Here are some of my notes I took while installing Debian GNU/Linux on the dectop.
Edit /etc/default/acpid:
# Specify options for acpid startup, Debian default is to enable the # use of sockets at a non-default position OPTIONS="-s /var/run/acpid.socket" # Specify modules to load on acpid's startup # MODULES may be uncommented to load "none", contain the string "all" # to load all acpi related modules or simply a space seperated list # of modules to be probed.#MODULES="battery ac processor button fan thermal" MODULES="none"
Add to the bottom of /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist (this will remove sound!):
blacklist snd blacklist ipv6 blacklist snd_cs5535audio blacklist snd_ac97_codec blacklist snd_pcm blacklist snd_timer blacklist snd blacklist battery blacklist pcspkr blacklist fan blacklist processor blacklist thermal
Remove device mapper from init scripts:
update-rc.d -f libdevmapper1.02 remove
Comment out the extra consoles in inittab, leaving one for general console access. Speaking of which, its too bad that the dectop doesn't have an rs232 / db9 serial connector. :-(
Even though the dectop doesn't have a fan, I've listed "none" in the acpid config, and have them blacklisted, fan, thermal, and processor are still loading upon boot. Not sure how to keep them from getting loaded short of stopping acpi altogether Any suggestions?
With those changes, debian only needs approximately 21MB of ram, leaving up to 80MB of ram for your other stuff!
# free total used free shared buffers cached Mem: 106756 21484 85272 0 2664 10828-/+ buffers/cache: 7992 98764 Swap: 305192 0 305192
# ps -A PID TTY TIME CMD 1 ? 00:00:04 init 2 ? 00:00:00 ksoftirqd/0 3 ? 00:00:00 events/0 4 ? 00:00:00 khelper 5 ? 00:00:00 kthread 8 ? 00:00:00 kblockd/0 9 ? 00:00:00 kacpid 50 ? 00:00:00 kseriod 86 ? 00:00:00 pdflush 87 ? 00:00:00 pdflush 88 ? 00:00:00 kswapd0 89 ? 00:00:00 aio/0 532 ? 00:00:00 khubd 799 ? 00:00:00 kjournald 959 ? 00:00:00 udevd 1200 ? 00:00:00 kpsmoused 1727 ? 00:00:00 dhclient3 1741 ? 00:00:00 syslogd 1747 ? 00:00:00 klogd 1779 ? 00:00:00 acpid 1794 ? 00:00:00 sshd 1811 ? 00:00:00 cron 1835 tty1 00:00:00 getty 1842 ? 00:00:00 sshd 1846 ? 00:00:00 sshd 1847 pts/0 00:00:01 bash 1860 pts/0 00:00:00 su 1861 pts/0 00:00:00 bash 1864 pts/0 00:00:00 ps
Your could reduce it even more by turning off cron and syslog, but for now I'll keep those around.
ORIGINAL outputs for comparison:
# free total used free shared buffers cached Mem: 106756 23388 83368 0 2796 11320-/+ buffers/cache: 9272 97484 Swap: 305192 0 305192 # lsmod Module Size Used by button 6800 0 ac 5252 0 battery 9732 0 dm_snapshot 15644 0 dm_mirror 18000 0 dm_mod 48952 2 dm_snapshot,dm_mirror loop 14216 0 tsdev 7616 0 snd_cs5535audio 13628 0 snd_ac97_codec 82848 1 snd_cs5535audio snd_ac97_bus 2432 1 snd_ac97_codec rtc 11572 0 rtl8150 11648 0 snd_pcm 65928 2 snd_cs5535audio,snd_ac97_codec snd_timer 19972 1 snd_pcm snd 45412 4 snd_cs5535audio,snd_ac97_codec,snd_pcm,snd_timer soundcore 8928 1 snd snd_page_alloc 9736 2 snd_cs5535audio,snd_pcm serio_raw 6532 0 cs5535 4352 0 [permanent] psmouse 34568 0 pcspkr 2816 0 evdev 9088 0 ext3 116488 1 jbd 47272 1 ext3 ide_disk 14848 3 ide_generic 1536 0 [permanent] ohci_hcd 17540 0 usbcore 109444 3 rtl8150,ohci_hcd generic 5508 0 [permanent] ide_core 107760 4 cs5535,ide_disk,ide_generic,generic thermal 13576 0 processor 23724 1 thermal fan 4868 0
Nice tips!
I have just bought one, and I am wondering what performances I can hope : actually, I would install subversion, trac, apache, mysql, so do you think I dream?
You should be OK, but you might run out of RAM, and take note that the USB - Ethernet dongle is USB 1.1, meaning it is really slow.
I will get my Dectop in the next few days. And I saw that you added the sound-modules to the blacklist file. Is there a sound support for the dectop yet?
I'll rant about my experience with the Dectop in my blog. (in german) ;)
Ok after I played a bit around I can now see why you have added the sound modules to the blacklist ;) I have a few things on my todo list, but so far I am sure I can install the dectop into my car to do the dirty wlan/gps work for me.
Hi Christopher! That is a great idea for the dectop. What wlan / gps unit are you going to use? I guess it would have to be USB?
Hi Albert. I will buy one from a tech dealer named Reichelt. I haven't looked for a particular one. I thought to use a bluetooth usb adapter to connect a bluetooth GPS unit and if possible at the same time a bluetooth enabled mobil phone.
I have some problems with the dectop. Firstly, the internal hard disk isn't powered down after the dectop shuts off. It keeps spinning till I remove the power plug. :/ Therefore I need some hardware solution to cut the power connection between the dectop and car battery, or otherwise my diesel wouldn't start the next time. (OkOK.. Only if i leave the dectop on for quite a while)