diff --git a/site/docs/hardware/e6400.md b/site/docs/hardware/e6400.md index f01fed3..939b40c 100644 --- a/site/docs/hardware/e6400.md +++ b/site/docs/hardware/e6400.md @@ -134,11 +134,12 @@ to replace the thermal pad. This eBay seller seems to make and sell a lot of copper shims, specifically for E6400: - - -If the listing ends, please [contact the Libreboot project](../../contact.md) -so that this link can be replaced or (if a replacement link is no longer -available) removed. +**SELLER LINK REMOVED.** - one will not be re-added. Putting ebay links on the +Libreboot site is folly, because they disappear. Just search for it and see if +you can find one for purchase. It's literally just a small bit of copper cut +smooth to just the right size. Actually, there's a lot of engineering behind +that, but installation is very simple, and any decent seller will provide +guidance. If you buy one of those, could you measure it? Tell Libreboot the dimensions. Get in touch with us. It would be nice to know precise specs, but that seller diff --git a/site/docs/install/e6400.md b/site/docs/install/e6400.md index de603f6..9f82d57 100644 --- a/site/docs/install/e6400.md +++ b/site/docs/install/e6400.md @@ -47,8 +47,12 @@ A note about GPUs ----------------- We *confirm that* the Nvidia models are PM45, and therefore will require a VGA -blob for initialisation. This is [experimentally -supported](../../news/e6400nvidia.md) in Libreboot. - **A Video BIOS Option +blob for initialisation. This is supported in Libreboot *after* the 20230625 +release, if you compile from source; the `e6400_4mb` target can work on both +variants, but will need the Nvidia VGA ROM inserted to work on Nvidia models. +This insertion is handled automatically in newer lbmk revisions, during build +time, or you can [insert it on a release rom +after 20230625](ivy_has_common.md). - **A Video BIOS Option ROM is used, in this configuration, which is a binary blob. Libreboot's build system automatically downloads this at build time, or it can handle that for you in the same way if it was scrubbed from a release ROM.** @@ -109,69 +113,57 @@ operating system such as OpenBSD. More information is written on the This is *unavailable* in Libreboot 20230423 and 20230625, but a future release will contain support for these variants; for now, you must compile Libreboot -from Git. +from Git. It is available in the default `master` branch of lbmk, under +build target `e6400_4mb` - either build from source and it gets inserted +automatically, or you can [insert it +manually](ivy_has_common.md) on future release ROMs past Libreboot 20230625. -Download the Libreboot build system, lbmk, like so: - - git clone https://codeberg.org/libreboot/lbmk - -When you clone the Libreboot git repository `lbmk.git`, go in there and do -this: - - git checkout e6400nvidia_wip +An earlier experimental revision existed in the `e6400nvidia_wip` branch of +lbmk, as build target `e6400nvidia_4mb`, but it was decided that since SeaBIOS +is the only payload anyway on this board, having just a single build target is +more efficient if that can (and it does) support both variants. Actual installation is the same as with regular E6400 (Intel GPU) variants. Refer to the [E6400 flashing instructions](../docs/install/e6400.md). The `e6400nvidia_wip` is used, because this version is still under development. -Refer to [development discussion](https://codeberg.org/libreboot/lbmk/issues/14#issuecomment-907758) for more information - [testers needed!](../maintain/testing.md) + +Problems with Linux video drivers on Nvidia +------------------------------------------- + +Technically, there is nothing wrong with Libreboot itself, but the `nouveau` +driver hangs/crashes on Nvidia models, after booting Linux with the Nvidia VGA +ROM loaded from coreboot. + +Until that is fixed, you must specify `nomodeset` in your Linux kernel boot +parameters. + +Refer to [development +discussion](https://codeberg.org/libreboot/lbmk/issues/14#issuecomment-907758) +for more information - [testers needed!](../maintain/testing.md) + +The *Intel* GPU variant of E6400 is more stable, and works fully, with full +acceleration - the Nvidia models can only be run in software, and the BSD +systems only have the slow `nv` driver (which is nonetheless stable). Obtaining the VGA Option ROM (Nvidia) ------------------------------------- -Libreboot does not (and will not) directly distribute the Nvidia ROM, but this -WIP branch has logic added to blob scripts, which automatically fetches Dell +Libreboot does not (and will not) directly distribute the Nvidia ROM, but lbmk + has logic added to blob scripts, which automatically fetches Dell update files and extracts the Video BIOS from it. This is inserted during the build process, *automatically*. Everything has been figured out *for you*, as is the purpose of Libreboot's [automated build system](../maintain/). -In Libreboot release ROMs after Libreboot 20230423, this Video BIOS ROM will -*not* be present, but you'll be able to run the same script that lbmk uses, to -manually re-download and re-add it. The Libreboot build system scrubs certain -binary blobs, in the scripts from lbmk that create release archives. +Provided for *after* the Libreboot 20230625 release, this Video BIOS ROM will +*not* be present in releases, but you'll be able to run the same script that +lbmk uses, to manually re-download and re-add it. The Libreboot build system +scrubs certain binary blobs, in the scripts from lbmk that create release +archives. [Please read the Libreboot build guide](../build/) for more general guidance -on compiling Libreboot. You should *especially* set name/email in Git, like -so: - - git config --global user.name "John Doe" - git config --global user.email "you@example.com" - -Ensure that the `python` command on your system is python *3*, not 2. You -should ensure that you have the correct *build dependencies* installed; check -the script names inside `resources/scripts/build/dependencies` and pick one -that matches your Linux distro; if one isn't available, adapt accordingly. -Then run it as root. For example, on Debian (stable, testing or sid all -confirmed to work, as of 9 May 2023): - - ./build dependencies debian - -With build dependencies installed, and Git configured, you may then run -lbmk commands to compile the ROM image. - -Libreboot's blob scripts, while in the `e6400nvidia_wip` branch, can be -executed like so: - - ./blobutil download e6400nvidia_4mb - -*The above command is executed automatically, when Libreboot's build system -is called, to build the full E6400 ROM image like so:* - - ./build boot roms e6400nvidia_4mb - -The `download` command (see above) pulls down Dell's BIOS update (A34 release), -and extracts the VGA ROM from that. This is then saved to `pciroms/` under -lbmk. +on compiling Libreboot. This is *required*, until the next release of Libreboot +after 20230625 comes out. The `./build boot roms` command (see above) automatically inserts this PCI ROM, and it is downloaded automatically if the PCI ROM is missing; if @@ -195,7 +187,7 @@ DO NOT flash it unless that file is present. If you've confirmed that the ROM has compiled successfully, you can flash it. **BEFORE** you flash it, please know that support for Nvidia variants is -a **work in progress**. Known issues exist. For more information, please +a **proof of concept**. Known issues exist. For more information, please read the [E6400 info page](../hardware/e6400.md), [E6400 nvidia news page](../../news/e6400nvidia.md) and the [development discussion via codeberg](https://codeberg.org/libreboot/lbmk/issues/14#issuecomment-907758). diff --git a/site/news/e6400.md b/site/news/e6400.md index 44ba4fc..47e2cb7 100644 --- a/site/news/e6400.md +++ b/site/news/e6400.md @@ -3,8 +3,7 @@ % 19 April 2023 **UPDATE (9 May 2023): Libreboot confirmed working on variants such as -[E6400 XFR, and experiment Nvidia GPU variant support now -available](e6400nvidia.md).** +[E6400 XFR, and the Nvidia GPU variant is now supported](e6400nvidia.md).** Introduction ============ diff --git a/site/news/e6400nvidia.md b/site/news/e6400nvidia.md index fdf5122..8059688 100644 --- a/site/news/e6400nvidia.md +++ b/site/news/e6400nvidia.md @@ -2,6 +2,17 @@ % Leah Rowe % 9 May 2023 +**Update: Nvidia GPU variants of Latitude E6400 are, as of 11 September 2023, +fully supported in the `master` branch of lbmk (Libreboot build system); +however, the same `e6400_4mb` target shall provide for both variants. In +releases, the necessary VGA ROM is absent but can be added using the `inject` +command documented [here](../docs/install/ivy_has_common.md) - or you can just +build lbmk from source, and it gets inserted automatically via download. The +same ROM, if it contains the Nvidia VGA ROM, supports both variants; if the VGA +ROM is missing, then only the Intel GPU variant is supported. The same ROM +will work on both variants, provided for by Libreboot patching the devicetree +in coreboot, on this mainboard.** + Introduction