Linux RedHat 7.0 on Notebook:
IBM ThinkPad A20p Model 2629-6SG

This document provides a description of the installation and configuration of Linux RedHat 7.0 on an IBM ThinkPad A20p notebook computer. It can serve as a guide for setting up your own A20p system, a reference for setting up aspects of other machines with similar hardware.

2. Introduction

The ThinkPad as I ordered it came with the following specifications:

CPU: Intel Pentium III 700Mhz SpeedStep Technology
RAM: 128MB SDRAM
Storage: 17.0 GB
Display: 15.0" TFT (1400x1050)
CDROM: Internal 6xDVD Typ Matshita SR-8174 RPC-2
Floppy: Internal NEC
Sound: Crystal SoundFusion PCI Audio
Modem: Xircom MPCI+Modem 56 WinGlobal
LAN: Intel PRO/100+ MiniPCI
Keyboard: 80-key
Pointer: TrackPoint w/ 3 buttons
PC Slot: two Type I or Type II, or one Type III
Interfaces: Serial, Parallel, Monitor, S-Video, USB, IR
Size: 12.97" x 10.66" x 1.69"
Battery: Li-Ion 58 Wh, 10.80 V (Panasonic)

3. Installation

If you have more hints, write me !

The ThinkPad came with Windows98SE installed, and though I tend towards the extreme side of Linux zealotry I decided to leave the beast installed for the time being so I could watch DVD's and use the Hibernation. For all Partitioning issuses i dicided to use PartitionMagic 5.0x from DOS. So I shrank the Windows partition down:

WIN98 - 4 GB
/ - 12,7 GB
/boot 128 MB
swap - 128 MB

I installed RedHat 7.0 with normal install. Pick up all the RH7 updates (there are already lots) and security patches.

4. PCMCIA

Installation of PCMCIA Drivers done (autodetect) and running. (Except running with loadlin from WIN98! Then you will not be able to load the PCMCIA Module!)

5. Xwindows

The A20p uses the ATI Mobility 128 AGP video card. X is "auto" configured to ATI rage 128 (r128_drv.o) but the XF86Config is a mess. Use the following XF86Config file. Copy the file to /etc/X11/XF86Config-4.
Replace the r128_drv.o for better performance. Copy the module to /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/drivers/ . (Do not enable DRI!)

6. Sound

The A20p comes with a Crystal SoundFusion PCI soundcard. Use RH7's 'sndconfig', setting up OSS sound modules. ALSA did not work; not from warm boot, not from cold boot, not in the rain nor in a train...
First you must disable "PCI Bus Power Mgmt" in BIOS menu. Push [F1] at startup, and disable <Config> - <Power> - <PCI Bus Power Management> (last entry, scroll down!). Otherwise you are unable to play files using PCM.

More hints you find here from Alan Shutko.

7. Modem

Tha A20p includes a Xircom Modem MPCICard with PartNO: MPCI3A56GSP-100PA. This device works great with the Lucent WinModemDriver. Just download the file, unpack with unzip and start ./ltinst. If its not able to find the devicelink, remove the module by ./ltuninst and redo ./ltinst.You have to load the module with "insmod -f".
A more stable version (5.78d) of the lucent driver, you will find here.

8. USB

I have not yet had a chance to test the USB port, as I have no USB devices. If anyone has info on this, let me know and I'll update this site.

9. APM

Apm is giving a correct load of my battery. apm -s working very well. For wakeup use [Fn] and when see garbage on the screen just move the mouse a little bit, and the desktop is ready again! Hibarnation with running X-Server will result in unusable X-Desktop after resume!
Add the following code to 'ifdown eth0' and then 'ifup eth0' in /etc/sysconfig/apm-scripts/apmcontinue on suspend-resume, else net connection not comming back.

--- cut ---
case "$1" in
    suspend)
        ifconfig eth0 down
        ;;
    resume)
        /sbin/ifconfig eth0 up
        /sbin/pump -i eth0
        ;;
esac
--- cut ---

10. Intel Ethernet Pro/100+ MiniPCI

The kernel and the module for Intel Pro/100+ working ok (Module eepro100 autodetected!).

11. Appendix A: Files

XF86Config for XFree86 4.0.1
XF86Config for XFree86 3.3.6 FBDev
ALSA source code

Linux RedHat 7.0 on Notebook: IBM ThinkPad A20p Model 2629-6SG