This is a guide to running Linux with the Asus A4L laptop. The Asus A4L is a powerful Pentium 4 based system. It's main issue with Linux is the wireless controller.
This guide is intended to provide you details on how well this laptop works with Linux and which modules you need to configure. For details on how to actually install and configure the required modules have a look at our guides section for distribution specific instructions.
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| Name | Asus A4L |
| Processor | Intel Pentium 4 3.20GHz |
| Screen | 15.4” WXGA |
| RAM | 512MB |
| HDD | 60GB |
| Optical Drive | DVD-ROM/CD-RW |
| Graphics | SiS M661FX |
| Network | 10/100/1000 Ethernet, Sis USB 802.11b Wireless |
| Other | 4 x USB2.0, 1 x Firewire |
| Device | Compatibility | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Yes | |
| Screen | Yes | |
| Optical Drive | Yes | |
| Graphics | Yes | Use the sis modules |
| Sound | Yes | |
| Ethernet | Yes | |
| Wireless | Yes | |
| 56K Modem | Not Tested | |
| USB | Yes | |
| Firewire | Not Tested | |
| Card Reader | Not Tested | |
| PCMCIA | Not Tested |
You will need to use the ndiswrapper module to get the SIS USB wireless working properly. For installation details you may view our Configuring the ndiswrapper module guide. The windows driver is available from the Asus website.
Apart from the wireless controller, Linux support on this laptop is good. It is let down however with the need to use ndiswrapper and the issues which they may cause.
Discussion
Just an update for this ASUS laptop.
I have just installed openSUSE 11.1 on this machine, with much improved support for the ASUS USB wireless adaptor (yes, it is connected via USB internally).
Wireless now works 'out of the box' so to speak.
Configured to work on my home wifi network using WPA with a shared parse phrase.
the openSUSE (using KDE) is a nice distro for the A4L.