Acer Iconia Tab w500

Build a Custom Kernel with Asix USB NIC Drivers

Start by following the instructions for Build FOG Core Kernel.

This entry was written based on creating a 3.1.5 kernel using Ubuntu 11.10 as the compiling system. The kernel generated from these instructions is being used on FOG 0.29 and has successfully imaged 40 Iconia w500 Tablets.

Download Asix 88772B USB NIC Drivers Source Code

Before completing the "make xconfig" step, download the Asix drivers, extract them, and copy them into the kernel source tree.

wget http://www.asix.com.tw/FrootAttach/driver/AX88772B_772A_760_772_178_LINUX_Driver_v4.1.0_Source.tar.bz2

tar -xzvf AX88772B_772A_760_772_178_LINUX_Driver_v4.1.0_Source.tar.bz2

cp AX88772B_772A_760_772_178_LINUX_Driver_v4.1.0_Source/a* (kernel-source-tree-root)/drivers/net/usb/

(NOTE1: you only need to copy the files starting with the letter "a" from the driver source folder... the Makefile and Readme are not needed. Thus the a*...)

(NOTE2: Based on the Build FOG Core Kernel page, (kernel-source-tree-root) is located in ~/Desktop/linux-3.1.5)

make xconfig and modify it for w500

make xconfig

Select the Device Drivers - Network Device Support - USB Network Adapters - Multipurpose USB Networking Framework - Asix AX88xxx USB 2.0 Ethernet Adapters

Deselected the Device Drivers - Graphics Support - AGPGART (AGP Support)

Selected Device Drivers - Graphics Support - Direct Rendering Manage (XFree86 4.1.0 and Higher DRI Support) - ATI Radeon.

Deselected the option under ATI Radeon for: Enable modesetting on radeon by default - NEW DRIVER.

Save and exit

Continue instructions on Build FOG Core Kernel by issuing the make command and copying your kernel to FOG's tftpboot location listed on that page.

Create tftpd-map and alter configuration if using a separate DHCP server

Create file named /etc/default/tftpd-hpa.map using your favorite text editor such as nano. (i.e. sudo nano /etc/default/tftpd-hpa.map)

Here is a copy of the map I am using... You'll need to put this into the map file you just created above:

# if the requested file starts with a-f A-F or 0-9 send it
# otherwise send pxelinux.0 for PXE stacks that are corrupt
# This was added for the Acer Iconia W500 Tablet

e ^[a-zA-Z0-9].*$
r .* pxelinux.0

Next edit the configuration file (/etc/default/tftpd-hpa) to tell it to use the map file you just created...

sudo nano /etc/default/tftpd-hpa

Here is a copy of my configuration... the important thing is the addition of the option -m and the map file location.

# /etc/default/tftpd-hpa
# FOG Modified version
TFTP_USERNAME="root"
TFTP_DIRECTORY="/tftpboot"
TFTP_ADDRESS="0.0.0.0:69"
TFTP_OPTIONS="-s -v -m /etc/default/tftpd-hpa.map"

Finally issue the restart command for the tftpd service or restart your FOG server.

sudo service tftpd-hpa restart

Keyboard / PXE issue

To inventory the Iconia w500 and navigate the FOG Menu after PXE booting there is an Acer Support document that you'll need to follow... This will allow you to upload your initial image to FOG as a keyboard is required.

Here is the link: http://acer.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/8157/~/how-do-i-perform-a-network-pxe-boot-on-the-iconia-tab-w500%3F

This work around involves hooking a USB extension cable to the keyboard dock and the center USB port on the tablet... and the other USB port on the tablet to a keyboard or USB Hub > keyboard.