Linux on an IBM Thinkpad 380D

Model: IBM Thinkpad 380D
Type: 2635 - 3AU (This information can be found on the bottom of the laptop, above a set of lines that look like a UPC symbol.)
Distribution: Debian 3.0 - Woody
A full list of system specs here
  1. Introduction
  2. The First Three Installs
  3. The Final Install
  4. Setting Up the Extras
  5. My Final Words of Advice
  6. Helpful Links

1. Introduction

Before I begin the HOW-TO, I think a small amount of background information is in order.

I am a math teacher who has been using Linux on my desktop since about 2000. Like many other Linux users I know my age, I am self taught. Before working on the Thinkpad, I had only worked with RPM based distros (RedHat, Mandrake, YellowDog). So when I got the laptop from a co-worker I knew that I wanted to try a different distribution. I use RedHat 7.2 on my desktop, and had gotten quite sick of the RPM dependency nightmare. Since the laptop did not come with a network card, I also wanted a distribution that would have all of the apps that I wanted all on the install CD. And since the system only has a 2.1GB hard drive, and 32MB RAM I wanted to be very selective about what I installed. These were the three main things that lead me to choose Debian. I knew that Debian has a reputation of being hard to install, and only for "true geeks", but I was confident that I was ready for a new experience/challenge.

2. The First Three Installs

I first want to defend Debian, and say that none of the fault for needing 4 installs before getting it right fall on Debian. They have a wonderful product. The basic fault lies in me ignoring the first rule of Linux, "RTM" (Read the Manual).

The first install was doomed from the beginning. When I finally received the CD's in the mail (ordered from linuxcds.org), I was just so excited that I popped the first CD into the drive, rebooted my Thinkpad, and I began the install. Prior to this experience I had installed Linux on at least 10 other boxes, so I thougth I knew what I was doing - WRONG. Well I simply went through the install like Joe Sixpack does when he installs windows software, just clicking on OK and NEXT. To Debian's credit, I had a perfectly working system. It just took up too much disk space on my little drive. During the install you are presented with tasksel, a user interface for installing tasks. In other words a way to install the most common packages when you define what tasks your computer will be used for. When I chose "desktop environment", I did not realize that it would install KDE and GNOME. The second big problem is that the Debian installer is not as obvious about making multible partitions as the Redhat or Mandrake installers. By default, the Debian installer "skips" over the step to allow for creating different partions for /home /boot and / (root). You just have to know to choose "Make a partion" after you complete the "Make a boot partion". This was a real suprise to me. It seems like something I would expect from some of the more "user-friendly" distributions, but not Debian.

I corrected my BIG mistakes before beginning the second install. First, I read most of the documentation. Then I made sure that I had nothing else planned for the day. I found that with my first experience that it takes a lot more time and interactivity to install Debian when compared to the other distributions I have tried. What I did not correct was the use of tasksel and dselect. I still did not know that choosing "desktop environment" would install both KDE and GNOME. So once again I had a working system with too much extra garbage. Instead of trying to use apt-get remove on all the different packages I did not want, and since I was still not very familar with deselect, I figured it would just be easier to start over.

So now I am on my third install. I have read ALL the documention and I am taking my time. I choose nothing during tasksel, and decided to choose each package indivually during dselect. I have properly partioned my drive. I then begin to setup and install DOS/Windows on the first partion. (On the Thinkpad, you need to keep at least DOS around for the IBM configuration tools[1] and I needed Windows for a few things for work.) While installing the software I would need for work, I found that I did not have enough room. I tried to clear out as much space as I could, but to no avail. Time for round four.

3. The Final Install

O.K., so here I am, becoming quite good with the Debian installer. I now know how I need to set up my partions and how to install only the packages I need. So I find myself some free time, and begin the install process all over again. Once again I want to say that this is not a bad reflection on Debian, or the Thinkpad. The Debian install, although not as fancy as others I have used, is well documented and easy enough if you take your time. And if I would have taken the time to read the docs, I probably would not have done half as much work. The Thinkpad does not seem to have any crazy hardware. I say "seems" cause I have not used all the hardware features (IR port and sound) so Linux works great without any crazy hacks or workarounds. As for my problem with the DOS partion, I probably would not have worried about it if I did need a few special apps for work. (I would much rather have the extra space on my Linux side.) So just for the record my final partion sizes end up being: 

      Filesystem     Size   Mounted on
       /dev/hda1     250M   MY DOS PARTION
       /dev/hda2      64M   LINUX SWAP
       /dev/hda3      10M   /boot
       /dev/hda5     100M   /home
       /dev/hda6    ~1.5G   /

Since the hard drive is small, and there is a limited RAM, I kept the software to the minimum. I installed only the things I needed, and software that would not tax the machine too much. I use Blackbox on all my systems (including my WinXP at work thanks to Blackbox for Windows) and since I use Blackbox as my window manager, I was able to keep the disk space down when compared to KDE or GNOME. Since this is on a laptop, I did not install any of the assorted web servers (http, ftp, etc). I would have liked to installed OpenOffice, but due to the lack of memory (even if I maxed it out) OO is not a good choice. I did install AbiWord, gnumeric and MagicPoint to take care of those office apps.

Here is a short list of things that I did install:

You can find a complete list of what I have installed here.

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[1]The Thinkpad configuration tool is software used to setup and/or change the built-in devices, power management settings, display device settings and assorted other hardware options. The configuration tool is available for DOS, Windows 3.11 and newer, and OS/2. Since the configuration tool is not available for Linux, you need to keep a small DOS (or OS/2) partion around to configure curtain hardware options and settings. (NOTE: you can use FreeDOS instead of one of the propritory OS mentioned.) Return