How I have installed FreeBSD 7.0-RELEASE in the As

Source:  

$Id: installEeePC.txt,v 1.8 2008/08/06 09:13:36 guru Exp $

   How I have installed FreeBSD 7.0-RELEASE in the Asus eeePC 900
                     


1.  Installing the system itself

    First prepare an USB key with:
    
    - a booting FreeBSD 7.0R
    - the tree of the disk1 below /disk1, as minimum:
      disk1/7.0-RELEASE
      disk1/packages
    
    How to do this is documented on Internet already, see for example:
    
    
    The eeePC 900 comes with two separate SSD's which will show up
    in FreeBSD as
    
    /dev/ad2 (4 GByte)
    /dev/ad3 (16 GByte)
    
    even if you can boot /dev/ad3 from the boot-monitor (press ESC after power-on),
    it seems that the BIOS by its own can only boot from the first SSD, the
    so called OB (on board) SSD; so we will install the system in /dev/ad2;
    
    create a new partition table on /dev/ad2 with a default slice 1 and make it 
    boot-able:
    
    # fdisk -BI /dev/ad2
    
    (ignore any errors)
    
    label it for booting freebsd:
    
    # bsdlabel -wB /dev/ad2s1
    
    edit the disk label and change partition a from "unused" to "4.2BSD"
    as partition type:
    
    # setenv EDITOR /usr/bin/vi
    # bsdlabel -e /dev/ad2s1
    
    create the future root-filesystem on it and mount it to /mnt for the
    installation:
    
    # newfs -m 0 -o space /dev/ad2s1a
    # mount /dev/ad2s1a /mnt 
    
    install freebsd into /mnt; this assumes that you have copied the FreeBSD
    distribution into your USB key below /disk1/7.0-RELEASE:
    
    # setenv DESTDIR /mnt
    # cd /disk1/7.0-RELEASE
    # cd base
    # ./install.sh
    You are about to extract the base distribution into /mnt - are you SURE
    you want to do this over your installed system (y/n): y
    
    # cd ../manpages
    # ./install.sh
    # cd ../catpages
    # ./install.sh
    
    go to the kernels directory and install a kernel of your choice: 
    [default is GENERIC kernel; change to "smp" for smp-machines] 
    
    # rmdir /mnt/boot/kernel 
    # cd ../kernels; 
    # cat generic.?? | tar --unlink -xpzf - -C /mnt/boot 
    # cd /mnt/boot 
    # mv GENERIC kernel 
    
    now, tell FreeBSD to mount later the correct root-filesystem: 
    
    # echo "/dev/ad2s1a  /  ufs  rw,noatime  1  1" >/mnt/etc/fstab 
     
    create your rc.conf.local in /mnt/etc to redefine some settings: 
    
    # cat </mnt/etc/rc.conf.local 
    #!/bin/sh 
    tmpmfs="YES" 
    tmpsize="128m" 
    hostname="tiny" 
    keyrate="fast" 
    EOFRCCONF 
     
    # chmod 0755 /mnt/etc/rc.conf.local 
     
    set a new root password manually, if you want (default="") 
    
    # chroot /mnt /usr/bin/passwd root 
    
    unmount the new root /mnt and reboot the eeePC:
    
    # cd
    # umount /mnt
    # reboot
    
    
    when the system comes up again, use 'sysinstall' for installation of Xorg
    
    mount the USB key as:
    
    # mount -o ro /dev/da0s1a /mnt
    
2.  Installation and configuration of Xorg and KDE

    # sysinstall-->Configure-->Distributions-->X.org
    
    from installation media 'File System' and pointed to /mnt/disk1; again
    this assumes that you have copied the FreeBSD distribution into your USB
    key below /disk1/packages:
    
    remove the package 'xf86-video-i810-1.6.5_3' and install correct video drivers
    for the Intel chip-set; the package must be pulled from FreeBSD web sites, i.e.
    it is not part of the default 7.0-R distribution CD:
     
    # pkg_delete -f xf86-video-i810-1.6.5_3
    # cd /mnt/eeePC
    # pkg_add xf86-video-intel-2.1.1.tbz
    
    login again to refresh the PATH only
    
    use 'sysinstall' to activate the mouse daemon and configure the X server:
    
    # Xorg -configure
    
    before deleting the Linux on the eeePC I saved the original xorg.conf
    and merged the Monitor section into the generated xorg.conf as:
    
        Section "Monitor"
            Identifier   "Monitor0"
            VendorName   "ASUS"
            ModelName    "Eee PC P900"
            Modeline     "1024x600"  48.96  1024 1064 1168 1312  600 601 604 622  -HSync +Vsync
        EndSection
    
    
    # cp xorg.conf.new /etc/X11/xorg.conf
    
    adjust /etc/rc.conf file with to reduce write cycles to the SSD:
    
        syslogd_enable="NO"
        sendmail_enable="NONE"
        cron_enable="NO"
        newsyslog_enable="NO"
    
    
    adjust /boot/loader.conf file with:
    
        snd_hda_load="YES"
    
    on the second disk /dev/ad3 I created one big file system and mounted this as /usr/home;
    
    on my 'normal' laptop with the same FreeBSD version I've created packages of all
    ports I have installed on this, around 640 ports which are in packages around
    1.2 GByte; I moved them with the USB key (network was not yet up in this moment)
    to /usr/home/PKGDIR and installed the KDE environment (and all other stuff) just with:
    
    # cd /usr/home/PKGDIR
    # pkg_add kde-3.5.8.tbz
    
    
3.  The wireless NIC 

    There is a patch from 'madwifi' for the HAL needed by the Atheos card, see:
    
    and:
    

    but I have used Sam's HAL from ~sam

    you have to CVS update the kernel to RELANG_7 (at least); as well change
    the kernel so that 'if_ath' is not compiled into the kernel, but as a
    loadable if_ath.ko file; before compiling update 'ath' by Sam's archive
    ath_hal-20080528.tgz:

    # cd /usr/src/sys/contrib/dev
    # mv ath ath.RELENG_7
    # tar xzf ~guru/myThings/FreeBSD/eeePC/ath_hal-20080528.tgz
    # mv ath_hal-20080528 ath

    # vi /usr/src/sys/i386/conf/REBELION
    ...

    # cd /usr/src/sys/i386/compile/REBELION
    # make depend
    # make
    # make install
    # cd /boot

    # mv kernel kernel.sam-hal
    # mv kernel.old kernel
    # tar czf ~guru/myThings/FreeBSD/eeePC/kernel.sam-hal.tar.gz kernel.sam-hal
    
    move over the tar'ed kernel to the eeePC and unpack it there into /boot:
    and rename it correctly:

    # cd /boot
    # mv kernel kernel.old
    # tar xzf ....../kernel.sam-hal.tar.gz
    # mv kernel.sam-hal kernel

    put the load of the kernel module into /boot/loader.conf

    acpi_asus_load="YES"
    if_ath_load="YES"
    


4.  devd(8) hooks for IF_UP / IF_DOWN and power-off/on of the NIC

    as well I moved from my normal laptop the /etc/wpa_supplicant.conf and the
    devd(8) hooks from /usr/local/etc/devd/*
    the ath0 comes up and works normaly with 'wpa_supplicant' and the hooks
    in devd(8) on IF_UP / IF_DOWN

    here are the bits /usr/local/etc/devd/ath.conf

    +-----snipp-------------------------------------------------+
    notify 1 {
        match "system"		"ACPI";
        action "/usr/local/etc/devd/ath.sh $system $subsystem $notify";
    };
    notify 1 {
        match "system"		"IFNET";
        match "subsystem"	"ath0";
        match "type"		"LINK_UP";
        action "/usr/local/etc/devd/ath.sh $system $subsystem $type";
    };
    notify 1 {
        match "system"		"IFNET";
        match "subsystem"	"ath0";
        match "type"		"LINK_DOWN";
        action "/usr/local/etc/devd/ath.sh $system $subsystem $type";
    };
    +-----snipp-------------------------------------------------+

    and /usr/local/etc/devd/ath.sh

    +-----snipp-------------------------------------------------+
    #!/bin/sh
    #
    # $1:    system       ACPI, IFNET, ...
    # $2:    subsystem:   ath0 for system ACPI
    #                     ASUS-Eee for system ACPI
    # $3:    type/notify: LINK_UP/LINK_DOWN for IFNET+ath0
    #                     0x11 (off) 0x10 (on) for ACPI+ASUS-Eee
    # see also ath.conf
    
    echo `date`: $0 $* >> /tmp/devd.out
    
    case $1 in
        'ACPI')
            case $3 in
            # Fn+F2
            0x10)
                    echo "Wlan On" > /dev/console &
                    kldload if_ath
                    ;;
            0x11)
                    echo "Wlan Off" > /dev/console &
                    kldunload if_ath
                    ;;
            esac
            exit 0 ;
    	;;
    esac	
    
    case $3 in
        'LINK_DOWN')
            killall dhclient ;
            exit 0 ;
    	;;
    esac	
    
    case $3 in
        'LINK_UP')
    
            ap=`/sbin/ifconfig ath0 list sta | awk '{print $1;}' | fgrep -v ADDR`
            
            case ${ap} in
            
                'xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx')
                    printf "ap [%s] seems to be the OH office\n" "${ap}" >> /tmp/devd.out ;
                    ifconfig ath0 -bgscan
                    dhclient ath0
                    ;;
            
                *)
                    printf "ap [%s] not known in %s\n" "${ap}" $0 >> /tmp/devd.out ;
                    ;;
            esac
    	exit 0
    	;;
    
    esac
    exit 0
    +-----snipp-------------------------------------------------+

    having 'if_ath' as a loadable kernel module you may switch the wireless
    NIC off with ``Fn+F2´´ and switch it on again; Note: switch it on again brings
    the if_ath only correctly in function if the system was booted with
    the wireless NIC turned on; so it is a good advice to switch it always on
    before shutdown or re-boot.


5.  Additional configrations to save the lifetime of SSD
    
    after installation of base, Xorg and KDE the disk space is like this:

    # df -kh
    Filesystem     Size    Used   Avail Capacity  Mounted on
    /dev/ad2s1a    3.6G    2.1G    1.5G    58%    /
    /dev/ad3s1a     15G    1.3G     13G     9%    /usr/home
    /dev/md0       124M     46K    114M     0%    /tmp
    
    i.e. maybe we must later put all /usr/local stuff into /usr/home with
    a sym link.
    
    a. additional things to get rid of log files in SSD or other unnesessary
       writes which steal lifetime of the SSD:
    
       # mv /var/log /var/log.old
       # ln -s /tmp /var/log
    
    b. set in /etc/login.conf coredumpsize=0 and run
    
       # cap_mkdb /etc/login.conf
    
    c. disable caching in the web browser(s)

    d. if you edit a lot of text with vim(1) shift the backup's done by vim(1) to
       the memory /tmp file system, in ~/.vimrc:

       set backupdir=/tmp
       set dir=/tmp

    e. mount all SSD hosted file systems with 'noatime'   
    

6.  The wired NIC

    the wired NIC Attansic L2 FastEthernet "ae0" works with the driver from
    
    I have compiled it and have it in ~/if_ae.ko just for the case I need to
    load it (or load it at boot with an entry in /boot/loader.conf);


    
7.  UMTS for accessing the Internet

    The USB HSDPA modem from Huawei, the E220, is supported; you need
    patches from cgi/query-pr.cgi?pr=usb/118686
    and you have to remove 'umass' from the kernel and make it loadable at
    boot time in /boot/loader.conf; note: 'ubsa' must be loaded before 'umass'
    so it sees the card first on attach:

    ubsa_load="YES"
    umass_load="YES"

    now my card says in a terminal (kermit) about itself:

    ati2
    Manufacturer: huawei
    Model: E220
    Revision: 11.117.09.04.00
    IMEI: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
    +GCAP: +CGSM,+DS,+ES
    OK

    the bits for PPP are:

    /etc/ppp/peers/huawei:

    +-----snipp-------------------------------------------------+
    cuaU0 230400 crtscts
    connect '/usr/bin/chat -v -f /etc/ppp/chat-huawei ; \
             sleep 5'
    name UMTS_CHAP_SRVR
    noipdefault
    :10.64.64.64
    novj
    noccp
    defaultroute
    ipcp-max-configure 20
    ipcp-max-failure 20
    ipcp-max-terminate 20
    ipcp-accept-local
    ipcp-accept-remote
    debug
    +-----snipp-------------------------------------------------+

    and /etc/ppp/chat-huawei:

    +-----snipp-------------------------------------------------+
    '' AT
    #
    # We can not send down the PIN twice, it gives 'ERROR' 2nd time;
    # so we're just especting an 'O' as response which is part of 'OK'
    # and 'ERROR' as well, what a dirty hack. :-((
    #
    OK\r at+cpin="XXXXXXX"
    O AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP","web.vodafone.de"
    OK\r ATD*99***1#
    CONNECT
    +-----snipp-------------------------------------------------+


    Having done this you just bring up the Internet with

    # pppd call huawei

    
8.  Other stuff to test or which does not work yet

    UVC cam:

    the (deleted) Linux saw the on board video cam with these messages:
      
      [   11.540000] Linux video capture interface: v2.00
      [   11.560000] uvcvideo: Found UVC 1.00 device CNF7129 (04f2:b071)
      [   11.690000] usbcore: registered new interface driver uvcvideo
      [   11.690000] USB Video Class driver (SVN r2008.02.27)
    
    the vendorID 0x04f2 points to ""Chicony Electronics Co., Ltd."
    and perhaps is that item:
    
    actually there is no support

    there is a project about UVC cams in NetBSD, see:

    
    



    UMTS cards:

    other UMTS card, whci might be supported (not yet tested):
    usb/122621: New driver for Sierra Wireless 3G USM modem 875U
    
    
    for the touchpad there is a better driver as (not yet tested):

    Touchpad driver:
    
    Touchpad (synaptics) configuration
    Disable moused in rc.conf 
    Add hw.psm.synaptics_support=1 to loader.conf 
    pkg_add -r synaptics and edit Xorg.conf according to synaptic's pkg-message 
    (the pkg could be compiled from the ports but will pull the whole Xorg-server)
    
    Port:   ksynaptics-0.3.1_1
    Path:   /usr/ports/sysutils/ksynaptics
    Info:   KDE control center module for Synaptics touchpads