My Dell Mini 9 Hardware Profile

I've listed my Dell Mini 9 hardware profile below. If you are wondering my something has worked for me and not for you you can always check to see if we have the same hardware. Just type the blue commands in a terminal and check the output.

Hardware Profile
red@red-mini:~$ lspci -vnn
00:00.0 Host bridge [0600]: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GME Express Memory Controller Hub [8086:27ac] (rev 03)
Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:02b0]
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
Capabilities:
Kernel driver in use: agpgart-intel
Kernel modules: intel-agp

00:02.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GME Express Integrated Graphics Controller [8086:27ae] (rev 03)
Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:02b0]
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 16
Memory at f0000000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=512K]
I/O ports at 1800 [size=8]
Memory at d0000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=256M]
Memory at f0300000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=256K]
Capabilities:
Kernel modules: intelfb

00:02.1 Display controller [0380]: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS/GME, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller [8086:27a6] (rev 03)
Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:02b0]
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
Memory at f0080000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=512K]
Capabilities:

00:1b.0 Audio device [0403]: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) High Definition Audio Controller [8086:27d8] (rev 02)
Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:02b0]
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 22
Memory at f0540000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16K]
Capabilities:
Kernel driver in use: HDA Intel
Kernel modules: snd-hda-intel

00:1c.0 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 1 [8086:27d0] (rev 02)
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
Bus: primary=00, secondary=02, subordinate=02, sec-latency=0
Memory behind bridge: f0100000-f01fffff
Prefetchable memory behind bridge: 0000000088000000-00000000880fffff
Capabilities:
Kernel driver in use: pcieport-driver
Kernel modules: shpchp

00:1c.1 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 2 [8086:27d2] (rev 02)
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
Bus: primary=00, secondary=03, subordinate=03, sec-latency=0
Memory behind bridge: f0200000-f02fffff
Capabilities:
Kernel driver in use: pcieport-driver
Kernel modules: shpchp

00:1c.2 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 3 [8086:27d4] (rev 02)
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
Bus: primary=00, secondary=04, subordinate=04, sec-latency=0
I/O behind bridge: 00002000-00002fff
Memory behind bridge: 88100000-881fffff
Prefetchable memory behind bridge: 00000000f0600000-00000000f06fffff
Capabilities:
Kernel driver in use: pcieport-driver
Kernel modules: shpchp

00:1d.0 USB Controller [0c03]: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #1 [8086:27c8] (rev 02)
Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:02b0]
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 23
I/O ports at 1820 [size=32]
Kernel driver in use: uhci_hcd

00:1d.1 USB Controller [0c03]: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #2 [8086:27c9] (rev 02)
Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:02b0]
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 19
I/O ports at 1840 [size=32]
Kernel driver in use: uhci_hcd

00:1d.2 USB Controller [0c03]: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #3 [8086:27ca] (rev 02)
Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:02b0]
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 18
I/O ports at 1860 [size=32]
Kernel driver in use: uhci_hcd

00:1d.3 USB Controller [0c03]: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #4 [8086:27cb] (rev 02)
Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:02b0]
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 16
I/O ports at 1880 [size=32]
Kernel driver in use: uhci_hcd

00:1d.7 USB Controller [0c03]: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller [8086:27cc] (rev 02) (prog-if 20)
Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:02b0]
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 23
Memory at f0544000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=1K]
Capabilities:
Kernel driver in use: ehci_hcd

00:1e.0 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge [8086:2448] (rev e2) (prog-if 01)
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
Bus: primary=00, secondary=05, subordinate=05, sec-latency=32
Capabilities:

00:1f.0 ISA bridge [0601]: Intel Corporation 82801GBM (ICH7-M) LPC Interface Bridge [8086:27b9] (rev 02)
Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:02b0]
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0
Capabilities:
Kernel modules: iTCO_wdt, intel-rng

00:1f.1 IDE interface [0101]: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) IDE Controller [8086:27df] (rev 02) (prog-if 8a [Master SecP PriP])
Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:02b0]
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 19
I/O ports at 01f0 [size=8]
I/O ports at 03f4 [size=1]
I/O ports at 0170 [size=8]
I/O ports at 0374 [size=1]
I/O ports at 1810 [size=16]
Kernel driver in use: ata_piix

00:1f.3 SMBus [0c05]: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) SMBus Controller [8086:27da] (rev 02)
Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:02b0]
Flags: medium devsel, IRQ 10
I/O ports at 18a0 [size=32]
Kernel modules: i2c-i801

02:00.0 System peripheral [0880]: JMicron Technologies, Inc. SD/MMC Host Controller [197b:2382]
Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:02b0]
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 16
Memory at f0100000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=256]
[virtual] Expansion ROM at 88000000 [disabled] [size=64K]
Capabilities:
Kernel driver in use: sdhci-pci
Kernel modules: sdhci-pci

02:00.2 SD Host controller [0805]: JMicron Technologies, Inc. Standard SD Host Controller [197b:2381] (prog-if 01)
Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:02b0]
Flags: fast devsel, IRQ 16
Memory at f0100400 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=256]
Capabilities:
Kernel modules: sdhci-pci

02:00.3 System peripheral [0880]: JMicron Technologies, Inc. MS Host Controller [197b:2383]
Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:02b0]
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 7
Memory at f0100800 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=256]
Capabilities:

03:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Broadcom Corporation BCM4312 802.11b/g [14e4:4315] (rev 01)
Subsystem: Broadcom Corporation Device [14e4:04b5]
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 17
Memory at f0200000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16K]
Capabilities:
Kernel driver in use: wl
Kernel modules: wl

04:00.0 Ethernet controller [0200]: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8101E/RTL8102E PCI Express Fast Ethernet controller [10ec:8136] (rev 02)
Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:02b0]
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 2300
I/O ports at 2000 [size=256]
Memory at f0610000 (64-bit, prefetchable) [size=4K]
Memory at f0600000 (64-bit, prefetchable) [size=64K]
[virtual] Expansion ROM at f0620000 [disabled] [size=128K]
Capabilities:
Kernel driver in use: r8169
Kernel modules: r8169


Broadcom Wireless Card Profile
red@red-mini:~$ sudo lshw -C network
[sudo] password for red:
*-network
description: Wireless interface
product: BCM4312 802.11b/g
vendor: Broadcom Corporation
physical id: 0
bus info: pci@0000:03:00.0
logical name: eth1
version: 01
serial: 00:23:08:1c:d9:71
width: 64 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm msi pciexpress bus_master cap_list ethernet physical wireless
configuration: broadcast=yes driver=wl0 driverversion=5.10.79.10 ip=192.168.1.143 latency=0 module=wl multicast=yes wireless=IEEE 802.11bg
*-network
description: Ethernet interface
product: RTL8101E/RTL8102E PCI Express Fast Ethernet controller
vendor: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
physical id: 0
bus info: pci@0000:04:00.0
logical name: eth0
version: 02
serial: 00:21:70:ba:fd:90
size: 10MB/s
capacity: 100MB/s
width: 64 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm msi pciexpress msix vpd bus_master cap_list ethernet physical tp mii 10bt 10bt-fd 100bt 100bt-fd autonegotiation
configuration: autonegotiation=on broadcast=yes driver=r8169 driverversion=2.3LK-NAPI duplex=half latency=0 link=no module=r8169 multicast=yes port=MII speed=10MB/s
*-network DISABLED
description: Ethernet interface
physical id: 2
logical name: pan0
serial: f2:ad:88:33:40:e2
capabilities: ethernet physical
configuration: broadcast=yes driver=bridge driverversion=2.3 firmware=N/A link=yes multicast=yes

Hope this helps.

Have a question or problem that this article doesn't cover? Ask our Ubuntu Mini 9 Google Group for help.

Screenshot Tour: Installing Ubuntu 9.04 on the Dell Mini 9

I installed UNR USB 9.04 Beta Image for this guide. Installing Ubuntu 9.04 Beta i386 works exactly the same. You can read my overview of of Ubuntu 9.04 Jaunty Jackalope Beta here.

Installing Ubuntu 9.04


Language Selection


Selecting Keyboard Layout


Starting the Partitioner



- I chose to manually specify partitions and setup Ubuntu with a separate / and /home partition.


Preparing Partitions

- I had previously installed Ubuntu 8.10 on my Mini 9.


Creating a / Partition

- I chose to give my /root partition 5GB for my Ubuntu system files and programs. I also chose to format this partition in Ext4. It is a journaling system and will write to my solid state drive more often. If you want to limit writes to your solid state drive, use Ext2.

Creating a /home Partition

- I also chose to reformat my my /home partiton in Ext4 to take advantages of Ext4 speed. If you want to continue using your pre-existing file system you can mark this partition as /home and simply choose not to reformat it. This will also save all your personal files and configurations.


Swap Error

- I chose to not install a swap partiton to limit hard drive usage. If you chose to not install swap partition simply ignore this message.

Partitioning Drives Complete



User Setup

- Here you can chose to log into Ubuntu automatically or require a password to log in. I chose to login.

Migration Assistant

- The migration assistant offered to carry over my files from my previous Ubuntu 8.10 install.


Installation Check

- Last check to make sure everything is correct before installing Ubuntu.


Partitions Formatting


Installing Language Packs


Installation Complete

Have a question or problem that this article doesn't cover? Ask our Ubuntu Mini 9 Google Group for help.

Ubuntu 9.04 Jaunty Jackalope Beta on the Mini 9

Installing Ubuntu on the Dell Mini 9 was never hard, but getting everything working was. Ubuntu 9.04 Beta does not require any extra fixes or patches. Audio works out of the box (you just need to turn up the speaker volume) and there is no longer a drive mounting problem after a LiveUSB install. Installing Ubuntu Netbook Remix doesn't require adding any extra repositories or adding items to your start-up programs.

I tested both the Ubuntu 9.04 Beta i386 and the Ubuntu Netbook Remix USB 9.04 Beta i386 Image for this article.

If you need need help making a LiveCD.

Installation
If you select the "Try Ubuntu without any change to your computer" option and then try to install Ubuntu on your Mini, there is a minor issue. The windows are too large for the screen and get cut off. You will not be able to completely see the buttons on the bottom of the window to make your selections.

It does not hinder your ability to install Ubuntu on the Dell Mini 9 or and you can see what the buttons say. If you want to be able to move the windows and see the complete selection.
Go to System>Preferences>Appearances. Under the Visual Effects Tab select None.
- This will allow you move the windows up (click the window while holding down the alt key) and see the bottom of the buttons.

Video
The Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 950 driver has received some significant upgrades since Intrepid's release. Video playback is better, Compiz is running smoother and flash video is actually bearable to watch again.

Ubuntu Netbook Remix
Installing Ubuntu Netbook Remix used to require a little bit of work and extra know-how. In Jaunty, the Netbook Remix packages have been added to the official Ubuntu repositories and the included ubuntu-netbook-remix-default-settings package configures everything for you.

To install Ubuntu Netbook Remix
in a terminal type:

sudo apt-get install ubuntu-netbook-remix

Note: The desktop switcher program is still slightly buggy. It has a tendency to crash when switching back from the normal desktop to Netbook Remix.

Compiz
The Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 950 runs compiz without any special setup or configuration.

To get the most out of Compiz install the advanced configuration tool.
In a terminal:

sudo apt-get install compizconfig-settings-manager

Note: You can find the Compiz Settings Manager under System->Preferences once you install it

Wireless
The Broadcom STA wireless driver was activated after install and connecting to both WEP and WPA poses no problem.

Wired
Worked out of the box. There was a Kernel Bug that prevented the wired Ethernet connection from working in Ubuntu 8.10 but the bug has been squashed and the Dell Mini 9's wired connection works perfectly.

Audio
Unlike Intrepid, audio works out of the box in Jaunty. You just need to turn up the speaker volume in the Volume Control on your first boot.


Webcam
Worked out of the box. To test the webcam, install Cheese.
In a terminal type:

sudo apt-get cheese

Note: The video may seem slow, you just need to adjust the webcam's resolution under Edit>Preferences

Bluetooth
Worked out of the box and includes the ability to enter the device PIN code through the GUI.


Card Reader
Worked out of the box. Secure Digital (SD) & SDHC (High Capacity), MultiMediaCard (MMC) and Memory Stick all worked.

Brightness & Volume
Brightness and volume keyboard short-cuts both work with any extra configuration.

Suspend & Hibernate
Suspend works incredibly well. I suspended my computer over and over without a problem.
Hibernate will not work if you do not have a swap partition. If you have a swap file, hibernate works well.

Video Out
Worked out of the box, you don't have to edit your xorg.conf file anymore. Just plug your external monitor/projector into your Mini 9 and send the video out.
Video has a tendency to jitter while Grub is loading and during the Ubuntu splash screen once you load into Ubuntu, the video corrects itself and all is smooth.

Have a question or problem that this article doesn't cover? Ask our Ubuntu Mini 9 Google Group for help.

USB Flash Drive Compatibility List

Many readers have had problems installing Ubuntu on their netbooks because of incompatible USB flash drives. The sticks listed below are guaranteed to work when making a LiveUSB image of Ubuntu. Many installation errors can be fixed simply by using a compatible USB drive.

This list will only work with your feedback, leave a comment with makes and models that you are positive work and I will add them to the list.

Compatible USB Flash Drives for Making LiveUSB Images

• Adata C801 - 2GB
• Apacer Handy Steno 2GB
  
• Apacer Handy Steno 4GB
• BASF 4GB
• Crucial Gizmo! 2GB
• Crucial Gizmo! 4GB
• Buffalo RUF-C2G
• EMTEC 8GB
• Freecom USB Card 1GB
• HAMA 2GB
  
• HP V100W 4GB
• Kingston DataTraveler 100
• Kingston DataTraveler 100 2GB
• Kingston DataTraveler Mini 4GB
• Kingston DataTraveler 8GB
• Kingston DataTraveler 16GB
• LaCie iamaKey 8GB
• Lexar FireFly JumpDrive 2GB
• OCZ Rally 2 4GB
• OCZ Rally 2 8GB
• OCZ Diesel 8 GB
• OCZ Diesel 16GB
• Patriot X-Mini 8GB
• PNY Attache 2GB
• PNY Attache 4GB
• Sandisk Cruzer Contour 8GB
• Sandisk Cruzer Crossfire 1GB
• Sandisk Cruzer Crossfire 4GB
• SanDisk Cruzer Mini 8GB (removed U3 software)
• Sandisk Cruzer Micro 1GB
• SanDisk Cruzer Micro 2GB
• SanDisk Cruzer Micro 4GB
• SanDisk Cruzer Micro 8GB
• SanDisk Cruzer Micro 16GB
• SanDisk Cruzer Pattern 2GB
  
• SanDisk Cruzer Titanium 2GB
• Sandisk Cruzer Titanium 4GB
  
• SanDisk Cruzer Titanium 8GB
• Sony Micro Vault Tiny 2GB
• Sony Micro Vault 8GB
• Super-Talent 4GB
• Transcend JF V90 2GB
• TrekStor USB-Stick RE 2GB
• TrekStor USB-Stick ME 8GB
• Verbatim Store 'n' Go 4GB

Have a question or problem that this article doesn't cover? Ask our Ubuntu Mini 9 Google Group for help.

Ubuntu 8.10 Kernel Update Has Broken Wired Connection

The 2.6.27-11-generic kernel update to Ubuntu 8.10 Intrepid Ibex has broken the wired Ethernet connection on the Dell Mini 9. It is a known bug (330355) on launchpad and is scheduled to be fixed with the 2.6.27-13 kernel update.

The real issue is with the Realtek RTL8101/RTL8102E card used inside the Mini 9 and this bug is actually a duplicate of bug 326891. One of the Ubuntu kernel developers have already uploaded the patches to intrepid-proposed repository for testing. Early Mini 9 testers report that the 2.6.27-13 update has a working Ethernet connection.

The Fix (Two Methods)
1. You can add the Pre-released updates (intrepid-proposed) repository to your software sources and install the test/proposed 2.6.27-13-generic kernel.

- You can find your Software Sources under System>Admin.
- Select Pre-release updates (intrepid-proposed) repository under the Updates tab.
This is not my prefered method as the proposed kernel could have other problems associated with it.

2. You can load into the older 2.6.27-9-generic kernel when you have to use the Mini's wired connection. The 2.6.27-9 kernel had a working wired connection and until a week ago we here all using it without any major problems.
Selecting 2.6.27-9-generic kernel is an easy process:
- Load into your Grub menu. (After the Dell splash logo at start-up hit Esc during Grub loading)
- At the Grub menu select the 2.6.27-9-generic kernel and hit enter.
I prefer this method because I know what to expect, the 2.6.27-9 kernel will have a working wired connection and won't break anything else on my Mini.

The only feature the 2.6.27-11-generic kernel offered Dell Mini 9 users was a broken wired connection, it won't be missed. The 2.6.27-13-generic kernel update should hit soon and I will update the blog when it does.

Have a question or problem that this article doesn't cover? Ask our Ubuntu Mini 9 Google Group for help.

Full Circle Magazine

Full Circle Magazine is an independent magazine for the Ubuntu community. It covers all the major Ubuntu flavors (Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Xubuntu & Edubuntu) and publishes great articles, information and guides to make you a better and more efficient Linux user.

I have been reading Full Circle since issue two and look forward to each issue.

This is an amazing project and an excellent resource for the Ubuntu community. Show Full Circle some support. Download, contribute and tell your like minded geek friends about it.

Have a question or problem that this article doesn't cover? Ask our Ubuntu Mini 9 Google Group for help.