Putting Linux on a laptop

Computerworld - With the growing mobile workforce, IT administrators who run their critical applications on Linux are now faced with the requirement to install Linux on laptops. Because of the difficulties of some early versions of Linux, this task has acquired a reputation for being tricky. That may have been the case in the past, but it's much easier today. Some background knowledge and a few tips can make this install a success.

Most problems that arise during the installation of Linux on laptops have to do with the hardware. Laptops are highly integrated systems, and many times manufacturers will opt for modified versions of chip sets, either to reduce power consumption or cut costs. Because the chip sets are modified many times, drivers need to be tweaked as well. Laptop manufacturers typically release those modified drivers only for the operating system installed on the laptop (i.e. Windows). The bright side is that laptop manufacturers seem to be using standard hardware, and Linux supports most of it.

	Opinder Bawa is senior vice president of technology and development at SCO Group Inc. (formerly Caldera International Inc.), where he is responsible for integrating corporate vision and technology strategy. He has close to 20 years of industry experience, including serving as director of IT at 3Com Corp., as well as technology and management posts at Citibank, IBM and Toshiba.

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Video -- Some stripped-down video cards in laptops don't have frame-buffer support, or they use a non-standard frame buffer. The best way to get around this is through trial and error. Try all the resolution options in the boot screen to find one that works. With most modern laptops, the automatically selected resolution is usually the best choice. Configuring X Window can be tricky with a laptop, too. Usually it's the screen, not the video card, that causes problems. The best way around this is to visit the "Linux on laptops" site at www.linux-laptop.net. Most authors of these pages will post their XF86Config files, which you can use to configure X Window.

Sound -- Laptops aren't known for their great sound quality. Because of this, most manufacturers spend little money on the sound card. For instance, we found that on a laptop from one well-known manufacturer, the sound card was never automatically detected. It was there, and it worked just fine when we installed the correct driver. Again, a trip to the "Linux on laptops" site will enable you to find sound solutions for most laptops.