Slackware Linux Installation on the CTX EzBook 700 |
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Copyright © 2005,2009 by
Zack Smith
All rights reserved. 0. IntroductionThis page describes how to install Slackware Linux 10 on the CTX EzBook 700. I installed it on this system in order to use it as a web server, which it is a fitting purpose for this older laptop. To use this laptop for more common desktop purposes it would be a good idea to upgrade the RAM to the maximum and to install a more modern (faster) hard drive.1. InstallationThe best way to install Slackware Linux 10 is to use the first Slackware 10 CDROM.
My drive is only 2 gigs but after a near-full install sans Gnome, KDE and TeX, I still have 500 megs free. 2. System ProfileThe files/proc/cpuinfo and
/proc/meminfo, and the utility
hdparm collectively inform me that my system has the following
profile:
Pentium MMX 200 MHz, stepping 3 Cache : unknown FPU Bogomips 400 Memory: 24 megs Hard drive: original 2 gigs 3. Drivers3.1. VideoThe utilitylspci
reports that the EzBook 700 has the Neomagic Corporation NM2160 [MagicGraph 128XD].
3.1.1. X WindowsThe Xfree86 included with Slackware 10 includes acceleration for the 128XD. Run "xorgconfig" to specify the video card as "neomagic".3.1.2. FramebufferThe VESA driver works in 16 bits per pixel mode (in the LILO config file, use vga=789).3.2. SoundThe audio chip appears to be an ISA-based SoundBlaster 16 compatible. There is no PCI based audio.Run alsaconfig to automatically detect it as a legacy card and set it up. mpg321 works great. 3.3. APM3.4. USBThere's no USB port.3.5. Printing via lp0-not tested-3.6. FloppyWorks fine.3.6. PCMCIAThe PCMCIA bridge is an Omega Micro Inc. 82C092G (rev 02) and it works fine with my 16 bit Ethernet controller.4. Performance4.1. Video4.1.1. X WindowsIn 24bpp mode, opaque window motion is jerky, but jump-scrolling in the Xterm is fast enough.Because X is a bloated resource hog, on my system which has only 24 megs of RAM the usability of X is merely so-so. For speed and to reduce X's memory usage, I suggest using 16bpp. 4.1.2. FramebufferFramebuffer performance is in line with what you would expect of a 200 MHz processor with a PCI bus.4.1.3. MoviesThe EzBook 700 has a passive display so movies aren't practical except on an external monitor. However the Xine player is included with Slackware 10. I haven't tried it.4.2. Hard driveI am using the standard 2GB hard drive, which is a Toshiba MK2104MAV according tohdparm.
My drive does not appear
to have working DMA.
I have not bothered trying to upgrade to a bigger drive.
% hdparm -T /dev/hda /dev/hda: Timing buffer-cache reads: 156 MB in 2.02 seconds = 77.23 MB/sec [ respectable ] % hdparm -t /dev/hda /dev/hda: Timing buffered disk reads: 16 MB in 3.10 seconds = 5.16 MB/sec [ slow ]It's always good to have these in your /etc/rc.d/rc.0 : /usr/sbin/hdparm -f /dev/hda [flush the hard drive cache] /usr/sbin/hdparm -S 1 /dev/hda [get it to spin down ASAP] 4.3. ProcessorRunning the BYTE drystone 2 test which is at anime.net/~goemon. I get an index of 11.7.4.4. Memory BandwidthTo ascertain memory performance, I wrote a utility called "bandwidth". You can see the results of testing this laptop here.5. Power UsageUsing my Kill-A-Watt meter, I have determined that:
6. ManualI haven't needed it.Links
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