "Device" "/dev/input/event0"
    Option "TouchpadOff" "0"
    Option "MinSpeed" "0.02"
    Option "MaxSpeed" "0.18"
    Option "FingerLow" "25"
    Option "FingerHigh" "30"
    Option "MaxTapTime" "180"
    Option "MaxTapMove" "110"
    Option "LeftEdge" "1700"
    Option "RightEdge" "5300"
    Option "BottomEdge" "4200"
    Option "TopEdge" "2000"
    Option "AccelFactor" "0.0015"
    Option "VertScrollDelta" "100"
    Option "UpDownScrooling" "1"
    Option "SHMConfig" "on"
    Option "Emulate3Buttons" "On"
    Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection
Also remember to modify the Server Layout section by inserting InputDevice"Touchpad" "CorePointer". This is my XF86Config-4, if you need.
Now let's go to check the modem status: the new 2.6 kernel needs a different version of Smart Link driver, so it's necessary to replace the old one. I suggest to use the 2.9.7 version, because this is the less bugged I've tried. You can find it here. The installation is very simple: use make then make install an all will be done. To load the driver manually, use modprobe slamr and slmodemd --country=ITALY /dev/slamr0 then you can connect to your ISP. If you wish, you can automate this procedure by:
1) coping this script into /etc/rc.d/init.d/ then enabling it with Mandrake Control Center -> System -> Services
2) adding into Kppp -> Configure -> Modem -> Modem Commands the following initialization string:
ATQ0X3 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 &D2 +FCLASS=0
That's all. Now you can use your modem directly, eg with Kppp .. have a good navigation.

NOTE: Mandrake 10.0 installs XFree86 4.3 that doesn't contain SiS DRI driver, so hardware acceleration doesn't work! T.Winischhofer suggest to use the SiS DRI driver (sis_dri.so) from XFree86 4.2.1 version; I've tried to do that but nothing happens!


26/03/2004

In the "new" kernel release 2.4.22-28 of Mandrake Linux 9.2, it has been inserted the SiS framebuffer (sisfb) developed by T.Winischhofer so now it's very simple to enable hardware acceleration (it's not necessary to recompile the kernel). Please follow this steps:
  1. Become root
  2. Insert video=sisfb to the append= row in /etc/lilo.conf
  3. Delete all vga= lines, if present
  4. Run lilo from shell to update the boot sector
It's done. Please note that because of sisfb is compiled as a module (i.e. out of kernel) the graphic console will not work .. it's not very important but if you need it, you must recompile sisfb into the kernel (see documentation about it).

P.S. Acpi4Asus now is present in Linux Mandrake 9.2, so you can install only the asus_acpid daemon .. please read below for more informations.



06/02/2004

Great news! Now integrated winmodem and ACPI work fine. So, let's go to see how (on Linux Mandrake):

1) Modem: it is a "56k Winmodem Smart Link HAMR5600 compatible" and its driver can be downloaded from ftp://ftp.smlink.com. I suggest the 2.7.10 version that is more stable then others; this is for 2.4 kernels but there are also 2.6 compatible versions (if you try one of this, please tell me how it works, thanks).
The installation is very simple: extract files from the archive with tar xvzf slmdm-2.7.10.tar.gz, change to slmdm-2.7.10 then compile with make. Now become root and write make install-amr to install and configure the system. Now you must set your country in /etc/modules.conf, modifing the line options slmdm country=USA if necessary. It's probably that the system will tell you something like this: "Please contact your modem provider for support. This driver is not compatible with the installed modem codec". You can ignore this warning.

2) ACPI: well, there are two things to say about it. The first one is that I've updated the Mandrake 9.1 kernel (actually the last version is 2.4.21-0.27) and now my system supports correctly the acpi (needs acpi=on in lilo.conf). So I've disabled the APM and now I'm using temperature sensors and power management through acpi ... perhaps also standby and suspend features will work, I haven't check it yet.
Second: there is a modified acpi version for Asus notebooks (and other models) that enables many functions (it is included in kernels >= 2.4.22 so it's possible to load it only by modprobe asus_acpi). It's named Acpi4Asus and you can found it on SourceForge (http://sourceforge.net/projects/acpi4asus) or from author site http://julien.lerouge.free.fr
This software enables all hotkeys, various functions used by Fn key (like brightness, volume, etc..) and the notify led.
The installation is simple: write make in main program directory and asus_acpi.o kernel module and asus_acpid daemon will be installed. The daemon will intercept any hotkey pressed or event generated by user, executing the corresponding command. To do it, you can create the hidden directory .asus_acpi in the user home directory and copy all files from samples dir of the Acpi4Asus software. These are shell script files containing commands to run .. for example if you insert the line /usr/bin/kmail & in file named hotk0.sh, Kmail client will be opened by pressing hotkey 0.
Anyway I suggest to check if your system is supported before go on; write modprobe asus_acpi then dmesg and if you see lines like these 
Asus Laptop ACPI Extras version 0.26
A1F model detected, supported
all is ok. Remember also to read the README file, it contains useful informations.

Note that if you want to enable Acpi4Asus automatically, you can add the line asus_acpi in /etc/modules (it's like to do a modprobe asus_acpi) then copy this file into /etc/X11/xinit.d/ to launch asus_acpid daemon when X starts.



07/05/2003

Now 3D acceleration works fine! The new Linux Mandrake 9.1 with XFree86 4.3 supports quite well SiS chipsets but it's necessary to make some modifies to important files like Config.in and Makefile in /usr/src/linux/drivers/char/drm/ because of originals don't permit to enable compilation of XFree86 DRM modules; you can safely overwrite older (however it's a good idea make a backup). Please follow this link to the previous news that shows how install SiS driver and framebuffer source code.

Now the system is ready for testing. I've set 16MB of shared video memory and modified corresponding option in XF86Config-4 to Option "MaxXFBMem" "8192". Now Tuxracer works at 30-45 fps at 800x600x16 and glxgear up to 240 fps. Without hardware acceleration TuxRacer doesn't work and glxgear doesn't go beyond 100 fps. For better performance set 32MB of video memory and Option "MaxXFBMem" "12288", or remove this option leaving sisfb manage memory (but remember to load it through lilo.conf or modprobe before start X).

That's all. Now ours notebooks can work very well so I think that there will be not other update about it, at least until we use 2.4 kernels.



03/03/2003

Looking better, Mandrake 9.0 DOESN'T enable DRM support during installation, consequently there are some inizialization errors reported in the previous news. In other words, it's necessary to recompile the kernel with the new modules. This article shows how to do it.

1) First install the kernel and SiS framebuffer source files (follow the simple instructions in the README file to install it in the kernel tree).

2) Now configure your kernel making attention to:
3) Compile kernel and modules, then install them.

4) Now take a look to the bootloader, LILO in my chance. Since I've compiled framebuffer into the kernel, it's necessary add to lilo.conf this line: append="quiet devfs=mount acpi=off video=sisfb:mode:1024x768x16". Now apply this with lilo -v, looking the output.

Adding this section to lilo.conf you can boot the new kernel keeping the old one:

This is the new kernel. Because of I've compiled SiS framebuffer (sisfb) within the kernel, it's necessary the video= option to manage video memory; the row initrd= it is not strictly necessary, if you don't know what it is, you can use the original or ignore it.
image=/boot/linux-2.4.21-0.13mdkcustom
    label="Linux_SiS"
    root=/dev/hda6
    initrd=/boot/initrd-2.4.21-0.13mdkcustom.img
    append="quiet devfs=mount acpi=off video=sisfb:mode:1024x768x16"
    read-only
This is the original kernel. The row vga=791 sets up a 1024x768x16 graphic console resolution without load sisfb, so DRI inizialization will fail.
image=/boot/vmlinuz
    label="Linux"
    root=/dev/hda6
    initrd=/boot/initrd.img
    append="quiet devfs=mount acpi=off"
    vga=791
    read-only
5) Now make sure your XF86Config-4 is correct. If you set 32MB of shared video memory in the BIOS, you must insert in XF86Config-4 this line: Option "MaxXFBMem" "12288".
If you need, this is my XF86Config-4. Warning! Don't use it without read it carefully!

6) Insert the latest drivers in the following paths:
sis_drv.o in /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/drivers/ and sis_dri.so in /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/dri/


You can check that all is ok searching in /var/log/XFree86.0.log some lines like these: 
(II) SIS(0): [drm] installed DRM signal handler
(II) SIS(0): [DRI] installation complete
(II) SIS(0): Direct rendering enabled
NOTE: you must load framebuffer (sisfb) BEFORE running X session. Make it if necessary (i.e. if you have compiled sisfb like module and NOT into the kernel like shown here) with modprobe sisfb.



07/01/2003

There is a problem with DRI inizialization, check in /var/log/XFree86.0.log for error messages about it. The driver's author is searching for the solution. It seems responsible XFree86 4.2.1



04/12/2002

End of any troubles: with the new Mandrake Linux 9.0 now SiS chipsets are total supported! With XFree86 4.2.1 and Thomas Winischhofer drivers dated 02/08/06-2, Mandrake 9.0 makes possible to install correctly Linux on these systems: SIS5597/5598, SIS530/620, SIS6326, SIS300, SIS630/730, SIS540, SIS730, SIS315, SIS315H, SIS315PRO, SIS550, SIS650/M650/740, SIS330(Xabre)

Please refer to http://www.winischhofer.net/linuxsis630.shtml for newer drivers release and all information about this project.



08/08/2002

A big news comes from Thomas Winischhofer who works to introduce SiS's chipsets support from XFree86 4.3 version. Now it's possible to have a 3D acceleration with many features working properly.
Take a look to for much more information.

Please note: if you want to use Winischhofer's drivers it is necessary XFree86 4.1 or greater. If your Linux system works with XFree86 3.3.6, (e.g. because you have followed my tutorial) remove it and upgrade to a newer version. You can find some instructions to update Mandrake 8.0 systems with XFree86 4.02 version to 4.2 taken from Mandrake 8.2, following the link shown below (it's valid also with other distributions); even if complete upgrade from 8.0 to 8.2 systems is not official supported by Mandrake (but only from 8.1), I've tried the second of 3 types of installations that Mandrake 8.2 make possible, named "Upgrade". It has been the only one that upgraded correctly 8.0 version to 8.2, so try it (the third option, "Upgrade packages only" can seems better, but system produced wasn't ok).

See also www.xfree86.org if you need source code, binaries or complete information about XFree86 project.



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