Let's add support to other Samsung netbooks

drcmcs · **Joined:** 29/01/2010, 0:09 **Posts:** 2

I'm a newbie Ubuntu 9.10 user with an N120 Samsung with 2gb. I have tried to get the brightness (and other function keys) working, but have not yet installed your package. One of the things I did to try to get this working is to update the kernel to 2.6.32. The brightness keys now work but I get a flickering usually when browsing the web and the screen will flash and lock in a light or dark color - usually white or black (with the backlight on). If I hit Function & ESC it will suspend and I can hit the side button & resume where I was.

My question is whether the "backlight" package will work with the 2.6.32 version of the kernel and perhaps resolve my locking issue.

Many thanks,

divot_powell · **Joined:** 27/01/2010, 22:11 **Posts:** 1

Hi,

I've recently purchased a Samsung N510 and installed ubuntu netbook remix on it, and have been testing your packages a little, from a fresh install.

By default the wireless, the backlight controls, and many of the fn buttons do not work (and graphics has major issues until the proprietary drivers are installed but that's a different issue).

I have install samsung-wireless, samsung-scripts and samsung-backlight, along with updating any packages available in your repository on launchpad (I think all, along with any standard ubuntu packages updated).

The wireless is now working, but temperamental. It works on boot, and seems to be fine until the machine standbys at which point the wireless card disconnects and is no longer visible in the network-manager until reboot.

Most of the fn buttons still do not work:
f2 - battery symbol. Not entirely sure what this button is meant to do anyway.
f4 - external monitor button
f5 - backlight on/off button
f7 - new mail?
f8 - run?
f9 - wireless on/off button
up/down - backlight brighter/dimmer.

xev shows these keys are not registered at all.

The backlight changing works when plugging/unplugging the power cord, until the machine is put into standby at which point it goes to the lowest setting and stays that way until reboot.

Any help with these issues would be greatly appreciated. Below is result from lspci -nn, can upload other scripts if necessary. Am happy to be a tester if I can help in some way..

Code:

00.0 Host bridge [0600]: nVidia Corporation MCP79 Host Bridge [10de:0a82] (rev b1)
00.1 RAM memory [0500]: nVidia Corporation MCP79 Memory Controller [10de:0a88] (rev b1)
03.0 ISA bridge [0601]: nVidia Corporation MCP79 LPC Bridge [10de:0aae] (rev b3)
03.1 RAM memory [0500]: nVidia Corporation MCP79 Memory Controller [10de:0aa4] (rev b1)
03.2 SMBus [0c05]: nVidia Corporation MCP79 SMBus [10de:0aa2] (rev b1)
03.3 RAM memory [0500]: nVidia Corporation MCP79 Memory Controller [10de:0a89] (rev b1)
03.5 Co-processor [0b40]: nVidia Corporation MCP79 Co-processor [10de:0aa3] (rev b1)
04.0 USB Controller [0c03]: nVidia Corporation MCP79 OHCI USB 1.1 Controller [10de:0aa5] (rev b1)
04.1 USB Controller [0c03]: nVidia Corporation MCP79 EHCI USB 2.0 Controller [10de:0aa6] (rev b1)
06.0 USB Controller [0c03]: nVidia Corporation MCP79 OHCI USB 1.1 Controller [10de:0aa7] (rev b1)
06.1 USB Controller [0c03]: nVidia Corporation MCP79 EHCI USB 2.0 Controller [10de:0aa9] (rev b1)
08.0 Audio device [0403]: nVidia Corporation MCP79 High Definition Audio [10de:0ac0] (rev b1)
09.0 PCI bridge [0604]: nVidia Corporation MCP79 PCI Bridge [10de:0aab] (rev b1)
0b.0 IDE interface [0101]: nVidia Corporation MCP79 SATA Controller [10de:0ab5] (rev b1)
10.0 PCI bridge [0604]: nVidia Corporation MCP79 PCI Express Bridge [10de:0aa0] (rev b1)
15.0 PCI bridge [0604]: nVidia Corporation MCP79 PCI Express Bridge [10de:0ac6] (rev b1)
16.0 PCI bridge [0604]: nVidia Corporation MCP79 PCI Express Bridge [10de:0ac7] (rev b1)
17.0 PCI bridge [0604]: nVidia Corporation MCP79 PCI Express Bridge [10de:0ac7] (rev b1)
00.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: nVidia Corporation C79 [Quadro FX 470M] [10de:087f] (rev b1)
00.0 Network controller [0280]: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. Device [10ec:8192] (rev 01)
00.0 Ethernet controller [0200]: Marvell Technology Group Ltd. 88E8040 PCI-E Fast Ethernet Controller [11ab:4354] (rev 13)

oait · **Joined:** 01/02/2010, 15:13 **Posts:** 1

Also have N510 but wireless doesn't work at all, other than that same experience as divot above. Am I missing a step?

Any help I can provide in making for smooth working on the N510 will be provided

wrappedinmetal · **Posted:** 01/02/2010, 16:06

Hi all, I have a N310 and am willing to try just about any thing to get Linux to work on my netbook. first though I need to update the BIOS, problem is the Samsung Canada site has a bum file for the netbook. Window$ says it is an invalid .exe, funny eh.

Julian2010 · **Joined:** 01/02/2010, 22:08 **Posts:** 50

hello, I'm new here...
I have a N510 netbook with some hardware changes (2GB RAM & 320 Go Drive).
I installed Ubuntu 9.10 from a Canonical CD( actually updated to 2.6.31-17 kernel) with a double boot Ubuntu or WindowsXP via the grub (GRUB2).
The WIFI did not work at all.
I solved the problem using ndiswrapper (I refered to Ubuntu on line french documentation) and the WinXP pilot (from the SAMSUNG CD that came with the machine) for the Realtek8192E WIFI card.Now the WIFI link works fine.
I hope this method could help some people to have their WIFI link work OK, as it is not too difficult (I'm a newbie to Linux..).
Unsolved problems at this time:
-brightness: The Fn / up and down brightness do not work (expected from what I read about the misconception of SAMSUNG keyboard management).
-the brightness applet does not change anything to brightness.
-I adjust the brightness through the NVIDIA settings control panel, but it is a little rude method...as the contrast has also to be modified to get a correct image.
I would of course prefer using the ad-hoc Fn keys...
I will read carefully all the posts about the Fn issues before testing anything, but I have already a question for the Administrator:
If I try a new kernel from your repository, shall I have after that to reinstall some things (like the NVIDIA proprietary pilot, the WIFI again, other things?).
My post is already too long, but I can give later on more details about the FN keys that do not work (and those who work..there are some!) to help solve the remaining issues.
Thanks a lot for what you are doing for us.

wrappedinmetal · **Posted:** 02/02/2010, 17:22

the wireless is not working even after installing the samsung-wireless packages, and ndiswrapper says that the driver net819xp is invalid.
Help please...

the fn buttons are working though.

wrappedinmetal · **Posted:** 03/02/2010, 1:30

SUCCESS I managed to get the wireless working on my n310 buy using the current version of ndiswrapper, also all the function buttons work thanks to the packages that Fortunato Ventre made, you rock dude

It works, no more Window$ 7

drcmcs · **Joined:** 29/01/2010, 0:09 **Posts:** 2

drcmcs wrote:

I'm a newbie Ubuntu 9.10 user with an N120 Samsung with 2gb. I have tried to get the brightness (and other function keys) working, but have not yet installed your package. One of the things I did to try to get this working is to update the kernel to 2.6.32. The brightness keys now work but I get a flickering usually when browsing the web and the screen will flash and lock in a light or dark color - usually white or black (with the backlight on). If I hit Function & ESC it will suspend and I can hit the side button & resume where I was.

My question is whether the "backlight" package will work with the 2.6.32 version of the kernel and perhaps resolve my locking issue.

Many thanks,

voRia · **Posted:** 03/02/2010, 23:02

There is no need to quote your message, I do read all of them, I'm just out of free time in this period so I can't answer as fast as the usual.

Anyway, your problem is caused by the fact that some of the FN keys are not released once they are used, and they get stuck. It's a very well known problem on all the samsung netbooks, it can be fixed by applying a patch to kernel 2.6.31, or by using the 2.6.32 kernel and by manually setting the keys that need to be force-released.
I provide a patched 2.6.31 kernel on my repository that fixes the problem. Just add my repository and perform a system update.

Concerning the backlight package provided on my repository, it's for the latest official ubuntu kernel only (at the moment, 2.6.31-17), it does not work with other kernel versions.
Anyway, as I said above, your locking issue is related to FN keys mis-behaviour, so the backlight package would not do any difference.

voRia · **Posted:** 03/02/2010, 23:32

divot_powell wrote:

The wireless is now working, but temperamental. It works on boot, and seems to be fine until the machine standbys at which point the wireless card disconnects and is no longer visible in the network-manager until reboot.

Is the realtek kernel module loaded after the resume?
Check with lsmod, the module is called 'r8192e_pci'.

divot_powell wrote:

Most of the fn buttons still do not work:
f2 - battery symbol. Not entirely sure what this button is meant to do anyway.
f4 - external monitor button
f5 - backlight on/off button
f7 - new mail?
f8 - run?
f9 - wireless on/off button
up/down - backlight brighter/dimmer.

xev shows these keys are not registered at all.

First of all the FN keys need to be mapped by udev, so that they can be then used in some way. Edit the file '/lib/udev/rules.d/95-keymap.rules', move to the line regarding samsung models (search for 'NC10' to find it), then add your model to the list.
So, the line:

Code:

ENV{DMI_VENDOR}=="[sS][aA][mM][sS][uU][nN][gG]*", ATTR{[dmi/id]product_name}=="*NC10*|*NC20*|*N120*|*N130*|...

becomes:

Code:

ENV{DMI_VENDOR}=="[sS][aA][mM][sS][uU][nN][gG]*", ATTR{[dmi/id]product_name}=="*NC10*|*NC20*|*N120*|*N130*|*N510*|...

Once done, reboot and check if the scripts work and/or if xev recognizes the keys.

divot_powell wrote:

The backlight changing works when plugging/unplugging the power cord, until the machine is put into standby at which point it goes to the lowest setting and stays that way until reboot.

The 'samsung-backlight' installs a kernel module which enables backlight control only on netbooks with intel video card.
I'm sorry but I'm unable to help you on this, because the N510 is very different from other netbooks, it has a nvidia card and I really don't know how to fix this.
Anyway, take a look at this thread, maybe some other user can help you.

voRia · **Posted:** 03/02/2010, 23:36

oait wrote:

Also have N510 but wireless doesn't work at all, other than that same experience as divot above. Am I missing a step?

Install the 'samsung-wireless' package, and make sure to use the kernel version 2.6.31-17 (the package works for this kernel version only, which is the latest official kernel from ubuntu).
If the card is not yet recognized, try to manually load the driver with the command:

Code:

sudo modprobe r8192e_pci

voRia · **Posted:** 03/02/2010, 23:52

Julian2010 wrote:

Unsolved problems at this time:
-brightness: The Fn / up and down brightness do not work (expected from what I read about the misconception of SAMSUNG keyboard management).
-the brightness applet does not change anything to brightness.
-I adjust the brightness through the NVIDIA settings control panel, but it is a little rude method...as the contrast has also to be modified to get a correct image.
I would of course prefer using the ad-hoc Fn keys...

As I already said to divot_powell, it's hard for me to give an help about problems on a netbook with such a so different hardware than my NC10.
All I can do is to link you to the thread where other N510 users were discussing about it.
I linked it in the answer to divot_powell, and I propose it again here:
Gentoo on Samsung N510

Julian2010 wrote:

If I try a new kernel from your repository, shall I have after that to reinstall some things (like the NVIDIA proprietary pilot, the WIFI again, other things?).

Usually, no.
On ubuntu, the kernel modules are automatically managed by the 'dkms' package: its job is to install/update kernel modules as needed in a fully automated way.

Julian2010 · **Joined:** 01/02/2010, 22:08 **Posts:** 50

Thank you for your answers.
I looked carefully the link you proposed for the N510 and the other ones (in a chain) this refrers to.
It ends with someone successfully having its Fn keys working on a ....N360, following an advice on another forum refering to...your own site!
So the link seems ending in an empty loop for the N510, but maybe I missed something.
I understand that the NC10, N120,N130,N140 and N360 are a same "family", and the N510 a quite different one.
I see your point as regards the ION graphics, but for the Fn issues (some non recognized, and no key-release event) where is the difference?It seems from what I read that the same Fn keys work or do not work on every SAMSUNG netbook.
Sorry if I ask too silly and/or "too logical" questions, they come from a newbie...
From what I read here, you released a kernel including a patch for the Fn_key_release problem.Is this kernel specific for the NC10 "family" or might it be used for other SAMSUNG netbooks like the N510?If "yes", what should be the next step to recognize the non-working keys and having them do what they should do?
Indeed, the only thing I need at this time is the Fn brightness UP/DOWN, as WIFI is already OK (through ndiswrapper),and WIFI ON/OFF is available from the menu WIFI icon.
Thank you for your help.

voRia · **Posted:** 05/02/2010, 15:26

Julian2010 wrote:

I see your point as regards the ION graphics, but for the Fn issues (some non recognized, and no key-release event) where is the difference?It seems from what I read that the same Fn keys work or do not work on every SAMSUNG netbook.
...
From what I read here, you released a kernel including a patch for the Fn_key_release problem.Is this kernel specific for the NC10 "family" or might it be used for other SAMSUNG netbooks like the N510?If "yes", what should be the next step to recognize the non-working keys and having them do what they should do?

At the moment, my kernel fixes the FN keys release on Samsung N120, N130, N140, N310, X120.
I can easily add support for other netbooks if needed, but I want to be sure it's really needed.
First of all edit the file '/lib/udev/rules.d/95-keymap.rules' as I explained to divot_powell some posts above, in order to let udev to enable the keys, and reboot.
Then check if they are recognized by 'xev' and their behavior. If they get stuck when used, then the patch is needed and I will add it to the kernel on the repository.

Julian2010 wrote:

Indeed, the only thing I need at this time is the Fn brightness UP/DOWN, as WIFI is already OK (through ndiswrapper),and WIFI ON/OFF is available from the menu WIFI icon.
Thank you for your help.

Well, if the FN keys start to work, most of them (if not all of them) should work good with my 'samsung-scripts' package.

voRia · **Posted:** 05/02/2010, 15:32

Mmm, looking at this thread on the archlinux forum, it seems the patch is needed for N510 too.
Well ok, I'm going to add new kernel and udev packages on the repository with fixes added.

Let's add support to other Samsung netbooks

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