Difference between revisions of "Installing Debian 6.0 (squeeze) on a ThinkPad X220"

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(info about how I installed Debian 6.0.3 on the X220)
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[[User:Jdthood|I]] tried to install Debian 6.0 (squeeze) on a ThinkPad {{X220}}.
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''(Please note: [[User:Jdthood|One user]] reported that the Debian 6.0 (Squeeze) installer did not include a driver for the Ethernet card in the X220. It is possible that this is due to hardware differences between models. Please check that your hardware is supported. As described below, the 4291 model works.)''
  
I got the X220 to boot the Debian installer but then I discovered that Debian 6.0 lacks a driver for the Ethernet card in the X220.
 
  
So I decided to [[Installing Ubuntu 11.04 (Natty Narwhal) on a ThinkPad X220|install Ubuntu 11.04 (Natty Narwhal)]].
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Debian Squeeze can be installed without problems using the [http://www.debian.org/CD/http-ftp/#stable 6.0.3 DVD] on the ThinkPad X220 (4291 model).
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However, wireless does not work out of the box. Also, in order to get the GPU to work properly, it is necessary to install newer X and kernel packages from Backports.
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== Wireless ==
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Install the iwlagn kernel module [http://wiki.debian.org/iwlagn#Squeeze as described in the Debian wiki]:
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Add a "non-free" component to /etc/apt/sources.list, for example:
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<pre>
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# Debian Squeeze/6.0
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deb http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian squeeze main contrib non-free
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</pre>
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Update the list of available packages and install the firmware-iwlwifi and wireless-tools packages:
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<pre>
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# aptitude update
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# aptitude install firmware-iwlwifi wireless-tools
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</pre>
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The necessary kernel module should be automatically loaded. If necessary, it can be manually loaded via:
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<pre>
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# modprobe iwlagn
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</pre>
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Verify your device has an available interface:
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<pre>
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# iwconfig
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</pre>
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Raise the interface to activate the radio, for example:
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<pre>
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# ifconfig wlan0 up
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</pre>
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Configure your wireless interface as appropriate.
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== Newer kernel ==
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Add the following line to /etc/apt/sources.list (or add a new file containing the line in /etc/apt/sources.list/d/):
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<pre>
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deb http://backports.debian.org/debian-backports squeeze-backports main
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</pre>
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Run apt-get update.
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Install the new kernel image:
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<pre>
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apt-get -t squeeze-backports install linux-image-2.6-amd64
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</pre>
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Reboot.
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[http://backports-master.debian.org/Instructions/ Backports instructions].
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== Graphics ==
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Please refer to [http://x.debian.net/reference/squeeze-backports.html this page].

Revision as of 15:00, 9 November 2011

(Please note: One user reported that the Debian 6.0 (Squeeze) installer did not include a driver for the Ethernet card in the X220. It is possible that this is due to hardware differences between models. Please check that your hardware is supported. As described below, the 4291 model works.)


Debian Squeeze can be installed without problems using the 6.0.3 DVD on the ThinkPad X220 (4291 model).

However, wireless does not work out of the box. Also, in order to get the GPU to work properly, it is necessary to install newer X and kernel packages from Backports.

Wireless

Install the iwlagn kernel module as described in the Debian wiki:

Add a "non-free" component to /etc/apt/sources.list, for example:

# Debian Squeeze/6.0
deb http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian squeeze main contrib non-free

Update the list of available packages and install the firmware-iwlwifi and wireless-tools packages:

# aptitude update
# aptitude install firmware-iwlwifi wireless-tools

The necessary kernel module should be automatically loaded. If necessary, it can be manually loaded via:

# modprobe iwlagn

Verify your device has an available interface:

# iwconfig

Raise the interface to activate the radio, for example:

# ifconfig wlan0 up

Configure your wireless interface as appropriate.

Newer kernel

Add the following line to /etc/apt/sources.list (or add a new file containing the line in /etc/apt/sources.list/d/):

deb http://backports.debian.org/debian-backports squeeze-backports main

Run apt-get update.

Install the new kernel image:

apt-get -t squeeze-backports install linux-image-2.6-amd64

Reboot.

Backports instructions.

Graphics

Please refer to this page.