Diff for "MacBookPro6-2/Maverick"


Differences between revisions 3 and 35 (spanning 32 versions)
Revision 3 as of 2010-10-08 01:22:28
Size: 17534
Editor: 207
Comment:
Revision 35 as of 2010-12-26 08:29:05
Size: 15797
Editor: 173-26-195-127
Comment: update bug reference
Deletions are marked like this. Additions are marked like this.
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<<BR>>
[Not recommended to install currently, but you're welcome to test and report your findings/problems to the [[http://ubuntuforums.org/forumdisplay.php?f=328|Ubuntu Apple Users forum]]]
<<BR>>
The Macbook Pro 6,2 is highly compatible with Ubuntu 10.10 Maverick (and Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid). You'll need to apply some of the adjustments listed below. For further discusions, see: [[http://ubuntuforums.org/forumdisplay.php?f=328|Ubuntu Apple Users forum]]
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<<BR>><<BR>>

This page aims to describe the steps needed, to fully enable all/most features of the '''15.3 (mbp 6,2) and probably other 6-th Generation MacBookPro''' (release date: April 2010) when using '''Ubuntu 10.10, Maverick Meerkat'''.<<BR>>
<<BR>>
{{attachment:IconsPage/terminal.png}} You can find out, what model you have by typing at the terminal:<<BR>>

This page aims to describe the steps needed, to fully enable all/most features of the '''15.3 (mbp 6,2) and probably other 6-th Generation MacBookPro''' (release date: April 2010) when using '''Ubuntu 10.10, Maverick Meerkat'''.

{{attachment:IconsPage/terminal.png}} You can find out, what model you have by typing at the terminal:
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<<BR>>
 If you have a different model, please go [[https://wiki.ubuntu.com/MactelSupportTeam/CommunityHelpPages|here]] and find the right wiki.

If you have a different model, please go [[https://wiki.ubuntu.com/MactelSupportTeam/CommunityHelpPages|here]] and find the right wiki.
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 ||<style="background-color: #f9eaaf;">Feature||<style="background-color: #f9eaaf;"> Support status||
 || [[#Sensors|Sensors (temps & fans)]] || {{attachment:IconsPage/warning_small.png}} ||
 
|| [[#Suspend|Suspend & Hibernate]] || {{attachment:IconsPage/query_small.png}} ||
 
|| [[#Reboot|Reboot]] || {{attachment:IconsPage/check_small.png}} ||
 || [[#Video|Video & Effects (Compiz)]] || {{attachment:IconsPage/warning_small.png}} ||
 
|| [[#LCD|LCD Brightness Control]] || {{attachment:IconsPage/warning_small.png}} ||
 
|| [[#HFS|HFS+ (only read)]] || {{attachment:IconsPage/check_small.png}} ||
 
|| [[#CDDVD|CD/DVD Writing]] || {{attachment:IconsPage/check_small.png}} ||
 || [[#Bluetooth|Bluetooth]] || {{attachment:IconsPage/warning_small.png}} ||
 
|| [[#Keyboard|Keyboard functions (Brightness,volume,...)]] || {{attachment:IconsPage/warning_small.png}} ||
 
|| [[#Touchpad|Touchpad (bcm5974)]] || {{attachment:IconsPage/check_small.png}} ||
 
|| [[#Wireless|Wireless (AirPort)]] || {{attachment:IconsPage/warning_small.png}} ||
 || [[#iSight|iSight]] || {{attachment:IconsPage/warning_small.png}} ||
 
|| [[#Sound|Sound]] || {{attachment:IconsPage/warning_small.png}} ||
 
|| [[#Microphone|Microphone]] || {{attachment:IconsPage/check_small.png}} ||
 
|| [[#ExtMon|External Monitor]] || {{attachment:IconsPage/check_remark_small.png}}  ||
 
|| [[#ARC|Apple Remote Control]] || {{attachment:IconsPage/warning_small.png}} ||
 || [[#Firewire|Firewire]] || {{attachment:IconsPage/query_small.png}} ||
 || [[#MagicMouse|Magic Mouse]] || {{attachment:IconsPage/warning
_small.png}} ||
{{attachment:IconsPage/check_small.png}} (works out-of-the-box) <<BR>>
{{attachment:IconsPage/check_remark_small.png}} (works, with remarks) <<BR>>
{{attachment:IconsPage/warning_small.png}} (needs manual install) <<BR>>
{{attachment:IconsPage/dont_small.png}} (won't currently work (completely))<<BR>>
{{attachment:IconsPage/query_small.png}} (not yet documented)<<BR>>
||<style="background-color: #f9eaaf;">Feature||<style="background-color: #f9eaaf;"> Support status||
|| [[#Sensors|Sensors (temps & fans)]] || {{attachment:IconsPage/check_remark_small.png}} ||
|| [[#Suspend|Suspend & Hibernate]] || {{attachment:IconsPage/check_small.png}} ||
|| [[#Reboot|Reboot]] || {{attachment:IconsPage/check_small.png}} ||
|| [[#Video|Video & Effects (Compiz)]] || {{attachment:IconsPage/check_remark_small.png}} ||
|| [[#LCD|LCD Brightness Control]] || {{attachment:IconsPage/check_remark_small.png}} ||
|| [[#Fan|Fan Control]] || {{attachment:IconsPage/check_remark_small.png}} ||
|| [[#HFS|HFS+]] || {{attachment:IconsPage/check_small.png}} ||
|| [[#CDDVD|CD/DVD Writing]] || {{attachment:IconsPage/check_small.png}} ||
|| [[#Bluetooth|Bluetooth]] || {{attachment:IconsPage/check_remark_small.png}} ||
|| [[#Keyboard|Keyboard functions (Brightness,volume,...)]] || {{attachment:IconsPage/check_remark_small.png}} ||
|| [[#Touchpad|Touchpad (bcm5974)]] || {{attachment:IconsPage/check_remark_small.png}} ||
|| [[#Wireless|Wireless (AirPort)]] || {{attachment:IconsPage/warning_small.png}} ||
|| [[#iSight|iSight]] || {{attachment:IconsPage/check_small.png}} ||
|| [[#Sound|Sound]] || {{attachment:IconsPage/check_remark_small.png}} ||
|| [[#Microphone|Microphone]] || {{attachment:IconsPage/check_remark_small.png}} ||
|| [[#ExtMon|External Monitor]] || {{attachment:IconsPage/check_remark_small.png}} ||
|| [[#ARC|Apple Remote Control]] || {{attachment:IconsPage/warning_small.png}} ||
|| [[#Firewire|Firewire]] || {{attachment:IconsPage/check_small.png}} ||
{{attachment:IconsPage/check_small.png}} (works out-of-the-box)
{{attachment:IconsPage/check_remark_small.png}} (works, with remarks)
{{attachment:IconsPage/warning_small.png}} (needs manual install)
{{attachment:IconsPage/dont_small.png}} (won't currently work (completely))
{{attachment:IconsPage/query_small.png}} (not yet documented)
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The mactel PPA modules needed on Ubuntu on this MBP are applesmc-dkms (driver for light sensor, temperatures, fans and keyboard backlight), mbp-nvidia-bl-dkms (driver for the LCD panel backlight) and pommed (daemon to control them all).

{{{
sudo apt-get install applesmc-dkms mbp-nvidia-bl-dkms pommed
}}}

Hint: The mouseemu package interferes with pommed. Better remove it:

{{{
sudo apt-get remove mouseemu
}}}

The caps-lock key indicator should work too now.

Note: The packages mbp-nvidia-bl-dkms and pommed may not be updated yet; Wait for the updates or use the packages posted [[http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=9247034|here]]
The mactel PPA modules needed are: mbp-nvidia-bl-dkms (driver for the LCD panel backlight) and pommed (daemon to control them all), macfanctld (fan control), and btusb-dkms (bluetooth).

Install:

{{{
sudo apt-get install pommed mbp-nvidia-bl-dkms macfanctld btusb-dkms
}}}
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The base 32 bits version just detects and can use up to 3,1 Gb of RAM so the rest can't be used. To solve this you can The base 32 bits version just detects and can use up to 3,1 Gb of RAM so the rest can't be used. To solve this you can install a pae-kernel.
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To enable proper detection of sensors edit /etc/modules:

{{{
gksudo gedit /etc/modules
}}}

Add to this to end of file, save and reboot:
{{{
coretemp
}}}

If you would like to monitor temperature readings and fan speed, install sensors-applet:

{{{
sudo apt-get install sensors-applet
}}}

Reboot and then add the applet to your panel.
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Unknown Seems to work fine out of box: multiple suspends during single session works. single hibernation works. (multiple hibernations during single session not tested).
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Rebooting and Shutdown seems to work fine. Rebooting and Shutdown work fine.
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  gksu gedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf gksu gedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf
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 Option "Coolbits" "1"
 Option "RegistryDwords" "PowerMizerEnable=0x1; PerfLevelSrc=0x2222; PowerMizerLevel=0x3; PowerMizerDefaultAC=0x3"
}}}

<<BR>>
Option "Coolbits" "1"
Option "RegistryDwords" "PowerMizerEnable=0x1; PerfLevelSrc=0x2222; PowerMizerLevel=0x3; PowerMizerDefaultAC=0x3"
}}}
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Brightness control works (incl. restore of old brightness value after a resume).

Wait for the updates in mbp-nvidia-bl-dkms and pommed or use the packages posted [[http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=9247034|here]]. Make sure to remove older versions of mbp-nvidia-bl-dkms before installing the new version!
Either mbp-nvidia-bl-dkms alone will enable brightness control or install pommed as well. Restore of old brightness value after a resume also works.

If it doesn't work out-of-the-box, see this thread and tip by [[http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=10236241&postcount=8|acarlstein]].

<<Anchor(Fan)>>
== Fan Control ==
Work, but needs the macfanctld package from the Mactel PPA [[https://help.ubuntu.com/community/MacBookPro6-2/Maverick#Package%20Support%20for%20Intel%20Macs|(above)]] to allow to Macbook Pro to control fan speed at as CPU temperature rises.
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== HFS+ (only read) ==
Confirmed working out of the box.

<<BR>>
== HFS+ ==
 * Read Only: Confirmed working out of the box.
 * Read/Write: It is necessary to disable journal:
  1. Login macos and open a terminal.
  1. Identify the partition.
  1. Run diskutil to disable journaling.
{{{
$ mount
/dev/disk0s2 on / [...]
$ sudo diskutil disableJournal force /dev/disk0s2
Journaling has been disabled for volume [...] on disk0s2
}}}
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<<BR>>
<<Anchor(Bluetooth)>>
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MacBookPro6,2 notebooks use an Apple branded Broadcom [[http://www.broadcom.com/products/Bluetooth/Bluetooth-RF-Silicon-and-Software-Solutions/BCM2046|BCM2046]] solution that seem to be fully supported by the generic bluetooth USB (btusb) driver. Currently (May 2010) the product and device ids are not yet added to the generic USB driver and thus a workaround similar to [[http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1469437|this]] forum post is required.

Note that bluetooth keyboards and mice work even without the driver: there are hci to hid compatibility/emulation devices that are active as long as the bluetooth device is inactive.

{{{
[38073.885671] Bluetooth: Generic Bluetooth USB driver ver 0.7
[38073.886642] usbcore: registered new interface driver btusb
[38073.911497] Bluetooth: L2CAP ver 2.14
[38073.911503] Bluetooth: L2CAP socket layer initialized
[38073.941353] Bluetooth: BNEP (Ethernet Emulation) ver 1.3
[38073.941357] Bluetooth: BNEP filters: protocol multicast
[38073.951236] Bridge firewalling registered
[38073.955646] Bluetooth: SCO (Voice Link) ver 0.6
[38073.955648] Bluetooth: SCO socket layer initialized
[38074.019858] usb 1-1.1.1: USB disconnect, address 7
[38074.030511] Bluetooth: RFCOMM TTY layer initialized
[38074.030517] Bluetooth: RFCOMM socket layer initialized
[38074.030520] Bluetooth: RFCOMM ver 1.11
[38074.288792] usb 1-1.1.2: USB disconnect, address 8
[38220.936249] bnep0: no IPv6 routers present
}}}


Confirmed working:
 * Detection of devices
 * PANU (e.g. use a phone as Network Access Point)
 * Bluetooth Keyboard (Apple)
 * Sending files to devices (OBEX push)
 * Magic Mouse (Apple) work out of the box but without scroll.

Not yet confirmed working:
 * Bluetooth Mouse
Working, but require installing packages from the Mactel PPA, [[https://help.ubuntu.com/community/MacBookPro6-2/Maverick#Package%20Support%20for%20Intel%20Macs|above]].
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What works:
 * F1 and F2 are correctly detected as monitor backlight dimming control keys and control with the help of pommed the LCD panel brightness (0-15).
Everything seems to work with pommed installed:
 * F1 and F2 can be used to adjust display brightness
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 * F5 and F6 are correctly detected as keyboard backlight dimming control keys and control with the help of pommed the keyboard brightness (0-255).  * F5 and F6 can be used to adjust keyboard backlight brightness
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<<BR>>
 * Eject key works
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  echo 255 | sudo tee -a /sys/class/leds/smc::kbd_backlight/brightness echo 255 | sudo tee -a /sys/class/leds/smc::kbd_backlight/brightness
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  cat /sys/devices/platform/applesmc.768/light cat /sys/devices/platform/applesmc.768/light
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  gksu gedit /usr/local/bin/keyboard-backlight gksu gedit /usr/local/bin/keyboard-backlight
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  #!/bin/bash

  # A little script to set the keyboard backlight
  # Note: clicking "Cancel" in the dialog sets the backlight to 0.
  # Note: needs to be called as root (with gksu or sudo) because
  # of writing to /sys. Use "sudo visudo" to edit the /etc/sudoers file
  # if you want to allow non-admin users to change this value, possibly
  # without having to enter a password. Read "man sudoers" and, e.g., use
  # ALL ALL = NOPASSWD:/usr/local/bin/keyboard-backlight
  # to allow all users to execute this command on all hosts without
  # a password.

  # Read current value
  BACKLIGHT=$(cat /sys/class/leds/smc::kbd_backlight/brightness)

  BACKLIGHT=$(zenity \
                --title "Keyboard backlight" \
                --scale \
                --text="Adjust the keyboard backlight" \
         --value="$BACKLIGHT" \
                --min-value="0" \
         --max-value="255")

  echo $BACKLIGHT | tee -a /sys/class/leds/smc::kbd_backlight/brightness
  exit 0
#!/bin/bash

# A little script to set the keyboard backlight
# Note: clicking "Cancel" in the dialog sets the backlight to 0.
# Note: needs to be called as root (with gksu or sudo) because
# of writing to /sys. Use "sudo visudo" to edit the /etc/sudoers file
# if you want to allow non-admin users to change this value, possibly
# without having to enter a password. Read "man sudoers" and, e.g., use
# ALL ALL = NOPASSWD:/usr/local/bin/keyboard-backlight
# to allow all users to execute this command on all hosts without
# a password.

# Read current value
BACKLIGHT=$(cat /sys/class/leds/smc::kbd_backlight/brightness)

BACKLIGHT=$(zenity \
        --title "Keyboard backlight" \
        --scale \
        --text="Adjust the keyboard backlight" \
        --value="$BACKLIGHT" \
        --min-value="0" \
        --max-value="255")

echo $BACKLIGHT | tee -a /sys/class/leds/smc::kbd_backlight/brightness
exit 0
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  sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/keyboard-backlight sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/keyboard-backlight
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  gksu /usr/local/bin/keyboard-backlight gksu /usr/local/bin/keyboard-backlight
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<<BR>>
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The touchpad works out of the box. You can enable two-finger scrolling from the preference->mouse->touchpad applet. It also may help you to uncheck the "Enable mouse clicks with touchpad" checkbox under the Touchpad tab (see below). Furthermore tweaking the drag and drop time to be less, helped significantly. The click-and-drag also works.
<<BR>><<BR>>
If you choose to keep "Enable mouse clicks with touchpad" checked, you'll soon notice that while it's neat you don't have to 'click' the mousepad to initiate a click, the option "Disable touchpad while typing" does not disable the mouse when you accidentally rest your palms on the touchpad during typing, which causes the cursor to jump around. A solution has not yet been found.
<<BR>>
The touchpad works out of the box. However, not all gestures work yet and momentum scrolling does not work. You can enable two-finger scrolling from the preference->mouse->touchpad applet. If you are having accidental clicks while moving the mouse, it also may help you to uncheck the "Enable mouse clicks with touchpad" checkbox under the Touchpad tab. Furthermore tweaking the drag and drop time to be less may be help. The click-and-drag also works.

If the mouse jumps around while typing, and "Disable touchpad while typing" is already selected (under Preferences > Mouse > Touchpad,) mark yourself as affected by this bug: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xserver-xorg-input-synaptics/+bug/240738.
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The Broadcom driver was not installed by default on Lucid. You'll need the STA one, goto "System->Administration->Hardware Drivers" and enable it. If you prefer the command line, execute on the Terminal:
{{{
sudo apt-get install bcmwl-kernel-source
}}}

Then reboot the system and you're OK. The driver seems to handle all situations fine - disable power management in case you experience unexpected connection loss (doesn't seem to be necessary although):

{{{
sudo iwconfig eth1 power off
}}}
Works out of box, but performance is affected by note below:

Note: Should you experience slow connections when running on battery power then you can find a workaround in this thread: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1596061#6

Some users find disabling network-manager and enabling wicd, as described in the [[https://help.ubuntu.com/community/MacBookPro6-2/Lucid#Wireless%20%28AirPort%29|10.04 documentation]], improves wireless performance.
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Firmware cannot yet be extracted nor loaded. In order to use the webcam, you need to boot in OSX first to automatically load the firmware, then reboot to Linux. Work is under way to add support to the isight-firmware-tools: upcomming version 2.0 should include support.
<<BR>>
Confirmed to be working using cheese.
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Sound works similar to the MBP 5,5: In case microphone or headphones are not working out of the box, follow this hint:
From the terminal, type:
{{{
   gksudo gedit /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf
}}}
Internal speakers and headphones work out of box. However, internal speakers are muted. The volume for the front speaker (Front Sp) must be unmuted and turned up. This can be adjusted by running ''alsamixer'' from the Terminal, or using gnome-alsamixer

{{{
sudo apt-get install gnome-alsamixer
}}}

To enable the optical output (you'll see a red light coming from your headphone jack if it is enabled), make sure that the IEC958 option is checked.

== Microphone ==
To get the microphone working, in terminal run:

{{{
gksudo gedit /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf
}}}
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   options snd-hda-intel model=mbp55
}}}


In addition to modifying alsa-base.conf as indicted above, the front speakers seem to be initially muted and need to be unmuted by running ''alsamixer'' from the Terminal, or using gnome-alsamixer:

{{{
  sudo apt-get install gnome-alsamixer
}}}

To enable the optical output, check the IEC958 option, and you'll see a red light coming from your headphone jack.
<<BR>>

== Microphone ==
Also working, see above.
<<BR>>
options snd-hda-intel model=mbp55
}}}
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Option  "NoEDID" "True" Option     "NoEDID" "True"
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Mini !DisplayPort to HDMI works, but drops audio.
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  sudo apt-get install gnome-lirc-properties sudo apt-get install gnome-lirc-properties
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<<BR>>
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Not yet tested.
Ethernet over Firewire (modprobe eth1394) tested and confirmed working.
<<BR>>
<<Anchor(MagicMouse)>>
== Magic Mouse ==

If you want to get scrolling working on an Apple Magic Mouse, you must install the multitouch driver.

{{{
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:chasedouglas/multitouch
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install multitouch-kernel-source
}}}

Scrolling work after a reboot.
Works out of the box with FireWire devices. Tested with Point Grey FireWire cameras and Lacie Rugged drive. Ethernet over Firewire (modprobe eth1394) tested and confirmed working.
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<<BR>><<BR>>
||<style="background-color: #f9eaaf;" tablewidth="100%">{{attachment:IconsPage/IconUsers.png}}<<BR>> Please update this page, if you have figured out anything, that is not mentioned here!||
<<BR>><<BR>>
||<style="background-color: #f9eaaf;" tablewidth="100%">{{attachment:IconsPage/IconUsers.png}}<<BR>> The [[http://ubuntuforums.org/group.php?groupid=352|MactelSupportTeam]] is about to restructure and reorganize the documentation for Intel-based Macs. If you are interested in helping, please visit our [[https://wiki.ubuntu.com/MactelSupportTeam|team page]] for information. For all Mactel wikis, there is a starting place [[https://wiki.ubuntu.com/MactelSupportTeam/CommunityHelpPages|here]]. There is also a [[http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=969360|thread]] about planning the Mactel docummentation going on. ||
<<BR>><<BR>>

||<style="background-color: #f9eaaf;" tablewidth="100%">{{attachment:IconsPage/IconUsers.png}} Please update this page, if you have figured out anything, that is not mentioned here!||

||<style="background-color: #f9eaaf;" tablewidth="100%">{{attachment:IconsPage/IconUsers.png}} The [[http://ubuntuforums.org/group.php?groupid=352|MactelSupportTeam]] is about to restructure and reorganize the documentation for Intel-based Macs. If you are interested in helping, please visit our [[https://wiki.ubuntu.com/MactelSupportTeam|team page]] for information. For all Mactel wikis, there is a starting place [[https://wiki.ubuntu.com/MactelSupportTeam/CommunityHelpPages|here]]. There is also a [[http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=969360|thread]] about planning the Mactel documentation going on. ||
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CategoryMac CategoryMac CategoryMac

The Macbook Pro 6,2 is highly compatible with Ubuntu 10.10 Maverick (and Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid). You'll need to apply some of the adjustments listed below. For further discusions, see: Ubuntu Apple Users forum

MacBookPro 6,2 and Ubuntu 10.10 (Maverick Meerkat)

This page aims to describe the steps needed, to fully enable all/most features of the 15.3 (mbp 6,2) and probably other 6-th Generation MacBookPro (release date: April 2010) when using Ubuntu 10.10, Maverick Meerkat.

IconsPage/terminal.png You can find out, what model you have by typing at the terminal:

sudo dmidecode -s system-product-name

If you have a different model, please go here and find the right wiki.

Overview

Anything not mentioned here probably already works out of the box. If not, please refer to the Ubuntu Apple Users forum.

(works out-of-the-box) (works, with remarks) (needs manual install) (won't currently work (completely)) (not yet documented)

Basic Installation Instructions

Common things about installing and maintaining Ubuntu on Intel-based Macs: Intel CPU-based Macintosh Generic Installation Instructions

Package Support for Intel Macs

You need some modules from the MactelSupportTeam/PPA :

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mactel-support && sudo apt-get update

The mactel PPA modules needed are: mbp-nvidia-bl-dkms (driver for the LCD panel backlight) and pommed (daemon to control them all), macfanctld (fan control), and btusb-dkms (bluetooth).

Install:

sudo apt-get install pommed mbp-nvidia-bl-dkms macfanctld btusb-dkms

The system memory issue and 32/64bits kernel version

As the new MacBookPro 6,2 has 4 GB as base RAM and the Intel i5/i7 processors supports 64 bits, you may have to be careful with the selection of the architecture to install. The base 32 bits version just detects and can use up to 3,1 Gb of RAM so the rest can't be used. To solve this you can install a pae-kernel.

By default, you MUST install the 64 bits Ubuntu version cause today the 64 version can be used without any problem.

For the other hand, if you select to install 32 bits version you have to take in notice that Ubuntu can't handle more that 3,1 GB of memory. As a workaround you can install the "linux-image-generic-pae" kernel package. This kernel adds support for more than 3,1 Gb and enables more features for virtualization with Xen. Just install the 32 version of Ubuntu as you would do normally and after that type this at your terminal:

sudo apt-get install linux-image-generic-pae

Note that PAE adds (extremely minor) overhead and that even with a PAE kernel, each individual process (or XEN virtual machine) will be limited to 4GB of memory.

If you choose to install 64 bits version your Ubuntu will handle more than 3,1 Gb out of the box.

Sensors (temps & fans)

To enable proper detection of sensors edit /etc/modules:

gksudo gedit /etc/modules

Add to this to end of file, save and reboot:

coretemp

If you would like to monitor temperature readings and fan speed, install sensors-applet:

sudo apt-get install sensors-applet

Reboot and then add the applet to your panel.

Temperature, fanspeed, environmental light and keyboard backlight can be controlled over the sysfs exported interface at /sys/devices/platform/applesmc.768/.

One user reported that the environmental light sensor did not work initially until he applied a not further specified firmware update.

Suspend & Hibernate

Seems to work fine out of box: multiple suspends during single session works. single hibernation works. (multiple hibernations during single session not tested).

Reboot

Rebooting and Shutdown work fine.

Video & Effects (Compiz)

IconsPage/restricted.png You should use the restricted driver: The open source driver nouveau seems to currently causes random system freezes. Also with the powermizer functionality of the Nvidia driver you can get the laptop pretty cool at about 50 degrees Celsius instead of 65-70 degrees. Battery life is also better at about 4 hours currently (instead of 2:30).

Install from: System -> Administration -> Hardware Drivers. Select the NVidia graphics driver that says recommended and Activate. Reboot to apply the change.

Edit your /etc/X11/xorg.conf to permanently operate the Nvidia graphics adapter in the lowest possible setting:

gksu gedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf

Add the following lines to the Device section of the nvidia device:

Option  "Coolbits" "1"
Option  "RegistryDwords" "PowerMizerEnable=0x1; PerfLevelSrc=0x2222; PowerMizerLevel=0x3; PowerMizerDefaultAC=0x3"

LCD Brightness Control

Either mbp-nvidia-bl-dkms alone will enable brightness control or install pommed as well. Restore of old brightness value after a resume also works.

If it doesn't work out-of-the-box, see this thread and tip by acarlstein.

Fan Control

Work, but needs the macfanctld package from the Mactel PPA (above) to allow to Macbook Pro to control fan speed at as CPU temperature rises.

HFS+

  • Read Only: Confirmed working out of the box.
  • Read/Write: It is necessary to disable journal:
    1. Login macos and open a terminal.
    2. Identify the partition.
    3. Run diskutil to disable journaling.

$ mount
/dev/disk0s2 on / [...]
$ sudo diskutil disableJournal force /dev/disk0s2
Journaling has been disabled for volume [...] on disk0s2

CD/DVD Writing

Both writing and reading work.

Bluetooth

Working, but require installing packages from the Mactel PPA, above.

Keyboard Functions

Everything seems to work with pommed installed:

  • F1 and F2 can be used to adjust display brightness
  • F3 and F4 can be correctly associated with any command in the system preferences.
  • F5 and F6 can be used to adjust keyboard backlight brightness
  • F7, F8 and F9 are correctly associated with audio player's 'previous', 'play/pause', 'forward' commands.
  • F10, F11, F12 correctly mute and tune audio volume (after having correctly configured audio, see below)
  • Eject key works

Keyboard backlight without pommed

Consider this if you want a way to control the backlight from the command line or with the mouse.

You can choose a value from 0 to 255 to tune the keyboard backlight by writing to /sys/class/leds/smc::kbd_backlight/brightness. For example this command switches the light completely on:

echo 255 | sudo tee -a /sys/class/leds/smc::kbd_backlight/brightness

The file reporting the ambient light sensor is /sys/devices/platform/applesmc.768/light (the number 768 in the path might be different on your machine). To read the value do

cat /sys/devices/platform/applesmc.768/light

which should give different values under different light conditions.

With the following method you can control the backlight through a GUI. Create a new file in /usr/local/bin:

gksu gedit /usr/local/bin/keyboard-backlight

Copy this script into the file and save it:

# A little script to set the keyboard backlight
# Note: clicking "Cancel" in the dialog sets the backlight to 0.
# Note: needs to be called as root (with gksu or sudo) because
# of writing to /sys. Use "sudo visudo" to edit the /etc/sudoers file
# if you want to allow non-admin users to change this value, possibly
# without having to enter a password. Read "man sudoers" and, e.g., use
# ALL ALL = NOPASSWD:/usr/local/bin/keyboard-backlight
# to allow all users to execute this command on all hosts without
# a password.

# Read current value
BACKLIGHT=$(cat /sys/class/leds/smc::kbd_backlight/brightness)

BACKLIGHT=$(zenity \
        --title "Keyboard backlight" \
        --scale \
        --text="Adjust the keyboard backlight" \
        --value="$BACKLIGHT" \
        --min-value="0" \
        --max-value="255")

echo $BACKLIGHT | tee -a /sys/class/leds/smc::kbd_backlight/brightness
exit 0

Use this command to make the file executable:

sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/keyboard-backlight

You may want to create a launcher on the panel. In this case enter

gksu /usr/local/bin/keyboard-backlight

as the command line. Very smartly, the dialog will recognise the word "keyboard" and suggest a good launcher icon automatically.

You could also use the ambient light value to extend the script to make the backlight depend on the ambient light.

Touchpad (bcm5974)

The touchpad works out of the box. However, not all gestures work yet and momentum scrolling does not work. You can enable two-finger scrolling from the preference->mouse->touchpad applet. If you are having accidental clicks while moving the mouse, it also may help you to uncheck the "Enable mouse clicks with touchpad" checkbox under the Touchpad tab. Furthermore tweaking the drag and drop time to be less may be help. The click-and-drag also works.

If the mouse jumps around while typing, and "Disable touchpad while typing" is already selected (under Preferences > Mouse > Touchpad,) mark yourself as affected by this bug: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xserver-xorg-input-synaptics/+bug/240738.

Wireless (AirPort)

IconsPage/restricted.png Works out of box, but performance is affected by note below:

Note: Should you experience slow connections when running on battery power then you can find a workaround in this thread: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1596061#6

Some users find disabling network-manager and enabling wicd, as described in the 10.04 documentation, improves wireless performance.

iSight

IconsPage/webcam.png Confirmed to be working using cheese.

Sound

Internal speakers and headphones work out of box. However, internal speakers are muted. The volume for the front speaker (Front Sp) must be unmuted and turned up. This can be adjusted by running alsamixer from the Terminal, or using gnome-alsamixer

sudo apt-get install gnome-alsamixer

To enable the optical output (you'll see a red light coming from your headphone jack if it is enabled), make sure that the IEC958 option is checked.

Microphone

To get the microphone working, in terminal run:

gksudo gedit /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf

Add the following line to the end of the file. Save the file. Reboot.

options snd-hda-intel model=mbp55

External Monitor

You may experience some trouble with the external VGA and the new drivers: if the detected resolution of externally connected monitors doesn't go beyond 640x480, you will need to inactivate EDID. Add:

Option       "NoEDID" "True"

to /etc/X11/xorg.conf

Mini DisplayPort to HDMI works, but drops audio.

Apple Remote Control

Install gnome-lirc-properties:

sudo apt-get install gnome-lirc-properties

gnome-lirc-properties will give you an entry "Infrared Remote Control" in menu System > Administration. After launching this it will guide you through the configuration. Tested with remote model No A1294 (aluminum Apple remote): gnome-lirc-properties detects the signals (with some models the Enter button is detected as an additional Play button). Although this seems to work, the remote does not actually control any applications, like the Totem Movie Player - more testing is required. Could be that the key-binding are incorrect.

Firewire

Works out of the box with FireWire devices. Tested with Point Grey FireWire cameras and Lacie Rugged drive. Ethernet over Firewire (modprobe eth1394) tested and confirmed working.


CategoryMac


Please update this page, if you have figured out anything, that is not mentioned here!

The MactelSupportTeam is about to restructure and reorganize the documentation for Intel-based Macs. If you are interested in helping, please visit our team page for information. For all Mactel wikis, there is a starting place here. There is also a thread about planning the Mactel documentation going on.


CategoryMac

MacBookPro6-2/Maverick (last edited 2013-12-14 03:00:53 by knome)