Assistance with VIA VX855-based system

[starhawk]

Hello! I'm a Puppy Linux evangelist most of the time (lol) but I thought I'd take a look at Linux Lite for a project of mine. I have neither prejudice for it nor against it -- haven't heard enough to be swayed.

Unfortunately, my hardware is a bit peculiar and Linux Lite doesn't seem to want to play along. I'm using a WYSE Cx0-series system, which is intended as a "thin client" (a sort of sophisticated KVM-over-network scheme using a remote session -- the thin client's role is analogous to that of an old-fashioned RS232 videoteletype terminal such as the famous DEC VT100).

This particular example has a rather anemic 1.0GHz VIA Eden CPU (based on the VIA C7) and an odd VIA VX855 chipset -- most thin clients using this CPU pick the VIA CN700 chipset; however, for unknown (to me at least!) reasons, WYSE (now part of Dell) used the VX855. Go figure.

I suspect that the driver Linux Lite is using is the 'openchrome' driver -- which has a known issue with this particular chipset -- support got broken in version 0.3.3, which is what Ubuntu Trusty Tahr uses. I'm actually working with the 'openchrome' people to get that sorted out (shout out to them!), but in the meantime I'd still like to try Linux Lite. At the moment I'm reduced to using LiveDVD ISOs; I can't seem to revert to text mode once the graphical system tries to bring things up. Version 0.2.904 of 'openchrome' is the last known working configuration of that driver that operates on this hardware... that would be the version from Ubuntu Precise Pangolin. If someone could patch together a DVD ISO for me with that version of 'openchrome' I'd be much obliged... if it's too much, though -- I understand, just let me know and I'll disappear.

Thanks in advance.

[torreydale]

Linux Lite 2.8 is based on Ubuntu 14.04 LTS.  Ubuntu Precise Pangolin is from Ubuntu 12.04 LTS.  To get Linux Lite based on 12.04 LTS, you'll need to download something from the 1.0.x series.  You can find that here:  https://sourceforge.net/projects/linuxlite/files/

[starhawk]

I understand -- I was just hoping that, since it's IIRC three files (the driver lib, glx.so, and something else that I've now forgotten) that it would be a simple enough matter to recompile that and add to the DVD.

I'd do it myself, but I don't know how friendly Linux Lite's boot system would be to that -- if it does a CRC of some sort (integrity check) at every LiveDVD boot, then that would eliminate the method I'm familiar with. In Puppy, I can compile the driver on any system that will at least give me a text mode interface, and once that's done it's a simple matter to fold it in permanently -- just unsquashfs the primary filesystem, drop in the requisite files, and mksquashfs -- done. I can get the DEB with the proper 'openchrome' version and files -- that's not an issue -- but I can only "fix" it on my end if I can manually edit the ISO and still have the thing willing to boot. Follow?

[starhawk]

No further response? This issue is not solved.

[Wirezfree]

I think you may need to give people more than 1 day, and it is quite specialised hardware...

[starhawk]

Sorry about that, then. Just wanted to put out a tickler.

I will wait.

[Wirezfree]

No problem...
LL is based on Ubuntu 14.04, have you checked into the Ubuntu Forums, maybe Hardware.??
GL

[starhawk]

I have not. I wouldn't think that would help much, either -- the issue is definitively with the driver, and is being pursued in their bugtracker as bug # 91966. (Link) I am working with a fellow named Kevin Brace to solve the issue. Until it is resolved, really the only solution on this hardware is to roll the driver back to the last known good version -- which would be Precise Pangolin's v.0.2.904.

[Wirezfree]

O.K, GL

[starhawk]

Off topic -- I just noticed your older systems mention -- that's some good stuff. I've two Commodore 64s, two Commodore Plus/4s, an MC-10, TRS-80 CoCo Model II (IIRC), and a PC-XT system. Some of it's scratch'n'dent tho -- the C64s have memory issues, one of the Plus/4s has a destroyed keyboard cable, and the PC-XT refuses to boot (I think its BIOS has had a bit flip or two from too much time in the sun ). But -- like I said -- good stuff You still got any of it? I wish I had a ZX Spectrum. (Alas, shipping to the US would be an absolute killer.)