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Debian on a Dell Latitude E7440
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Craig L.
Mar 20, 2014, 3:30:01 PM3/20/14
to
Hello list,
Sadly, my 11 year-old Toshiba laptop has become physically unusable*, and
I will be receiving a new laptop at work. We are looking at the Dell E7440,
and my initial look tells me I will be getting something that should run a
pure Debian main installation, but I figured I would ask to be safe.
The important specs are:
i7-4600U Processor
Intel Integrated HD 4400 Graphics
Intel Dual Back Wireless-AC 7260 802.11AC Wi-Fi + BT 4.0LE Half Mini Card
OR Dell 1506 802.11n Single Band Wi-Fi Half Mini Card
OR Dell 1601 WiGig + WLAN + BT Tri-Band Wireless Half Mini Card
It comes pre-loaded with Ubuntu which is somewhat encouraging in that at
least Linux can run it. I just want to make sure that there are drivers in
Debian to support the equipment.
This will also come with a built in camera that I may find useful, but is
not necessary. It is listed as Light Sensitive Webcam and Noise Cancelling
Digital Array Mic, Product Code: NTCAMM, SKU: 325-BBCL.
I've not worked with anything this new that isn't a server, but I'm assuming
the install would be straight forward too? I ask because of some of the EFI
questions I've seen here and there.
Anybody got pros or cons to offer?
Thanks, Craig
*Hinges broken beyond repair. 11 years old with just 512MB of RAM, but still
running Wheezy with an XFCE desktop just fine! Case is cracked, battery lasts
about ten minutes, touchpad is dead, and the screen has several scuffs. Still,
it is a shame to see it go.
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Sadly, my 11 year-old Toshiba laptop has become physically unusable*, and
I will be receiving a new laptop at work. We are looking at the Dell E7440,
and my initial look tells me I will be getting something that should run a
pure Debian main installation, but I figured I would ask to be safe.
The important specs are:
i7-4600U Processor
Intel Integrated HD 4400 Graphics
Intel Dual Back Wireless-AC 7260 802.11AC Wi-Fi + BT 4.0LE Half Mini Card
OR Dell 1506 802.11n Single Band Wi-Fi Half Mini Card
OR Dell 1601 WiGig + WLAN + BT Tri-Band Wireless Half Mini Card
It comes pre-loaded with Ubuntu which is somewhat encouraging in that at
least Linux can run it. I just want to make sure that there are drivers in
Debian to support the equipment.
This will also come with a built in camera that I may find useful, but is
not necessary. It is listed as Light Sensitive Webcam and Noise Cancelling
Digital Array Mic, Product Code: NTCAMM, SKU: 325-BBCL.
I've not worked with anything this new that isn't a server, but I'm assuming
the install would be straight forward too? I ask because of some of the EFI
questions I've seen here and there.
Anybody got pros or cons to offer?
Thanks, Craig
*Hinges broken beyond repair. 11 years old with just 512MB of RAM, but still
running Wheezy with an XFCE desktop just fine! Case is cracked, battery lasts
about ten minutes, touchpad is dead, and the screen has several scuffs. Still,
it is a shame to see it go.
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Mike McGinn
Mar 20, 2014, 4:10:01 PM3/20/14
to
On Thursday, March 20, 2014 15:28:32 Craig L. wrote:
> Hello list,
>
> Sadly, my 11 year-old Toshiba laptop has become physically unusable*, and
> I will be receiving a new laptop at work. We are looking at the Dell E7440,
> and my initial look tells me I will be getting something that should run a
> pure Debian main installation, but I figured I would ask to be safe.
>
>
> Thanks, Craig
>
> *Hinges broken beyond repair. 11 years old with just 512MB of RAM, but
> still running Wheezy with an XFCE desktop just fine! Case is cracked,
> battery lasts about ten minutes, touchpad is dead, and the screen has
> several scuffs. Still, it is a shame to see it go.
When the hinges went on my Toshiba I was able to attach a small piece of metal
>
> *Hinges broken beyond repair. 11 years old with just 512MB of RAM, but
> still running Wheezy with an XFCE desktop just fine! Case is cracked,
> battery lasts about ten minutes, touchpad is dead, and the screen has
> several scuffs. Still, it is a shame to see it go.
to the back to hold the screen up. Got another two years out of it.
Mike
--
Mike McGinn KD2CNU
Ex Uno Plurima
No electrons were harmed in sending this message, some were inconvenienced.
** Registered Linux User 377849
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Craig L.
Mar 20, 2014, 6:50:01 PM3/20/14
to
On Thu, Mar 20, 2014 at 04:03:36PM -0400, Mike McGinn wrote:
>
> On Thursday, March 20, 2014 15:28:32 Craig L. wrote:
> > Hello list,
> >
> > Sadly, my 11 year-old Toshiba laptop has become physically unusable*, and
> > I will be receiving a new laptop at work. We are looking at the Dell E7440,
> > and my initial look tells me I will be getting something that should run a
> > pure Debian main installation, but I figured I would ask to be safe.
> >
> >
> > Thanks, Craig
> >
> > *Hinges broken beyond repair. 11 years old with just 512MB of RAM, but
> > still running Wheezy with an XFCE desktop just fine! Case is cracked,
> > battery lasts about ten minutes, touchpad is dead, and the screen has
> > several scuffs. Still, it is a shame to see it go.
>
> When the hinges went on my Toshiba I was able to attach a small piece of metal
> to the back to hold the screen up. Got another two years out of it.
Thanks Mike. Unfortunately this laptop is now a two-piece system, if you know
>
> On Thursday, March 20, 2014 15:28:32 Craig L. wrote:
> > Hello list,
> >
> > Sadly, my 11 year-old Toshiba laptop has become physically unusable*, and
> > I will be receiving a new laptop at work. We are looking at the Dell E7440,
> > and my initial look tells me I will be getting something that should run a
> > pure Debian main installation, but I figured I would ask to be safe.
> >
> >
> > Thanks, Craig
> >
> > *Hinges broken beyond repair. 11 years old with just 512MB of RAM, but
> > still running Wheezy with an XFCE desktop just fine! Case is cracked,
> > battery lasts about ten minutes, touchpad is dead, and the screen has
> > several scuffs. Still, it is a shame to see it go.
>
> When the hinges went on my Toshiba I was able to attach a small piece of metal
> to the back to hold the screen up. Got another two years out of it.
what I mean, and it is just more trouble than it is worth to repair. Time to
move on. *sigh*
>
> Mike
>
> --
> Mike McGinn KD2CNU
> Ex Uno Plurima
> No electrons were harmed in sending this message, some were inconvenienced.
> ** Registered Linux User 377849
>
>
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>
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ken
Mar 21, 2014, 7:40:02 AM3/21/14
to
On 03/20/2014 06:48 PM Craig L. wrote:
> On Thu, Mar 20, 2014 at 04:03:36PM -0400, Mike McGinn wrote:
>>
>> On Thursday, March 20, 2014 15:28:32 Craig L. wrote:
>>> Hello list,
>>>
>>> Sadly, my 11 year-old Toshiba laptop has become physically unusable*, and
>>> I will be receiving a new laptop at work. We are looking at the Dell E7440,
>>> and my initial look tells me I will be getting something that should run a
>>> pure Debian main installation, but I figured I would ask to be safe.
>>>
>>>
>>> Thanks, Craig
>>>
>>> *Hinges broken beyond repair. 11 years old with just 512MB of RAM, but
>>> still running Wheezy with an XFCE desktop just fine! Case is cracked,
>>> battery lasts about ten minutes, touchpad is dead, and the screen has
>>> several scuffs. Still, it is a shame to see it go.
>>
>> When the hinges went on my Toshiba I was able to attach a small piece of metal
>> to the back to hold the screen up. Got another two years out of it.
>
> Thanks Mike. Unfortunately this laptop is now a two-piece system, if you know
> what I mean, and it is just more trouble than it is worth to repair. Time to
> move on. *sigh*
>
>>
>> Mike
I'm where you are, currently using a decades-old Dell Latitude with a
> On Thu, Mar 20, 2014 at 04:03:36PM -0400, Mike McGinn wrote:
>>
>> On Thursday, March 20, 2014 15:28:32 Craig L. wrote:
>>> Hello list,
>>>
>>> Sadly, my 11 year-old Toshiba laptop has become physically unusable*, and
>>> I will be receiving a new laptop at work. We are looking at the Dell E7440,
>>> and my initial look tells me I will be getting something that should run a
>>> pure Debian main installation, but I figured I would ask to be safe.
>>>
>>>
>>> Thanks, Craig
>>>
>>> *Hinges broken beyond repair. 11 years old with just 512MB of RAM, but
>>> still running Wheezy with an XFCE desktop just fine! Case is cracked,
>>> battery lasts about ten minutes, touchpad is dead, and the screen has
>>> several scuffs. Still, it is a shame to see it go.
>>
>> When the hinges went on my Toshiba I was able to attach a small piece of metal
>> to the back to hold the screen up. Got another two years out of it.
>
> Thanks Mike. Unfortunately this laptop is now a two-piece system, if you know
> what I mean, and it is just more trouble than it is worth to repair. Time to
> move on. *sigh*
>
>>
>> Mike
couple cracks in it and a non-working screen. It's plugged into an old
CRT monitor. Although, like yours, the battery lasts maybe fifteen
minutes, it's still good for when the power goes off momentarily-- which
happens four or five times a year. There's enough cash in my checking
to buy a new laptop, but I just haven't gotten around to it.
It's not going in the trash though. It's still good for a headless
linux box. Long ago I buffed it up with a big HD and 2G of RAM, the
cat5 and 802.11bg wifi still work, as do the two USB ports, DVD r/w. I
figure it would still be useful as a print- and scanner server... and/or
music server (the sound card is still fine), a sandbox machine, and
possibly for some other things. I might spray-paint it, frame it, and
hang it on the wall so it looks like art... even as it continues to
serve useful purposes. I'd love it if this old piece of crap didn't
make it into the landfill until after I do... maybe even *long* after.
Linux will never die. It just gets perpetually revised.
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Steve Litt of Troubleshooters.Com
Mar 21, 2014, 12:50:03 PM3/21/14
to
On Fri, 21 Mar 2014 07:37:39 -0400
ken <geb...@mousecar.com> wrote:
> I'm where you are, currently using a decades-old Dell Latitude with a
> couple cracks in it and a non-working screen. It's plugged into an
> old CRT monitor. Although, like yours, the battery lasts maybe
> fifteen minutes, it's still good for when the power goes off
> momentarily-- which happens four or five times a year. There's
> enough cash in my checking to buy a new laptop, but I just haven't
> gotten around to it.
>
> It's not going in the trash though. It's still good for a headless
> linux box. Long ago I buffed it up with a big HD and 2G of RAM, the
> cat5 and 802.11bg wifi still work, as do the two USB ports, DVD r/w.
> I figure it would still be useful as a print- and scanner server...
> and/or music server (the sound card is still fine), a sandbox
> machine, and possibly for some other things. I might spray-paint it,
> frame it, and hang it on the wall so it looks like art... even as it
> continues to serve useful purposes. I'd love it if this old piece of
> crap didn't make it into the landfill until after I do... maybe even
> *long* after.
>
> Linux will never die. It just gets perpetually revised.
Another excellent use for it is as an OpenBSD/pf firewall. Much less
ken <geb...@mousecar.com> wrote:
> I'm where you are, currently using a decades-old Dell Latitude with a
> couple cracks in it and a non-working screen. It's plugged into an
> old CRT monitor. Although, like yours, the battery lasts maybe
> fifteen minutes, it's still good for when the power goes off
> momentarily-- which happens four or five times a year. There's
> enough cash in my checking to buy a new laptop, but I just haven't
> gotten around to it.
>
> It's not going in the trash though. It's still good for a headless
> linux box. Long ago I buffed it up with a big HD and 2G of RAM, the
> cat5 and 802.11bg wifi still work, as do the two USB ports, DVD r/w.
> I figure it would still be useful as a print- and scanner server...
> and/or music server (the sound card is still fine), a sandbox
> machine, and possibly for some other things. I might spray-paint it,
> frame it, and hang it on the wall so it looks like art... even as it
> continues to serve useful purposes. I'd love it if this old piece of
> crap didn't make it into the landfill until after I do... maybe even
> *long* after.
>
> Linux will never die. It just gets perpetually revised.
bulky than a desktop, uses less electricity than an average desktop,
and in its normal operation you ssh into it so no keyboard or monitor
is needed.
http://www.troubleshooters.com/linux/pf/
SteveT
Steve Litt * http://www.troubleshooters.com/
Troubleshooting Training * Human Performance
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Craig L.
Mar 22, 2014, 1:40:02 PM3/22/14
to
On Fri, Mar 21, 2014 at 12:44:41PM -0400, Steve Litt of Troubleshooters.Com wrote:
> On Fri, 21 Mar 2014 07:37:39 -0400
> ken <geb...@mousecar.com> wrote:
>
> > It's not going in the trash though. It's still good for a headless
> > linux box. Long ago I buffed it up with a big HD and 2G of RAM, the
> > cat5 and 802.11bg wifi still work, as do the two USB ports, DVD r/w.
> > I figure it would still be useful as a print- and scanner server...
> > and/or music server (the sound card is still fine), a sandbox
> > machine, and possibly for some other things. I might spray-paint it,
> > frame it, and hang it on the wall so it looks like art... even as it
> > continues to serve useful purposes. I'd love it if this old piece of
> > crap didn't make it into the landfill until after I do... maybe even
> > *long* after.
> >
> > Linux will never die. It just gets perpetually revised.
>
> Another excellent use for it is as an OpenBSD/pf firewall. Much less
> bulky than a desktop, uses less electricity than an average desktop,
> and in its normal operation you ssh into it so no keyboard or monitor
> is needed.
I've also used old laptops to monitor power to initiate shutdowns on systems
> On Fri, 21 Mar 2014 07:37:39 -0400
> ken <geb...@mousecar.com> wrote:
>
> > It's not going in the trash though. It's still good for a headless
> > linux box. Long ago I buffed it up with a big HD and 2G of RAM, the
> > cat5 and 802.11bg wifi still work, as do the two USB ports, DVD r/w.
> > I figure it would still be useful as a print- and scanner server...
> > and/or music server (the sound card is still fine), a sandbox
> > machine, and possibly for some other things. I might spray-paint it,
> > frame it, and hang it on the wall so it looks like art... even as it
> > continues to serve useful purposes. I'd love it if this old piece of
> > crap didn't make it into the landfill until after I do... maybe even
> > *long* after.
> >
> > Linux will never die. It just gets perpetually revised.
>
> Another excellent use for it is as an OpenBSD/pf firewall. Much less
> bulky than a desktop, uses less electricity than an average desktop,
> and in its normal operation you ssh into it so no keyboard or monitor
> is needed.
connected to “dumb” ups's.
I've gotten no negative responses to my original question, and I found folks
running other distros on the E7440, so we're going with it. If I have any
problems I will pass them along for anyone else that is interested in this.
Thanks all!
Craig
PS Speaking of old, I just came across my Star OS disks for the Xerox 6085 that
I acquired way back in the very early 90s. I never did find a good use for that
thing, other than running up the electricity bill
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ken
Jun 24, 2014, 12:30:05 PM6/24/14
to
On 03/22/2014 01:29 PM Craig L. wrote:
> .... I found folks
particular machine, then it's at least theoretically possible for all
other GNU/Linux distros to work on it. After all, it all comes down to
the code. When this wouldn't be true would be when, for example, some
distro (and there are a lot of them) used proprietary, non-FOSS code for
a driver. From my understanding, Debian in particular shuns non-FOSS
software, so such an instance would be problematic.
How has the E7440 been working out? Any of the hardware not recognized
or not functioning as expected?
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> .... I found folks
> running other distros on the E7440, so we're going with it. If I have any
> problems I will pass them along for anyone else that is interested in this.
One of the nice things about GNU/Linux is that, if one distro works on a
> problems I will pass them along for anyone else that is interested in this.
particular machine, then it's at least theoretically possible for all
other GNU/Linux distros to work on it. After all, it all comes down to
the code. When this wouldn't be true would be when, for example, some
distro (and there are a lot of them) used proprietary, non-FOSS code for
a driver. From my understanding, Debian in particular shuns non-FOSS
software, so such an instance would be problematic.
How has the E7440 been working out? Any of the hardware not recognized
or not functioning as expected?
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Stanislav Bocinec
Jun 24, 2014, 5:20:01 PM6/24/14
to
Hello Craig,
i'm using Ubuntu 14.04LTS on E7440 (i7, 16GB Ram, SSD disk, intel GPU) without any major issues. Only thing i experienced problem with was that external monitor was sometimes losing signal from display port (https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1062571). I'm not sure whether it was fixed in Ubuntu or not already, but i haven't experienced this issue previous 3 weeks anymore. Another solution is to use DVI output from docking station.
i'm using Ubuntu 14.04LTS on E7440 (i7, 16GB Ram, SSD disk, intel GPU) without any major issues. Only thing i experienced problem with was that external monitor was sometimes losing signal from display port (https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1062571). I'm not sure whether it was fixed in Ubuntu or not already, but i haven't experienced this issue previous 3 weeks anymore. Another solution is to use DVI output from docking station.
Best Luck,
Stano
Stano
Craig L.
Jul 1, 2014, 7:10:01 PM7/1/14
to
On Tue, Jun 24, 2014 at 11:16:25PM +0200, Stanislav Bocinec wrote:
> Hello Craig,
>
> i'm using Ubuntu 14.04LTS on E7440 (i7, 16GB Ram, SSD disk, intel GPU)
> without any major issues. Only thing i experienced problem with was that
> external monitor was sometimes losing signal from display port (
> https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1062571). I'm not sure whether
> it was fixed in Ubuntu or not already, but i haven't experienced this issue
> previous 3 weeks anymore. Another solution is to use DVI output from
> docking station.
>
>
> Best Luck,
> Stano
>
Hi Stan,
> Hello Craig,
>
> i'm using Ubuntu 14.04LTS on E7440 (i7, 16GB Ram, SSD disk, intel GPU)
> without any major issues. Only thing i experienced problem with was that
> external monitor was sometimes losing signal from display port (
> https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1062571). I'm not sure whether
> it was fixed in Ubuntu or not already, but i haven't experienced this issue
> previous 3 weeks anymore. Another solution is to use DVI output from
> docking station.
>
>
> Best Luck,
> Stano
>
I just replied to a message previous to yours with more detail, but I
have gotten the laptop working just fine. The only thing I've run into is
the non-free iwlwifi driver and the version that I needed.
Regards,
Craig
Craig L.
Jul 1, 2014, 7:10:01 PM7/1/14
to
On Tue, Jun 24, 2014 at 12:25:21PM -0400, ken wrote:
> On 03/22/2014 01:29 PM Craig L. wrote:
> >.... I found folks
> >running other distros on the E7440, so we're going with it. If I have any
> >problems I will pass them along for anyone else that is interested in this.
>
> One of the nice things about GNU/Linux is that, if one distro works
> on a particular machine, then it's at least theoretically possible
> for all other GNU/Linux distros to work on it. After all, it all
> comes down to the code. When this wouldn't be true would be when,
> for example, some distro (and there are a lot of them) used
> proprietary, non-FOSS code for a driver. From my understanding,
> Debian in particular shuns non-FOSS software, so such an instance
> would be problematic.
>
> How has the E7440 been working out? Any of the hardware not
> recognized or not functioning as expected?
>
Hi Ken
> On 03/22/2014 01:29 PM Craig L. wrote:
> >.... I found folks
> >running other distros on the E7440, so we're going with it. If I have any
> >problems I will pass them along for anyone else that is interested in this.
>
> One of the nice things about GNU/Linux is that, if one distro works
> on a particular machine, then it's at least theoretically possible
> for all other GNU/Linux distros to work on it. After all, it all
> comes down to the code. When this wouldn't be true would be when,
> for example, some distro (and there are a lot of them) used
> proprietary, non-FOSS code for a driver. From my understanding,
> Debian in particular shuns non-FOSS software, so such an instance
> would be problematic.
>
> How has the E7440 been working out? Any of the hardware not
> recognized or not functioning as expected?
>
Pretty good timing on your part, and thanks for cc'ing me in. My ISP
seems to have banned me from receiving user list emails.
We received the laptops last week and other than a few minor things I
have it working. I have not installed a GUI yet, but expect no real
issues there.
First of all, I tried to install from a debian-7.3.0-amd64-DVD-1.iso
image, using uefi install, but network hardware was not detected.
However
the debian-7.5.0-amd64-DVD-1.iso image worked just fine. But apparently
the lilo bootloader won't work with UEFI, and I hate grub, so I had to
disable that in the BIOS. Other than that, the only other issue was the
wireless card. It is an Intel Centrino WiMax 7260, or something like
that. The firmware that was installed did not contain a driver for it,
and it requires the non-free iwlwifi driver. The version of the driver
that supports this card had to come from jessie, firmware-iwlwifi
(0.43).
I downloaded that .deb and extracted it, then copied the pertinent driver
files to /lib/firmware, and loaded the iwlwifi module using modprobe, but
the interface would not show up. Then I had an “aha!” moment and figured
the kernel may not support that driver. So I installed the lates 3.14
kernel from backports, rebooted, and there was my interface. I have
successfully configured it using wpa_supplicant to connect to our
enterprise wireless network.
I plan to install the XFCE DE, but I have no qualms that I will get that
taken care of. For the most part this laptop will be used by me to access
my workstation when I am in meetings and such, so I will probably also
make use of the display port output too. That may prove to be a bit more
of a challenge. I will report back with any issues, but for now consider
no news to be good news.
Please cc me in on replies since I no longer receive list mailings.
Regards,
Craig
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Jeremy T. Bouse
Jul 2, 2014, 12:00:01 AM7/2/14
to
I have an E7420 running Debian on it for work. The 7.4 ISO was plenty
to get it working and I used UEFI as well with GRUB bootloader. I did
have to upgrade it to testing (jessie) however to get all the devices
working and get the newer XORG that would support the graphics card. I
don't have it with me currently or I could check further details but
catch me during the work day and I can assist.
Archive: https://lists.debian.org/783e55034a2e266c...@undergrid.net
to get it working and I used UEFI as well with GRUB bootloader. I did
have to upgrade it to testing (jessie) however to get all the devices
working and get the newer XORG that would support the graphics card. I
don't have it with me currently or I could check further details but
catch me during the work day and I can assist.
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