More Roomba

"As an added bonus, it terrifies the cat."

Linux and the Thinkpad i1300

While installing Linux on the Thinkpad i1300 I got recently from koyote, I ran into a couple of hardware compatibility issues.  (koyote evidently ran into at least the first one too, which is why the kubuntu install originally on the Thinkpad wouldn't boot.)  I solved the problems, but figured I should document them somewhere.  So I'm doing so, here and on co.ordinate.org.  (No, the co.ordinate.org page on it isn't up yet.  It will be.  Soon.)

1. • Problem:  The Thinkpad i1300 has an OHCI-compliant USB host controller which, however, will lock the machine hard if probed as OHCI.
   • Workaround:  Boot the install CD with the nousb kernel option, then configure it as a UHCI USB host controller. You'll lose a tiny amount of functionality, but it'll work, and you'll probably never miss the few added features of OHCI.
2. • Problem:  The Thinkpad i1300's ALi IDE controller is buggy, and if booted from a generic Linux kernel, will fail to mount the CD to complete the installation after booting from it.
   • Workaround:  To the nousb kernel boot option above, add ide0=ata66 ide1=ata66 ide2=ata66 ide3=ata66¹, then build a custom kernel with the appropriate ALi chipset patches.
3. • Problem:  Xorg -configure doesn't properly identify the screen; it thinks it has a maximum resolution of 800x600, and will not be persuaded otherwise.
   • Workaround:  This one is pretty trivial; just override the autodetected monitor settings in xorg.conf — I found that HorizSync 31.5-48.5 and VertRefresh 60 worked just fine.  Then you'll be able to select 1024x768 video modes.²  (You'll want to specify VideoRam 8192 in the Device section, by the way.

[1]  You won't actually need all of these IDE devices, of course.  But it doesn't hurt to make really sure you got them all.

[2]  On an LCD screen, of course, there's little point in enabling any resolution other than native physical resolution, though the i1300's Trident Cyberblade/i1 chipset will support up to 1280x1024 on an external monitor.

Fear and loathing at the NHTSA

If you want to find out anything from the NHTSA, looks like you'd better be prepared to file a FOIA request for it.