Chromebook-Pixel-2013-Linux

A collection of scripts and other useful things to assist with running a Linux distribution natively on the Google CB001 (Codename: Link).

Current Status

Here's what's working at the moment testing Ubuntu 22.04, Ubuntu MATE 22.04, Fedora 35:

• WiFi
• Bluetoothp using the command above
• Suspend/Hibernate
• Touchpad
• Display HDPI
• Display backlight
• Display touchscreen
• Sound
• Keyboard backlight
• Power Management
• Fan Control (automated)

Files

• blacklist.sh - Script to blacklist module cros_ec_lpcs and enable Linux to interract with firmware
• chromeos_kbd - Program to control the keyboard backlight LED's
• keymaptable - Reference table of default keys useful for creating bindings and shortcuts

Prerequisites

1. A Chromebook Pixel 2013 with write protection screws removed (https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Remove+the+Write+Protect+Screw/86362)
2. Installed latest "Full ROM" firmware from MrChromebox (https://mrchromebox.tech/#fwscript)
3. OS of choice installed via USB (tested only with Ubuntu Mate 22.04 LTS)

Blacklisting the Chromeos Embedded Controller

This can be done using the blacklist.sh script:

1. Download file blacklist.sh
2. ./blacklist.sh
3. Reboot

Or alternatively you can blacklist the module manually (example using nano text editor):

1. sudo nano /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf
2. Add the following line to the code: cros_ec_lpcs
3. Update initramfs: update initramfs -u
4. Reboot the system

Setting Keyboard LED brightness

This can be done using the chromeos_kbd program (you will need sudo as this appends information to the driver located at /sys/class/leds/chromeos\:\:kbd_backlight/brightness.

NOTE: If this driver is missing from your OS you will need to install it first

1. Download file chromeos_kbd
2. Copy the file to /usr/local/bin/
3. To display help run the program with parameter sudo chromeos_kbd -h
4. To set the LED to a percentage value (i.e 50%) use sudo chromeos_kbd -s 70
5. To increase or decrease the LED value by 10% use sudo chromeos_kbd -i and sudo chromeos_kbd -d
6. To increase or decrease the LED value by x% use sudo chromeos_kbd --increase x and sudo chromeos_kbd --decrease x

NOTE: For some reason the driver will not accept a value <1, so 1% brightness is the minimum allowed and you cannot turn off the LED completely in this way. For a workaround which allows for values outside of the limitations (i.e. 0% to turn the LED off) you can use:

sudo pkexec bash -c 'echo -n 0 > /sys/class/leds/chromeos::kbd_backlight/brightness'

You can also edit your ~/.bashrcto enable control of the LED with a simple function:

kb(){ sudo pkexec bash -c 'echo -n '$1' > /sys/class/leds/chromeos::kbd_backlight/brightness' }

This will allow you to open a shell and adjust the LED quickly with kb <input>

Help and Troubleshooting

• Ubuntu MATE 22.04 Keyboard Shortcuts and Media Keys not working (or working intermittently)
  Run the following command:
  
  killall mate-settings-daemon && mate-settings-daemon
  
  I dont know why this is happening (I suspect mate-settings-daemon and gnome-settings-daemon are interfering with eachother at login) but it can be fixed by reloading the settings-daemon and adding as a new startup entry

• No Sound from Headphones:
  
  Run alsamixer from terminal and use the M key to unmute the output

• Poor Battery Performance:
  
  Install tlp and either reboot or run sudo tlp start

• No Fans and High Temperature:
  
  Install lm-sensors and run sudo sensors-detect. Also check that cros_ec_lpcs is properly blacklisted by running lsmod | grep cros_ec_lpcs (It should not show any output)

• High Fan Speed:
  
  Firstly check output of top to rule out any rogue applications eating your CPU or Memory resources. Failing that it seems to be OS-specific, and depends upon X-session rendering. You can try using using an alternative compositor or playing about with the compositor settings to reduce GPU/CPU strain. It's trial and error with this one but my system is consistently cool and stable under heavy loads using the 'Marco built-in Xpresent' profile in MATE 22.04.

Goodbye!