Using MiniMe on the ASUS eee mini-laptop

EeePCLinuxOS is a PCLinuxOS project aimed to run a PCLinuxOS-variant on ASUS eee mini-laptop. This project has developed numerous RPMS (drivers, ACPI, etc).

MiniMe is PCLinuxOS trimmed to a bare minimum. It has no software (like Thunderbird, Firefox, OpenOffice, etc) except what is absolutely needed for basic installation. Synaptic Package Manager is used to add/remove desired softwares.

1. Ethernet works
2. Wireless works
3. ACPI partly works
4. Webcam driver is missing, but will be in the PCLinuxOS repository soon.
5. MiniME 2008 is the latest version of MiniMe. This version needs the RPMS from the EeePCLinuxOS project - see “Configuration” section.
   

EeePCLinuxOS now has a normal install (although not supported). And everything should work. Give this distro a spin unless you want to use MiniMe to install a bare KDE/PCLinuxOS to save hard disk space. If you choose MiniME, you can upgrade you kernel as in http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php?id=22837 and get the ACPI working better.

A summarized direction to installing MiniMe 2008 on the ASUS eee mini-laptop is at

http://www.eeepclinuxos.com/wiki/tiki-index.php
→ Installation
→ Installation for a Normal Install (Uncompressed)

If this is Greek to you, then continue on.

1. Download MiniMe iso from
   
   http://linuxtracker.org/
   → [search for minime]
   
   If you haven't create a account at linuxtracker.org, it is recommended you do so.
   
   If you need torrent informations, see
   
   http://docs.pclinuxos.com/BitTorrent
   http://docs.pclinuxos.com/Getting_PCLinuxOS_using_BitTorrent
   
   
2. Burn the MiniME iso. If you do not know how to burn an iso, see
   
   http://docs.pclinuxos.com/Get_PCLinuxOS
   
   

1. Insert bootable MiniME liveCD into the drive.
   
   
2. Turn on Eee mini-laptop.
   
   
3. Press F2 to get into the BIOS.
   
   
4. Under the Advanced header, change OS Installation from Finished to Start.
   
   
5. If needed enable the USB port in the Onboard Devices Configuration.
   
   
6. Under the Boot header, choose Boot Device Priority, and make it so your USB external drive boots before the HDD.
   
   
7. Save and reboot.
   
   
8. The Eee mini-laptop will then boot to your MiniMe liveCD.
   
   
9. Install MiniMe using (use MiniMe everytime you see PCLinuxOS in the below weblink)
   
   http://www.howtoforge.com/the_perfect_desktop_pclinuxos_2007
   
   NOTE: Some minor differences between installing MiniME vs. PCLinuxOS:
   1. Before the login, MiniMe will not ask for the timezone, clock, and network configuration.
   2. Easiest approach is to erase and use entire disk. If you use a different approach, you are on your own.
   3. Shutdown, remove the MiniME liveCD, and reboot. Enter the root's password and users' informations. You now have MiniME installed.

1. To move a window that is bigger than the screen, use ALT+t and move the cursor. Also, note the arrow at the bottom right corner. You can click this arrow - it toggles the panel to slid in and out. Then you can use the whole screen. If you want to change the setting, it is in the KDE control center → Panels → Hiding → “show right panel-hiding button”.
   
   
2. To enable components (LAN, WLAN, Camera, etc), go to the BIOS and enable them.
   1. turn on the laptop
   2. F2 (as soon as the BIOS screen shows up)
   3. Advanced tab (right arrow twice)
   4. Onboard Devices Configuration (down arrow → enter)
   5. enable component of interest (up/down arrow to component, then enter, then enabled [up arrow], then enter)
   6. F10 (save and exit)
   7. OK (confirm save and exit)
      
3. To open up a terminal, do PC → System → Terminals → Konsole.
   
   
4. To add/update/remove softwares, use Synaptic Package Manager, I.e., click the circular blue/white icon on the panel. The first time you are on the internet, be sure to reload. If you are a former window user, you can find equivalent linux programs at
   
   http://www.linuxrsp.ru/win-lin-soft/table-eng.html
   http://www.libervis.com/wiki/index.php?title=Table_of_Equivalent_Software
   

MiniMe 2008 does not have the eee drivers for the internet, ACPI, and UVC camera. Hence, you need to add them in. Go to the EeePCLinuxOS RPMS list and download the RPMS.

http://www.eeepclinuxos.com/RPMS/

NOTE: Keep an eye on

1. EeePCLinuxOS Installation Wiki for further RPMS update and new RPMS.
2. Newer MiniMe and PCLinuxOS releases. Eventually, the drivers for ASUS eee mini-laptop will “upload” to newer versions of MiniMe and PCLinuxOS, and you won't have to configure anymore.
3. EeePCLinuxOS releases. Eventually (and hopefully) EeePCLinuxOS will have a “normal” install (and it will have all the eee drivers).

Add the ethernet rpm and modprobe it.

1. Open up a terminal (PC → System → Terminals → Konsole)
2. cd [directory you saved the RPMS]
3. su
4. [root password]
5. rpm -i dkms-atl2-2.0.3-2.eeepc.i586.rpm
6. modprobe atl2

Then go to PCC control center and configure ethernet, i.e.,

1. PCC control center (circular blue/white icon on the panel)
2. → Network & Internet
3. → Set up a new interface (LAN, ISDN, ADSL, …)
4. → Ethernet
5. → Attansis Technology Corp.|L2 Fast Ethernet Adapter
6. → Automatic IP (BOOTP/DHCP)
7. → next (leave the DHCP stuffs checked)
8. → Start the connection at boot
9. → Yes (start connection now)

Remove the old madwifi, add the revised madwifi rpm, and modprobe it.

1. Open up a terminal (PC → System → Terminals → Konsole)
2. cd [directory you saved the RPMS]
3. su
4. [root password]
5. apt-get -remove madwifi (or remove madwifi via Synaptic Package Manager)
6. rpm -i dkms-madwifi-0.9.3.3-0.svn2756.1pclos2007.i586.rpm
7. modprobe ath_pci

Then configure wireless in PCC Control Center.

1. PCLinuxOS Control Center, i.e., click the circular blue/black icon on the panel and enter root password
2. network & internet
3. set up a new network interface (LAN, ISDN, ADSL, …)
4. wireless
5. Atheros Communications, Inc.|AR5006EG 802.11bg Wireless PCI Express Adapter
6. [network name]
7. enter encription key if needed
8. Automatic IP (BOOT/DHCP) or manual configuration, and enter the data
9. start connection at boot
10. yes (start now)

NOTE: As of 1/31/08, some of the ACPI features still do not work. If you are interested in hacking this problem, see discussion here. If successful in solving this ACPI problem, please edit this wiki accordingly - others will appreciate your works.

1. Use Synaptic Package Mamanger and install libQt3support
   
   
2. On a console do
   
   
   1. rm -f /lib/modules/2.6.22.15.tex2/kernel/drivers/acpi/asus_acpi.ko.gz
   2. rpm -ivh –force eeepc-acpi-1-4.i586.rpm
   3. depmod -ae
   4. modprobe asus_acpi
   5. asusosd &
      
3. On the keyboard, you will note blue commands. To execute one of them, click the FN key and that key at the same time.
   1. FnF1 := “Brightness 0%” then “Brightness 53%” OSD (on screen display) flash up
   2. FnF2 := toggle the wireless
   3. FnF3 and FnF4 := adjust the brightness with OSD
   4. FnF5 := “LCD (Liquid crystal display) only”
   5. FnF6 := process table
   6. FnF7 := mutes volume
   7. FnF8 and FnF9 := adjust volume

NOTE: If your keyboard is messed up, reset it in the KDE control center, i.e., KDE control center (white square icon on the panel) → Regional & Accessibility → Keyboard Layout. Logout, log back in, and do “asusosd &” as root.

TIP: To avoid doing “asusosd &” every time you log in, add this command in /etc/rc.d/rc.local .

Status as of 4/12/08: There two other possibilities.

1) add eee applet, see http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php?id=18988 and http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php?id=20177 . Unfortunately, one of MiniMe's library is old but eventually it'll be updated via synaptic

2) use synaptic and add acpitool which is a console console, not a GUI program. But it's better than nothing.

Status as of 4/17/08: Upgrade you kernel as in http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php?id=22837 >

As of 2/1/08, there is not UVC webcam driver, but it will be in PCLinuxOS repository soon. Every now and then, open up Synaptic Package Manager, reload, and search for UVC. Once the UVC webcam driver includes the eee webcam, you try using with Ekiga and Skype.

Use Synaptic Package Manager to download Ekiga. For some strange reason, Ekiga still needs

1. libnss3.so
2. libplds4.so
3. libplc4.so
4. libnspr4.so

These files should had been in /usr/lib/. These files are also used by firefox, thunderbird, and others programs (you can find out if you have them by using the find utility - If not download firefox). The files are in /usr/lib/[program name]. Copy those files to /usr/lib . To run Ekiga, click PC → Internet → Video Conference → Ekiga

Use Synaptic Package Manager to download Skype. To run Skype, click PC -GT Internet → Instant Messaging → Skype.

The RPMS developed by the EeePCLinuxOS project should work for PCLinuxOS on the ASUS eee mini-laptop. You may or may not encounter space issues (depending on which eee model you are using and what you are doing). Installing PCLinuxOS on the 2G hard drive is virtually impossible. Installing PCLinuxOS on the 4G hard drive is “tight”, but possible using custom disk partitioning. Installing PCLinuxOS on the 8G models should not be a problem. The RPMS potentially work for other RPM distros (like Mandriva, PCLinuxOS's father), but no guarantee.

Please search the wikis and forums before posting questions. If still stuck, post your questions on where is most appropriate, however, it is recommended you post general questions about installing MiniMe on the ASUS eee mini-laptop in the eeeuser forum: Alternate Linux Distributions.

While the EeePCLinuxOS developed the RPMS, they do NOT provide support. Again, future releases of MiniMe/PCLinuxOS will includes eee drivers and there will be no need to configure.

http://wiki.eeeuser.com/ (eee Wiki)
http://www.eeepclinuxos.com/wiki/tiki-index.php (EeePCLinuxOS Wiki)
http://docs.pclinuxos.com/Main_Page (PCLinuxOS Wiki)
http://docs.pclinuxos.com/MiniME (MiniMe Wiki)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ekiga (Wikipedia: Ekiga)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skype (Wikipedia: Skype)

http://forum.eeeuser.com/ (eee Forum)
http://www.eeepclinuxos.com/forum/ (EeePCLinuxOS Forum)
http://www.pclinuxos.com → Support → Forum (PCLinuxOS Forum)
http://www.pclinuxos.com → Support → Forum → MiniMe (MiniME Forum)
http://www.nabble.com/Ekiga-f1245.html (nabble: Ekiga forum)
http://forum.skype.com/ → Skype for Linux (Skype linux forum)

All the RPMS drivers were developed by the EeePCLinuxOS project. See

http://www.eeepclinuxos.com/ (EeePCLinuxOS main page)
http://www.eeepclinuxos.com/forum/ (forum)

Informations about MiniMe 2008 is at
http://www.mypclinuxos.com/doku.php/news:minime-2008