Tiny Core on Dell Mini 9

[roberts]

Just for testing purposes....

Try this in /opt/bootlocal.sh

modprobe ieee80211_crypt_tkip
insmod /home/tc/wl.ko
/usr/local/sbin/iwconfig eth1 essid "ETPHONEHOME" key 1122334455
/sbin/udhcpc -i eth1

Once you get this working then you can gzip the wl.ko, copy into the wireless module tree and make your own wl.tcem. Then drop the insmod from the above.

Note: you need the full path to iwconfig when used in /opt/bootlocal.sh

[jpeters]

I tried it both with eth1 and eth0.  The card is like dead meat, so I get "operation not supported" with any iwconfig command. Eth1 never comes up (not listed in ifconfig). 

[roberts]

Try mine and see if we are on the same page.

[jpeters]

Try mine and see if we are on the same page.

same file. Dell card seems to like BCM43xx with ieee80211softmac. Maybe the new driver supports newer cards?   

[^thehatsrule^]

'pwd'  didn't work for me for some reason, although I see it works in the terminal.

Backticks `` need to be used for substitution.

[jpeters]

'pwd'  didn't work for me for some reason, although I see it works in the terminal.

Backticks `` need to be used for substitution.

Another one of those techniques that require 'sudo'.....thanks.   

[clivesay]

The stock Mini 9 is on sale at Dell for $199. I am very tempted to get one.

Chris

[ke4nt]

Don't expect to get one in any hurry... 
Mine has been on order for 2 weeks, and may be another week b4 it gets shipped.

[h-munster]

I would really like to get TC working on my Mini 9.

I am not sure from this thread, but is there now an extension for the Broadcom Wireless driver (wireless-2.6.26.tcem and/or wireless_tools.tcel)?

What about bluetooth? ...xorg?

Thanks.

[Juanito]

If you try the "search" function for the forum, there are several posts about the dell mini 9, wireless, bluetooth and xorg.

If I've understood correctly, you can:

1. get the screen working with the base xvesa from tinycore and a modified version of 915resolution
2. get wireless working with ndiswrapper or the native broadcom "wl" module
3. use the Xorg-7.4.tcel/tczl extensions for xorg
4. perhaps use bluetooth - what hardware does your mini 9 have?

[h-munster]

Thank you for the quick reply.

The native Broadcom module is preferable for me.  Has anyone compiled/built an extension for the module?  I didn't see the "wl" module listed anywhere.

I will try xvesa first (before xorg).

I am going to keep the Dell diagnostics partition, in case I need to flash the BIOS again.

In regards to my Mini 9 hardware, here is the result of lspci:

Code: [Select]

00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GME Express Memory Controller Hub (rev 03)
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GME Express Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03)
00:02.1 Display controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS/GME, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03)
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) High Definition Audio Controller (rev 02)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 1 (rev 02)
00:1c.1 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 2 (rev 02)
00:1c.2 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 3 (rev 02)
00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #1 (rev 02)
00:1d.1 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #2 (rev 02)
00:1d.2 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #3 (rev 02)
00:1d.3 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #4 (rev 02)
00:1d.7 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller (rev 02)
00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge (rev e2)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation 82801GBM (ICH7-M) LPC Interface Bridge (rev 02)
00:1f.1 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) IDE Controller (rev 02)
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) SMBus Controller (rev 02)
02:00.0 System peripheral: JMicron Technologies, Inc. Unknown device 2382
02:00.2 SD Host controller: JMicron Technologies, Inc. Unknown device 2381
02:00.3 System peripheral: JMicron Technologies, Inc. Unknown device 2383
03:00.0 Network controller: Broadcom Corporation BCM4312 802.11b/g (rev 01)
04:00.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8101E PCI Express Fast Ethernet controller (rev 02)

Here are some of the results from hardinfo:

Code: [Select]

Summary
-------

-Computer-
Processor : 2x Intel(R) Atom(TM) CPU N270   @ 1.60GHz
Memory : 505MB (238MB used)
Operating System : Ubuntu 8.04.1
User Name : --- ()
Date/Time : Sun 12 Apr 2009 11:28:49 AM PDT
-Display-
Resolution : 1024x600 pixels
OpenGL Renderer : Mesa DRI Intel(R) 945GME 20061017
X11 Vendor : The X.Org Foundation
-Multimedia-
Audio Adapter : HDA-Intel - HDA Intel
-Input Devices-
 Power Button (FF)
 Lid Switch
 Power Button (CM)
 Sleep Button (CM)
 Video Bus
 PC Speaker
 AT Translated Set 2 keyboard
 SynPS/2 Synaptics TouchPad
-Printers (CUPS)-
PDF
-IDE Disks-
-SCSI Disks-
ATA STEC ATA DISK vS

Operating System
----------------

-Version-
Kernel : Linux 2.6.24-19-lpia (i686)
Compiled : #1 SMP Mon Nov 3 15:25:26 UTC 2008
C Library : GNU C Library version 2.7 (stable)
Distribution : Ubuntu 8.04.1
-Current Session-
Computer Name : ---
User Name : --- ()
Home Directory : /home/---
Desktop Environment : GNOME 2.22 (session name: Default)
-Misc-
Uptime : 32 minutes
Load Average : 1.27, 1.31, 0.72

Kernel Modules
--------------

-Loaded Modules-
wl
parport_pc : PC-style parallel port driver
ppdev
parport
uvcvideo : USB Video Class driver
compat_ioctl32
videodev : Device registrar for Video4Linux drivers v2
v4l1_compat : v4l(1) compatibility layer for v4l2 drivers.
v4l2_common : misc helper functions for v4l2 device drivers
dcdbas : Dell Systems Management Base Driver (version 5.6.0-3.2)
rfcomm : Bluetooth RFCOMM ver 1.8
l2cap : Bluetooth L2CAP ver 2.9
hci_usb : Bluetooth HCI USB driver ver 2.9
bluetooth : Bluetooth Core ver 2.11
i915 : Intel Graphics
acpi_cpufreq : ACPI Processor P-States Driver
cpufreq_userspace : CPUfreq policy governor 'userspace'
cpufreq_powersave : CPUfreq policy governor 'powersave'
cpufreq_stats : 'cpufreq_stats' - A driver to export cpufreq stats through sysfs filesystem
cpufreq_conservative : 'cpufreq_conservative' - A dynamic cpufreq governor for Low Latency Frequency Transition capable processors optimised for use in a battery environment
drm : DRM shared core routines
intel_agp
agpgart : AGP GART driver
snd_seq_midi : Advanced Linux Sound Architecture sequencer MIDI synth.
snd_seq_oss : OSS-compatible sequencer module
snd_seq_dummy : ALSA sequencer MIDI-through client
snd_pcm_oss : PCM OSS emulation for ALSA.
snd_hda_intel : Intel HDA driver
snd_seq_midi_event : MIDI byte <-> sequencer event coder
snd_rawmidi : Midlevel RawMidi code for ALSA.
snd_hwdep : Hardware dependent layer
snd_pcm : Midlevel PCM code for ALSA.
snd_page_alloc : Memory allocator for ALSA system.
snd_mixer_oss : Mixer OSS emulation for ALSA.
snd_seq : Advanced Linux Sound Architecture sequencer.
snd_timer : ALSA timer interface
snd_seq_device : ALSA sequencer device management
snd : Advanced Linux Sound Architecture driver for soundcards.
soundcore : Core sound module
ieee80211_crypt_tkip : Host AP crypt: TKIP
r8169 : RealTek RTL-8169 Gigabit Ethernet driver
ieee80211_crypt : HostAP crypto
iTCO_wdt : Intel TCO WatchDog Timer Driver
iTCO_vendor_support : Intel TCO Vendor Specific WatchDog Timer Driver Support
serio_raw : Raw serio driver
psmouse : PS/2 mouse driver
fuse : Filesystem in Userspace
ahci : AHCI SATA low-level driver
squashfs : squashfs 3.3, a compressed read-only filesystem
unionfs : Unionfs 1.4 (http://unionfs.filesystems.org/)
ehci_hcd : 10 Dec 2004 USB 2.0 'Enhanced' Host Controller (EHCI) Driver
isofs
zlib_inflate


Filesystems
-----------

-Mounted File Systems-
/dev/sda2 : 3.4 GiB total, 679.2 MiB free
proc : 0.0 B total, 0.0 B free
/sys : 0.0 B total, 0.0 B free
varrun : 246.6 MiB total, 246.5 MiB free
varlock : 246.6 MiB total, 246.6 MiB free
udev : 246.6 MiB total, 246.6 MiB free
devshm : 246.6 MiB total, 246.6 MiB free
devpts : 0.0 B total, 0.0 B free
lrm : 246.6 MiB total, 245.2 MiB free
gvfs-fuse-daemon : 3.4 GiB total, 679.2 MiB free

Shared Directories
------------------

-SAMBA-
-NFS-


Display
-------

-Display-
Resolution : 1024x600 pixels
Vendor : The X.Org Foundation
Version : 1.4.0.90
-Monitors-
Monitor 0 : 1024x600 pixels
-Extensions-
BIG-REQUESTS
Composite
DAMAGE
DOUBLE-BUFFER
DPMS
Extended-Visual-Information
GLX
MIT-SCREEN-SAVER
MIT-SHM
MIT-SUNDRY-NONSTANDARD
RANDR
RECORD
RENDER
SECURITY
SGI-GLX
SHAPE
SYNC
TOG-CUP
X-Resource
XAccessControlExtension
XC-APPGROUP
XC-MISC
XFIXES
XFree86-Bigfont
XFree86-DGA
XFree86-DRI
XFree86-Misc
XFree86-VidModeExtension
XINERAMA
XInputExtension
XKEYBOARD
XTEST
XVideo
-OpenGL-
Vendor : Tungsten Graphics, Inc
Renderer : Mesa DRI Intel(R) 945GME 20061017
Version : 1.3 Mesa 7.0.3-rc2
Direct Rendering : Yes

Network Interfaces
------------------

-Network Interfaces-
lo : Sent 0.06MiB, received 0.06MiB (127.0.0.1)
eth0 : Sent 0.06MiB, received 0.81MiB (76.168.237.238)
eth1 : Sent 0.00MiB, received 0.00MiB

Processor
---------

-Processors-
Intel(R) Atom(TM) CPU N270   @ 1.60GHz : 1600.00MHz
Intel(R) Atom(TM) CPU N270   @ 1.60GHz : 1600.00MHz

Memory
------

-Memory-
Total Memory : 505080 kB
Free Memory : 32952 kB
Buffers : 21148 kB
Cached : 234436 kB
Cached Swap : 0 kB
Active : 260556 kB
Inactive : 121140 kB
High Memory : 0 kB
Free High Memory : 0 kB
Low Memory : 505080 kB
Free Low Memory : 32952 kB
Virtual Memory : 0 kB
Free Virtual Memory : 0 kB
Dirty : 0 kB
Writeback : 244 kB
AnonPages : 126096 kB
Mapped : 41416 kB
Slab : 23108 kB
SReclaimable : 14836 kB
SUnreclaim : 8272 kB
PageTables : 2028 kB
NFS_Unstable : 0 kB
Bounce : 0 kB
CommitLimit : 252540 kB
Committed_AS : 440960 kB
VmallocTotal : 516088 kB
VmallocUsed : 4856 kB
VmallocChunk : 509272 kB

PCI Devices
-----------

-PCI Devices-
Host bridge : Intel Corporation Mobile 945GME Express Memory Controller Hub
VGA compatible controller : Intel Corporation Mobile 945GME Express Integrated Graphics Controller
Display controller : Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS/GME, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller
Audio device : Intel Corporation 82801G
PCI bridge : Intel Corporation 82801G
PCI bridge : Intel Corporation 82801G
PCI bridge : Intel Corporation 82801G
USB Controller : Intel Corporation 82801G
USB Controller : Intel Corporation 82801G
USB Controller : Intel Corporation 82801G
USB Controller : Intel Corporation 82801G
USB Controller : Intel Corporation 82801G
PCI bridge : Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge
ISA bridge : Intel Corporation 82801GBM
IDE interface : Intel Corporation 82801G
SMBus : Intel Corporation 82801G
System peripheral : JMicron Technologies, Inc. Unknown device 2382
SD Host controller : JMicron Technologies, Inc. Unknown device 2381
System peripheral : JMicron Technologies, Inc. Unknown device 2383
Network controller : Broadcom Corporation BCM4312 802.11b/g
Ethernet controller : Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8101E PCI Express Fast Ethernet controller


USB Devices
-----------


Battery
-------

-Battery: BAT1-
State : charged (load: 0 mA)
Capacity : 3200 mAh / 3200 mAh (100.00%)
Battery Technology : rechargeable (Lion)
Model Number
Serial Number : 11

Sensors
-------

-ACPI Thermal Zone-
TZ01 : 46°C

Input Devices
-------------

-Input Devices-
 Power Button (FF)
 Lid Switch
 Power Button (CM)
 Sleep Button (CM)
 Video Bus
 PC Speaker
 AT Translated Set 2 keyboard
 SynPS/2 Synaptics TouchPad

Storage
-------

-IDE Disks-
-SCSI Disks-
ATA STEC ATA DISK vS


Thanks!

[roberts]

I can report that I have the wl.ko.gz working great on Dell Mini 9.
Using the modified 915resolution before starting Xvesa gives great 1024x600 resolution.
With the new extension module udevtrigger in TC v1.3, makes using very simple, no need to modprobe.

You will need wireless-2.6.26 wireless_tools to get i33380211_crypt and the iwconfig command. Use iwconfig and udhcpc will get wireless working.

I have been so busy that haven't had time to make formal extensions. I will PM you a link to help test these on your Mini 9.

[h-munster]

Thanks everyone for the help!

[unwired]

Looks like a cool thread.

Just got me Mini 9 in last week and looking for some good options. I bought a fair base unit (4gb SSD / 1GB ram) as a refurb. Best part was that I paid $200 shipped. I upgraded the RAM to 2GB but have yet to take the leap to a more expensive SSD.

Both WinXP and Ubuntu seem to be bloated garbage. How does Dell ship a device with like 300mb free space on a hard disk. It's just embarrassing. 

Anyhow, I've been looking at various streamlined options (either an nlited XP version or small Linux distro). I'm not a developer but I was a Unix admin a while back. For me, a netbook won't be a develoment workstatino or some gaming machine. I'd really like something with a minmial install on it that allows me to websurf and check email (audio and webcam are nice additions but I think they'd see less use overall).

It doesn't quite look like the Mini 9 is fully supported just yet but I did notice that a new (1.4) release was posted. I'll keep checking here for your progress. Feel free to drop me a line if you need a guinea pig. 

[tobiaus]

Both WinXP and Ubuntu seem to be bloated garbage.

garbage, no. bloated? very.

How does Dell ship a device with like 300mb free space on a hard disk. It's just embarrassing. 

yeah, that's insane.