Linux HowTo: Ubuntu on Laptop - Some Tips

Now that you considered installing Ubuntu on your laptop, before you proceed, here are some tips you may find useful:


-the best way to test a laptop compatibility with Linux is liveCD.
-drivers included with linux kernel, whether embedded or loaded modules are opensource.
-Ubuntu linux adds to linux kernel by including restricted drivers which are not opensource.
-the availability and updates of restricted drivers is dependent on the h/w manufacturer.
-the most reliable source of h/w docu for linux is tldp.

-hal    - the communication layer bet os and h/w. runs as daemon hald.
-udev    - device manager for conn devices in hal.
-lshal    - shows full list of detected h/w

-kernel modules - external pluggable drivers for kernel.
-/etc/modules    - kernel moldules list
-lsmod        - list current modules
-modprobe    - probe and load modules
-depmode    - shows dependencies of modules
-eg:    # lsmod
    # modprobe usb3945        - usb module probe
    # depmode  usb3945        - show dependencies

-acpi and apm    - two basic power mgmt standards that put linux in control of power mgmt
-apm cmds:   
    # apt-get install apmd
    # apmd                -show apmd stat, req kernel supp
-one of the problems with acpi is different power events configured by diff h/w makers.
-acpi config file:    /etc/default/acpid
-acpi log file     :    /var/log/acpid
-acpi does more than just power mgmt. it can control events like brightness, zoom, n/w events etc.
-to verify, ls /etc/acpi/events
-acpi power state msgs show as 'S' states in /var/log/dmesg
-eg:    # grep S0 /var/log/dmesg        -S0 being the default normal state.

-useful cmds for hardware mgmt - smartctl and hdparm
-smartctl -    disk related info
-hdparm      -    control of disk drives
-lsusb      -    usb drive info
-iwconfig -    wireless device config info