Fedora Core 1 on IBM Thinkpad T40p (2373-G1G)

This is a brief description of what I had to do to make Fedora Core 1 run on my IBM Thinkpad T40p (2373-G1G). This is not a step by step guide for beginners.

For more information, please see TuxMobil - Linux on laptops, PDAs, mobile phones.

Also, I will not list any specific packages that have to be installed, if they are readily available from fedora yum sources (base, updates-released, extras). If you seem to be missing a file, use yum provides file to find out which pakcage you need to install.

Installation

Installation from the fedora CDs is straightforward with no tricks.

Mouse

To get the third button to work correctly and add some TouchPad features, install the synaptics driver. Follow the instructions at http://w1.894.telia.com/~u89404340/touchpad/

Wireless

There are working madwifi RPM's (currently -0.0.20040107-0_2.4.22_1.2149) at http://dag.wieers.com/packages/kernel-module-madwifi/

If you decide to build from the SPEC, remember to use rpmbuild --target i686.

The network device will be ath0, not eth1. You have to edit /etc/modules.conf to add

alias ath0 ath_pci
pre-install ath_pci modprobe ath_hal
pre-install ath_hal modprobe wlan

I use a script like this to bring the wireless network up:

#!/bin/sh
pkill dhclient
/sbin/iwconfig ath0 essid your_essid
/sbin/iwconfig ath0 key your_wep_key
/sbin/dhclient ath0
This can of course be done automatically in many ways, too.

Updating packages

Configure /etc/yum.conf as instructed in http://www.xades.com/proj/fedora_repos.html to fetch updates from a mirror close to you. Run yum update.

Bluetooth and GPRS with Nokia 6310i

Pressing Fn-F5 seems to hang the machine some times. I suggest that if you plan on using Bluetooth devices, switch on the BT early during booting.

The rfcomm devices aren't there by default. Use mknod /dev/rfcomm0 c 216 0.

Switch on the BT on your phone. Then you can use hcitool scan to find out the address of the phone.

Use rfcomm connect rfcomm0 phone_address to connect to the phone.

Use these /etc/ppp/chat-gprs and /etc/ppp/peers/gprs files to connect via Sonera Company Data. pppd call gprs should get you connected. Contact your mobile operator for information on their settings.


Author: Jaska Kivelä <jaska@kivela.net>
TuxMobil - Linux on Laptops, PDAs and mobile Phones