French version

Index
Introduction
Kernel patchs: i2c and lm_sensors
Kernel configuration
Compile and install the kernel
Compile external modules
Temperature sensors
Results and remarks

Links

External links
AsusTech A7V8X Via KT400 DDR USB2.0 AGPx8
Linux on A7V8X
lm_sensors
Nvidia

Hard disks parameters
The program hdparm gets and sets hard disk parameters (and other devices); e.g. to activate the dma and 32 bits access:
# hdparm -c1d1 /dev/hda

ALSA Project
The Advanced Linux Sound Architecture will replace OSS in the future and supports the most recent functionnalities such as full duplex or 5.1.

Version RCS
1.10 (lock)

Introduction

This page explains in the details how to configure and compile the Linux kernel 2.4 for the Asus A7V8X motherboard. Of course the first thing to do is to download the kernel source directly on the web or through the appropriate package (e.g. for Debian users).

Extracting the source (version 2.4.31) is done as usual with being the system admininistrator (root):

1. # cd /usr/src
2. # tar xjf linux-2.4.31.tar.bz2
3. # ln -s linux-2.4.31 linux

Then there are several mandatory steps to follow:

• patch the kernel;
• kernel configuration;
• compile and install the kernel;
• compile external modules.

Kernel patchs: i2c and lm_sensors

The kernel has been directly patched only for supporting the motherboard sensors. Two patches must be applied: the first one concerns the i2c bus, the second for the sensors themselves, in this order. You have first to build the patchs (!), then to apply them.

You have then to select the appropriate modules for the i2c bus support and for the hardware sensors support.

Then, to install and configure lm_sensors program, look at the Temperature sensors section.

Kernel configuration

You can configure the kernel with a text interface thanks to the program Menuconfig like this:

1. # cd /usr/src/linux
2. # make menuconfig

Whatever the tool - text or graphic -, your configuration is saved in the .config file. Among all the parameters of the Linux kernel 2.4.31, here are the options selected directly (y) or as modules (m) - the other options are unselected (n):

Compile and install the kernel

Compile external modules

Independantly from the motherboard, the AGP GeForce4 video card I have requires to install the Nvidia driver, whom source code is available for the kernel and Xfree: see /etc/modutils/nvidia file for module options. Then check that the Nvidia driver works fine with the program glxinfo and the state files of /proc/driver/nvidia directory.

The ALSA project brings the support of the Realtek ALC650 chipset that is integrated within the motherboard. Don't forget to compile and install also the libasound2 library provided by alsa-lib and the tools from alsa-utils, mainly alsamixer

With the GNU/Linux Debian distribution, the loading options of modules related to the ALSA driver are set in the /etc/modutils/alsa file: option dxs_support=4 is mandatory for full duplex support and sound quality - no VRA (variable bitrate). Run update-modules after creating or modifying it.

Temperature sensors

After applying the kernel patchs, you have to install the associated programs and mainly sensors (in /usr/local/bin):

1. # cd /usr/src/modules/lm_sensors-2.10.0
2. # ./prog/mkdev/mkdev.sh
3. # make install

Among the sensors found by sensors_detect, the good module to use is asb100 (surprising: mentioned nowhere); you only have then to load it with the usual trick and to test it:

1. # modprobe asb100
2. # sensors
   asb100-i2c-0-2d
   Adapter: SMBus Via Pro adapter at e800
   ...

Warning: the A7V8X motherboard has an ASB100 chip, which is similar to W83781D; the asb100 driver is present in lm_sensors only since 2.8.5 version. With the previous 2.8.x versions, w83781d must be used. To resume:

Results and remarks

The best way to show how my Linux kernel configuration works is to provide the kernel boot messages: you get these with the dmesg command.