Having problems (what else is new)

From: "*" <fd...@nospam.idcomm.com>
Subject: Having problems (what else is new)
Date: 1998/06/30
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Newsgroups: alt.os.linux.slackware

Well, I managed to get Slackware 3.4 (kernell 2.0.30???) up and running,
although I noticed it does not recognize any of my PCI hardware, other than
noticing I have PCI version 2.01.  Can I get it to recognize this stuff?
How?  Second, due to lack of documentation, I have not been able to find out
how to read readme files, and I haven't been able to find out what
extensions mean what (which are executable, which are texts, etc.)  Third, I
have been trying to use setup to put LILO on root, but when I run the
config, it doesn't see any of my partitions (DOS included).  I have linux on
a logical partition, rather than a primary, should I switch them?  I have no
problem reinstalling, since I have only had it on my system for two days,
and I have only added CD support to my kernel (HDD=CDROM, I was so proud
 : )).

Lastly, how do you compile a kernel?  And how do you format a floppy disk (I
want to make a backup of my LILO boot disk)?

I know I am asking alot here, but I am just so damn excited to play with
this OS, and It is frustrating to not know this little bit.  The DOS
help.exe was more helpful than man, but only because it assumed you didn't
know anything about computers.  I got linux because it assumed you knew alot
about computers, but I guess it (and I) assumed to much from me.   I thank
you from the bottom of my heart for helping me, and though I wish I could
tell you this will be my last question, sadly I know it won't be.  Once
again, thanks

From: "Brian" <sub...@rogers.wave.ca>
Subject: Re: Having problems (what else is new)
Date: 1998/07/01
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Reply-To: "Brian" <b...@mdi.ca>
Newsgroups: alt.os.linux.slackware

You are suffering the agonies of the newly initiated - do not worry!

There is a free book that you can download and print that will lead you by
the hand through an installation and will instruct you on the beauty and
power that is unix/Linux.

Go to "sunsite.unc.edu/pub/Linux/distributions/slackware/docs/install-guide"
and download "install-guide-2.3.txt.zip". Unzip it and fire up your favorite
word processor and format the file for printing; it should print out to
about 230 pages or more.

This is a text version of the popular book "Running Linux" by Matt Welsh,
noted Linux Guru and is an excellent guide to everything Linux and some
things Unix. Read it - try it out and learn. If you have the money, buy the
book "Running Linux" 2nd edition - excellent! Another good book is "Linux,
The Complete Reference" which includes a beautifully formatted version of
"Install-Guide" and much more for your pleasure.

Slackware is a good choice, I use it myself, and the latest version is 3.5
but 3.4 is an excellent distribution, very stable!

Right out of the box (off the CD) Slackware 3.4 finds your PCI hardware and
should find most if not all of your PCI cards. What doesn't it find? (You
didn't say)

There is lots of documentation if you have Slackware on CD, just check
"/docs" and look for "/install-guide/". If you downloaded Slackware 3.4, go
back and download the entire "/docs" directory tree and have a look. They
are all readable with your garden variety DOS/W95 editors or word
processors - make an effort!

Linux unix don't identify their executables with a "*.exe or *.com" suffix,
sorry. Many helpful documents are called "HOWTOs" or "Mini-HOWTOs" and are
in text format that most DOS/W95 editors can stomach - I recommend W95's
"WordPad" or DOS's "Edit" for starters. Format, print, read and try it out!

"liloconfig" sometimes refuses to list partition information. Here is a
brief rundown:

/dev/hda1
        ^ means first partition
       ^ means first IDE hard disk

Therefore:

/dev/hda2 means second partition on first IDE hard disk.
/dev/hdb  means second hard disk although it also be a ATAPI CD-ROM drive.

(Learn all this and much more when reading "Install-Guide" or "Running
Linux".

Linux is perfectly happy on a "logical" partition but the rules changes
slightly, ie:

The first logical partion is always /dev/hda5 when on the first IDE hard
drive and /dev/hdb5 when on the second IDE hard drive. In Linux, run "fdisk"
and hit "p" for a listing of partitions in your /dev/hda drive. If you want
to examine your second hard drive, start "fdisk /dev/hdb" because it
defaults to the "a" first drive. Hit "q" to exit "fdisk".

I don't have any idea what "HDD=CDROM" could have done but I suspect it did
nothing. During bootup of Linux you are confronted with a flurry of messages
which appear very cryptic at the moment but will soon be as easy to read as
a children's bedtime story. To view them again type "dmesg | less <enter>"
and scan down the list of hardware finds. You will invariably see your
CD-ROM device identified somewhere in the list (use your arrow keys to scan
up and down through the listing and use your spacebar to scan down a page at
a time - and use "q" to quit).

To mount (all media must be mounted in Linux) your CD-Rom, try:

mount -t iso9660 /dev/cdrom /cdrom <enter>

If that doesn't work, try:

mount -t iso9660 /dev/hdb /cdrom <enter>

When you wish to remove the cd from a drive, you must unmount the drive like
this:

umount /cdrom <enter>

The drive door will now open and you can now remove your CD.

How do you compile a new kernel? Print out the Kernel-HOWTO in /docs.

You have to have installed the kernel source when you installed your
Slackware 3.4.

OK, try this:

cd /usr/src/linux <enter>

make menuconfig <enter>

Now go through each possible group and select what you want and unselect
what you don't want. Read what the 'Kernel-HowTo' has to say! When you are
done, exit and you will be promted to save your config file - say yes!

make dep; make clean; make bzImage; make modules; make modules_install
<enter>

Wait awhile - could take as long as 24 hours (on a slow 386 with 8MBytes) to
as little as 8 minutes (on a PPro200 with 64MBytes).

While you are waiting is a good time to start reading all about Linux - you
did print out "Install-Guide" didn't you?

When the compile is finished, you will have a file called "bzimage" which is
your brand new kernel. To find your new kernel, try:

cd /usr/src/linux/arch/i386/boot <enter>

and look around.

Put a GOOD 1.44 meg floppy in you a: drive (called /dev/fd0 in Linux-speak)
and copy your new kernel to it like this:

cp bzImage /dev/fd0 <enter> and wait a few moments.

When done, you will have to configure your "/etc/rc.d/rc.modules" file to
represent the changes you have made with your new kernel.

Now restart you computer leaving the floppy in it's drive like this:

reboot <enter>

Watch the messages fly by as it boots up. If it fails to boot, just remove
your floppy and reboot as usual. Do not be dismayed by what appears to be
many error messages during bootup as long as it does boot up. You can always
review what the messages say with "dmesg | less" and take appropriate
actions.

One last thought, it is considered polite to offer an understandable name
(no asterics) when asking for help.

Best regards,

Brian
b...@mdi.ca

* wrote in message <3599a...@mindmeld.idcomm.com>...
>Well, I managed to get Slackware 3.4 (kernell 2.0.30???) up and running,
>although I noticed it does not recognize any of my PCI hardware, other than
>noticing I have PCI version 2.01.  Can I get it to recognize this stuff?
>How?  Second, due to lack of documentation, I have not been able to find
out
>how to read readme files, and I haven't been able to find out what
>extensions mean what (which are executable, which are texts, etc.)  Third,
I
>have been trying to use setup to put LILO on root, but when I run the
>config, it doesn't see any of my partitions (DOS included).  I have linux
on
>a logical partition, rather than a primary, should I switch them?  I have
no
>problem reinstalling, since I have only had it on my system for two days,
>and I have only added CD support to my kernel (HDD=CDROM, I was so proud
> : )).
>
>Lastly, how do you compile a kernel?  And how do you format a floppy disk
(I
>want to make a backup of my LILO boot disk)?
>
>I know I am asking alot here, but I am just so damn excited to play with
>this OS, and It is frustrating to not know this little bit.  The DOS
>help.exe was more helpful than man, but only because it assumed you didn't
>know anything about computers.  I got linux because it assumed you knew
alot
>about computers, but I guess it (and I) assumed to much from me.   I thank
>you from the bottom of my heart for helping me, and though I wish I could
>tell you this will be my last question, sadly I know it won't be.  Once
>again, thanks
>