Ubuntu 9.04 Installation and Configuration on Eee PC 900HA

This is the second diary of Asus Eee PC 900HA Netbook Use Summary diaries series, the previous is: Asus Eee PC 1.6 Linux Use summary, and the next will be: Windows xp on Eee PC 900HA.

Ubuntu Desktop Edition is a very good one as one Linux desktop OS is going to be another choice of desktop OS. I think, the Ubuntu has reached the best status of A Linux desktop distribute can reach. I have tried Ubuntu 9.04 Desktop Edition, and I am using Ubuntu 9.04 Netbook Remix now. Ubuntu 9.04 Netbook Remix is a customized for netbook. Some topics will described here, include: system installation (installation with iso file in harddisk and installation with USB flash driver an assist tool); install customized EeePC kernel and active Fn function keys in EeePC; Network configuration, include configuration of WIFI wireless, 3G, mobile phone and ADSL, etc..

1, Installation

For Ubuntu 9.04 Desktop Edition, the most simplest way is burning a CDROM with the downloaded ISO file ubuntu-9.04-desktop-i386.iso, then install it with extra USB CD drive; And, we can install it with the iso file in harddisk, see: 硬盘安装ubuntu8.10个人心得及过程, the most important places is release the lock of the partitions the iso file and activated swap partitions in them. so when you start partitioning, you need open another console terminal and perform command ” sudo umount -l /isodevice ” and de-activate the swap partiton in partition program; And, in order to install it without locked partition which iso file is in, we can also copy the iso file into a USB Flash Disk and rename the iso file in harddisk to perform installation, see: Ubuntu各种版本U盘安装简明教程(不能光盘安装和安装时不能分区的必看); Additionally, there is another way which I adopted is make a USB Linux ( http://www.learndiary.com/en/usblinux ), edit the grub boot menu file “menu.lst”, then copy the related files into USB Flash Drive. Then, set computer boot from USB Flash Drive in BIOS to start installation. In this way, it is no need to modify boot file and install boot software into harddisk for me to install Ubuntu 9.04 Desktop Editition.

For Ubuntu 9.04 Netbook Remix, the method I used must use a USB Flash Drive with size larger than 1G. download ubuntu-9.04-netbook-remix-i386.img, then follow the instructions in page: Installation from img files write the img file into USB Flash Drive, the method I used is perform “sudo dd if=ubuntu-9.04-netbook-remix-i386.img of=/dev/sdb bs=1M” to make a bootable USB Flash Drive. Note, the device be written is “/dev/sdb”, isn’t one of its partition such as “/dev/sdb1”, the img file path and device name of USB Flash Drive maybe different from mine. Then set computer boot from USB Flash Drive in BIOS, boot compter to start installation. Infact, this USB Flash Drive is just a USB Ubuntu Linux( http://www.learndiary.com/en/usblinux ), you can use it as mobile OS. But, if you want it be used more comfortable, such as language localization and coustomize softwares, some DIY needed.

The detail of installation please do some searchings on internet.

The steps belows should can be shared by Desktop and Netbook Remix editition. According to my experience, there GUI are different, it is said Netbook Remix’s GUI is better in a small screen netbook, but you also can switch to classics GUI (just like me). Additionally, it seems need less RAMs (I am not too sure).

2, Add customized kernel for Eee PC and activate Fn Function keys of Eee PC

It is said it is necessary to add a customized kernel to use all the Fn function keys, I did this with the instruction from this article: Updated: Ubuntu 9.04 on the Asus Eee Pc 1000H with ACPI and WiFi/Wlan working. Below is some key part in that article.

First, add the apt source for the kernel into system, then install customized “linux-netbook-eeepc”:

$ sudo -s
# echo "deb http://www.array.org/ubuntu jaunty main" > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/array-jaunty.list
# wget http://www.array.org/ubuntu/array-apt-key.asc
# apt-key add array-apt-key.asc
# aptitude update
# aptitude install linux-netbook-eeepc
# exit
$


Then, install a customized ACPI script to activate all the Fn function keys. Download EEEASY SCRIPTS then install it like below:

tar xzvf Jaunty_Eeeasy-Scripts.tar.gz (extract file)
cd Jaunty_Eeeasy-Scripts (enter extracted folder)
sudo ./acpi-scripts.sh install (install)


At last, in order to activate pciehp, make “Fn + F2” which toggle WIFI function to work, append at the end of kernel parameter line of file “/boot/grub/menu.lst” with ” pciehp.pciehp_force=1 pciehp.pciehp_poll_mode=1 “, like below:


title Ubuntu jaunty (development branch), kernel 2.6.28-8-netbook-eeepc
uuid 978d9a41-90b5-43ba-a434-4d6ac3e44bea
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-8-netbook-eeepc root=UUID=978d9a41-90b5-43ba-a434-4d6ac3e44bea ro quiet splash pciehp.pciehp_force=1 pciehp.pciehp_poll_mode=1
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-8-netbook-eeepc
quiet


3, Network configuration

Ubuntu 9.04 has the good support for network, I use the default “Network Manager” under Gnome, it should be there when the installation done if I haven’t missed. If it is in your system, please check if packages “network-manager-gnome” and “network-manager-gnome” installed, maybe need check other packages additionally.

Right click that little computer icon of network manager at the top-right in a classics GUI, click “edit connection”, a network configuration GUI will appear. Click “add” to configure the network connection you need.

The configuration of local network I skip it, and the “VPN” I haven’t used, so skip it too.

1, Wifi connection:

If your Fn function keys work, toggle wifi on with press “Fn + F2”, a indicator blue light will turn on. The system will search wifi network connection around, if you find a public connection available without password, left click that little computer icon then select this wifi connection you will get into network. You need right click and edit that wifi connection if it need password to connect.

2, 3G and Mobile phone GPRS connection

The configuration of 3G network cart see: 3G上网卡使用经验（收集贴）. I have tried Huawei EC1260 3G card, it’s easy to configure in Ubuntu 9.04, plug it into a USB port, a CDMA connection configuraion dialogue will appear automatically, edit this connection with parameters like this: username: ctnet@mycdma.cn, password: vnet.mobi, dial code: #777. Save it, that’s ok. The same for EC226. Note, this configuration is in China.

It is easy to set network connection with mobile phone GPRS connection, connect phone to a USB port by USB data wire, it will work automatically (I’m not too sure now). Then left click that little computer icon to choice that connection, it’s ok.

3, ADSL connection

Commonly, right click that little computer icon to add an ADSL connection in ADSL page, just fill the username and password it sould work. Maybe, it need you connect more than once. It is said turn off some authentication methods of “configuration methods” in “PPP configuration” will make it work well, but I haven’t confirm it yet.

Ok, stop here about installation and configuration of Ubuntu 9.04 on Asus Eee PC 900HA. Welcome your criticize, advice and communication.

The next will be: Windows xp on Eee PC 900HA.