GNU/Linux on the HP OmniBook 500
GNU/Linux on the HP OmniBook 500 |
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Last Modified: 21 July 2003 (revision history)
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Further information about GNU/Linux on OmniBooks.
Here is a list of major features of the OmniBook 500, and their current status. Click the links in the left column of the table for further details. The links in the right column of the table refer to the primary support web page for that feature.
| Feature | Status | Notes | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graphics | works with XFree86 3.3.6, 4.0.x | 3.3.6 server needs patch | XFree86 |
| Sound | works with Linux 2.4.2 or ALSA 0.5.10 | volume buttons don't work | Linux Sound Subsystem |
| Trackpoint | works | ||
| PCMCIA | works with pcmcia-cs 3.1.22 | Linux PCMCIA | |
| DVD | works with Linux 2.2.18, 2.4.2 | movie playing works but illegal in US | |
| Ethernet | works with Linux 2.2.18, 2.4.2 | significant customization | Linux "Vortex" driver |
| APM | works with Linux 2.2.18, 2.4.2 | significant customization, some bugs | apmd for Linux |
| USB | works with Linux 2.2.18, 2.4.2 | Linux USB | |
| Infrared | works with Linux 2.2.18, 2.4.2 | SIR and FIR supported | Linux-IrDA |
| ACPI | works with linux 2.4, 2.5 | not ready for prime time | Linux ACPI |
| Modem | doesn't work | this probably can't be fixed |
Debian GNU/Linux 3.0 doesn't need any special support for use on the OmniBook 500. If you're still running Debian 2.2, you can use the packages on this page.
I am still building and maintaining kernels that are customized for the OmniBook 500. Since I use Debian unstable (sid), I build kernels for that platform. To add these kernels as an APT source, add the following line to your /etc/apt/sources.list file:
deb http://www.swiss.ai.mit.edu/mac/projects/omnibook/debian sid main
I occasionally build kernels for Debian 3.0 as well:
deb http://www.swiss.ai.mit.edu/mac/projects/omnibook/debian woody main
The pcmcia-cs daemon sometimes doesn't notice card insertion or ejection events. These events are ignored when the machine is freshly booted, but after the machine is suspended and resumed, the events are correctly noticed. This problem seems to be fixed with Linux 2.4.6.
The machine is supplied with a modular floppy-disk drive, and a USB adapter cable to allow use of the floppy drive without an expansion base. The USB adapter cable works fine provided that the kernel has been configured to support USB mass storage. In that case, the floppy appears as device /dev/sda.
The configurations and software provided here have been tested on an OmniBook 500 model F2167KT. Currently I am running Debian GNU/Linux "unstable" with a custom-compiled Linux kernel 2.4.19.
The following browsable directories hold the software and configuration files available at this site.
| Configuration files | Config files for the Linux kernel. |
|---|---|
| Patch files | Patch files for the Linux kernel. |
| Debian packages | Debian packages for a custom Linux 2.4.x kernel. |
Copyright © 2003 Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article is permitted in any medium, provided this notice is preserved.
Last Modified: 21 July 2003 (revision history)
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