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Kernel 2.60-test3
I recently tried to install kernel 2.60-test3 on the acer travelmate 800. I used the kernel .config specifically tailored for the travelmate 800 by Bernd and imported all the new options (make oldconfig). This and some other changes resulted in this kernel config file. Watch out, reiserfs is disabled. Turn it on if you need it.
Kernel 2.6 contains a bunch of cool enhancements. Among them:
  • The kernel is preemtible. This brings more responsiveness to us desktop users.
  • Support for CPU scaling, like enhanced Speed Step (a feature of Centrino)
My experience with 2.60-test3 so far:
  • Some modules specifically important for the travelmate 800 have been renamed: bcm4400 (ethernet) is now called b44, and snd-intel8x0 (sound card) has become i810_audio.
  • Building was no problem at all! I was VERY surprised.
  • Somehow the touchpad can't be found (although the right file in /dev/ exists), so x crashes on startup. To circumvent this, simply make sure your usb mouse (if you use one) is configured as "CorePointer" in the "ServerLayout" section in /etc/X11/XF86Config, and that in this section the device pointing to your touchpad is commented out.
  • Hotplug service fails to correctly load (usb works though)
  • I couldn't get the console frame buffer running that is used by suse, so the boot screen needed to stay in 640x480
  • Software suspend didn't hibernate the machine. For some reason /proc/sys/kernel/swsusp is not present (no, I did not have the new sys filesystem configured).
    Solution: swsusp needs to be configured to support the /proc/acpi/sleep interface. This can be achieved by editing /etc/suspend.conf:
    SWSUSP_FORCE_SUSPEND_MODE="acpi"
    With this change, hibernate should work (some things need to be fine tuned, but generally it does work)
  • The soundcard doesn't work.
    Solution: modprobe i810_audio
  • The ethernet controller didn't work.
    Solution: modprobe b44
  • Some partitions with "auto" entries in fstab aren't mounted anymore. If I do something like "mount /c" (/c is defined in fstab), it will not mount it. I need to say "mount -t vfat /dev/hda1 /c" which will do (maybe due to "automatically mount at boot" being disabled?)
Kernel 2.6.1
To be exact, I used the gentoo sources for 2.6.1. It works quite well so far. Get my 2.6.1 kernel config here.
Kernel 2.6.7
Works nicely, with acpi patch, software suspend, and supermount (automatic mounting and umounting of removable media). Get my 2.6.7 kernel config for the acer tm 800 here.