Installing Debian GNU/Linux on Compaq nx6320
Last updated: 30 December 2006
General Hardware Specifications of Compaq nx6320:
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Hardware Components
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Status under Linux
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Notes
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| Intel Core Duo, 2GHz | Works | No special procedure required during installation. |
| 1024x768 15" TFT Display | Works | Select Generic LCD Display in Installer |
| Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 | Works | Used Standard Xorg drivers |
| 2GB, DDR2 | Works | No special procedure required during installation |
| 100 GB SATA Hard Drive | Works | Requires recent kernel, eg 2.6.18 for driver |
| 10/100/1000 Integrated Network Card | Works | Installer found the Tigon driver for it fine |
| 24X Max Variable CD-ROM Drive | Works | No special procedure required during installation |
| Internal Intel Wireless Networking | Works | Need to download specific driver, see below. |
| 59 WHr Lithium-Ion Battery | Works | No special procedure required during installation |
| Intel 82801G Sound Card | Works | Used ALSA driver snd_hda_intel |
This laptop is operating under Kernel version 2.6.18
Basic Installation of Debian:
I used Debian Etch RC3 as I wanted to test the installer and also get Linux on a small partition of this laptop. It is only used for network testing and as a remote Xserver, so it doesn't have much installed.
The sarge installer won't work, the kernel is too old and it will not find your SATA drives.
Setting up additional features for Debian
The wireless port was the trickiest part. You need to install some packages to get it going. Make sure you have contrib and non-free in your apt archives as these drivers are not in main. Then install ipw3945d, firmware-ipw3945 and the module. The exact name of the module depends on what kernel you have installed. I have kernel from the package linux-image-2.6.18-4-686 so the module package is ipw3945-modules-2.6.18-4-686.
Nothing else needed to be done, no other module packages are required. It started off kinda wierd but a depmod -a and reboot later I had solid link and, once I go my wireless key on, connected fine.
Unresolved issues
None really, except I have not tried out the bluetooth, modem or smartcard reader. With the exception of the modem all are found.
