Debian 7 on Lenovo W540

w540-linux-notes.md

BIOS

• Security->Secure Boot [Disabled] // boot from other drives
• Startup->UEFI/Legacy Boot [Legacy Only] // allow more distros to boot from USB key; may also prevent bricking the laptop (sketchy correlation in forum posts between Both/UEFI Only modes booting into Linux after install and having to replace motherboard)
• Startup->Boot Order: M.2 SSD before spinning disk
• Config->Keyboard/Mouse->Fn and Ctrl Key swap [Enabled]

Boot -> install

• Used Rufus to image debian-live-7.6.0-amd64-gnome-desktop.iso to USB key (7.1.0 didn't include appropriate network support)
• use a USB3 port (You have no chance to survive make your time.)
• edit boot entry to add "nomodeset" so display works (otherwise bombs when the nouveau driver errors)
• add $USER to sudo group

$ su - 
# addgroup $USER sudo
# vi /etc/default/grub
  // add support for brightness buttons?
  GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet acpi_osi=\"!Windows 2012\""
# update-grub

/etc/apt/sources.list

• deb http://http.debian.net/debian wheezy non-free contrib // if you choose the closed source nvidia drivers a la this gist
• deb http://http.debian.net/debian wheezy-backports main [non-free contrib] // to get bumblebee support [include for updated closed-source nvidia drivers]

Bumblebee / NVidia Optimus -> render with NVidia card, display with Intel card

• $ sudo apt-get install -t wheezy-backports bumblebee primus // use open nouveau drivers (not working for me)
• $ sudo apt-get install -t wheezy-backports bumblebee-nvidia primus // use closed source nvidia drivers (sort of works, glxgears segfaults, removing nomodeset and trying to get the Intel GL hw accel sorted)
• $ sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386 && sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install -t wheezy-backports bumblebee-nvidia primus primus-libs:i386 // 64-bit systems wanting to use bumblebee in 32-bit apps need MultiArch support and the i386 primus-libs

test bumblebee after a reboot:

$ cat /proc/acpi/bbswitch
0000:01:00.0 OFF
$ echo ON > /proc/acpi/bbswitch && cat /proc/acpi/bbswitch
0000:01:00.0 ON
$ echo OFF > /proc/acpi/bbswitch 

/etc/bumblebee/bumblebee.conf

• Driver = nvidia
• KernelDriver = nvidia-current

reboot and test:

$ vblank_mode=0 glxgears -info
$ vblank_mode=0 optirun glxgears -info 
// should display gears window; if not, check /var/log/syslog