2007-Dec-01

Yesterday, I installed NetBSD/amd64 4.0_RC4 and took many notes for a book I am writing.

Two main problems (at least for now) with the Toshiba Satellite A215-S7422: wireless and audio don't work for me.

My previous two NetBSD system's volume could be turned up with:

        mixerctl -w outputs.master=248,248

But my new system doesn't have that. I am not sure what is used to turn up the volume. My hardware has:

azalia0 at pci0 dev 20 function 2: Generic High Definition Audio 
Controller
azalia0: interrupting at ioapic0 pin 16 (irq 10)
azalia0: host: 0x1002/0x4383 (rev. 0)
azalia0: host: High Definition Audio rev. 1.0

azalia0: codec[0]: 0x11c1/0x1040 (rev. 2.0)
azalia0: codec[0]: High Definition Audio rev. 1.0
azalia0: codec[0]: No support for modem function groups
azalia0: codec[0] has no audio function groups
azalia0: RIRB time out
azalia0: codec[3]: Realtek ALC268 (rev. 0.3)
azalia0: codec[3]: High Definition Audio rev. 1.0
azalia0: playback: max channels=2, encodings=1
azalia0: playback: PCM 
formats=e0560<24bit,20bit,16bit,192kHz,96kHz,48kHz,44.1kHz>
azalia0: recording: max channels=2, encodings=1
azalia0: recording: PCM formats=60160<20bit,16bit,96kHz,48kHz,44.1kHz>
audio0 at azalia0: full duplex, independent

My mixerctl output:

$ mixerctl -av 
inputs.dac02=123,123  delta=3
inputs.dac03=123,123  delta=3
inputs.mix0e.dac02.mut=off  [ off on ]
inputs.mix0f.dac02.mut=off  [ off on ]
inputs.mix0f.purple1d.=off  [ off on ]
inputs.mix10.dac03.mut=off  [ off on ]
inputs.mix10.purple1d.=off  [ off on ]
inputs.mix10.dac02.mut=off  [ off on ]
outputs.unknown14.mute=off  [ off on ]
outputs.unknown14.dir=output  [ input output ]
outputs.unknown14.boost=off  [ off on ]
outputs.unknown14.eapd=off  [ off on ]
outputs.black15.mute=off  [ off on ]
outputs.black15.dir=output  [ input output ]
outputs.black15.boost=off  [ off on ]
outputs.black15.eapd=off  [ off on ]
outputs.black16.mute=off  [ off on ]
outputs.black18.mute=off  [ off on ]
outputs.black18=0,0  delta=127
outputs.black18.dir=output  [ input output ]
outputs.black19=0,0  delta=127
outputs.black1a.mute=off  [ off on ]
outputs.black1a=0,0  delta=127
outputs.black1a.dir=output  [ input output ]
inputs.sel23.source=black15  [ black18 black19 black1a black1c unknown14 
black15 black12 ]
outputs.sel23.mute=off  [ off on ]
outputs.sel23=123,123  delta=8
inputs.sel24.source=unknown14  [ black18 black19 black1a black1c unknown14 
black15 black13 ]
outputs.sel24.mute=off  [ off on ]
outputs.sel24=123,123  delta=8
playback.mode=02  [ 02 03 06 ]
record.mode=07  [ 07 08 ]

And my audioctl output:

$ audioctl -a
name=HD-Audio
version=1.0
config=azalia0
encodings=slinear_le:16,slinear_be:16*,ulinear_le:16*,ulinear_be:16*,mulaw:8*,
alaw:8*,slinear_le:32,slinear_be:32*,ulinear_le:32*,ulinear_be:32*
properties=full_duplex,independent
full_duplex=0
fullduplex=0
blocksize=16384
hiwat=4
lowat=1
monitor_gain=0
mode=
play.rate=44100
play.channels=2
play.precision=16
play.encoding=slinear_le
play.gain=127
play.balance=32
play.port=0x0
play.avail_ports=0x0
play.seek=16384
play.samples=1380352
play.eof=0
play.pause=0
play.error=1
play.waiting=0
play.open=0
play.active=0
play.buffer_size=65536
record.rate=44100
record.channels=2
record.precision=16
record.encoding=slinear_le
record.gain=127
record.balance=32
record.port=0x0
record.avail_ports=0x0
record.seek=0
record.samples=0
record.eof=0
record.pause=0
record.error=0
record.waiting=0
record.open=0
record.active=0
record.buffer_size=65536
record.errors=0

My laptop has a volume dial that spins forever.

Later I was told to try:

    mixerctl -w outputs.black15.eapd=on

And that worked. And I could change the volume with:

    mixerctl -w inputs.dac02=200,200

(Looks like the max volume is 255.)

As for wireless, I did some searches and saw it is a Realtek RTL8187B that is USB based. But my dmesg output and pcictl and usbdevs don't show it.

Later I learned there is a physical on/off switch on the front of the laptop that I can't easily see when using it. I turned it on and now now usbdevs sees it.

Controller /dev/usb5:

addr 1: high speed, self powered, config 1, EHCI root hub(0x0000), ATI 
Technologies(0x1002), rev 1.00

 port 6 addr 3: high speed, power 500 mA, config 1, 
RTL8187B_WLAN_Adapter(0x8197), Realtek(0x0bda), rev 2.00, serial 
00e04c000001

I was told that it is not supported but there is a similar NetBSD driver but isn't used with uhub yet, and there is also a Linux driver but I don't know if it works even on Linux. Also I don't know if ndis works with USB devices or on amd64.

Had a BSDCG conference call this morning too.