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nixos-hardware/microsoft/surface/README.md

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# Derivatives for Microsoft Surface notebooks
These derivatives use the patches from the [linux-surface repo](https://github.com/linux-surface/linux-surface/tree/master/patches).
## Kernel
The kernel needs several patches to make it work correctly with some of the hardware on various
Surface models, e.g. keyboard/trackpad, camera, wifi.
Not all hardware is fully supported, but the
[linux-surface feature matrix](https://github.com/linux-surface/linux-surface/wiki/Supported-Devices-and-Features#feature-matrix)
provides details on which devices are supported on which types of machine.
The kernel-specific derivations are under the `kernel/` sub-directory.
In order to simplify maintenance of the Nix code, only the most-recent kernel patch-set is expected
to be maintained in this repo.
_*NOTE:*_ Some built-in Kernel config items need to be set, that aren't set by default:
- https://github.com/linux-surface/surface-aggregator-module/wiki/Testing-and-Installing
## Firmware, Drivers and Support Tools
### WiFi
For the Surface Go, please see the "Issues" sections below.
### IPTS
IPTS is used on most of the Surface range, except for Surface Go and Surface Laptop 3 (AMD version).
Older kernels used specialised firmware which used a method that's no longer supported by the
more-recent kernels.
Newer kernels use the kernel-space `intel-precise-touch` driver and user-space `ipstd` daemon.
The `iptsd` daemon works with the `intel-precise-touch` driver to convert raw touch data from the
kernel-space driver into events for the HID / input sub-system.
- https://github.com/linux-surface/iptsd
- https://github.com/linux-surface/intel-precise-touch
- _*NOTE:*_ The patches from this repo are included in the above kernel patches, already.
### DTX, `surface-control`
#### surface-control
For controlling the performance modes and other aspects of the device, the [`surface-control`](https://github.com/linux-surface/surface-control) tool is included.
To be able to control the performance mode without using `sudo`, add your user to the `surface-control` group.
# ToDo's Not Done
See: [TODO.org](./TODO.org)
# Issues
## TLP daemon
TLP is known to cause problems on Surface unless correctly configured.
See: https://github.com/linux-surface/linux-surface/blob/master/README.md
## Wifi Firmware for Surface Go
On the Surface Go, the standard firmware from the official Linux Firmware repo has issues with the
`ath10k` QCA6174 Wifi device.
You will see messages like "Can't ping firmware".
The most effective fix to-date is to remove the `board-2.bin` file or replace it with a copy of the
`board.bin` file.
The derivative in `firmware/surface-go/ath10k/` can configure this, if you set the option
`config.hardware.microsoft-surface.firmware.surface-go-ath10k.replace` to `true`.
_*NOTE:*_ This is destructive, as it deletes all the `board.bin` and `board-2.bin` files for the
`ath10k` QCA6174 device, and replaces them with KillerNetworking's version.
This is the only way (currently) to force the driver to use the new firmware.
For more details, see: https://github.com/linux-surface/linux-surface/wiki/Surface-Go#wifi-firmware
_*NOTE:*_ There's some work to patch the kernel to make it easier to override which firmware file
to use for QCA6174, which would obviate this more-destructuve approach:
- https://github.com/linux-surface/kernel/commit/22ef83836c4aa89e9eb98de9b47ed24b6c2a1d45
_*NOTE:*_ There was an attempt to get this firmware incorporated into the aggregate `board-2.bin`,
but (as of this writing) the request appears to have been ignored:
- https://github.com/linux-surface/linux-surface/issues/41
References:
- https://github.com/jakeday/linux-surface/issues/441
- https://www.reddit.com/r/SurfaceLinux/comments/e8quqg/surface_go_official_wifi_fix/
- https://hackmd.io/@dasgeek/ryA5i5Dor
- https://github.com/thebitstick/surfacego-wifi
- https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/firmware/linux-firmware.git/tree/ath10k
- https://wireless.wiki.kernel.org/en/users/drivers/ath10k/firmware