Centrino
 

Hey Guys,
I just got a centrino laptop and I heard a while back in march there there were linux drivers that were being made for the integrated wireless. I Just wanted to know if they have already been released or if anyone has figured out a way to get the wireless to work. I got a Thinkpad T40. I've still been using windows because I use the wireless feature a lot.

Intel hasn't released wireless drivers for Linux and has no plans too.

What do you mean "They have no plans to"? They will not release a driver in the upcoming month or two?

According to Intel's Techsupport, they currently don't have any linux drivers and they currently have no plans to produce any linux drivers for the centrino wireless card.

here is the direct quote from intel

If I run windows xp and then run linux under VMware, would that solve the problem?

Yes that would solve the problem although it is a shame to emulate Linux on WinXP :yuck:

Running VMWARE the host OS is responsible for the drivers and simulates only virtual devices for the guest.

I can't remember where I read it but I heard that the Intel engineers have been working on a Centrino WLAN driver for Linux but the marketing guys didn't want to annoy MS :mad:

This is so ridiculous.

So technically it would work? I would only use windows when I need to use the wi-fi (college library). Otherwise, I would be using regular linux (via partition).

By the way, does the pentium-m lose some of its novelties when you run it in linux (ie. does it not conserve battery as well)?

Not at all. This would mean that you needed a patch for Windows as well since XP was programmed before the Pentium M.

All the power saving techniques are done in hardware and I've made the experience that Linux is even better at power saving than windows at all.

ok....back to running vmware on windows....if you are currently dual booting...how do you get vmware to work with the linux partition thats already installed? everything boots up ok but then it doesn't start X. just goes straight to the console log in.

I don't. I don't have linux installed on my computer yet, since I haven't bought it. This is my grandparents' computer (which I won't put linux on since they will get lost). I have no experience with VMware, but I know that my father has a copy. Wouldn't it be possible to VMware from windows to the other side of the partition (the linux I would be regularly using)?

anyone else know why X won't load?

I'd just like to say that Intel IS going to release Linux drivers for the Centrino products, but who know when. I read this in a CNET or some other news article. It said exactly that...Intel plans on releasing Linux drivers for it's Centrino technology, but they haven't stated when this will happen. I'll see if I can find the link again and post it here. In the meantime you can check:

http://downloadfinder.intel.com/scri...*&submit=Go%21

The drivers will be posted here when Intel releases them (probably not for a while).

X won't load where?

ok....hopefully intel will release drivers soon. i believe they said they were going to release it back in march. also, in Vmware....can you bridge to a wireless adapter? I was hearing from someone in IRC that you cant. Can anyone confirm this?

Yes you can bridge to a wireless adapter. In fact this works just fine. The problem is when you try to use Virtual PC's Virtual Switch with a wireless adapter (really doesn't like this one, brings whole connection down :-( )

Cald_nath: how did you get it all working? I'm not sure how to get it all functioning w/ my setup. I just go straight into the console and not X. Also, if i used vmware tools will that mess up my the partition i use?

Just in case right now I'm dual booting linux and windows. I'm trying to use vmware to boot into that linux partition so I can use wireless w/ linux.

How should I go about doing that?

I just installed linux on Virtual Machine with a bridged Virtual NIC. I didn't have to do anything else. Not sure what could be going on with yours.

Don't hold your breath on those drivers. Here is the most of the e-mail corrispondence that I had with the tech guy.

Like you I read the articles and here is what I sent the tech support:
Here is what I got back

Yep that's the article. I guess from the reply though that they're not looking into it. Well I guess we'll have to wait until someone (intel or 3rd party) comes out with a driver for it until we can get it working :(.

I know that some of the people on this board know how to write the drivers themselves. Any takers?

http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,109981,00.asp

i wonder whats going on, but imo it's only
a matter of time until centrino iss supported by linux
(i definitely hope so) ;)

stefan

If centrino gets as popular as I expect it will be, then there will have to be drivers. I agree its only a matter of time.

Is the chipset supported, by the way?

I believe so. According to some posts that i've read everything on the Dell 600m which is a Centrino model works except for the wireless card. The best compatability seems to be with Mandrake at the moment. Red Hat is a little fussier but I've heard that it works on both. Right now I'm running through VMware until the wireless is supported.

ChaosX2....how are you running your vmware? Are you using it to boot into an existing partition of linux thats already installed? Or are you using a virtual disk? The reason being that I can't get Vmware to work with Debian. It loads up correctly except for the fact that X is not working. It says that it can't load any of the core devices. Please let me know how you got it to work.

Here is the X log.....notice the error messages on the bottom


This is a pre-release version of XFree86, and is not supported in any
way. Bugs may be reported to XFree86@XFree86.Org and patches submitted
to fixes@XFree86.Org. Before reporting bugs in pre-release versions,
please check the latest version in the XFree86 CVS repository
(http://www.XFree86.Org/cvs)

XFree86 Version 4.1.0.1 / X Window System
(protocol Version 11, revision 0, vendor release 6510)
Release Date: 21 December 2001
If the server is older than 6-12 months, or if your card is
newer than the above date, look for a newer version before
reporting problems. (See http://www.XFree86.Org/FAQ)
Build Operating System: Linux 2.4.17 i686 [ELF]
Module Loader present
(==) Log file: "/var/log/XFree86.0.log", Time: Mon Jul 7 13:20:21 2003
(==) Using config file: "/etc/X11/XF86Config-4"
Markers: (--) probed, (**) from config file, (==) default setting,
(++) from command line, (!!) notice, (II) informational,
(WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown.
(==) ServerLayout "Simple Layout"
(**) |-->Screen "Screen 1" (0)
(**) | |-->Monitor "vmware"
(**) | |-->Device "VMware SVGA"
(**) |-->Input Device "Mouse1"
(**) |-->Input Device "Keyboard1"
(**) Option "AutoRepeat" "500 30"
(WW) Option "XkbCompat" requires an string value
(**) Option "XkbRules" "xfree86"
(**) XKB: rules: "xfree86"
(**) Option "XkbModel" "pc104"
(**) XKB: model: "pc104"
(**) Option "XkbLayout" "us"
(**) XKB: layout: "us"
(==) Keyboard: CustomKeycode disabled
(WW) The directory "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/cyrillic" does not exist.
Entry deleted from font path.
(**) FontPath set to "unix/:7100,/usr/lib/X11/fonts/misc,/usr/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi/:unscaled,/usr/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi/:unscaled,/usr/lib/X11/fonts/Type1,/usr/lib/X11/fonts/Speedo,/usr/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi,/usr/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi"
(==) RgbPath set to "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/rgb"
(==) ModulePath set to "/usr/X11R6/lib/modules"
(--) using VT number 7

(II) Open APM successful
(II) Module ABI versions:
XFree86 ANSI C Emulation: 0.1
XFree86 Video Driver: 0.4
XFree86 XInput driver : 0.2
XFree86 Server Extension : 0.1
XFree86 Font Renderer : 0.2
(II) Loader running on linux
(II) LoadModule: "bitmap"
(II) Loading /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/fonts/libbitmap.a
(II) Module bitmap: vendor="The XFree86 Project"
compiled for 4.1.0.1, module version = 1.0.0
Module class: XFree86 Font Renderer
ABI class: XFree86 Font Renderer, version 0.2
(II) Loading font Bitmap
(II) LoadModule: "pcidata"
(II) Loading /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/libpcidata.a
(II) Module pcidata: vendor="The XFree86 Project"
compiled for 4.1.0.1, module version = 0.1.0
ABI class: XFree86 Video Driver, version 0.4
(II) PCI: Probing config type using method 1
(II) PCI: Config type is 1
(II) PCI: stages = 0x03, oldVal1 = 0x8000800c, mode1Res1 = 0x80000000
(II) PCI: PCI scan (all values are in hex)
(II) PCI: 00:00:0: chip 8086,7190 card 15ad,1976 rev 01 class 06,00,00 hdr 00
(II) PCI: 00:01:0: chip 8086,7191 card 0000,0000 rev 01 class 06,04,00 hdr 01
(II) PCI: 00:07:0: chip 8086,7110 card 15ad,1976 rev 08 class 06,01,00 hdr 80
(II) PCI: 00:07:1: chip 8086,7111 card 15ad,1976 rev 01 class 01,01,8a hdr 00
(II) PCI: 00:07:2: chip 8086,7112 card 15ad,1976 rev 00 class 0c,03,00 hdr 00
(II) PCI: 00:07:3: chip 8086,7113 card 15ad,1976 rev 08 class 06,80,00 hdr 80
(II) PCI: 00:0f:0: chip 15ad,0405 card 15ad,0405 rev 00 class 03,00,00 hdr 00
(II) PCI: 00:10:0: chip 1022,2000 card 1022,2000 rev 10 class 02,00,00 hdr 00
(II) PCI: 00:11:0: chip 1274,1371 card 1274,1371 rev 02 class 04,01,00 hdr 00
(II) PCI: End of PCI scan
(II) LoadModule: "scanpci"
(II) Loading /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/libscanpci.a
(II) Module scanpci: vendor="The XFree86 Project"
compiled for 4.1.0.1, module version = 0.1.0
ABI class: XFree86 Video Driver, version 0.4
(II) UnloadModule: "scanpci"
(II) Unloading /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/libscanpci.a
(II) Host-to-PCI bridge:
(II) PCI-to-ISA bridge:
(II) PCI-to-PCI bridge:
(II) Bus 0: bridge is at (0:0:0), (-1,0,0), BCTRL: 0x08 (VGA_EN is set)
(II) Bus 0 I/O range:
[0] -1 0 0x00000000 - 0x0000ffff (0x10000) IX[B]
(II) Bus 0 non-prefetchable memory range:
[0] -1 0 0x00000000 - 0xffffffff (0x0) MX[B]
(II) Bus 0 prefetchable memory range:
[0] -1 0 0x00000000 - 0xffffffff (0x0) MX[B]
(II) Bus 1: bridge is at (0:1:0), (0,1,1), BCTRL: 0x80 (VGA_EN is cleared)
(II) Bus 1 I/O range:
(II) Bus 1 non-prefetchable memory range:
(II) Bus 1 prefetchable memory range:
(II) Bus -1: bridge is at (0:7:0), (0,-1,0), BCTRL: 0x08 (VGA_EN is set)
(II) Bus -1 I/O range:
(II) Bus -1 non-prefetchable memory range:
(II) Bus -1 prefetchable memory range:
(--) PCI:*(0:15:0) VMware PCI SVGA (FIFO) rev 0, Mem @ 0xfd000000/24, 0xfc000000/24, I/O @ 0x10e0/4
(II) Addressable bus resource ranges are
[0] -1 0 0x00000000 - 0xffffffff (0x0) MX[B]
[1] -1 0 0x00000000 - 0x0000ffff (0x10000) IX[B]
(II) OS-reported resource ranges:
[0] -1 0 0xffe00000 - 0xffffffff (0x200000) MX[B](B)
[1] -1 0 0x00100000 - 0x3fffffff (0x3ff00000) MX[B]E(B)
[2] -1 0 0x000f0000 - 0x000fffff (0x10000) MX[B]
[3] -1 0 0x000c0000 - 0x000effff (0x30000) MX[B]
[4] -1 0 0x00000000 - 0x0009ffff (0xa0000) MX[B]
[5] -1 0 0x0000ffff - 0x0000ffff (0x1) IX[B]
[6] -1 0 0x00000000 - 0x000000ff (0x100) IX[B]
(II) Active PCI resource ranges:
[0] -1 0 0xf8000000 - 0xfbffffff (0x4000000) MX[B]
[1] -1 0 0xfc000000 - 0xfcffffff (0x1000000) MX[B](B)
[2] -1 0 0xfd000000 - 0xfdffffff (0x1000000) MX[B](B)
[3] -1 0 0x00001080 - 0x000010bf (0x40) IX[B]
[4] -1 0 0x000010c0 - 0x000010df (0x20) IX[B]
[5] -1 0 0x00001060 - 0x0000107f (0x20) IX[B]
[6] -1 0 0x000010f0 - 0x000010ff (0x10) IX[B]
[7] -1 0 0x000010e0 - 0x000010ef (0x10) IX[B](B)
(II) Active PCI resource ranges after removing overlaps:
[0] -1 0 0xf8000000 - 0xfbffffff (0x4000000) MX[B]
[1] -1 0 0xfc000000 - 0xfcffffff (0x1000000) MX[B](B)
[2] -1 0 0xfd000000 - 0xfdffffff (0x1000000) MX[B](B)
[3] -1 0 0x00001080 - 0x000010bf (0x40) IX[B]
[4] -1 0 0x000010c0 - 0x000010df (0x20) IX[B]
[5] -1 0 0x00001060 - 0x0000107f (0x20) IX[B]
[6] -1 0 0x000010f0 - 0x000010ff (0x10) IX[B]
[7] -1 0 0x000010e0 - 0x000010ef (0x10) IX[B](B)
(II) OS-reported resource ranges after removing overlaps with PCI:
[0] -1 0 0xffe00000 - 0xffffffff (0x200000) MX[B](B)
[1] -1 0 0x00100000 - 0x3fffffff (0x3ff00000) MX[B]E(B)
[2] -1 0 0x000f0000 - 0x000fffff (0x10000) MX[B]
[3] -1 0 0x000c0000 - 0x000effff (0x30000) MX[B]
[4] -1 0 0x00000000 - 0x0009ffff (0xa0000) MX[B]
[5] -1 0 0x0000ffff - 0x0000ffff (0x1) IX[B]
[6] -1 0 0x00000000 - 0x000000ff (0x100) IX[B]
(II) All system resource ranges:
[0] -1 0 0xffe00000 - 0xffffffff (0x200000) MX[B](B)
[1] -1 0 0x00100000 - 0x3fffffff (0x3ff00000) MX[B]E(B)
[2] -1 0 0x000f0000 - 0x000fffff (0x10000) MX[B]
[3] -1 0 0x000c0000 - 0x000effff (0x30000) MX[B]
[4] -1 0 0x00000000 - 0x0009ffff (0xa0000) MX[B]
[5] -1 0 0xf8000000 - 0xfbffffff (0x4000000) MX[B]
[6] -1 0 0xfc000000 - 0xfcffffff (0x1000000) MX[B](B)
[7] -1 0 0xfd000000 - 0xfdffffff (0x1000000) MX[B](B)
[8] -1 0 0x0000ffff - 0x0000ffff (0x1) IX[B]
[9] -1 0 0x00000000 - 0x000000ff (0x100) IX[B]
[10] -1 0 0x00001080 - 0x000010bf (0x40) IX[B]
[11] -1 0 0x000010c0 - 0x000010df (0x20) IX[B]
[12] -1 0 0x00001060 - 0x0000107f (0x20) IX[B]
[13] -1 0 0x000010f0 - 0x000010ff (0x10) IX[B]
[14] -1 0 0x000010e0 - 0x000010ef (0x10) IX[B](B)
(II) LoadModule: "dbe"
(II) Loading /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/extensions/libdbe.a
(II) Module dbe: vendor="The XFree86 Project"
compiled for 4.1.0.1, module version = 1.0.0
Module class: XFree86 Server Extension
ABI class: XFree86 Server Extension, version 0.1
(II) Loading extension DOUBLE-BUFFER
(II) LoadModule: "extmod"
(II) Loading /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/extensions/libextmod.a
(II) Module extmod: vendor="The XFree86 Project"
compiled for 4.1.0.1, module version = 1.0.0
Module class: XFree86 Server Extension
ABI class: XFree86 Server Extension, version 0.1
(II) Loading extension SHAPE
(II) Loading extension MIT-SUNDRY-NONSTANDARD
(II) Loading extension BIG-REQUESTS
(II) Loading extension SYNC
(II) Loading extension MIT-SCREEN-SAVER
(II) Loading extension XC-MISC
(II) Loading extension XFree86-VidModeExtension
(II) Loading extension XFree86-Misc
(II) Loading extension XFree86-DGA
(II) Loading extension DPMS
(II) Loading extension FontCache
(II) Loading extension TOG-CUP
(II) Loading extension Extended-Visual-Information
(II) Loading extension XVideo
(II) Loading extension XVideo-MotionCompensation
(II) LoadModule: "type1"
(II) Loading /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/fonts/libtype1.a
(II) Module type1: vendor="The XFree86 Project"
compiled for 4.1.0.1, module version = 1.0.0
Module class: XFree86 Font Renderer
ABI class: XFree86 Font Renderer, version 0.2
(II) Loading font Type1
(II) Loading font CID
(II) LoadModule: "freetype"
(II) Loading /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/fonts/libfreetype.a
(II) Module freetype: vendor="The XFree86 Project"
compiled for 4.1.0.1, module version = 1.1.9
Module class: XFree86 Font Renderer
ABI class: XFree86 Font Renderer, version 0.2
(II) Loading font FreeType
(II) LoadModule: "vmware"
(II) Loading /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/drivers/vmware_drv.o
(II) Module vmware: vendor="The XFree86 Project"
compiled for 4.0.2, module version = 10.4.0
Module class: XFree86 Video Driver
ABI class: XFree86 Video Driver, version 0.3
(II) LoadModule: "mouse"
(II) Loading /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/input/mouse_drv.o
(II) Module mouse: vendor="The XFree86 Project"
compiled for 4.1.0.1, module version = 1.0.0
Module class: XFree86 XInput Driver
ABI class: XFree86 XInput driver, version 0.2
(II) VMWARE: driver for VMware SVGA: vmware0405, vmware0710
(II) Primary Device is: PCI 00:0f:0
(--) VMware Guest X Server 10.4.0 - build=
(--) Assigning device section with no busID to primary device
(--) Chipset vmware0405 found
(II) resource ranges after xf86ClaimFixedResources() call:
[0] 0 0 0x000b8000 - 0x000bffff (0x8000) MX[B]
[1] 0 0 0x000b0000 - 0x000b7fff (0x8000) MX[B]
[2] 0 0 0x000a0000 - 0x000affff (0x10000) MX[B]
[3] -1 0 0xffe00000 - 0xffffffff (0x200000) MX[B](B)
[4] -1 0 0x00100000 - 0x3fffffff (0x3ff00000) MX[B]E(B)
[5] -1 0 0x000f0000 - 0x000fffff (0x10000) MX[B]
[6] -1 0 0x000c0000 - 0x000effff (0x30000) MX[B]
[7] -1 0 0x00000000 - 0x0009ffff (0xa0000) MX[B]
[8] -1 0 0xf8000000 - 0xfbffffff (0x4000000) MX[B]
[9] -1 0 0xfc000000 - 0xfcffffff (0x1000000) MX[B](B)
[10] -1 0 0xfd000000 - 0xfdffffff (0x1000000) MX[B](B)
[11] 0 0 0x000003c0 - 0x000003df (0x20) IX[B]
[12] 0 0 0x000003b0 - 0x000003bb (0xc) IX[B]
[13] -1 0 0x0000ffff - 0x0000ffff (0x1) IX[B]
[14] -1 0 0x00000000 - 0x000000ff (0x100) IX[B]
[15] -1 0 0x00001080 - 0x000010bf (0x40) IX[B]
[16] -1 0 0x000010c0 - 0x000010df (0x20) IX[B]
[17] -1 0 0x00001060 - 0x0000107f (0x20) IX[B]
[18] -1 0 0x000010f0 - 0x000010ff (0x10) IX[B]
[19] -1 0 0x000010e0 - 0x000010ef (0x10) IX[B](B)
(II) resource ranges after probing:
[0] 0 0 0x000b8000 - 0x000bffff (0x8000) MX[B]
[1] 0 0 0x000b0000 - 0x000b7fff (0x8000) MX[B]
[2] 0 0 0x000a0000 - 0x000affff (0x10000) MX[B]
[3] -1 0 0xffe00000 - 0xffffffff (0x200000) MX[B](B)
[4] -1 0 0x00100000 - 0x3fffffff (0x3ff00000) MX[B]E(B)
[5] -1 0 0x000f0000 - 0x000fffff (0x10000) MX[B]
[6] -1 0 0x000c0000 - 0x000effff (0x30000) MX[B]
[7] -1 0 0x00000000 - 0x0009ffff (0xa0000) MX[B]
[8] -1 0 0xf8000000 - 0xfbffffff (0x4000000) MX[B]
[9] -1 0 0xfc000000 - 0xfcffffff (0x1000000) MX[B](B)
[10] -1 0 0xfd000000 - 0xfdffffff (0x1000000) MX[B](B)
[11] 0 0 0x000003c0 - 0x000003df (0x20) IX[B]
[12] 0 0 0x000003b0 - 0x000003bb (0xc) IX[B]
[13] -1 0 0x0000ffff - 0x0000ffff (0x1) IX[B]
[14] -1 0 0x00000000 - 0x000000ff (0x100) IX[B]
[15] -1 0 0x00001080 - 0x000010bf (0x40) IX[B]
[16] -1 0 0x000010c0 - 0x000010df (0x20) IX[B]
[17] -1 0 0x00001060 - 0x0000107f (0x20) IX[B]
[18] -1 0 0x000010f0 - 0x000010ff (0x10) IX[B]
[19] -1 0 0x000010e0 - 0x000010ef (0x10) IX[B](B)
(II) Setting vga for screen 0.
(--) VMWARE(0): VMware SVGA regs at (0x10e0, 0x10e1)
(II) Loading sub module "vgahw"
(II) LoadModule: "vgahw"
(II) Loading /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/libvgahw.a
(II) Module vgahw: vendor="The XFree86 Project"
compiled for 4.1.0.1, module version = 0.1.0
ABI class: XFree86 Video Driver, version 0.4
(--) VMWARE(0): depth: 24
(--) VMWARE(0): w.red: 8
(--) VMWARE(0): w.grn: 8
(--) VMWARE(0): w.blu: 8
(--) VMWARE(0): bpp: 32
(--) VMWARE(0): vis: 4
(--) VMWARE(0): vram: 16777216
(--) VMWARE(0): pbase: 0xfd000000
(--) VMWARE(0): mwidt: 2360
(--) VMWARE(0): mheig: 1770
(--) VMWARE(0): caps: 0x00003FFF
(==) VMWARE(0): Depth 24, (==) framebuffer bpp 32
(==) VMWARE(0): RGB weight 888
(==) VMWARE(0): Default visual is TrueColor
(==) VMWARE(0): Using HW cursor
(==) VMWARE(0): Using gamma correction (1.0, 1.0, 1.0)
(II) VMWARE(0): vmware: Using hsync range of 1.00-10000.00 kHz
(II) VMWARE(0): vmware: Using vrefresh range of 1.00-10000.00 Hz
(II) VMWARE(0): Clock range: 0.00 to 400000.00 MHz
(II) VMWARE(0): Not using mode "2364x1773" (width requires unsupported line pitch)
(--) VMWARE(0): Virtual size is 800x600 (pitch 800)
(**) VMWARE(0): Mode "800x600": 100.0 MHz, 90.9 kHz, 101.0 Hz
(II) VMWARE(0): Modeline "800x600" 100.00 800 900 1000 1100 600 700 800 900 (null)
(++) VMWARE(0): DPI set to (100, 100)
(II) Loading sub module "cfb32"
(II) LoadModule: "cfb32"
(II) Loading /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/libcfb32.a
(II) Module cfb32: vendor="The XFree86 Project"
compiled for 4.1.0.1, module version = 1.0.0
ABI class: XFree86 ANSI C Emulation, version 0.1
(II) Loading sub module "cfb"
(II) LoadModule: "cfb"
(II) Loading /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/libcfb.a
(II) Module cfb: vendor="The XFree86 Project"
compiled for 4.1.0.1, module version = 1.0.0
ABI class: XFree86 ANSI C Emulation, version 0.1
(II) Loading sub module "mfb"
(II) LoadModule: "mfb"
(II) Loading /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/libmfb.a
(II) Module mfb: vendor="The XFree86 Project"
compiled for 4.1.0.1, module version = 1.0.0
ABI class: XFree86 ANSI C Emulation, version 0.1
(II) Loading sub module "xaa"
(II) LoadModule: "xaa"
(II) Loading /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/libxaa.a
(II) Module xaa: vendor="The XFree86 Project"
compiled for 4.1.0.1, module version = 1.0.0
ABI class: XFree86 Video Driver, version 0.4
Symbol cfb24ScreenInit from module /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/drivers/vmware_drv.o is unresolved!
Symbol cfb24CopyPlane from module /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/drivers/vmware_drv.o is unresolved!
Symbol cfb16ScreenInit from module /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/drivers/vmware_drv.o is unresolved!
Symbol cfb16CopyPlane from module /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/drivers/vmware_drv.o is unresolved!
(--) Depth 24 pixmap format is 32 bpp
(II) do I need RAC? No, I don't.
(II) resource ranges after preInit:
[0] 0 0 0x000b8000 - 0x000bffff (0x8000) MX[B]
[1] 0 0 0x000b0000 - 0x000b7fff (0x8000) MX[B]
[2] 0 0 0x000a0000 - 0x000affff (0x10000) MX[B]
[3] -1 0 0xffe00000 - 0xffffffff (0x200000) MX[B](B)
[4] -1 0 0x00100000 - 0x3fffffff (0x3ff00000) MX[B]E(B)
[5] -1 0 0x000f0000 - 0x000fffff (0x10000) MX[B]
[6] -1 0 0x000c0000 - 0x000effff (0x30000) MX[B]
[7] -1 0 0x00000000 - 0x0009ffff (0xa0000) MX[B]
[8] -1 0 0xf8000000 - 0xfbffffff (0x4000000) MX[B]
[9] -1 0 0xfc000000 - 0xfcffffff (0x1000000) MX[B](B)
[10] -1 0 0xfd000000 - 0xfdffffff (0x1000000) MX[B](B)
[11] 0 0 0x000003c0 - 0x000003df (0x20) IX[B]
[12] 0 0 0x000003b0 - 0x000003bb (0xc) IX[B]
[13] -1 0 0x0000ffff - 0x0000ffff (0x1) IX[B]
[14] -1 0 0x00000000 - 0x000000ff (0x100) IX[B]
[15] -1 0 0x00001080 - 0x000010bf (0x40) IX[B]
[16] -1 0 0x000010c0 - 0x000010df (0x20) IX[B]
[17] -1 0 0x00001060 - 0x0000107f (0x20) IX[B]
[18] -1 0 0x000010f0 - 0x000010ff (0x10) IX[B]
[19] -1 0 0x000010e0 - 0x000010ef (0x10) IX[B](B)
(WW) VMWARE(0): Failed to set up write-combining range (0xfd000000,0x1000000)
(II) Setting vga for screen 0.
(II) Initializing built-in extension MIT-SHM
(II) Initializing built-in extension XInputExtension
(II) Initializing built-in extension XTEST
(II) Initializing built-in extension XKEYBOARD
(II) Initializing built-in extension LBX
(II) Initializing built-in extension XC-APPGROUP
(II) Initializing built-in extension SECURITY
(II) Initializing built-in extension XINERAMA
(II) Initializing built-in extension XFree86-Bigfont
(II) Initializing built-in extension RENDER
(**) Option "Protocol" "ps/2"
(**) Mouse1: Protocol: "ps/2"
(**) Option "CorePointer"
(**) Mouse1: Core Pointer
(**) Option "Device" "/dev/mouse"
(EE) xf86OpenSerial: Cannot open device /dev/mouse
No such file or directory.
(EE) Mouse1: cannot open input device
(EE) PreInit failed for input device "Mouse1"
(II) UnloadModule: "mouse"
(II) Keyboard "Keyboard1" handled by legacy driver
(WW) No core pointer registered
No core pointer

Fatal server error:
failed to initialize core devices

When reporting a problem related to a server crash, please send
the full server output, not just the last messages.
This can be found in the log file "/var/log/XFree86.0.log".
Please report problems to submit@bugs.debian.org.

Since VMWare simulates a completly separate PC I don't believe there is a way for it to access the real disk without networking it. Remember that VMWare simulates its own hardware so if you set up Debian with your machines hardware it isn't going to work. You should look at VMware's supported OS's. I am running Mandrake 9.1, I had a few problems getting X to work but I copied the X Config file from Knoppix and X now works great.

Hmm....I've heard of ppl over at freenode say that they were able to do it but just that red hat was able to configure it automatically for them. In theory I think it should work...

I've just tried the knoppix XFConfig86-4 file that I used on my laptop. No go....

anyone else have any ideas about getting X to work?
...now its just complaining about the screens...it says no screens were found

Yes on supported OS's X should setup without a problem, however Mandrake 9.1 is not supported and I've had problems getting the settings just right for it to work. I gave up spending the time to figure it out and just copied the Knoppix X config file, and it worked for me. I've never used Debian, is it supported by VMWare? Also what version of VMware are you using?

Almost forgot, make sure when you are copying the knoppix config file you are copying it from knoppix being started up within VMware and not your laptop.

In other words, put your Knoppix CD in the drive start VMware start the VM and have it boot from the Knoppix CD. Once you have Knoppix running mount your Linux drive for R/W and copy the X Config File. Remember to back up the original, just in case.

Hope that helps

I'm running VMware 4. How do you get VMWare to boot off the cdrom? It's always going to the LILO. Is there a bios option somewhere?

Ok...I got it to boot the cd. I tried the XF86Config-4 file from when I boot knoppix within VMware. It actually took me to the Gnome boot screen. Now the problem is that the mouse on my laptop won't move, but the mouse was working when I was using Knoppix.

I don't know why you would be having mouse problems. Have you checked the XF86Config-4 that you backed up and tried to modify your current XF86Config-4 file to match your old XF86Config-4 files mouse settings?

yeah...let me double check it tho...right now this is the XF86Config-4 file I got from knoppix...before I used the knoppix file the mouse has never worked. So I'm not sure how to do it.

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "XFree86 Configured"
Screen 0 "Screen0" 0 0
InputDevice "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
InputDevice "PS/2 Mouse" "CorePointer"
# Serial Mouse not detected
# USB Mouse not detected
EndSection

Section "ServerFlags"
Option "AllowMouseOpenFail" "true"

EndSection

Section "Files"
RgbPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/rgb"
ModulePath "/usr/X11R6/lib/modules"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/misc:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/misc"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/Speedo"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/PEX"
# Additional fonts: Locale, Gimp, TTF...
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/cyrillic"
# FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/latin2/75dpi"
# FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/latin2/100dpi"
# True type and type1 fonts are also handled via xftlib, see /etc/X11/XftConfig!
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/Type1"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/ttf/western"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/ttf/decoratives"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/truetype/openoffice"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/defoma/CID"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/defoma/TrueType"
EndSection

Section "Module"
Load "ddc" # ddc probing of monitor
Load "GLcore"
Load "dbe"
Load "dri"
Load "extmod"
Load "glx"
Load "bitmap" # bitmap-fonts
Load "speedo"
Load "type1"
Load "freetype"
Load "record"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Keyboard0"
Driver "keyboard"
Option "CoreKeyboard"
Option "XkbRules" "xfree86"
Option "XkbModel" "pc104"
Option "XkbLayout" "us"

EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Serial Mouse"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Protocol" "Microsoft"
Option "Device" "/dev/ttyS0"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "true"
Option "Emulate3Timeout" "70"
Option "SendCoreEvents" "true"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "PS/2 Mouse"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Protocol" "auto"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
Option "Device" "/dev/psaux"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "true"
Option "Emulate3Timeout" "70"
Option "SendCoreEvents" "true"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "USB Mouse"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
Option "SendCoreEvents" "true"
Option "Protocol" "IMPS/2"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
Option "Buttons" "5"
EndSection

# Auto-generated by KNOPPIX mkxf86config

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Monitor0"
Option "DPMS" "true"
# HorizSync 28.0 - 78.0 # Warning: This may fry very old Monitors
HorizSync 28.0 - 96.0 # Warning: This may fry old Monitors
VertRefresh 50.0 - 76.0 # Very conservative. May flicker.
# These are some Modelines that happen to work on many systems
# Especially the "1024x768" has been thoroughly tested, even on Laptops
Modeline "640x480" 25.175 640 664 760 800 480 491 493 525 #60Hz
Modeline "800x600" 40.12 800 848 968 1056 600 601 605 628 #60Hz
Modeline "1024x768" 85 1024 1056 1152 1360 768 784 787 823
Modeline "1152x864" 92 1152 1208 1368 1474 864 865 875 895
Modeline "1152x864" 110 1152 1240 1324 1552 864 864 876 908
Modeline "1152x864" 135 1152 1464 1592 1776 864 864 876 908
Modeline "1152x864" 137.65 1152 1184 1312 1536 864 866 885 902 -HSync -VSync
Modeline "1280x1024" 80 1280 1296 1512 1568 1024 1025 1037 1165 Interlace
Modeline "1280x1024" 110 1280 1328 1512 1712 1024 1025 1028 1054
Modeline "1280x1024" 126.5 1280 1312 1472 1696 1024 1032 1040 1068 -HSync -VSync
Modeline "1280x1024" 135 1280 1312 1456 1712 1024 1027 1030 1064
Modeline "1280x1024" 135 1280 1312 1416 1664 1024 1027 1030 1064
Modeline "1280x1024" 157.5 1280 1344 1504 1728 1024 1025 1028 1072 +HSync +VSync
Modeline "1280x1024" 181.75 1280 1312 1440 1696 1024 1031 1046 1072 -HSync -VSync
Modeline "1600x1200" 162 1600 1664 1856 2160 1200 1201 1204 1250 +HSync +VSync
Modeline "1600x1200" 189 1600 1664 1856 2160 1200 1201 1204 1250 -HSync -VSync
Modeline "1600x1200" 202.5 1600 1664 1856 2160 1200 1201 1204 1250 +HSync +VSync
Modeline "1600x1200" 220 1600 1616 1808 2080 1200 1204 1207 1244 +HSync +VSync
ModeLine "1800x1440" 230 1800 1896 2088 2392 1440 1441 1444 1490 +HSync +VSync
ModeLine "1800x1440" 250 1800 1896 2088 2392 1440 1441 1444 1490 +HSync +VSync
EndSection

Section "Device"
### Available Driver options are:-
# sw_cursor is needed for some ati and radeon cards
#Option "sw_cursor"
#Option "hw_cursor"
#Option "NoAccel"
#Option "ShowCache"
#Option "ShadowFB"
#Option "UseFBDev"
#Option "Rotate"
Identifier "Card0"
# The following line is auto-generated by KNOPPIX mkxf86config
Driver "vmware"
VendorName "All"
BoardName "All"
BusID "PCI:0:15:0"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen0"
Device "Card0"
Monitor "Monitor0"
# DefaultColorDepth 16
SubSection "Display"
Depth 1
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 4
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 8
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 15
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 32
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "DRI"
Mode 0666
EndSection

Ok. the mouse works now....
now for the main reason I wanted to be able to do this. Bridge my wireless network to this linux.
How do I begin to configure this? I selected that option when I first set up the virtual comp

ok...everything works now. I had my netwrok on NAT instead of bridge.

Thanks for all your help

One last question. How would I do it so that I'd be able to choose between two differenct XF86Config-4 before linux loads? Is that possible?

I'm glad that you've gotten most of it working... I have no idea how to change the XF86Config-4 files on boot. Why do you want to do that?

Dammit...for some reason X won't start up agian....and there are no error messages....what the hell just happend?

Try a cold boot on the virtual machine. I've noticed a little instability in X on my Mandrake install, usually I reboot and all is well again.