Everex Stepnote XT5000T keymap

[Jasmine Hassan]

Binary package hint: udev-extras

Release: Jaunty (9.04)
Package tested: udev-extras-20090602+1-2~jaunty1

Prior to installing udev-extras from Pitti PPA, this Laptop had a lot of issues in terms of some unknown and some incorrect keymaps with hal, although the Sound Up/Down/Mute, LCD/display toggle, and Suspend Fn keys worked out of the box in both hal and udev-extras

Example snippet from syslog:
---------------------------------------
Jul 17 21:33:32 jas-everex kernel: [ 3452.528080] atkbd.c: Unknown key pressed (translated set 2, code 0x7f on isa0060/serio0).
Jul 17 21:33:33 jas-everex kernel: [ 3452.674895] atkbd.c: Unknown key released (translated set 2, code 0x7f on isa0060/serio0).
Jul 17 21:33:35 jas-everex kernel: [ 3454.685330] atkbd.c: Unknown key pressed (translated set 2, code 0x6f on isa0060/serio0).
Jul 17 21:33:35 jas-everex kernel: [ 3454.872654] atkbd.c: Unknown key released (translated set 2, code 0x6f on isa0060/serio0).
Jul 17 21:33:38 jas-everex kernel: [ 3457.951496] atkbd.c: Unknown key pressed (translated set 2, code 0x67 on isa0060/serio0).
Jul 17 21:33:38 jas-everex kernel: [ 3458.199592] atkbd.c: Unknown key pressed (translated set 2, code 0x67 on isa0060/serio0).
Jul 17 21:33:38 jas-everex kernel: [ 3458.270450] atkbd.c: Unknown key released (translated set 2, code 0x67 on isa0060/serio0).
Jul 17 21:49:14 jas-everex kernel: [ 4394.577450] atkbd.c: Unknown key pressed (translated set 2, code 0x65 on isa0060/serio0).
Jul 17 21:49:15 jas-everex kernel: [ 4394.785012] atkbd.c: Unknown key released (translated set 2, code 0x65 on isa0060/serio0).

I followed the very helpful information in /usr/share/doc/udev-extras/README.keymap.txt to resolve these issues and to create a keymap for this lappy to solve all the problematic Fn Keys :)
By the way, there's a little typo in that README.keymap.txt: "cat cat /sys/class/dmi/id/product_name" <- cat twice

system vendor and product
------------------------------------
jas@jas-everex:~$ cat /sys/class/dmi/id/sys_vendor
Everex
jas@jas-everex:~$ cat /sys/class/dmi/id/product_name
XT5000T

Key mapping from step 3 (see attached everex-stepnote_xt5000t file)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/lib/udev/keymaps/everex-stepnote_xt5000t

`sudo /lib/udev/keymap input/event5 > /tmp/orig-map.txt` Output
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://ubuntu.pastebin.com/f1cabf855

`udevadm info --export-db > /tmp/udev-db.txt` Output
------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://ubuntu.pastebin.com/fa41a52d

Rule added in file: "/lib/udev/rules.d/95-keymap.rules"
After the line: 'LABEL="keyboard_vendorcheck"'

ENV{DMI_VENDOR}=="Everex*", ATTR{[dmi/id]product_name}=="XT5000T", RUN+="keymap $name everex-stepnote_xt5000t"

That fixed all the unknown keys (brightness up/down Fn keys, touchpad on/off toggle Fn key, fan speed control button) and redefined web, mail, and media buttons

Unfortunately gnome-power-manager does not offer support for this laptop's video backlight dimming feature (Nvidia Geforce 7600 Go), so I had to install nvclock-0.8b4-1ubuntu2 to use it's native backlight controls feature, as there was also a bug in smartdimmer with increasing backlight brightness (because the driver expects increments of 10 at least, while smart dimmer does increments of 5)

One you installed nvclock, you can adjust your screen's brightness level from command line using nvclock -S option... For more info, see `nvclock -h`

Workaround to get Brightness Fn keys working in GNOME:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Go to: System -> Preferences -> Keyboard Shortcuts

2. Scroll down to the end of the list to see the category "Custom Shortcuts"

3. Click "Add" to add a custom shortcut
Name: Brightness Down
Command: /usr/bin/nvclock -S -10
Then click "Apply" to add it.

4. Click "Add" to add another custom shortcut
Name: Brightness Up
Command: /usr/bin/nvclock -S +10
Then click "Apply" to add it.

5. Click the text "Disabled" in the shortcut column for the "Brightness Down" entry, then press Fn+F8

6. Click the text "Disabled" in the shortcut column for the "Brightness Up" entry, then press Fn+F9

Note on steps #5 and #6:
If your keybinding setup as described above was completed successfully in udev (or udev-extras from Pitti's PPA), you should see "XF86MonBrightnessDown" automatically filled in when you press Fn+F8, and "XF86MonBrightnessUp" when you press Fn+F9..

Or, if you're not using GNOME, or like a more window-manager-independant workaround, try the next "alternative" workaround (though it didnt really work all the time for me in gnome, and had to `killall xbindkeys` and rerun `xbindkeys` many times)

Alternative Workaround to get Brightness Fn keys working in Xorg
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Create a file ~/.xbindkeysrc with the following 4 lines:
"/usr/bin/nvclock -S -10"
  XF86MonBrightnessDown
"/usr/bin/nvclock -S +10"
  XF86MonBrightnessUp

2. Run `xbindkeys` on the shell (as user, not root) and the brightness Fn keys should just work :D

3. Of course, don't forget to add `/usr/bin/xbindkeys` to your window manager startup so you don't have to run xbindkeys manually everytime you login to your desktop
(example: in gnome, System -> Preferences -> Startup Applications)

Hope this helps, and big thank you to Martin Pitt for the back-ported udev-extras package for jaunty :)

[Martin Pitt (pitti)]

Thanks! In Karmic, udev-extras was merged into udev, so I reassign this. I'll apply your keymap soon.

BTW, I fixed the "cat cat" buglet a while ago already.

[Martin Pitt (pitti)]

Committed to udev trunk (4766e49), thank you!

[Jasmine Hassan (jasmine-aura)]

Martin,

Forgot to add that there's another laptop, Fujitsu-Siemens Amilo Xa 1526, which is 99.9% identical to this laptop (Everex Stepnote XT5000T) and I'm pretty sure it has the same (or very similar) keyboard/media buttons layout...

Unfortunately I do not have access to an Amilo Xa1526 to confirm this, but if anyone who does have it could confirm that the scancodes are the same, perhaps the FS Amilo Xa 1526 should also be added to 95-keymap.rules

Cheers
jasmine

[Martin Pitt (pitti)]

Hm, I already have a couple of Amilo Si/Pro/Pa keymaps which are pretty different, so let's rather wait until someone confirms instead of potentially breaking working things. Thanks!

[Jasmine Hassan (jasmine-aura)]

Martin,

Verified:

http://www.amilo-forum.com/topic,544,-Linux-on-Amilo-Xa-1526.html#2652
One user mentions:
* Hotkeys (Video, Mail, Browser, Power)
* Fn+F5 : Touchpad enable/disable: Doesn't seems to work, but not realy usefull.
* Fn+F8/F9 : LCD Brightness -/+ DOESNT WORK

also another user reports:
"edit: the fn-f5 keys arent recognized by xev."
and
"does the volume wheel work for anyone?"

Same behavior I had with this one.. Matter of fact, I haven't gotten around to getting the volume wheel (on the front of the laptop) working... Had a bug report in ALSA from almost 2 years ago and still heard nothing back... Also, nothing from xev nor evtest (from package "joystick") nor from acpi_listen...

So I'm pretty sure this is the same exact thing as this laptop, I also just looked at the (rather awkward) keyboard layout shared between this laptop and the Amilo Xa 1526, its the same..
https://www.preisroboter.de/ergebnis8281658.html&sortmode=0

Also, bug #183159 "Brightness-keys of FSC Laptop XA1526 don't work"
https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/183159
Which I totally even forgot I replied to 2 days ago :)
(has dmidecode and other useful info)

Moreover, I remember that we had some Everex Stepnote XT5000T users from hardforum modifying/hex-editing the FSC Amilo XA1526 bioses and flashing them on the XT5000T, as the BIOS has more unlocked features and the laptops are 99.9% identical, except that the Amilo XA1526 comes with extra feature of bluetooth, afaik...

Hope this helps... but anyway, it doesn't concern me personally... hopefully someone will find this sometime from google and duplicate the troubleshooting...

Thanks

[Martin Pitt (pitti)]

Thanks! Will handle this in bug 183159 then.

[Martin Pitt (pitti)]

Apparently it's not the same layout, though:

542.997769] atkbd.c: Unknown key pressed (translated set 2, code 0xd9 on isa0060/serio0).542.997769] atkbd.c: Unknown key pressed (translated set 2, code 0xd9 on isa0060/serio0).

The Everex layout has 6F/7F for brightness up/down. I'll ask for more information in 183159

[Jasmine Hassan (jasmine-aura)]

"Apparently it's not the same layout, though:"

Nods... I forgot to mention this, sorry for the late followup, and kudos to you for noticing that for yourself:
from: https://www.preisroboter.de/ergebnis8281658.html&sortmode=0
you'll notice there's a bunch of different keyboards for different regions for the same Amilo Xa 1526, like UK, DE, GR, and US, etc... So I wonder if the scan-codes would differ from one version to another...

Originally, I believe the Amilo Xa1526 was only sold in Europe (and possibly mid-east as well), while the Everex was only available in US / Canada (owned by FIC, now out of business, sadly)

Thanks, and keep up the good work :)

[Andrew Ahlfield (ahlfi006)]

Hi guys, I have one of these laptops as well, also running Jaunty 9.04 (LinuxMint 7 actually). I am trying to figure out the volume dial too. Wondering if anyone has made any headway.

[Martin Pitt (pitti)]

Andrew, the fix for this has already been committed to upstream, it just needs a new upstream release and an upload. It's fully understood.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

This bug was fixed in the package udev - 146-1

---------------
udev (146-1) karmic; urgency=low

  * New upstream release:
    - udevadm trigger "--retry-failed" replaced by "--type=failed"
    - RUN "ignore_error" option replaced by "fail_event_on_error"
    - Added HP Presario 2100 keymap. LP: #20223.
    - Added more keymap coverage for Compaq Evo models. LP: #35382.
    - Added Fujitsu Amilo M keymap. LP: #48547.
    - Added Compal Hel80i keymap. LP: #198530.
    - Added Zepto ZNote keymap. LP: #400252.
    - Added Everex Stepnote XT5000T keymap. LP: #400921.
    - Added rules to switch mode of Huawei E1550 GSM modem. LP: #401655.
    - Various other keymap and modem updates.

  [ Martin Pitt ]
  * debian/control: Add missing Breaks: casper (<< 1.174) to avoid breaking
    upgrades from jaunty in wubi installations. (LP: #400138)

 -- Scott James Remnant <email address hidden> Tue, 25 Aug 2009 13:45:17 +0100