fedora linux in aspire 4520

it take a day to update fedora 8 to fedora 9.. actually, there are several way to upgrade it.
A. Download ISO fedora 9 -> burn DVD - > boot -> upgrade.
B. Update thru yum.. -> install fedora-release 9 rpm -> enter 'yum update'
C. Download ISO fedora 9 - > mount to /media/iso -> install fedora-release 9 package-> edit /etc/yum.repos.d/fedora*.repo -> change 'baseurl=file:///media/iso/' -> then upgrade by simply enter 'yum update'

i choose step C, due to limited internet access in my place and i hate use cd/dvd.. :lol:

Here is the latest kernel for fedora 9 - i change only 2 thing in configuration for this kernel release.

• CPU set to AMD K8
• 4k stack disabled

kernel-2.6.25.3-18.fedora4520.fc9.i686.rpm - Size : 17.83 megabytes
kernel-devel-2.6.25.3-18.fedora4520.fc9.i686.rpm - Size : 17.83 megabytes

ndiswrapper
* successfully run atheros AR5BXB63 -in fedora 9 detect as Ethernet controller: Atheros Communications Inc. AR242x 802.11abg Wireless PCI Express Adapter (rev 01)
kernel-module-ndiswrapper-2.6.25.3-18.fedora4520.fc9.i686-1.52-1.i386.rpm - Size : 1.06 megabytes
ndiswrapper-1.52-1.i386.rpm - Size : 32.2 kilobytes

Acer crystal Eye Webcam

kmod-uvcvideo-0.1.0-fedora4520.i686.rpm - Size : 27.7 kilobytes

[root@fedora Desktop]# dmesg | grep uvcvideo
uvcvideo: Found UVC 1.00 device Acer CrystalEye webcam (064e:a101)
usbcore: registered new interface driver uvcvideo

Notes : there are some problem with nvidia driver & kernel 2.6.25 , so i have to downgrade Xorg package and use xorg from Fedora 8 package.. how to downgrade?

i get some trouble when running fedora4520.kernel + vmware, the vmware-config.pl cannot compile vmmon module, the error messages is below, so how to solved it?, i google and found vmware patch - 116, it patch some vmmon module and it successfully compile vmware module like before.
___________________________________________________________
[root@fedorasal planet]# vmware-config.pl
Making sure services for VMware Workstation are stopped.

Stopping VMware services:
Virtual machine monitor [ OK ]
Blocking file system: [ OK ]
Bridged networking on /dev/vmnet0 [ OK ]
Host network detection [ OK ]
DHCP server on /dev/vmnet1 [ OK ]
Host-only networking on /dev/vmnet1 [ OK ]
DHCP server on /dev/vmnet8 [ OK ]
NAT service on /dev/vmnet8 [ OK ]
Host-only networking on /dev/vmnet8 [ OK ]
Virtual ethernet [ OK ]

Configuring fallback GTK+ 2.4 libraries.

In which directory do you want to install the theme icons?
[/usr/share/icons]

What directory contains your desktop menu entry files? These files have a
.desktop file extension. [/usr/share/applications]

In which directory do you want to install the application's icon?
[/usr/share/pixmaps]

Trying to find a suitable vmmon module for your running kernel.

None of the pre-built vmmon modules for VMware Workstation is suitable for your
running kernel. Do you want this program to try to build the vmmon module for
your system (you need to have a C compiler installed on your system)? [yes]

Using compiler "/usr/bin/gcc". Use environment variable CC to override.

What is the location of the directory of C header files that match your running
kernel?
[/lib/modules/2.6.24.5-85.fedora4520.fc8/build/include]

Extracting the sources of the vmmon module.

Building the vmmon module.

Using 2.6.x kernel build system.
make: Entering directory `/tmp/vmware-config2/vmmon-only'
make -C /lib/modules/2.6.24.5-85.fedora4520.fc8/build/include/.. SUBDIRS=$PWD SRCROOT=$PWD/. modules
make[1]: Entering directory `/usr/src/kernels/2.6.24.5-85.fedora4520.fc8-i686'
CC [M] /tmp/vmware-config2/vmmon-only/linux/driver.o
In file included from /tmp/vmware-config2/vmmon-only/./include/vmware.h:25,
from /tmp/vmware-config2/vmmon-only/linux/driver.c:83:
/tmp/vmware-config2/vmmon-only/./include/vm_basic_types.h:170: error: conflicting types for ‘uintptr_t’
include/linux/types.h:40: error: previous declaration of ‘uintptr_t’ was here
In file included from /tmp/vmware-config2/vmmon-only/./include/x86.h:23,
from /tmp/vmware-config2/vmmon-only/linux/driver.h:15,
from /tmp/vmware-config2/vmmon-only/linux/driver.c:84:
/tmp/vmware-config2/vmmon-only/./include/x86cpuid.h:383:1: warning: "BIT_MASK" redefined
In file included from include/linux/kernel.h:15,
from /tmp/vmware-config2/vmmon-only/linux/driver.c:11:
include/linux/bitops.h:7:1: warning: this is the location of the previous definition
In file included from /tmp/vmware-config2/vmmon-only/./include/vmci_kernel_defs.h:26,
from /tmp/vmware-config2/vmmon-only/./common/vmciContext.h:19,
from /tmp/vmware-config2/vmmon-only/linux/driver.h:21,
from /tmp/vmware-config2/vmmon-only/linux/driver.c:84:
/tmp/vmware-config2/vmmon-only/./include/compat_wait.h:37:5: warning: "VMW_HAVE_EPOLL" is not defined
/tmp/vmware-config2/vmmon-only/./include/compat_wait.h:43:5: warning: "VMW_HAVE_EPOLL" is not defined
In file included from /tmp/vmware-config2/vmmon-only/./include/vmci_kernel_defs.h:26,
from /tmp/vmware-config2/vmmon-only/./common/vmciContext.h:19,
from /tmp/vmware-config2/vmmon-only/linux/driver.h:21,
from /tmp/vmware-config2/vmmon-only/linux/driver.c:84:
/tmp/vmware-config2/vmmon-only/./include/compat_wait.h:60: error: conflicting types for ‘poll_initwait’
include/linux/poll.h:65: error: previous declaration of ‘poll_initwait’ was here
/tmp/vmware-config2/vmmon-only/linux/driver.c:198: warning: initialization from incompatible pointer type
make[2]: *** [/tmp/vmware-config2/vmmon-only/linux/driver.o] Error 1
make[1]: *** [_module_/tmp/vmware-config2/vmmon-only] Error 2
make[1]: Leaving directory `/usr/src/kernels/2.6.24.5-85.fedora4520.fc8-i686'
make: *** [vmmon.ko] Error 2
make: Leaving directory `/tmp/vmware-config2/vmmon-only'
Unable to build the vmmon module.

For more information on how to troubleshoot module-related problems, please
visit our Web site at "http://www.vmware.com/download/modules/modules.html" and
"http://www.vmware.com/support/reference/linux/prebuilt_modules_linux.html".

Execution aborted.

[root@fedorasal planet]#

i'm still downloading fedora 9 , it might take more than 24 hours to finish 3.4Gb iso DVD file.. lol,
http://fedoraproject.org/get-fedora , so, i will try to update fedora 9 as soon as possible

latest kernel for fedora 8
- features
- CPU - K8
- remove ISA bus,intel chip,
- 4k stack disabled

File: kernel-2.6.24.5-85.fedora4520.fc8.i686.rpm
Size: 12138 KB

File Name : kernel-devel-2.6.24.5-85.fedora4520.fc8.i686.rpm
Size : 5.17 megabytes

acer aspire 4520 running fedora 8 with compiz fusion. Capture with samsung mx10 memory camcorder, disable sound to save b/w.

kernel-2.6.23.15-137.fedora4520.fc8.i686
latest kernel fedora 8 especially for acer aspire 4520. optimized to K8 CPU & 4k stack disabled, you can run ndiswrapper with this kernel.

kernel-2.6.23.15-137.fedora4520.fc8.i686.rpm = md5 = d3aae254bcf059d4bcc5465ab12e4300 - 14.4Mbyte
kernel-devel-2.6.23.15-137.fedora4520.fc8.i686.rpm = md5 = 065192860e906a6147a5dbf94e7d7e9e - 5.0 Mbyte

Nvidia GeForce 7000M
download nvidia driver from nvidia linux website, pick the latest version not the latest legacy CPU .
Latest Version: 169.07 = 11.1Mbyte
1. login fedora linux as single user / exit xorg, or just enter this command as root
/sbin/init 4
2.run this file
[root@localhost download] sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-71.86.01-pkg1.run
3. follow the instructions which is given by nvidia
4. restart xorg, or start init 5
good luck :)

p/s: link update 2/4/08

kernel-2.6.23.14-115.fedora4520
latest kernel for fedora 8 in acer aspire 4520, optimized for K8 cpu & disabled 4k stack

kernel-2.6.23.14-115.fedora4520.fc8.i686.rpm md5 = 69dffea4204ed783abd6b5f4fc20ad14 size = 14.5Mbyte
kernel-devel-2.6.23.14-115.fedora4520.fc8.i686.rpm md5 = 960037bd938fa72a70c69f5467bbb3fe size = 5.0 Mbyte

p/s:link update 2april2008

(some screenshot of wicd & network applet from my desktop , yes, it come from acer aspire 4520)


this tutorial intend to fedora 8 (acer aspire 4520) with some info about setup wireless connection for atheros AR5BXB63
What you need ?
- ndiswrapper 1.52
- kernel with CONFIG_4KSTACKS disabled
- Windows XP atheros driver from acer.com.cn , pick Wireless Atheros driver

ndiswrapper
1. Download latest ndiswrapper from http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=93482
2. extract ndiswrapper-1.52.tar.gz
3. use terminal & enter to the following directory
[root@localhost ndiswrapper-1.52]# make
...

[root@localhost ndiswrapper-1.52]# make install

IF you get message like this
'*** WARNING: This kernel seems to use 4K stack size option (CONFIG_4KSTACKS); many Windows drivers will not work with this option enabled. Disable CONFIG_4KSTACKS option, recompile and install kernel' , you need to compile your own kernel or try using my own kernel in following post

[root@localhost ndiswrapper-1.52]# rm -r /etc/ndiswrapper
(this will remove any previous installation by ndiswrapper)

Wireless Atheros driver
1. download above link, extract and open terminal into the extracted folder
[root@localhost Atheros]# /usr/bin/ndiswrapper -i net5211.inf
installing net5211 ...
forcing parameter MapRegisters from 256 to 64
........

2. this will list installed driver.
[root@localhost Atheros]# /usr/sbin/ndiswrapper -l
net5211 : driver installed
device (168C:001C) present (alternate driver: ath5k)
[root@localhost Atheros]#modprobe ndiswrapper

3. try dmesg for kernel module log or ipconfig.
[root@localhost Atheros]# dmesg | grep ndiswrapper
ndiswrapper version 1.52 loaded (smp=yes, preempt=no)
ndiswrapper: driver net5211 (,11/15/2006,5.1.1.9) loaded
ndiswrapper (ZwClose:2227): closing handle 0xf66ad928 not implemented
ndiswrapper: using IRQ 18
usbcore: registered new interface driver ndiswrapper
ndiswrapper (iw_set_bitrate:442): setting bit rate failed (C0010017)
[root@localhost Atheros]#dmesg
.......
ndiswrapper version 1.52 loaded (smp=yes, preempt=no)
ndiswrapper: driver net5211 (,11/15/2006,5.1.1.9) loaded
ACPI: PCI Interrupt Link [LK3E] enabled at IRQ 18
ACPI: PCI Interrupt 0000:07:00.0[A] -> Link [LK3E] -> GSI 18 (level, low) -> IRQ 18
ndiswrapper (ZwClose:2227): closing handle 0xeaa4c928 not implemented
PCI: Setting latency timer of device 0000:07:00.0 to 64
ndiswrapper: using IRQ 18
wlan0: ethernet device 00:19:7e:c3:94:fb using serialized NDIS driver: net5211, version: 0x50001, NDIS version: 0x501, vendor: 'NDIS Network Adapter', 168C:001C.5.conf
wlan0: encryption modes supported: WEP; TKIP with WPA, WPA2, WPA2PSK; AES/CCMP with WPA, WPA2, WPA2PSK
usbcore: registered new interface driver ndiswrapper
[root@localhost Atheros]# ifconfig
eth1 Link encap:Ethernet HWaddr 00:19:24:09:34:11
inet addr:10.0.0.7 Bcast:255.255.255.255 Mask:255.255.255.0
UP BROADCAST RUNNING MULTICAST MTU:1500 Metric:1
RX packets:2039 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
TX packets:2272 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000
RX bytes:1300812 (1.2 MiB) TX bytes:358189 (349.7 KiB)
Interrupt:220 Base address:0xe000

lo Link encap:Local Loopback
inet addr:127.0.0.1 Mask:255.0.0.0
UP LOOPBACK RUNNING MTU:16436 Metric:1
RX packets:1255 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
TX packets:1255 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
collisions:0 txqueuelen:0
RX bytes:40675 (39.7 KiB) TX bytes:40675 (39.7 KiB)

wlan0 Link encap:Ethernet HWaddr 00:12:7E:D3:84:FB
UP BROADCAST MULTICAST MTU:1500 Metric:1
RX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
TX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000
RX bytes:0 (0.0 b) TX bytes:0 (0.0 b)
Interrupt:18 Memory:f4000000-f4010000
[root@localhost Atheros]#

Wireless
i use WPA2 encryption for home networking, so Network Manager can take care all of it, there might be some problem for first time connection, so to solved it, i just need to restart wpa_supplicant via terminal
[root@localhost Atheros]# /etc/init.d/wpa_supplicant restart

hope thats help.. : )

after i upgrade fedora 7 to 8 via yum, i try to compile a customization kernel to enable ndiswrapper in fedora 8. This kernel already disabled 4k stack and optimized for AMDK8 CPU , so ndiswrapper can run sucessfully in this kernel.

kernel-2.6.23.14-107.fedora4520.fc8.i686.rpm
kernel-2.6.23.14-107.fedora4520.fc8.i686.rpm (15.50Mb) -md5 = 26a1411708d6fe6bd8551034d433711f

kernel-devel-2.6.23.14-107.fedora4520.fc8.i686.rpm (5.00Mb) -md5 = ac29be06450be910a9227c61d7d5adcc

kernel-2.6.23.9-85.fedora4520.fc8.i686.rpm
kernel-2.6.23.9-85.fedora4520.fc8.i686.rpm (13.70Mb) -md5 = c4a3e7f2ef1b68e148d57ed2d3c5b06a

kernel-devel-2.6.23.9-85.fedora4520.fc8.i686.rpm (5.00Mb) -md5 = 5d3f5020b727edec023ecae3848b9b46

To install
1. rpm -i kernel-2.6.23.14-107.fedora4520.fc8.i686.rpm kernel-devel-2.6.23.14-107.fedora4520.fc8.i686.rpm

2. edit file /boot/grub/menu.lst
change default to 0

3. reboot and choose this kernel in grub menu.

notes : more info about custom kernel in fedora fedoraproject.org/wiki/Docs/CustomKernel