[robert2513]

Hi.

I am looking to install the "Dell Laptop Extras" in Fedora Core 3 but cannot find it to install it . I have looked in all the menu options and the Add/Remove Applications but cannot find it. I am just overlooking it?

Thanks.
Robert

[lynch]

I think that's a kernel option so you'd need to add this as a module. Or recompile the kernel.
lynch

[robert2513]

I see. Is it difficult to recompile a kernel?

[lynch]

Not difficult, just time-consuming.
A easy to read doc can be found here. Also check out http://kernelnewbies.org/
lynch

[tsunam]

also assuming it could be the button stuff for the laptops that would be the i8kutils.

[lynch]

Is that the module's name, tsunam?

[robert2513]

Thanks for the reply.

I started working on selecting the different components that need to be installed into the kernel. I didn't see anything about Dell Laptop Extras but did find something that may prove useful: under power management, I found a component that mentions something about shutting off the LCD Screen when the lid is shut.

I'll post back later with another update.

[tsunam]

http://people.debian.org/~dz/i8k/00-README

This package contains a kernel driver and user-space programs for accessing
the SMM BIOS of Dell Inspiron and Latitude laptops. The SMM BIOS is used on
many recent laptops to implement APM functionalities and to access custom
hardware, for example the cooling fans and volume buttons of the I8000."

http://people.debian.org/~dz/i8k/ <---main page

so yep modules

[robert2513]

Well, I think I successfully compiled my first kernel . However, the power management thing I found didn't seem to work. When I close the lid, the screen still stays on.

I also tried installing that i8kutils package, with the rpm command, but neither the function buttons work or the screen shuts off when I close the lid. I did try rebooting the computer several times but it didn't help.

Anything else I could do?
Thanks again for helping such a newbie like me
Robert2513

[tsunam]

are you using acpi, and do you have a ati card in the laptop? If so i can give you a script that will take care of the monitor stuff. I did it and the buttons on the laptop manually

If not (assuming you are running X) do a xset dpms force off
Note: have xset dpms force on ready with a simple double uptab in case it just works, otherwise you are typing in the blind.

it should turn your monitor off assuming that fedora sets dpms in your x config file

[robert2513]

Yes, I am using acpi and I do have a ATI card. I would appreciate it if you could send me that scrpit. Thanks.

[tsunam]

he're the actual code. For me this is my /etc/acpi/default.sh script. Not sure if fedora will have it in the same spot but this will do what you want. As long as you either can use dpms or the radeontool installed which is found here: http://fdd.com/software/radeon/ <---has worked wonderfully well for me. Course i just had to emerge it and it worked . if Dpms works for you just change the radeontool off to xset dpms force off and on respectively. Then all there's to test out it push the lid button and release, it should turn off and on for you

#!/bin/sh
set $*
group=${1/\/*/}
action=${1/*\//}
case "$group" in
        button)
        case "$action" in
                lid)                                                                   lidstate="$(cat /proc/acpi/button/lid/LID/state | awk '{print $2}')"
                case "$lidstate" in
                open)
                radeontool light on
                logger "Display is $lidstate"
                ;;
                closed)
                radeontool light off
                Logger "Display is $lidstate"
             ;;
                esac
                        ;;
                power)
                /sbin/init 0
                        ;;
                *)
                logger "ACPI action $action is not defined"
                        ;;
                esac
                ;;

        *)
        logger "ACPI group $group / action $action is not defined"
                ;;
esac

[robert2513]

I have the /etc/acpi folders but there is no file called default.sh, only two folders named actions and events. Should I just create a new file named default.sh with that code it in? Would that work?

[tsunam]

On that I'm not entirely sure, check the actions folder and see what is in there. Redhat systems I'm just not as sure about. Its the one thing that gets sorta =/ different distro's put things in differently.