Ubuntu 12.04 rc1 test

helpy
Posts: 9
Joined: Thu Dec 15, 2011 5:08 pm

Re: Ubuntu 12.04 rc1 test

Post by helpy »

Please, could you post the steps to compile ubuntu 12.04 with the kernel 3.5 and gma500_gfx driver and how to bypass the 8MB framebuffer limitation?

It could be very usefull for people like me that haven´t the experience or expertise in kernel compiling.

BR

kdpcb
Posts: 12
Joined: Thu Oct 21, 2010 5:56 pm

Re: Ubuntu 12.04 rc1 test

Post by kdpcb »

It is years ago last time I compiled a debian kernel, but after some searching this is what I ended up with.
I choose to use a standard kernel and add Ubuntu patches to compile the 3.5.0-rc1 kernel to .deb packages for Ubuntu 12.04.
There may be easier ways to do it, but the compilation has worked without problems half a dozen times.
I try to make this guide as short as possible as there are plenty of info in other places.

Setup environment:
Plenty of disk space, I use a 20 GB partition for Ubuntu 12.04.
Install the required development tools to build a .deb kernel package.
Read about building Ubuntu kernels at:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Kernel/Compile
Under 'Tools you'll need' and Lucid are the commands to install the development tools:
sudo apt-get install fakeroot build-essential crash kexec-tools makedumpfile kernel-wedge
sudo apt-get build-dep linux
sudo apt-get install git-core libncurses5 libncurses5-dev libelf-dev asciidoc binutils-dev

If not done, set grub2 timeout to 8-10 seconds in order to be able to choose a standard kernel in case of problems with your custom kernel.
Edit /etc/default/grub as root and check there is a line like:
GRUB_TIMEOUT=10
The 3.5 kernel only needs one boot option in grub:
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="console=tty1"
or
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash console=tty1"
or you can edit in the grub boot menu while testing.

Make a dir to collect the kernel source and patches under your home path.
Later indicated by <download dir>.

From ftp://ftp.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v3.x/testing/
download linux-3.5-rc1.tar.bz2
From http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/ma ... 1-quantal/
download the three patch files:
0001-base-packaging.patch
0002-debian-changelog.patch
0003-default-configs.patch

I normally compile the kernel under /usr/src like this:
sudo su
cd /usr/src
cp -v <download dir>/linux-3.5-rc1.tar.bz2 .
tar xjvf linux-3.5-rc1.tar.bz2 (omit the v if you do not want to see the filelist)
If there is a link called linux, remove it.
ln -s linux-3.5-rc1 linux (Saves a few keystrokes later)
cd linux
Copy the three patch files from <download dir> to here.
Now patch the kernel:
cat 0001-base-packaging.patch | patch -p1
cat 0002-debian-changelog.patch | patch -p1
cat 0003-default-configs.patch | patch -p1
This should not give any errors or warnings.
There is no .config file present, but copy /boot/config-3.2.0-24-generic to /usr/src/linux/.config
The kernel tree is in place, next is the configuration.
As root, go to /usr/src/linux if not already there.
I use menuconfig:
make menuconfig
To add the gma500 driver select the 'Device Driver' menu item, then ' Graphics support'.
The 'Direct Rendering Manager (XFree86 4.1.0 and higher DRI support)' should be marked <M> as module, select it and in the submenu mark 'Intel GMA5/600 KMS Framebuffer' <M>.
You can do more changes if you like, e.g. set processor family to Intel Atom.
I did experience errors in one or two modules first time I tried to compile and had to disable them, but have clean forgotten which.

As the cpu in fit-pc2 has 2 hyperthreads, before starting the compile I do:
export CONCURRENCY_LEVEL=2

To compile and save the output to a file I did as root:
fakeroot make-kpkg --initrd --append-to-version=-070612 kernel_image kernel_headers > xx 2>&1

The -070612 after --append-to-version= is included in the package name, like:
linux-image-3.5.0-rc1-070612_3.5.0-rc1-070612-10.00.Custom_i386.deb
I use the date.

To follow the progress, open a terminal and use tail to follow or an editor to check xx if any errors have been encountered.
In case of errors, you can break the compilation, then do a make menuconfig, disable any not needed modules giving problems before starting a new compile.

If you compile the kernel on a fit-pc2 it takes 5 -6 hours and capturing the output to a file allows you to check now and then for errors or progress.

If the build succeded, go to /usr/src and you should have something like:
linux-headers-3.5.0-rc1-070612_3.5.0-rc1-070612-10.00.Custom_i386.deb
linux-image-3.5.0-rc1-070612_3.5.0-rc1-070612-10.00.Custom_i386.deb
ready to install.

As root do:
dpkg -i linux-image-3.5.0-rc1-070612_3.5.0-rc1-070612-10.00.Custom_i386.deb
dpkg -i linux-headers-3.5.0-rc1-070612_3.5.0-rc1-070612-10.00.Custom_i386.deb
and if no errors show up, the new kernel is ready and should show up in the grub menu after a reboot.

I have not done any extensive tests of the kernel, but at least wifi and usb network work.

helpy
Posts: 9
Joined: Thu Dec 15, 2011 5:08 pm

Re: Ubuntu 12.04 rc1 test

Post by helpy »

kdpcb, thank you very much! You are awesome!

Merhaba
Posts: 20
Joined: Tue Feb 09, 2010 11:40 am

Re: Ubuntu 12.04 rc1 test

Post by Merhaba »

Hi all,
did anyone test the upgrade to 12.04.1 which has been released today?
I'm a bit unsure about doing it, because I have a FitPC2 from the first batch which required a patch to the SATA driver in order to be able to access the harddisk I put into the machine.

Any hints anyone?

gabrielh
Site Admin
Posts: 1260
Joined: Thu Jun 02, 2011 1:13 pm

Re: Ubuntu 12.04 rc1 test

Post by gabrielh »

I can post, if requested, a .deb package of emgd 1.14 driver configuration files for evaluation purposes. Detailed instruction will be provided. It will come absolutely with no warranty so do it on your own risk.

The installation will downgrade xorg to 1.9 and remove compiz. Gnome classic is recommended as desktop environment.

Users feedback will be highly appreciated.

Please PM me if you are interested.
Gabriel Heifets

Fit-PC2/3/IntensePC support.

ook
Posts: 10
Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2009 2:35 am

Re: Ubuntu 12.04 rc1 test

Post by ook »

i have been running ubuntu 12.04.1 on two fit-pc2s since it came out. no problems; if anything, it is the most stable it has been.
[edit: except the screen resolution is wacky; but i run headless so i don't care]
$ uname -a
Linux yakka 3.2.0-29-generic-pae #46-Ubuntu SMP Fri Jul 27 17:25:43 UTC 2012 i686 i686 i386 GNU/Linux

Merhaba
Posts: 20
Joined: Tue Feb 09, 2010 11:40 am

Re: Ubuntu 12.04 rc1 test

Post by Merhaba »

ook wrote:i have been running ubuntu 12.04.1 on two fit-pc2s since it came out. no problems; if anything, it is the most stable it has been.
Which revision of FitPC2 do you have?
Mine is from pilot batch which has a hardware fault that can only be worked around, but I need to patch kernel source...

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