Installing Linux on the Omnibook 4100
I didn't see an entry for this type of computer on the Linux on Laptops page, which I have found to be an excellent resource throughout this project, so I thought I should add an entry for this type of computer. I wrote this document on 17 October 2000, and while this certainly is not a state-of-the-art computer anymore, it does well. Much thanks to people such as Dave Wood and Tero Silvennoinen for their web pages on similar Omnibooks and their assistance with my inane issues.
Specifications:
You can get more specs from the HP Omnibook website.
Software:
Before you get started:
Linux wants to install on the highest numbered partitions first, and they must be contiguous partitions. Because of the nature of the hibernation partition and your other free space, I found it easiest to simply wipe the whole disk and add the hibernation partition later. If you want to keep a Win 9x partition, you must do one of the following:
In either event, you will have to reinstall the hibernation partition - usually 175 MB is good enough. There are several utilities to allow you to reinstall this partition, such as PHDISK.EXE that runs under WinDOS or Linux's lphdisk.
Actual Installation:
I was using SuSE 7.0 Personal Edition. Of all the Linux distros I have tried, I have always enjoyed SuSE's documentation and manuals the best. This 7.0 edition probably isn't ready for primetime, but nevertheless it is allowing me to type this document.
Make sure the BIOS is set to boot from your CD-ROM/DVD drive, reboot, and you will go right into the installation procedures.
If you rely heavily on docking stations/port replicators as I do, install the program with your computer UNDOCKED. More on this later.
Follow the simple installation procedures, partition your disk, choose your pre-determined package of apps or select them one at a time ("Almost Everything" will take up close to 3 GB of hard drive space), and go for it. Installation took about 45 minutes total. I found it easiest to choose "almost everything" and then later use YAST2 to remove packages you don't want.
X-Windows:
This sets up nicely within the SuSE installation routine. Choose LCD panel for your monitor, 1024*768 as your resolution, test, and it should work fine with no adjustments. Really the simplest X-installation routine I've ever seen. If you do this during the install, init.d will also automatically default to runlevel 3, which means your machine will boot to X.
Other Installation Issues:
When the installation program is almost complete, it will ask you if you want to configure printer, network, modem, and/or audio. I use a networked printer, so I can't comment heavily on it. The modem was autodetected but I didn't even look at the configuration as I almost never use it. Audio is a royal PITA - it will get its own section later. Network will tell you there is no network card detected - push the "configure" button anyway. It will again tell you after a while that there is no network card detected, but that it can do some configuration for PCMCIA cards. Add your settings (DHCP or static IP, gateway, etc.) and it should all fire up correctly on a reboot.
Audio:
Wow.
This has been the biggest pain in the ass on this computer. I tried and tried but couldn't get the OSS/Free or Alsa drivers to work on this machine. I finally gave in and downloaded the official OSS drivers. I hate to spend the $20 for a Linux project based on "freeness" and open source, but it is their code and they are entitled to do with it as they like.
Update 1 Feb 2001: There are updated drivers on SuSE's website which now supposedly allow you to get Alsa sound to work correctly with this machine. I haven't tried them, but I suspect it will be part of future distributions like the forthcoming SuSE 7.1 with the 2.4 kernel.
Docking Stations/External Video:
I have 2 mini-docking stations (the only difference I can find between the minidock and the port-replicator is 2 additional PCMCIA slots on the minidock - and $200) for this machine - one at work and one at home. I use it as a self-contained device very little. Consequently, the external video features are very important to me.
Keyboard, mouse, external audio, serial port, parallel port, and (apparently) USB all work well through the docking station. Video is also no problem if you are working solely in text mode. In X it is a little bit tricky. Fn-F5 will toggle between the video modes (internal only, external only, and both). The external video will show X with no problems, and it will show text with no problems, as will the internal display. However, the video chip doesn't do well when switching between the modes, and you have to go to another terminal (Ctrl-Alt-F2) and kill the X process or powercycle the machine. The trick to get it to work well (for me anyway) is:
and it all works well. If you logout (runlevel 3) or quit X, the video signal will automatically revert to internal only, and you will need to repeat the process to restart X.
Advanced Power Management (APM):
I haven't really gotten around to configuring APM yet, as I very seldom use the machine when it is not plugged into a power source.
Hot-Swapping Devices:
This Omnibook comes with 2 module bays. One of them will take either the battery or a weight-saving module. The other will take many devices, such as a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, LS-120 drive, floppy drive, additional hard drive, or an additional battery. Swapping between a floppy drive and any other device is no problem - unmount the device (floppy), remove it from the Omnibook, add the floppy (device), mount it, and you are good to go. The problem is when you have two devices that both want to register as hdc, such as the DVD and LS-120 drives. This has been a major sore spot for me, and the only way which I have been able to figure out how to swap between them is to reboot. If anyone figures out a way to allow hotswapping of these devices, please let me know.
Overall:
I've been messing with Linux for probably 5 years now for many different projects, but the idea of installing it on my notebook always seemed scary. This however was a relatively easy install, and despite all the problems I've had with audio, I would do it again. Linking some devices has been relatively easy (Palm Pilot, network printer at home), others have been near-impossible (USB Orb Drive, network printer at work), but I am glad to be Micro$oft-free.