DEC Hinote Ultra 2000 GTX233 Laptop

  • Processor: Intel Pentium MMX 266 MHz

  • Memory: 96 MB

  • Video: Chips and Technology CT65554 4 MB

  • Screen Size: 14.1"

  • Hard Drive size: 4 GB

  • Ethernet/Modem: Xircom CEM56 combo card

  • Sound Card: ISA ESS 1878

  • Current Value: $100.00

Installation notes

The Gentoo installation was performed with the 2005.1 Universal LiveCD. At the time of this document the current kernel level was 2.6.12-r3. You should have at least a 4 MB hard drive and a high speed internet connection.

Note: you can perform a Gentoo install using a Stage 3 type installation utilizing precompiled system binaries and does not require an internet connection. This is currently the recommended method of installation. A Stage 3 start can be performed in less than one day a opposed to about 4 days.

The first problem to overcome is disk read errors. I encountered this when I first tried to install Linux (it happened to be SuSE 9.1). I discovered that the issue revolved around enabling DMA.

The second thing you will encounter is a problem with the Xircom ethernet/modem card ... as it will not be detected.

You will need to boot the LiveCD with these Boot parameters:

boot: gentoo dopcmcia ide=nodma

Follow the Installation Handbook ...

Editing the /etc/make.conf.

  • CFLAGS="-O2 -march=pentium-mmx -pipe"

  • CHOST="i586-pc-linux-gnu"

  • MAKEOPTS="-j2"

Compiling the kernel

The Doc describes using genkernel or manual. I am utilizing a manually built kernel configuration as I wish to disable all functions that are not going to be used (genkernel configures most of the kernel options as it needs to be gerneral enough for all hardware). This will reduce the size of the kernel and not start functions that use up memory and processes. The kernel options are pretty expansive ... always use the "help" on an option to know if it is needed or not.

When building the kernel you should enable:

  • Processor type -> Processor family -> Pentium-MMX

  • Bus options -> PCCARD -> <*> PCCard, <M> CardBus yenta, and <M> i82365

  • Devices -> Block devices -> <M> Norma floppy disk

  • Devices -> ATA/ATAPI -> [n] Use PCI DMA

  • Devices -> Network Device support -> <M> PPP

  • Devices -> Input device support -> <*> Event interface

  • Devices -> Input device support -> Mouse -> <*> PS/2 mouse

  • Devices -> Graphic support -> <*> Support for frame buffer and <*> Vesa VGA

  • Devices -> Graphic support -> VESA driver type -> vesafb-tng

  • Devices -> Sound -> <M> Sound card support -> <M> Advanced Linux Sound -> ISA devices -> <M> Generic ESS ES18xx

Here is a link to my kernel configuration file (/usr/src/linux/.config)

The HiNote Ultra 2000 has two PCMCIA controllers. The internal one that controls the Xircom Ethernet/Modem card is a Texas Instruments controller and the two empty type II slots are controlled by a Yenta controller. In order to get the Xircom card to work you must enable the i82365

Add "i82365" to the /etc/modules.autoload/kernel-2.5 file

To enable the frame buffer and get a smaller console font, modify your grub.conf file to append this to your kernel line: "video=vesafb:ywrap,mtrr,1024x768@72"

X Windows (the graphical interface)

You will probably want a "Windows" environment. This involves installing the X Server and then a Desktop Environment. Read the Gentoo Desktop Docs : http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/index.xml?catid=desktop. 

Installing Xorg will take about 12 hours. After running "Xorg -configure" you will need to create a symbolic link to your mouse pad:

# ln -s /dev/psaux /dev/mouse

You will need to tweak the xorg.conf file to get it working perfectly. You will need to add the "DefaultDepth 24" and "Modes "1024x768" lines as described in the Gentoo "X Server Configuration How-To: 4. Tweaking Xorg.conf" section. You will also need to add "HorizSync 28-48" to your "Section "Monitor"".

Here is my xorg.conf file.

Once this is complete then you will need to make a decision on what Desktop Environment you wish to use ... Yes you have a choice (unlike some unamed Operating System). My preference has been with KDE but it is up to you as the Gentoo docs describe KDE, Gnome, and Fluxbox.

ALSA sound configuration

Check out the Gentoo ALSA Sound configuration doc: http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/alsa-guide.xml.

The DEC HiNote Ultra 2000 series uses an ESS 1878 onboard ISA sound card (es18xx driver)

Synaptics touch pad

Emerge the Synaptics Touchpad driver if you want to add more mouse features. The following link has instructions on how to install and configure this driver: http://gentoo-wiki.com/HOWTO_Gentoo_on_laptops#Touchpad

Xircom modem

To use the combo card's modem you must "emerge ltmodem"

Applications

The Gentoo Portage system is based on an extensive list of applications that are automatically downloaded, compiled, and installed based on a simple commmand: emerge. View the listing of supported applications on Gentoo's Online Package Database: http://packages.gentoo.org/categories/

The End

Hopefully you will have a pleasant adventure into Linux with Gentoo. One of the things you will notice is that you will come to know some of the system files and commands (if you are paying attention) that you can use later on if you want to play around.

Note: I have retired my DEC and have moved on to a Compaq Evo N610 ... noticeable improvement over the HiNote. I currently dual boot Windows XP Pro and Gentoo. This is a PIII 1.0 GHz processor system with 512MB ram. The speed comparison between XP and Gentoo is very noticeable ... the Gentoo OS is still faster (even running in the KDE desktop).

 

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