Gentoo Linux on Lenovo u150

Hello, I just bought a Lenovo u150 with the following specs:

Intel CPU SU7300 @ 1.30GHz, 1300 Mhz, Core 2 Duo
RAM: 2GB
Video: 1366x768x60Hz, 11.6inches
Wireless: Intel WiFi Link 5100 AGN
LAN: Broadcom NetLink Gigabit Ethernet
Hard disk: 300 GB (320GB they say)
Bluetooth
Lenovo EasyCamera3

Here a summary of the steps I took to install Gentoo Linux on it.

I used UNetbootin to load the Gentoo Minimal Installation (amd64) iso image into a USB key, and booted the laptop with it. The first thing I noticed is the lack of the wired network interface, so I used the net-setup script to activate the wlan0 interface and connect to Internet without wires.

After creating partitions, compiling the kernel with this configuration and installing the basic packages as described in the Gentoo Handbook, the system rebooted smoothly.

Brightness

Brightness fixes have been published by zaius; based on his explanations I wrote this C++ program (just because I love C++), which just does the same but in a logarithmic fashion, which I find more appropriate for handling low levels of brightness.

Thanks to zaius for his research and ideas; I just hope the fix will be made at the kernel level very soon.

Earphone plug


The speakers do not mute when you plug your earphones in the laptop. I found a workaround by adding the following kernel parameter to grub.conf:

snd-hda-intel.model=olpc-xo-1_5

It may not look nice, you may loose access to the internal microphone, but the parameter works in keeping your music private for you. Keep up to date with information on these issue by subscribing to the Ubuntu Bug.

Update: linux-2.6.35 does not need the kernel parameter.

Thanks for reading.

I do not have any relationship with Lenovo or its trademarks.