V210 linux ubuntu
From ASULUG AirPanel Wiki
Ubuntu on the ViewSonic V210
Contents |
Method used to boot Linux
Best Method so far, is using the PCMCIA CompactFlash Adapter and a 4GB CF card.
Do not use a usb flash drive, it is unstable on big transfers for some reason.
The V210 switches it's usb ports from being docked to not docked - ruining your day anyway (disconnecting the flash)!!!
The V210 rom flash contents is not touched but booted with haret.exe [1] bootloader from WinCE.
Takes about two minutes from linux startup to desktop ready to use.
When Wince is booting (Have the ViewSonic Logo) you may need to pull the CF card out, until WindowsCE is booted.
At times during WinCE startup, will hang during startup - something that is not liked about the CF card.
But has never been a problem after WinCE is started.
Getting the Files
File downloads now available.
These First two downloads contain all needed to build CF Card - includes mini console uclibc linux also.
- Root File system tar gzip archive - v210_test_rootfs_ubuntu9.04_20091118_a0.tgz (435 Megabytes)
- Boot/kernel bundled files - v210_test_boot_20091118_a0.tgz (16 megabytes)
Individual Downloads for mini console uclibc buildroot linux.
Requires usb keyboard - is console only - all in ram - useful for building a CF card, maintenance, debugging etc...
- miniv210linux-a0.exe (uclibc linux/ramfs/haret bundle console)
- cdebugminiv210linux-a0.exe (uclibc linux/ramfs/haret bundle console defined as ttyS0 - leaving main console free from kernel messages).
Building Compact Flash Card
What Works/ What Doesn't
Working.
- USB ports. flash drives, keyboard,mouse etc...
- Some problems with usb flash drives and large files - unreliable - some issue with it8152 bridge and linux
- USB Gadget drivers now working (small type b port) [2]
- PCMCIA with CF card (can boot linux with haret and root file system partition).
- Most reliable boot method - and fastest
- some event keys defined www, keyboard, power
- power button assigned to dim back light in three phases from brightest to off.
- keyboard button - toggles keyboard normally
- FBreader and pdf will be mapped via gizmod to Page Up if active app
- www button - will remove the keyboard
- FBreader and PDF will be mapped via gizmod to Page Down if active app
- touch screen works - needs more tweaking - sometimes erratic on stop/start pen movements.
- backlight works and is controllable.
- panel pointer mouse works.
- audio sound works.
- May need to use alsamixer to individually control either Headphone or Mono(v210 speaker) controls
- wireless with isl2 card - Intersil Prism 2.5 Wavelan (older stock card) works great
- wireless prism card (gemtek wl-850fjb) p54pci now working
- driver is not real stable - if connection problems use the System Tools->02-Reload p54pci drivers
- p54pci driver patched to fix dma problems and other stall conditions
- still some boot issue occurring one in 20 boots causing a skb_over_panic only during driver init. I've only had this occur with one of my machines and only a couple of times. It happens so rarely, forgot it may still be a problem. Doesn't happen enough to figure out how to debug.
Not working yet
- V210 RTC time access - somewhere buried in I2C land. Am loading the sa1100-rtc, but no time set. Once network is up then the unit will set to the proper time if internet is accessible.
- Need v210x for video testing with 1024x768 screen
- POWER management stuff (smart battery via I2C)
- Battery seems to charge by itself though - just no controls to know the state
- rom chip support and resources.
- more that I don't know yet.
Application Notes
Notes specific to this V210 linux Ubuntu
Please help clean this up and put helpful notes here.
- Calibrate touch screen - use panel mouse to select the below menu.
menu-> System Tools -> 01-Calibrate Touch Screen
- TimeZone is likely in my US Central Time zone and likely needs to be changed.
Is there a Light Weight GUI method for doing this?? I think /etc/localtime needs to be updated from the /usr/share/zoneinfo proper file. A easy method for doing this might be doing the following in a terminal window. sudo dpkg-reconfigure tzdata (Use the pop up keyboard tab and arrows to make the selections)
- Panel power off button - is set to cycle Back light down in three levels.
If back light is cycled to off. then must use the power off button to turn display back on - normal wake up keys won't turn back light back on.
- Panel buttons are mapped with gizmod.
- Default mapping (.gizmod/modules.d/199-Keyboard-Default.py)
- keyboard button maps as keyboard toggle
- web button maps as keyboard off
- Page Apps (FBReader, pdf) mapping (.gizmod/modules.d/120-Keyboard-PageApps.py)
- keyboard button maps as PageUp
- web button maps as PageDown
- Default mapping (.gizmod/modules.d/199-Keyboard-Default.py)
- When using keyboard pop up - may need to maximize application so the keyboard and app don't hide each other.
- TOUCH SCREEN still needs some work - if keying in a password suggest using the panel mouse to touch password in.
- Music Play Daemon is configured (/etc/mpd.conf) for music storage in /media/cfpart1/Music - mounted automatically.
- Use one of the front end clients like Gnome Music Player Client to connect to MPD and build your queue list and play.
- First time use - take defaults for configuring.
- Use alsamixergui if more audio controls needed. Client controls the PCM ok. But may need to lock and control Head... or Mono.
- Speaker Icon in tray is useless so far as it controls Master which has no effect - haven't figured out how to correct yet.
- Use one of the front end clients like Gnome Music Player Client to connect to MPD and build your queue list and play.
Note that touch screen will disrupt music playing - not sure the resolution to that yet.
- Use the right far Power icon to reboot machine for returning to WinCE or if you want to power off unit.
- The Menu Logout button is only useful for logging out/back in automatically. Will not reboot or shutdown as GDM is not running.
- If wireless stops working (Only the p54pci (PRISM in wince)) try the below menu - will take a few seconds to initialize.
menu -> System Tools -> 02-Reload p54pci drivers
- If need to reload the matchbox keyboard (either started another, died or got initialized below the panel).
menu -> System Tools -> 03-Restart MatchBox Keyboard daemon
- If the NetManager wireless icon disappears (some times on the reload of p54pci drivers) - either logoff/on or try.
menu -> Run nm-applet --sm-disable
- v210 rtc time routines still don't work. Once Network is up and accessible to internet time will be set.
When time is set, likely screen will blank - use panel mouse to awake screen.
- gnome-keyring password has been removed - to avoid the constant pop up box for password with nm-applet.
- dropbear (light weight ssh server) is set to startup.
If not desired, can disable permanently in a terminal windows like such: sudo sysv-rc-conf dropbear off sudo /etc/init.d/dropbear stop
- Automatic logs in as ubuntu to desktop screen.
- ubuntu user password by default is ubuntu.
May change password with terminal prompt and using passwd
- Get root user if needed by using sudo or gksu
sudo/gksu does not ask for password from ubuntu user
- root user password is unassigned and invalid. If desired to be able to log in as root need to set root's passwd.
Apps to stay away from or avoid
- video playing - currently only sdl out seems to work - and not useful - looking for a solution.
- Synaptic Package Manager - Very heavy
- Starts a apt-xapian index stuff which eats your processor for quite a while in the back ground.
- suggest research what packages you want and then use sudo apt-get install stuff.
- Synaptic does work - just painful - walk away if you start until the cpu cyles are done.
- xscreensaver has been disabled from starting - very painful if you start it.
- If you do use the backlight will not turn off, and if it is running through screen savers the cpu is 100% and control is next to impossible.
- Don't use wireshark - I think I toggled the menus not to show. Too heavy (was installed for kismet which is perfect for use).
Advanced usage notes
V210 Linux Advanced Usage Notes
Screen Shots
V210 Desktop
V210 Desktop with modified Matchbox keyboard either popped up with keyboard button or task bar keyboard icon.
V210 showing installed Office Apps Available.
Highlights
- FBReader 0.10.7 [3](network books support) and 0.8.17. When opened V210 buttons (key and web) remapped to PGUP/PGDOWN - Making easy reading control.
V210 Gnome Music Player Client [4].
V210 Configured System tools Menu
V210 installed Network Apps.
Highlights
- Arora - Lightweight browser for your browsing needs. [5]
- gFTP - ftp/scp client. [6]
- My Favorite - Grdc vnc/Remote desktop client. Which has since been renamed to Remmina. [7]
gFTP [8] very handy for transferring music/books from network to the V210 cf card.
V210 games menu page 1 from install of two game packages.
V210 games menu page 2 from install of two game packages.
