Using Nobara Linux on Surface Pro 4

[chris122380]

Nobara Linux description shows that there is the surface kernels included and then references this project. However there is no documentation on Nobara or on this projects page on how to use Nobara Linux on the Microsoft Surface.

Touch screen not working in the Nobara Linux live environment (was trying to test the distro before installation. Since the touch wasn't working I didn't even bother to check the camera)

Would like to see the documentation wiki updated to include this distribution. It supposedly has the kernel built into this distribution.

Environment

• Hardware model: Surface Pro 4 (Intel)
• Kernel version: unsure (can update later after next test)
• Distribution: Nobara-37-GNOME-2023-03-04

[qzed]

The reason it's not in our Wiki is that it's not a project that we're directly involved in. So we can't provide much support directly related to it. For example, I do not know whether they use the latest version of our patches.

I would assume that IPTSd might not be packaged/active in the live media, and that that might have a slightly older patchset. Combined, this could lead to touch not working. I would recommend you first try and install the full version (which might have a newer kernel than the install media) and iptsd package, and if that still does not work then the kernel-surface and iptsd packages that we provide in our repos.

[StollD]

The patchset that Nobara includes is outdated and the included touch driver won't work with the iptsd from our repo.

https://pagure.io/kernel-fsync/blob/6.1/f/SOURCES/linux-surface.patch

Since they don't package iptsd and our other userspace utils they obviously expect you to use our repository, so they should also keep the patchset updated.

[JPDucky]

I can confirm that the implementation of the surface kernel from nobara is iffy at best. It "works" in that yes things turn on, but full functionality is not there. I've had to add this repo manually and I've actually disabled the nobara repos in an effort to get the surface hardware working correctly

[chris122380]

I can confirm that the implementation of the surface kernel from nobara is iffy at best. It "works" in that yes things turn on, but full functionality is not there. I've had to add this repo manually and I've actually disabled the nobara repos in an effort to get the surface hardware working correctly

I decided to give it a try and had no such issues after adding the Surface repo. I decided to go to Fedora 37 instead but still having issues with Wine. Some apps font size is to small even after installing the fonts and changing the DPI but wasn't an issue in Nobara. I like having secure boot with fedora but I like many of the fixes (such as wine) in Nobara. I like the fact that Fedora and Nobara have the camera apps in there repositories. I'm still playing with different distributions to find what I like best for the Surface Pro 4.

I had issues with Debian based distros and the camera. Manjaro kept having issues with expiring repo keys. So my search continues.

[eobet]

I just installed the iptsd download which said "fc38" on a new Nobara-38 installation and it seems to work.

I'm on a Microsoft Surface Studio Laptop, though.