====== Flight Simulator in Linux ======

Dedicated flight simulator build (using X-Plane 9 & 10 and whatever else I can get on here)

===== Hardware =====

Cheapest list of things I could throw together.

  * [[http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819106013 | AMD CPU/GPU]] $40
  * [[http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130641 | Motherboard]] $50
  * [[http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231634 | RAM]] $30
  * [[http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811154107 | Case with 300W Power Supply]] $50

Total: $168 dollars shipped
===== Software =====

  - Base install of Ubuntu 12.04 LTS Server
  - Get video working with AMD/ATI APU
    - XFCE Install: <code>
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade
sudo apt-get install xubuntu-desktop
</code>
    - Install latest AMD/ATI Catalyst Driver
      - Download from [[http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/linux/Pages/radeon_linux.aspx]]
    - Install <code>
wget http://www2.ati.com/drivers/linux/amd-driver-installer-catalyst-13.1-linux-x86.x86_64.zip
unzip amd-driver-installer-catalyst-13.1-linux-x86.x86_64.zip
chmod 755 amd-driver-installer-catalyst-13.1-linux-x86.x86_64.run
sudo sh amd-driver-installer-catalyst-13.1-linux-x86.x86_64.run
</code>
    - Reboot now that we have AMD drivers installed
    - XFCE did come up, but it said restricted drivers available
    - Simply ran the AMD code again as root in X11 mode, and got windows this time
    - Followed defaults and allowed it to do its thing
    - Reboot (following directions)
  - Hook up yoke and throttles, etc... (many thanks to this post:  [[http://forums.x-plane.org/index.php?showtopic=60462&hl=saitek]] )
    - Use **lsusb** to get the Vendor and Device ID of all the Saitek Devices
    - Create a file so **udev** can set up permissions for all these devices
      - Edit <code>
sudo nano /etc/udev/rules.d/99-input-joystick.rules
</code>
      - Insert the following: <code>
# Saitek Pro Flight Throttles
KERNEL=="event*", ATTRS{idProduct}=="0bac", ATTRS{idVendor}=="06a3", MODE="0666"
# Saitek Pro Flight Rudder Pedals
KERNEL=="event*", ATTRS{idProduct}=="0763", ATTRS{idVendor}=="06a3", MODE="0666"
# Saitek Pro Flight yoke
KERNEL=="event*", ATTRS{idProduct}=="712c", ATTRS{idVendor}=="06a3", MODE="0666"</code>
    - Re-Plug in all your devices
  - Get sound working (this was retarded!)  I would NEVER have figured this out on my own... OMG. m(
    - Thanks to [[https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?pid=975049|this]] post... you just
    - Edit your **~/.asoundrc** to contain the following:  <code>
pcm.!default {
  type plug
  slave {
    pcm "hw:1,0"
  }
}
ctl.!default {
  type hw
  card 1
}
</code>
    - Load up **alsamixer** and unmute (use the M key) the first couple of items
    - Save your configuration with <code>
sudo alsactl store 0
</code>
    - Need to load the **libopenal** <code>
sudo apt-get install libopenal1
</code>
  - Install X-Plane
    - Need the 32bit compatibility libraries to install, so <code>
sudo apt-get install ia32-libs
</code>
    - Copy the program to your desktop (use the GUI or a command line if you like)
    - Run the Install program!
    - It complained about not having dedicated 128MB of VRAM
    - Ran the AMD Catalyst driver installer again <code>
cd down
sudo amd-driver-installer-catalyst-13.1-linux-x86.x86_64.run
</code>
    - Rebooted again (followed all the defaults you sheeple)
    - Ran the installer again... it didn't complain and appears to have worked!