Installing Arch on Atom Z3740D tablet/netbook

sgsdxzy · 2014-08-08 09:50:07

I am trying to install i686 Arch on a recently bought Atom Z3740D tablet modeled VOYO winpad A6. It's preinstalled with Windows 8.1. Atom Z3740D comes with integrated intel gen7 video card. Besides, it has 64GB emmc internal storage, 2GB DDR3L memory, a rare Realtek 8723BS sdio Wifi/FM/Bluetooth card. Here's my progression:

1. Disable secrue boot. STATUS:DONE. It can be easily disabled in BIOS. Press Esc while booting and disable it under Security->Secure Boot. It won't affect installed Windows system in anyway.

2. Boot Arch on a usb flash drive with UEFI . STATUS:DONE. It could be tricky that while the CPU support 64bit, its UEFI is 32bit only so it can't boot a 64bit kernel using EFIstub directly. 64bit Linux also has a difficult time accessing 32bit UEFI runtime. So I choose to install i686 Arch. I partitioned a usb flash drive to a 128M Fat32 partition and an ext4 partition with remaining space with GPT partition table. I put the kernel and initrd in the Fat32 partition and used UEFI shell to successfully boot into the system.

3. Input devices. STATUS:PARTIAL. The attached keyboard works out of box. Touchscreen, microphone, gravity sensors and camera not tested.

4. Network. STATUS:GARBAGE. As noted before, this tablet has a quite rare Realtek 8723BS sdio Wifi/FM/Bluetooth card. I can't find the driver anywhere and there's even little information about this card on google. If you know where to find the driver, please inform me! I am planning to purchase a usb wifi adapter.

5. Graphics. STATUS:GARBAGE. The kernel module i915 loads and KMS works, however when I tried to start X, X server segfaults. So far I can't test anything 3D related. I don't know how to debug X so I have to see to it later.

So this tablet is not yet Linux-friendly. Any help or advice is welcomed.

Off-topic:
I am quite content with the performance and performance-per-watt of Intel Atoms of this generation. This tablet can run even Dota2!(Of course in Windows. Hopes one day in Linux too)

Frosted · 2014-08-16 07:11:23

I imagine that the Realtek network adapter is part of a larger family of network adapters. Some other drivers will probably work, though you might not have the multifunction support. Do some research about the hardware on that adapter and then look for more popular adapters with similar hardware and try out their drivers. This isn't really the BEST way to get it working, but, it should get it working.

Last edited by Frosted (2014-08-16 07:15:00)

MrLemux · 2014-08-17 15:07:17

With your network adapter propably this helps :
http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Drivers/rtl819x

Anyway some logs would be good, in particular /var/log/Xorg.0.log, the output of lsmod and lspci -vnn

dhead · 2014-08-24 04:15:37

keep us apprised if you manage to get graphics and the touch working (and recognized as multi-touch).

Be aware that Gnome 3.14 will support touch gestures so having a low cost Linux device that can be also fully usable as a tablet would be splendid.

About X debugging I'm not an expert (more a linux newbie) but the basics are:
* Packages versions: kernel, intel-dri, xf86-video-intel
* Output of dmesg / journalctl
* Output of "# cat /sys/class/drm/card0/error"
* Open a bug at freedesktop bugzilla ( dri / drm_intel ) with the above, an Intel developer will review it and will be able to determine if it dri driver related or kernel.
See more instructions at https://01.org/linuxgraphics/documentat … eport-bugs

sgsdxzy · 2014-08-25 09:16:07

MrLemux wrote:

With your network adapter propably this helps :
http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Drivers/rtl819x
Anyway some logs would be good, in particular /var/log/Xorg.0.log, the output of lsmod and lspci -vnn

Sadly, it's all about PCI/USB adapters, but this is a SDIO adapter. The preinstalled Windows 8.1 comes with one driver, but I even can't find a windows version of driver on the internet...

dhead · 2014-08-26 07:48:08

@sgsdxzy

See
https://github.com/not-aml/openlinux-am … /rtl8723BS

Edit: these drivers supposed to work with kernel 3.10.33

Last edited by dhead (2014-08-26 07:49:13)

sgsdxzy · 2014-09-01 08:07:15

dhead wrote:

@sgsdxzy
See
https://github.com/not-aml/openlinux-am … /rtl8723BS
Edit: these drivers supposed to work with kernel 3.10.33

Thanks. But do you know how am I supposed to compile this?

dhead · 2014-09-01 09:52:40

@sgsdxzy

You would need to adapt the Makefile as it didn't intended to build outside kernel drivers tree and directly (no cross compiling).
It's not rocket science but it will take time, maybe the Makefile in the link will help https://github.com/lwfinger/rtl8188eu , and I'm sure you can also ask for help with building the driver in Programming or Kernel & Hardware forums here.

Last edited by dhead (2014-09-01 09:53:12)

Shiggitay · 2014-09-01 12:23:32

I'm going to keep an eye on this thread as I could be getting a similar type of tablet in the near future, and I'd love to have Arch on it. Keep us updated @sgsdxzy.

EDIT: sgsdxzy, have you tried madwifi? I'm not sure if they support realtek NICs, but it's worth a shot....

Last edited by Shiggitay (2014-09-01 12:24:42)

dhead · 2014-09-01 14:52:59

@sgsdxzy

It's strange that you couldn't get X working as the Z3740D is also used in Dell Venue 8 Pro which users did get X up.

sgsdxzy · 2014-09-03 02:55:40

dhead wrote:

@sgsdxzy
You would need to adapt the Makefile as it didn't intended to build outside kernel drivers tree and directly (no cross compiling).
It's not rocket science but it will take time, maybe the Makefile in the link will help https://github.com/lwfinger/rtl8188eu , and I'm sure you can also ask for help with building the driver in Programming or Kernel & Hardware forums here.

I compiled it, but unable to insmod it. It has undefined symbols. My kernel version is 3.16.1, maybe it only works with 3.10.33. However, if I stick with 3.10.33, many newers things(like Bay-trail graphics card) may not work.

dhead · 2014-10-05 03:41:07

@sgsdxzy

A report on the Onda v975w which share the RTL8723BS detailed that the device works with the RTL8723AS driver.

https://github.com/hadess/rtl8723as

https://wiki.gnome.org/BastienNocera/Ondav975w

olive · 2014-12-13 16:19:17

I have an odys wintab (http://www.amazon.fr/Odys-Tablet-PC-Dis … B00N3VI8Y8) that is similar to the mentioned tablet. After some time, I have finally got a basic archlinux working.

Xorg OK with acceleration.
Wireless works with the driver mentioned by @dhead (ralink 8723bs) but suffer from stability problem and does not work with wpa supplicant (so no WPA, WEP seems to works with problems, unencrypted wifi seems more or less OK).
Backlight setting works
Audio does not work (seen by Windows as Intel SST Audio Device)
Touchscreen does not works.
Cameras do not work.
Micro Sd card reader does not work [Updated] (but I can read the internal emmc)
Buetooth and HDMI untested

What I have done.
To boot make a standalone 32bit EFI grub as mentioned in the wiki together with a simple config file such as:

set default=0
set timeout=3
menuentry Archlinux {
          linux ${cmdpath}/vmlinuz-linux root=UUID=c2a27b82-072b-4630-a94e-e16ea783a6e6 rw ipv6.disable=1 
          initrd ${cmdpath}/initramfs-linux.img
}

I have installed a basic archlinux from a fully working archlinux (on another computer) on a micro SSD card and transferred the microssd card.
We can load a 64 bit kernel (and thus install archlinux64) from the 32 bit efi grub. Then blacklist the i2c_hid module in /etc/modprobe.d/modprobe.conf (lots of problems with this module: the tablet automatically turns off after a few minutes, and xorg segfault) and ignore acpi events in /etc/systemd/logind.conf (optherwise the tablet automatically turn off after a few minutes, maybe this is ionly due to the i2c_hid module: see above).

[Update]: Given so many problems; I think that for now running linux in VirtualBox under Windows might be a better solution.

Last edited by olive (2014-12-14 08:35:19)

dhead · 2014-12-13 17:38:02

@olive

Did you encounter this ?

I don't think the touchscreen will ever work for you if you are blacklisting i2c_hid.
I'm guessing that you have the following i2c devices: touchscreen, gyroscope/accelerometer, light sensor, so in your place I'll start by trying to figure out what is the touchscreen make & model and try to load its module (if exist).

I'm guessing that the camera are using ISP 2.0 interface, I've got no idea how to get this to work in Linux, if you need dedicated drivers for the cameras or can used a generic ISP driver and just need to enable it.

The Fedlet Github repo might help figuring out the other issues.

olive · 2014-12-13 18:07:12

@dhead. Thanks for the info. The touchscreen cannot work without i2c_hid but this module causes a lot of problems and prevent Xorg to load. So I need to blacklist it until a solution is found.

I have searched the audio (from the info seen in Windows) but found nothing useful for Linux except a page suggesting it is not supported (I do not remember where).
I will investigate the touchscreen
As for the accelerometer, maybe, but it is not my top priority (A clickable icon linked to a simple script using xrandr will do as good).

Last edited by olive (2014-12-13 18:12:49)

dhead · 2014-12-13 18:17:39

@olive

Regarding accelerometer see
https://github.com/hadess/iio-sensor-proxy

olive · 2014-12-20 16:25:51

I have had better result using the fedlet kernel (thanks @dhead). The touchscreen and the sd card now work. But I am confused about which patches are responsible for that (I think it comes mostly from the official fedora patches, I see a patch for a goodis touchscreen). Contrarily to what I have sad accelerated graphic does not work.

Last edited by olive (2014-12-20 16:26:28)

dhead · 2014-12-20 20:23:00

@olive

You might want to try linux kernel 3.18 from the testings repo, the support for Goodix seems to be added after 3.17.

Regarding the GPU, I'll try to gather as much info possible, ask for help on irc at #dri-devel@freenode.net and if you get to the conclusion that this might be a bug then open an bug report at freedesktop.org.

olive · 2014-12-22 07:55:56

The 3.18 kernel don't work any better. Moreover I have the problem that the machine turn itself off/put himself in sleep mode after a few minutes (which force me to do a hard reset). This seems to be due to the module i2c_hid (the problem seems cured if I blacklist it, but then no touchscreen).

The patches from Fedlet don't play a great role (I have the same results from the Fedora kernel). I am trying to figure out which patch do what in the Fedora kernel. Some come with a little doc. The .spec file to built theit kernel rpm is rather complex (and I am not a specialist with rpm). They do not seem to apply the same patchset for the different architecture they support.

Last edited by olive (2014-12-22 07:56:17)

yafeng · 2015-01-01 11:16:15

olive wrote:

The 3.18 kernel don't work any better. Moreover I have the problem that the machine turn itself off/put himself in sleep mode after a few minutes (which force me to do a hard reset). This seems to be due to the module i2c_hid (the problem seems cured if I blacklist it, but then no touchscreen).
The patches from Fedlet don't play a great role (I have the same results from the Fedora kernel). I am trying to figure out which patch do what in the Fedora kernel. Some come with a little doc. The .spec file to built theit kernel rpm is rather complex (and I am not a specialist with rpm). They do not seem to apply the same patchset for the different architecture they support.

I installed i686 version Archlinux into my ramos i9s，CPU is Z3735F touchpad goodiex and the wifi card is RTL8723BS too.

video card work well，and not the problem that the machine turn itself off/put himself in sleep mode after a few minutes。

but wifi card cant work。

under linux kernel 3.17，I can complied the kernel module“8723bs.ko”,(command make && make install),but after I modprobe it,there are no wlan0 or wlpXsX after run the command" ip link "or "ip addr"
under linux kernel 3.18, I can't complied with the error :"ioctl_cfg80211.h:140:69: error: too many arguments to function 'cfg80211_rx_mgmt' "

both under kernel 3.17 or 3.18,the touchpad\SD Card does not works.

I had looked the linux v3.18.1 sources at https://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kerne … gs/v3.18.1

there no goodiex.c file ,but in git tree it have,may be it will into the 3.19 kernel.

Last edited by yafeng (2015-01-01 11:35:58)

Arch Linux

#1 2014-08-08 09:50:07

Installing Arch on Atom Z3740D tablet/netbook

#2 2014-08-16 07:11:23

Re: Installing Arch on Atom Z3740D tablet/netbook

#3 2014-08-17 15:07:17

Re: Installing Arch on Atom Z3740D tablet/netbook

#4 2014-08-24 04:15:37

Re: Installing Arch on Atom Z3740D tablet/netbook

#5 2014-08-25 09:16:07

Re: Installing Arch on Atom Z3740D tablet/netbook

#6 2014-08-26 07:48:08

Re: Installing Arch on Atom Z3740D tablet/netbook

#7 2014-09-01 08:07:15

Re: Installing Arch on Atom Z3740D tablet/netbook

#8 2014-09-01 09:52:40

Re: Installing Arch on Atom Z3740D tablet/netbook

#9 2014-09-01 12:23:32

Re: Installing Arch on Atom Z3740D tablet/netbook

#10 2014-09-01 14:52:59

Re: Installing Arch on Atom Z3740D tablet/netbook

#11 2014-09-03 02:55:40

Re: Installing Arch on Atom Z3740D tablet/netbook

#12 2014-10-05 03:41:07

Re: Installing Arch on Atom Z3740D tablet/netbook

#13 2014-12-13 16:19:17

Re: Installing Arch on Atom Z3740D tablet/netbook

#14 2014-12-13 17:38:02

Re: Installing Arch on Atom Z3740D tablet/netbook

#15 2014-12-13 18:07:12

Re: Installing Arch on Atom Z3740D tablet/netbook

#16 2014-12-13 18:17:39

Re: Installing Arch on Atom Z3740D tablet/netbook

#17 2014-12-20 16:25:51

Re: Installing Arch on Atom Z3740D tablet/netbook

#18 2014-12-20 20:23:00

Re: Installing Arch on Atom Z3740D tablet/netbook

#19 2014-12-22 07:55:56

Re: Installing Arch on Atom Z3740D tablet/netbook

#20 2015-01-01 11:16:15

Re: Installing Arch on Atom Z3740D tablet/netbook

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