First Impressions of Ubuntu on Acer c720

I’m a ChromeOS fanboy. I admit it. I see ChromeBooks as the true (and best) incarnation of the “Desktop Linux” and I’ve been running Linux since the days of manually configuring XF86. Yup, for around two decades. But the recent talk of merging ChromeOS and Android got me spooked, so over the last 24 hours I finally got around to enabling USB and Legacy BIOS boot on my old 2GB Haswell-based c720. Before installing on the flash, I tried the following on Live USB: Ubuntu 14.04, Ubuntu 15.10 (Xubuntu), Ubuntu 15.10 (MATE). I settled with the last. I went with the defaults (more or less) during the MATE Install.

Pleasant Surprises

The touchpad is surprisingly usable although it is very inconsistent across Ubuntu flavors. The standard Ubuntu Desktop and Ubuntu Mate. Two finger scrolling worked out of the box on Ubuntu Desktop and Xubuntu, but not Mate. I’ll want to do some tweaking but it really hasn’t been that bad. HMDI multi-displays just worked, this on a external monitor just worked. Bootup is extremely fast less than 5 seconds. Audio and video worked just fine, although I didn’t test extensively. That is what my Nexus 7 is for.

Performance: Containers, Virtualization, and UI

Chrome runs better than expected. I’m using it now to type this. I expected to see a huge difference between real ChromeOS and Chrome on Linux performance but it is fine. 2 GB RAM (as long as you have swap) seems usable for basic tasks, although I’ve done more than that. I’ve played around with LXD and created a few containers. LXD launching (via “lxc launch” took 45 seconds to start” which seems slow but due to IO. Using the older lxc-create, a 2nd and 3rd container could be created in around 24 seconds.

One of my other standard tests I perform on any new system is to quickly install an OpenBSD VM using Virt-Manager. I installed a i386 OpenBSD 5.8 install with 512MB of RAM and it installed and booted quickly. In the past I’ve seen IO issues during install given how.

In general, the MATE desktop is snappy. Moving between workspaces and windows is much better than I expected. The performance issues I’ve observed are when the OS is blocked on IO, but these have been bearable. I assume I will need to do some tuning here, although a quick “dd benchmark” I observed 250ish MB/s write on the flash drive (before filling it up)

The Expected Shittiness

Anyone that has used “Laptop Linux” for any length of time knows that suspend is the hardest problem to solve and this was no exception. Although it suspended and restored fine, upon restore there were kernel ehci messages constantly spammed and shutdown fails. So this needs to be fixed and it looks like some folks have addressed this on Arch Linux, which of course has great documention on the c270. Given LOTS of folks are running Linux on this hardware, I would expect this problem is solved, just some tweaks are needed. I haven’t used it long enough to see power usage, but I expect it will be much worse than ChromeOS.

Last Words

Obviously the biggest limitation of this setup is storage, but RAM and Flash. I’m going to see how well creating VMs and containers on an external USB 3.0 flash drive works.

HardwareConfiguration

Linux mfranz-peppy 4.2.0–16-generic #19-Ubuntu SMP Thu Oct 8 15:35:06 UTC 2015 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

mfranz-peppy description: Computer width: 64 bits capabilities: smbios-2.7 vsyscall32 *-core description: Motherboard physical id: 0 *-memory description: System memory physical id: 0 size: 991MiB *-cpu product: Intel(R) Celeron(R) 2955U @ 1.40GHz vendor: Intel Corp. physical id: 1 bus info: cpu@0 size: 802MHz capacity: 1400MHz width: 64 bits capabilities: fpu fpu_exception wp vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 clflush dts acpi mmx fxsr sse sse2 ss ht tm pbe syscall nx pdpe1gb rdtscp x86–64 constant_tsc arch_perfmon pebs bts rep_good nopl xtopology nonstop_tsc aperfmperf eagerfpu pni pclmulqdq dtes64 monitor ds_cpl vmx est tm2 ssse3 cx16 xtpr pdcm pcid sse4_1 sse4_2 movbe popcnt tsc_deadline_timer xsave rdrand lahf_lm abm arat epb pln pts dtherm tpr_shadow vnmi flexpriority ept vpid fsgsbase tsc_adjust erms invpcid xsaveopt cpufreq *-pci description: Host bridge product: Haswell-ULT DRAM Controller vendor: Intel Corporation physical id: 100 bus info: pci@0000:00:00.0 version: 09 width: 32 bits clock: 33MHz configuration: driver=hsw_uncore resources: irq:0 *-display description: VGA compatible controller product: Haswell-ULT Integrated Graphics Controller vendor: Intel Corporation physical id: 2 bus info: pci@0000:00:02.0 version: 09 width: 64 bits clock: 33MHz capabilities: msi pm vga_controller bus_master cap_list rom configuration: driver=i915 latency=0 resources: irq:43 memory:e0000000-e03fffff memory:d0000000-dfffffff ioport:1800(size=64) *-multimedia:0 description: Audio device product: Haswell-ULT HD Audio Controller vendor: Intel Corporation physical id: 3 bus info: pci@0000:00:03.0 version: 09 width: 64 bits clock: 33MHz capabilities: pm msi pciexpress bus_master cap_list configuration: driver=snd_hda_intel latency=0 resources: irq:45 memory:e0510000-e0513fff *-usb:0 description: USB controller product: 8 Series USB xHCI HC vendor: Intel Corporation physical id: 14 bus info: pci@0000:00:14.0 version: 04 width: 64 bits clock: 33MHz capabilities: pm msi xhci bus_master cap_list configuration: driver=xhci_hcd latency=0 resources: irq:41 memory:e0500000-e050ffff *-usbhost:0 product: xHCI Host Controller vendor: Linux 4.2.0–16-generic xhci-hcd physical id: 0 bus info: usb@2 logical name: usb2 version: 4.02 capabilities: usb-3.00 configuration: driver=hub slots=4 speed=5000Mbit/s *-usb description: Mass storage device product: USB Flash Drive vendor: Lexar physical id: 1 bus info: usb@2:1 logical name: scsi2 version: 11.00 serial: AA3209EY4TWDOWZOBFDR capabilities: usb-3.00 scsi emulated scsi-host configuration: driver=usb-storage maxpower=504mA speed=5000Mbit/s *-disk description: SCSI Disk physical id: 0.0.0 bus info: scsi@2:0.0.0 logical name: /dev/sdb size: 14GiB (16GB) capabilities: partitioned partitioned:dos configuration: logicalsectorsize=512 sectorsize=512 *-volume description: Linux filesystem partition vendor: Linux physical id: 1 bus info: scsi@2:0.0.0,1 logical name: /dev/sdb1 logical name: /media/mfranz/705f9e49-c640–4f3b-aca5-ea5fb5a736cd version: 1.0 serial: 705f9e49-c640–4f3b-aca5-ea5fb5a736cd size: 14GiB capacity: 14GiB capabilities: primary extended_attributes large_files ext2 initialized configuration: filesystem=ext2 lastmountpoint=/media/mfranz/705f9e49-c640–4f3b-aca5-ea5fb5a736cd modified=2015–10–31 12:21:08 mount.fstype=ext2 mount.options=rw,nosuid,nodev,relatime mounted=2015–10–31 12:21:08 state=mounted *-usbhost:1 product: xHCI Host Controller vendor: Linux 4.2.0–16-generic xhci-hcd physical id: 1 bus info: usb@1 logical name: usb1 version: 4.02 capabilities: usb-2.00 configuration: driver=hub slots=8 speed=480Mbit/s *-usb:0 description: Video product: HD WebCam vendor: SunplusIT Inc physical id: 3 bus info: usb@1:3 version: 0.01 capabilities: usb-2.00 configuration: driver=uvcvideo maxpower=500mA speed=480Mbit/s *-usb:1 description: Bluetooth wireless interface vendor: Foxconn / Hon Hai physical id: 4 bus info: usb@1:4 version: 0.02 capabilities: bluetooth usb-1.10 configuration: driver=btusb maxpower=100mA speed=12Mbit/s *-generic:0 description: DMA controller product: 8 Series Low Power Sub-System DMA vendor: Intel Corporation physical id: 15 bus info: pci@0000:00:15.0 version: 04 width: 32 bits clock: 33MHz capabilities: pm eisa_dma bus_master cap_list configuration: driver=dw_dmac_pci latency=0 resources: irq:21 memory:e0518000-e0518fff memory:e0519000-e0519fff *-serial:0 description: Serial bus controller product: 8 Series I2C Controller #0 vendor: Intel Corporation physical id: 15.1 bus info: pci@0000:00:15.1 version: 04 width: 32 bits clock: 33MHz capabilities: pm bus_master cap_list configuration: driver=i2c-designware-pci latency=0 resources: irq:21 memory:e051a000-e051afff memory:e051b000-e051bfff *-serial:1 description: Serial bus controller product: 8 Series I2C Controller #1 vendor: Intel Corporation physical id: 15.2 bus info: pci@0000:00:15.2 version: 04 width: 32 bits clock: 33MHz capabilities: pm bus_master cap_list configuration: driver=i2c-designware-pci latency=0 resources: irq:21 memory:e051c000-e051cfff memory:e051d000-e051dfff *-multimedia:1 description: Audio device product: 8 Series HD Audio Controller vendor: Intel Corporation physical id: 1b bus info: pci@0000:00:1b.0 version: 04 width: 64 bits clock: 33MHz capabilities: pm msi pciexpress bus_master cap_list configuration: driver=snd_hda_intel latency=0 resources: irq:44 memory:e0514000-e0517fff *-pci description: PCI bridge product: 8 Series PCI Express Root Port 1 vendor: Intel Corporation physical id: 1c bus info: pci@0000:00:1c.0 version: e4 width: 32 bits clock: 33MHz capabilities: pci pciexpress msi pm normal_decode bus_master cap_list configuration: driver=pcieport resources: irq:40 memory:e0400000-e04fffff *-network description: Wireless interface product: AR9462 Wireless Network Adapter vendor: Qualcomm Atheros physical id: 0 bus info: pci@0000:01:00.0 logical name: wlp1s0 version: 01 serial: 34:23:87:1d:ae:a1 width: 64 bits clock: 33MHz capabilities: pm msi pciexpress bus_master cap_list rom ethernet physical wireless configuration: broadcast=yes driver=ath9k driverversion=4.2.0–16-generic firmware=N/A ip=192.168.112.25 latency=0 link=yes multicast=yes wireless=IEEE 802.11abgn resources: irq:16 memory:e0400000-e047ffff memory:e0480000-e048ffff *-usb:1 description: USB controller product: 8 Series USB EHCI #1 vendor: Intel Corporation physical id: 1d bus info: pci@0000:00:1d.0 version: 04 width: 32 bits clock: 33MHz capabilities: pm debug ehci cap_list configuration: driver=ehci-pci latency=0 resources: irq:19 memory:e051f800-e051fbff *-usbhost product: EHCI Host Controller vendor: Linux 4.2.0–16-generic ehci_hcd physical id: 1 bus info: usb@3 logical name: usb3 version: 4.02 capabilities: usb-2.00 configuration: driver=hub slots=2 speed=480Mbit/s *-usb description: USB hub vendor: Intel Corp. physical id: 1 bus info: usb@3:1 version: 0.04 capabilities: usb-2.00 configuration: driver=hub slots=8 speed=480Mbit/s *-isa description: ISA bridge product: 8 Series LPC Controller vendor: Intel Corporation physical id: 1f bus info: pci@0000:00:1f.0 version: 04 width: 32 bits clock: 33MHz capabilities: isa bus_master cap_list configuration: driver=lpc_ich latency=0 resources: irq:0 *-storage description: SATA controller product: 8 Series SATA Controller 1 [AHCI mode] vendor: Intel Corporation physical id: 1f.2 bus info: pci@0000:00:1f.2 version: 04 width: 32 bits clock: 66MHz capabilities: storage msi pm ahci_1.0 bus_master cap_list configuration: driver=ahci latency=0 resources: irq:42 ioport:1860(size=8) ioport:1870(size=4) ioport:1868(size=8) ioport:1874(size=4) ioport:1840(size=32) memory:e051f000-e051f7ff *-serial:2 UNCLAIMED description: SMBus product: 8 Series SMBus Controller vendor: Intel Corporation physical id: 1f.3 bus info: pci@0000:00:1f.3 version: 04 width: 64 bits clock: 33MHz configuration: latency=0 resources: memory:e051fc00-e051fcff ioport:400(size=32) *-generic:1 UNCLAIMED description: Signal processing controller product: 8 Series Thermal vendor: Intel Corporation physical id: 1f.6 bus info: pci@0000:00:1f.6 version: 04 width: 64 bits clock: 33MHz capabilities: pm msi cap_list configuration: latency=0 resources: memory:e051e000-e051efff *-scsi physical id: 2 logical name: scsi0 capabilities: emulated *-disk description: ATA Disk product: KINGSTON SNS4151 physical id: 0.0.0 bus info: scsi@0:0.0.0 logical name: /dev/sda version: 01.1 serial: 50026B723A052784 size: 14GiB (16GB) capabilities: partitioned partitioned:dos configuration: ansiversion=5 logicalsectorsize=512 sectorsize=512 signature=9fc6cf56 *-volume:0 description: Linux filesystem partition vendor: Linux physical id: 1 bus info: scsi@0:0.0.0,1 logical name: /dev/sda1 logical name: /boot version: 1.0 serial: ff3a0567–8700–4b98–805c-bae68e542d51 size: 243MiB capacity: 243MiB capabilities: primary bootable extended_attributes ext2 initialized configuration: filesystem=ext2 lastmountpoint=/boot modified=2015–10–31 12:05:46 mount.fstype=ext2 mount.options=rw,relatime mounted=2015–10–31 12:05:46 state=mounted *-volume:1 description: Extended partition physical id: 2 bus info: scsi@0:0.0.0,2 logical name: /dev/sda2 size: 14GiB capacity: 14GiB capabilities: primary extended partitioned partitioned:extended *-logicalvolume description: Linux LVM Physical Volume partition physical id: 5 logical name: /dev/sda5 serial: hUOUGg-ESHw-UDBX-oiPj-0Vue-EvZr-ojrVzt size: 14GiB capacity: 14GiB capabilities: multi lvm2 *-network:0 description: Ethernet interface physical id: 1 logical name: vnet0 serial: fe:54:00:c2:90:02 size: 10Mbit/s capabilities: ethernet physical configuration: autonegotiation=off broadcast=yes driver=tun driverversion=1.6 duplex=full link=yes multicast=yes port=twisted pair speed=10Mbit/s *-network:1 DISABLED description: Ethernet interface physical id: 2 logical name: virbr0-nic serial: 52:54:00:89:f5:3f size: 10Mbit/s capabilities: ethernet physical configuration: autonegotiation=off broadcast=yes driver=tun driverversion=1.6 duplex=full link=no multicast=yes port=twisted pair speed=10Mbit/s