Sony Vaio VPC-F11M1E

Xorg

X server works with the standard nvidia package but shows a blank screen when exiting the X server or just switching terminals using Ctrl+Alt+Fx.

To resolve the blank screen issue you need to use vesafb.

Install v86d^AUR and remove any vga=<foo> kernel boot parameters.

Next ensure that /etc/modprobe.d/uvesafb.conf contains:

options uvesafb mode_option=1280x800-32 scroll=ywrap

This is not the largest resolution available (1280x1024-32 is) but it best fits the aspect ratio of the screen.

Finally add the v86d hook to HOOKS in mkinitcpio.conf:

HOOKS="base udev v86d ..."

and regenerate the initramfs.

Display backlight regulation

I found this solution - https://code.google.com/p/vaio-f11-linux/wiki/NVIDIASetup. It is for Vaio F11, but it works for my F13 too.

I have added this line in section "Device" in /etc/X11/xorg.conf :

Option    "RegistryDwords"    "EnableBrightnessControl=1;PowerMizerEnable=0x1;PerfLevelSrc=0x3333;PowerMizerLevel=0x3;PowerMizerDefault=0x3;PowerMizerDefaultAC=0x3"

Plus I use module sony_laptop .. MODULES=(sony_laptop) in /etc/rc.conf

Special Keys

The 'Display Off' and media keys work out of the box.

The 'ASSIST', 'S1' and 'VAIO' keys require configuring the appropriate keymap.

Using udev

Firstly run:

$ /lib/udev/findkeyboards

Then do:

# /lib/udev/keymap -i input/eventX

BUT switch input/eventX for the keyboard outputted in the first command. I got 'AT keyboard' and 'module' from the first command. 'AT keyboard' is the normal keyboard for mapping 'Fn+X' and 'module' is the hotkey keyboard.

After doing the second command you need to press the buttons that you want to map, then Control-C to exit keymap.

Then edit /lib/udev/keymaps/module-sony, adding the relevant scan code from the second command and then the event you want. All valid events are listed in https://hal.freedesktop.org/quirk/quirk-keymap-list.txt

Here is an example module-sony keymap file for the VPC-F11M1E:

0xA0 mute # Fn+F2
0xAE volumedown # Fn+F3
0xB0 volumeup # Fn+F4
0x10 brightnessdown # Fn+F5
0x11 brightnessup # Fn+F6
0x12 switchvideomode # Fn+F7
0x14 zoomout # Fn+F9
0x15 zoomin # Fn+F10
0x17 suspend # Fn+F12
0x28 help #Assist
0x20 prog1 #S1
0x49 vendor #VAIO Hotkey

Using the kernel tool setkeycodes

See the detailed article: setkeycodes.

Suspend to RAM

Out of the box, a suspend will result in a proper suspending but a failure to resume, resulting in a reboot. The solution is to add the following parameter to your kernel (into the line )

acpi_sleep=nonvs

Your grub kernel entry should look like this

linux /boot/vmlinuz-linux-sony root=/dev/dm-1 acpi_sleep=nonvs

DTS/AC3 Over HDMI with ALSA

Make sure you installed ALSA.

$ aplay -l

**** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
card 0: Intel [HDA Intel], device 0: ALC275 Analog [ALC275 Analog]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 0: Intel [HDA Intel], device 1: ALC275 Digital [ALC275 Digital]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: NVidia [HDA NVidia], device 3: HDMI 0 [HDMI 0]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: NVidia [HDA NVidia], device 7: HDMI 0 [HDMI 0]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: NVidia [HDA NVidia], device 8: HDMI 0 [HDMI 0]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: NVidia [HDA NVidia], device 9: HDMI 0 [HDMI 0]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0

The right ALSA device to use to get a working sound over HDMI is the device 7.

To get mplayer to use it,

mplayer -ao alsa:device=hw=1.7 -channels 8 -ac hwdts,hwac3, <file>

The comma after hwac3 is not a typo.

DTS/AC3 Over HDMI with PULSE

After installing pulseaudio, you will need to edit

/etc/pulse/default.pa

and add the following line

load-module module-alsa-sink device=hw:1,7 channels=8

Put channels to the highest number of channels supported by the combination of your hardware (computer + receiver/TV).

Sources

https://code.google.com/p/vaio-f11-linux/w/list?q=label:State-Solution

Map scancodes to keycodes