Tiny Core on Dell Mini 9

[roberts]

I am now posting this from a Dell Mini 9 netbook.

Wireless works via ndiswrapper.
Sound works via OSS.

Tiny Core boots so fast, is so small, and is so configurable.
It is great on netbooks.

[stevens]

Did you have to use ndiswrapper because a native driver wouldn't work or doesn't exist?

[roberts]

I used ndiswrapper because it was the path of least resistance and the native module would mean making an extension. I try to allow the community to create extensions. I have so much on my plate right now for core.

I did the same with the eeePC and the community quickly contributed a native module and extension.

The ndiswrapper (/etc/ndiswrapper/) was actually made and tarred up (.tce) on Ubuntu on the Mini9.
It is working fine as a demonstration of TC on the mini 9.

Even though TC is not a netbook centric distro, I have had an easy time running TC on such.

[roberts]

Native wireless module is a very easy compile away.
Source and instructions are available here:
http://www.broadcom.com/support/802.11/linux_sta.php

[Juanito]

Interesting that the readme speaks about removing the b43 (or similar) module - did anybody try to see if the b43 module in wireless-2.6.26.tcem (with appropriate fwcutter) will work?

[roberts]

There was some discussion on the Dell Mini forum about it not working.
The recommendation was to compile the newest from broadcom site.

[jpeters]

I didn't quite understand the instructions:

Code: [Select]

make -C /lib/modules/<2.6.xx.xx>/build M=`pwd`
I replaced <2.6.xx.xx> with 2.6.26-tinycore, but still got "nothing to do" so guess that's  not
what's called for.....not sure what is.....

[Juanito]

I think the command is expecting /lib/modules/<2.6.xx.xx>/build to be symlinked back to the kernel source, eg:

/lib/modules/2.6.26-tinycore/build --> /usr/src/linux-2.6.26

I would also have expected 'pwd' to be $PWD, but maybe not in this context...

[jpeters]

I think the command is expecting /lib/modules/<2.6.xx.xx>/build to be symlinked back to the kernel source, eg:

/lib/modules/2.6.26-tinycore/build --> /usr/src/linux-2.6.26

I would also have expected 'pwd' to be $PWD, but maybe not in this context...

You're  correct on both counts.  Next, we need to modprobe modprobe ieee80211_crypt_tkip, which we don't have. I see ieee80211_crypte_tkip files in my kernel source folder, but don't know how to make them available for a modprobe.  (roberts said this was a simple compile??)

/mnt/hda3/src/linux-2.6.26/net/ieee80211/ieee80211_crypt_tkip.o
/mnt/hda3/src/linux-2.6.26/net/ieee80211/ieee80211_crypt_tkip.mod.c
/mnt/hda3/src/linux-2.6.26/net/ieee80211/ieee80211_crypt_tkip.mod.o
/mnt/hda3/src/linux-2.6.26/net/ieee80211/ieee80211_crypt_tkip.ko
/mnt/hda3/src/linux-2.6.26/.tmp_versions/ieee80211_crypt_tkip.mod

[roberts]

Put wireless-2.6.26.tcem and wireless_tools.tcel in your "tce" dir.

[^thehatsrule^]

I think the command is expecting /lib/modules/<2.6.xx.xx>/build to be symlinked back to the kernel source, eg:

/lib/modules/2.6.26-tinycore/build --> /usr/src/linux-2.6.26

If the kernel headers were only required, the extension (tce) for that takes care of this.

I would also have expected 'pwd' to be $PWD, but maybe not in this context...

They should both result in the same thing.

[jpeters]

Put wireless-2.6.26.tcem and wireless_tools.tcel in your "tce" dir.

Thanks.....that took care of it. One thing though, then B43 has to be removed.  I've got wl installed, and will try it out.

I would also have expected 'pwd' to be $PWD, but maybe not in this context...

They should both result in the same thing.

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

[roberts]

As there is no auto detection of wireless, b43 did not have to be removed or blacklisted.

[jpeters]

As there is no auto detection of wireless, b43 did not have to be removed or blacklisted.

Okay.    I'm trying to figure out where to go from here. Driver wl is loaded into /sys/module and /ieee80211_crypt/holders

I tried installing by script run from bootlocal.sh, but card doesn't seem to be recognized despite the new driver.  The card runs from another distro, so it's probably not the right setup or I need something else.  Anyway, ath0 cards are running fine, so this is just a curiosity. 

[jpeters]

As there is no auto detection of wireless, b43 did not have to be removed or blacklisted.

Okay.    I'm trying to figure out where to go from here. Driver wl is loaded into /sys/module and /ieee80211_crypt/holders

edit: I tried installing by script run from bootlocal.sh, but card doesn't seem to be recognized despite the new driver.  The card runs from another distro, so it's probably not the right setup or I need something else.  Anyway, ath0 cards are running fine, so this is just a curiosity.