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zalun
Tux's lil' helper
Joined: 02 Feb 2004
Posts: 89
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 Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 4:50 pm Post subject: Installing on Vaio VPCZ1 - Share your experience |
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I'm trying to make fully functional laptop system using Gentoo and command line tools (I'm not crazy with CLI - just using WMII as window manager).
Hardware
Product name: VPCZ133GX
Model: PCG-31112L
2 x 64GB SSD (RAID removed)
lspci: http://pastebin.mozilla.org/1220889
Current lspci -k: http://pastebin.mozilla.org/1220890
Kernel 2.6.38-gentoo-r4 is build with genkernel
Current config: http://piotr.zalewa.info/downloads/kernel-config [updated 23/5/2011]
I use 32bit Gentoo
Still to do:
- Sound recording (microphone muted)
- Working Motion Eye camera
- HDMI video output
- USB Dongle with 3G
- SD Card reader
Working
- Sound out (ALSA)
- CPU frequency scaling (cpufreqd)
- Native resolution with Intel
- Battery status is fully read (acpitool)
- Fans are changing speed automatically, I haven't tried to use any tool to change them
- WiFi (iwlagn)
- Changing backlight using xbacklight
- LAN (from day one)
- Suspend to RAM (using pm-suspend from sys-power/pm-utils or acpitool -s - sys-power/acpitool)
- VGA output (mirror only - not dual screen due to maximum joined resolution > 2048)
- Battery life currently reports 14W which equals to about 4h discharge time
Not really trying to configure
- Hibernation (suspend to disk) - no swap partition
- Sony Magic Gate
- NVIDIA - I use it for programming - no need for 3D acceleration
Last edited by zalun on Mon May 23, 2011 4:39 pm; edited 19 times in total |
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chithanh
Developer
Joined: 05 Aug 2006
Posts: 1060
Location: Berlin, Germany
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| Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 7:24 pm Post subject: |
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If the laptop uses Optimus and has no BIOS switch between discrete and integrated graphics, then you probably cannot use the Nvidia chipset anyway. It will only consume power.
The rest should mostly work. Custom fan speed control may require some tinkering with /sys/class/thermal . |
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zalun
Tux's lil' helper
Joined: 02 Feb 2004
Posts: 89
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| Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 7:48 pm Post subject: |
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Isn't saving power a reaon behind that hybrid setup?
| chithanh wrote: | | If the laptop uses Optimus and has no BIOS switch between discrete and integrated graphics, then you probably cannot use the Nvidia chipset anyway. It will only consume power. |
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chithanh
Developer
Joined: 05 Aug 2006
Posts: 1060
Location: Berlin, Germany
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| Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 7:58 pm Post subject: |
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| Yes, but Nvidia only supports Optimus on Windows. |
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zalun
Tux's lil' helper
Joined: 02 Feb 2004
Posts: 89
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| Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2011 12:18 am Post subject: |
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I've just run the live DVD
Everything worked smoothly (I couldn't login to office's WiFi network though - it uses PEAP security, it found all WiFi networks so I assume it's working, just me couldn't configure it properly).
I will need to reinstall Windows as it's RAID0 and gparted can't work with it (I assume so).
I've read the best would be to remove RAID0 which will split the disks and "recover Windows" (I need Win7 for IE9 testing).
Because of that I will probably not be able to start until May as I will need the development environment.
Arghh I will use Windows for 3 more weeks... Interesting experience...
If you happen to have a solution for that - please share.
lspci did show NVidia card, so I think it might actually work
System didn't reacted for switching the video card - I assume it's a software switch so it may not work. |
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chithanh
Developer
Joined: 05 Aug 2006
Posts: 1060
Location: Berlin, Germany
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| Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2011 11:13 pm Post subject: |
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If you use BIOS-based fakeraid, then you need to pass the "dodmraid" parameter to the LiveDVD initramfs during boot.
But fakeraid is better avoided if you can. |
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zalun
Tux's lil' helper
Joined: 02 Feb 2004
Posts: 89
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| Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2011 1:40 am Post subject: |
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| chithanh wrote: | | But fakeraid is better avoided if you can. |
So you think I should do what I wrote above...
Disable fakeraid, restore Windows (I need that system for testing), work on 2 disks |
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zalun
Tux's lil' helper
Joined: 02 Feb 2004
Posts: 89
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| Posted: Wed May 04, 2011 12:58 pm Post subject: |
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Live DVD uses Intel card (1600x900).
I installed minimal Gentoo with LAN and now trying to force X to work.
No luck on both - Nvidia and Intel
[Edit]
I managed to run X using Vesa card (1024x768)
How to reproduce Live DVD functionality?
[Edit2]
For intel to work - follow closely gentoo X howto http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/xorg-config.xml especially the framebuffer configs.
I also disabled Nvidia in kernel. |
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zalun
Tux's lil' helper
Joined: 02 Feb 2004
Posts: 89
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| Posted: Thu May 05, 2011 12:06 am Post subject: |
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For WiFi (iwl6000) I followed the wiki http://en.gentoo-wiki.com/wiki/Iwlwifi
Works well with WEP, I hope it will work fine with wpa_supplicant as well |
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balkira
Tux's lil' helper
Joined: 25 Dec 2004
Posts: 99
Location: /local/pub
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| Posted: Fri May 06, 2011 12:36 pm Post subject: |
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The nvidia card DOES work if you patch the bios.
I got a z13 for a year now and it's working like a charm.
Refer to the https://launchpad.net/~sony-vaio-z-series mailing list for Howtos etc..
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no way to happiness, happiness is the way |
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zalun
Tux's lil' helper
Joined: 02 Feb 2004
Posts: 89
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| Posted: Fri May 06, 2011 5:11 pm Post subject: |
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Brilliant - joined the launchpad group.
I'm fine with using Intel - I use the computer for coding while not at home. The main graphic feature for me is the resolution and 2D acceleration.
I will however need to work towards power management - it holds 2h on batteries, while it was 3h30m under Windows. |
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zalun
Tux's lil' helper
Joined: 02 Feb 2004
Posts: 89
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| Posted: Fri May 06, 2011 5:25 pm Post subject: |
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I can put the vaio to sleep:
I installed
Command:
There are issues with waking up wireless (iwlan). I need to manually restart the service and remove the pid file.[/code] |
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balkira
Tux's lil' helper
Joined: 25 Dec 2004
Posts: 99
Location: /local/pub
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| Posted: Fri May 06, 2011 5:28 pm Post subject: |
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If you plan on only using the intel card then I guess you don't need bios patching because if I recall the intel is by default enabled.
That was the problem for me because I wanted to game with the device.
The optimus switch just doesn't work by default hence the bios patch. Last year there was a trick to boot on an older kernel to bios-enable the nvidia card, but since 2.6.37 kernels I noticed I didn't need to switch kernels anymore. A reboot with a recent kernel (2.6.38 ) is required though which is totally fine for me.
Nowadays there is the switcheroo trick that should let you just restart X between the 2 cards but I've never felt the need to use it.
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no way to happiness, happiness is the way |
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zalun
Tux's lil' helper
Joined: 02 Feb 2004
Posts: 89
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| Posted: Fri May 06, 2011 5:32 pm Post subject: |
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I will need to make it work with external monitors (VGA and HDMI) so there will be some work needed.
Someone suggested that NVidia is consuming power, maybe I'll need to put some work into switching it entirely off (wish there would be such a BIOS setting...) |
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balkira
Tux's lil' helper
Joined: 25 Dec 2004
Posts: 99
Location: /local/pub
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| Posted: Fri May 06, 2011 6:43 pm Post subject: |
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| zalun wrote: | I will need to make it work with external monitors (VGA and HDMI) so there will be some work needed.
Someone suggested that NVidia is consuming power, maybe I'll need to put some work into switching it entirely off (wish there would be such a BIOS setting...) |
Nvidia indeed uses a lot of power but I have no knowledge as to how to optimize as I use the z13 as a workstation with the nvidia card only. I think I've managed to use the HDMI interface with my TV in the past, I would guess it's feasible with the intel card but cannot assert.
Remember to use at least a 2.6.38 kernel things should be much less painful.
You can skip the http://global-social.net/tiki-view_blog.php?blogId=3 tricks from the mailing list as it's quite old now but it's always good to read to get some knowledge.
It's even likely that 2.6.38 doesn't need you to patch the kernel to make the proper acpi calls and get the proper card activated upon next reboot.
As a last advise use a recent livecd to boot and install like https://sourceforge.net/projects/systemrescuecd/files/sysresccd-x86/2.1.0/systemrescuecd-x86-2.1.0.iso/download
If I recall use the nox boot option to prevent black screen or weird fb.
enjoy the geeking 
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no way to happiness, happiness is the way |
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zalun
Tux's lil' helper
Joined: 02 Feb 2004
Posts: 89
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| Posted: Sat May 07, 2011 3:59 pm Post subject: |
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Newer kernel gave me the better synaptics support (double finger scroll ftw
cpufreqd is automatically setting processors speed, which is great.
I'm now looking into a way to dim the screen backlight... |
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balkira
Tux's lil' helper
Joined: 25 Dec 2004
Posts: 99
Location: /local/pub
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| Posted: Sat May 07, 2011 6:28 pm Post subject: |
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| zalun wrote: | | I'm now looking into a way to dim the screen backlight... |
To my knowledge this is not possible yet. But my info dates from few months ago.
If you have any tips I'd be glad to know too 
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zalun
Tux's lil' helper
Joined: 02 Feb 2004
Posts: 89
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| Posted: Sat May 07, 2011 11:23 pm Post subject: |
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Backlight lightness setting is working. I simply installed | Code: | | x11-apps/xbacklight |
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balkira
Tux's lil' helper
Joined: 25 Dec 2004
Posts: 99
Location: /local/pub
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| Posted: Sun May 08, 2011 10:14 am Post subject: |
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| zalun wrote: | Backlight lightness setting is working. I simply installed | Code: | | x11-apps/xbacklight |
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That is when you use intel right? because with the nvidia card it doesn't seem to work 
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no way to happiness, happiness is the way |
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zalun
Tux's lil' helper
Joined: 02 Feb 2004
Posts: 89
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| Posted: Sat May 21, 2011 1:13 am Post subject: |
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I'm trying to get the HDMI output.
I've got a big screen (1920x1200). It is properly recognized, and VGA output is working in native resolution
This switches off the screen and displays properly on the VGA output:
| Code: | | xrandr --output eDP1 --off --output VGA1 --auto |
I tried many options, in example, after above:
| Code: | | xrandr --output HDMI1 --auto --same-as VGA1 |
However HDMI1 gives no signal (on both - monitor and projector).
Although I could work with VGA, the signal is quite bad (I blame the resolution).
xrandr output after above commands:
| Code: | zalun@arrakis ~ $ xrandr
Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 1920 x 1200, maximum 8192 x 8192
eDP1 connected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
1600x900 59.9 +
1024x768 60.0
800x600 60.3 56.2
640x480 59.9
VGA1 connected 1920x1200+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 550mm x 340mm
1920x1200 60.0*+
1920x1080 60.0
1680x1050 60.0
1280x1024 75.0 60.0
1440x900 59.9
1280x960 60.0
1152x864 75.0
1024x768 75.1 70.1 60.0
832x624 74.6
800x600 72.2 75.0 60.3 56.2
640x480 72.8 75.0 66.7 60.0
720x400 70.1
HDMI1 connected 1920x1200+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 550mm x 340mm
1920x1200 60.0*+
1680x1050 60.0
1280x1024 75.0 60.0
1440x900 59.9
1280x960 60.0
1152x864 75.0
1024x768 75.1 70.1 60.0
832x624 74.6
800x600 72.2 75.0 60.3 56.2
720x480 59.9
640x480 72.8 75.0 66.7 60.0
720x400 70.1
DP1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
HDMI2 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
HDMI3 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
DP2 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) |
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zalun
Tux's lil' helper
Joined: 02 Feb 2004
Posts: 89
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| Posted: Mon May 23, 2011 11:10 am Post subject: |
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Improving battery usage. I managed to get it to report 2h45 discharge time.
I do use the laptop-mode and tuned the kernel as adviced by powertop: http://sprunge.us/NGFY
Here is the screenshot from powertop device stats: http://dpaste.com/hold/545545/
Full Tunables report while on battery: http://dpaste.com/hold/545546/
What is strange is the NVidia HDA Audio device. Reports 100% usage.
| Code: | | 100.0% PCI Device: nVidia Corporation High Definition Audio Controller |
There is no sound coming out. Tunables (powertop) report:
| Code: | Good Enable Audio codec power management
Good Runtime PM for PCI Device nVidia Corporation High Definition Audio Controller |
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zalun
Tux's lil' helper
Joined: 02 Feb 2004
Posts: 89
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| Posted: Mon May 23, 2011 2:53 pm Post subject: |
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I'm pretty happy with the battery discharge time.
After switching off the Nvidia card it is now reporting 14W power usage which translates to 4h20 (running firefox, chatzilla, pidgin and thunderbird)
It is more than Windows was reporting! double winning!
I followed the http://linux-on-sony-vaio-z.wikispaces.com/VPCZ1390x which showed me the https://github.com/mkottman/acpi_call
I will create a init.d script and post it later on
I think the system still deserves some tweaking as powertop reports
| Code: | | Summary: 433.9 wakeups/second |
[EDIT]
I've got advice from sony-vaio-z-series@lists.launchpad.net to use sony-laptop-zseries module from http://gitorious.org/sony-laptop-zseries/sony-laptop-zseries This should provide better kernel support (automatic load of the module and some more improvements). I will check it as soon I'll find the time.
Last edited by zalun on Fri May 27, 2011 9:26 am; edited 1 time in total |
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zalun
Tux's lil' helper
Joined: 02 Feb 2004
Posts: 89
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| Posted: Mon May 23, 2011 4:10 pm Post subject: |
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WiFi is working "fine" after wake up from suspend if system is put to sleep using from sys-power/pm-utils package or .
I need to restart wlan0 manually with a little hack, procedure is as follows:
| Code: | sudo /etc/init.d/net.wlan0 zap
sudo /etc/init.d/net.wlan0 start
sudo rm /var/run/dhcpcd-wlan0.pid
sudo /etc/init.d/net.wlan0 stop
sudo /etc/init.d/net.wlan0 start |
If I'd simply call sudo /etc/init.d/net.wlan0 restart following error will be displayed and wlan0 would not start | Code: | | cat: /sys/class/net/wlan0/carrier: Invalid argument |
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Laetos
n00b
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
Posts: 25
Location: Globetrotter
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| Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 5:12 pm Post subject: |
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| hey how far are you with your vaio nowadays? What doesn't work? |
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zalun
Tux's lil' helper
Joined: 02 Feb 2004
Posts: 89
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| Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2011 8:26 am Post subject: How far ... |
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I gave myself some break for the Summer.
So I still don't have internal microphone and camera.
I don't use the NVidia, so it doesn't work as well.
I only heard from the sony-vaio-z-series list @ launchpad.net about patches for the 3.0 kernel. It does look tasty. My svreen got broken, I can use 4/5 of the width (I can't ship it for repair just now), so I'm not really putting any heart to the improvements.
Ah - there is one improvement - if WiFi is configured using wpa_supplicant wake up from suspend work as it should work |
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Installing Gentoo
