Fedora8 Tutorial (complete) for Macbook Pro 8600GT

Pre-Install:

Burn a copy of Fedora 8

Use a mouse, that will make things a lot easier!

Primary Install Log:

* installed fedora 8 with default settings

* kept login as root with no regular user (makes things so much easier)

* audio worked perfect thanks to pulseaudio pre-installed

*changed folder preferences to 'always open in browser'

(if you don't change this, you're just weird)

* installed livna:

rpm -ivh http://rpm.livna.org/livna-release-8.rpm ***important***

1. *installed vlc, mozillavlc, and python-vlc (Add/Remove Software, aka Package Manager)
   

.. video and codecs work perfect in vlc

*installed banshee (PKG manager)

.. all worked great (best replacement out there for iTunes)

STEP 1: COMPILING KERNEL

(needed for compiling drivers and other source code)

In applications, add/remove software (PKG Manager):

installed gcc (beginning of list)

installed gtk+ (search gtk+-devel, 2nd on list)

libglade2-devel (might already be installed)

Download Kernel 2.6.23.1 from ftp://ftp.kernel.org/pub/

(My kernel was 2.6.23.1-49 so the above kernel worked for everything, however I never boot from the new kernel... will explain.

copied into /usr/src

tar zxf 'filename.tar.gz'

cd into directory

make gconfig (not menuconfig or xconfig)

make (takes the longest)

make modules

su - (into root if you're not root already - may have permission problems so I just keep myself logged in as root)

make modules_install

make install

reboot

!! don't boot into new kernel - if you do, audio and other things will stop working...

(you only need the compiled kernel to compile other source code - if you select it instead of the original kernel on boot, your audio will crap out. Pulseuadio and other rpm's rely on the original kernel)

* cd into /boot/grub and gedit grub.conf (backup first)

comment out all other kernel sections - example:

#title Fedora (2.6.23.1)

# root (hd0,3)

# kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.23.1 ro root=LABEL=/ rhgb quiet

# initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.23.1.img

title Fedora (2.6.23.1-49.fc8)

root (hd0,3)

kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.23.1-49.fc8 ro root=LABEL=/ rhgb quiet

initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.23.1-49.fc8.img

-- even though this is the compiled kernel, I'm only leaving the original kernel to boot from because this is all we or the other apps need. The other kernel simply had to be compiled so linux has something to reference from for compiling.

STEP 2: Wireless Adapter (Atheros AR5008 chipset)

Althought this isn't complicated, figuring it out was a nightmare and there are still many people out there trying to do the same. This is how to do it -

FYI: I went the mad-wifi way with beta drivers and i'll admit it 'is' possible with mad-wifi. However, the following is a little more straight forward and easy to understand.

* Also, where people get stuck isn't just the driver problem as I'll explain. Just do the following:

First, install the latest version of ndiswrapper(currently 1.49)

download @ http://www.icewalkers.com/Linux/Software/527600/ndis-wrapper.html

tar zxf the download and cd into the directory

$make

then,

$make install

Next, download the windows driver @ ftp://ftp.dlink.com/Wireless/dwa643/Drivers/dwa643_drivers_120.zip

unzip it

cd through folder until you come to the Vista and 2KXP folder

*Choose the XP driver, NOT the Vista one.

once in the 2KXP folder,

run $ndiswrapper -i net5416.inf

then, to actually implement windows driver...

$modprobe ndiswrapper

then...

$dmesg ...there should be no errors at the bottom.

run $iwconfig and there should be a eth0 and ath0 with more data listed under ath0.

if you don't see ath0, you did something wrong.

Next: System Menu>Administration>Services

check 'NetworkManager', click start, save, close

When network manager app appears in top right, right click, make sure enable wireless is checked - left click to select detected signals.

Now (and this is where people get stuck), if you try to connect via wifi, it will repeatedly tell you that it can't connect and here is where the trick is.

Open the PKG Mananger and search for wlassistant

install

then, open the assistant in System>Preferences

The secret lies in the timeout. The default timeout is 15 seconds. That's long enough for Windows or OSX but not for Linux.

Open the Wireless Assistant and your signal(s) should appear.

Select Options, change the DHCP client timeout to 45 seconds and click on the grey options box again(not the quit button).

That should give it plenty of time to connect.

Try connecting again and... Voila! It should work.

STEP 3: NVIDIA 8600GT DRIVER

PKG Manager: "kmod-nvidia-2.6.23.1-49.fc8-100.14.19-18.lvn8.i686"

reboot

if you don't see an nvidia logo on startup, you did something wrong.

Done!

STEP 4: Compiz-Fusion

PKG-MANAGER:

* compiz (already installed)

* emerald-themes

* compiz-fusion-extras

* emerald

* compiz-fusion ^

* compiz-manager ^

* compiz-gnome (already installed)

* ccsm ^

those with the up-arrows are all that's needed: the rest are optional although I'd recommend them all.

enable desktop effects in System Menu>Preferences>look and feel,

enable and check both boxes

The Compiz-Fusion activiation fix - Kudos to anyone else who already figured this out.

The fix lies in the FILE "gnome-wm" in /usr/bin:

- cd into /usr/bin

- gedit gnome-wm (backup first)

- Use find button and locate 2nd instance of word 'gconf' (towards the bottom) and replace with ccp:

-----------------clip of file-------------------

fi

case `basename $WINDOW_MANAGER` in

compiz)

export LIBGL_ALWAYS_INDIRECT=1

gtk-window-decorator &

OPT3=glib

OPT4=gconf <-------- HERE: *change gconf to ccp*

;;

beryl)

emerald &

;;

------------------------------------------------

(everything above needs to be done "after" basic compiz effects are enabled in 'look and feel' menu)

Save updated file

Logout and Log back in

Done!

** Update! ....  I have reached a conclusion that

xgl is much faster that aiglx for the 8600GT and will

be posting some material on that soon. 

Contact me if you want immediate information on

how compiz-fusion can run MUCH faster on your mac.

STEP 5: Enabling Emerald:

To automate emerald startup on login:

System Menu>Preferences>Personal>Sessions

+Add

Name: emerald startup

Command: emerald  - -replace

Save

reboot...or:

Fn-Alt-F2> type emerald  - -replace.

Use the Emerald Theme Manager in System>Preferences

Done!