DSL-N IS GREAT

Forum: DSL-N
Topic: DSL-N IS GREAT
started by: andrewphoto

Posted by andrewphoto on Jan. 26 2007,00:59

Well Done, Bravo, Thanks, John, Roberts, & Crew, 2.6 DSL-N.

Posted by xpt on Jan. 30 2007,16:20

2nd to that. Save my day.

dsl wasn't able to recognized my network card, can't access ntfs partition on the sata drive.

get dsl-n, and everything works.

thanks a lot

Posted by kung-foo.de on Feb. 04 2007,15:52

same for me. cept that my external hd is ntfs formatted so its read-only for dsl-n.

Posted by andrewphoto on Feb. 04 2007,23:10

qtparted on sysresccd is what you need.

Posted by Jason W on Feb. 08 2007,00:29

I would like to throw in my appreciation of DSL-N, too. Just right for my bigger machines (96-128MB RAM). I hope to see more of it in the future.

Posted by WDef on Feb. 09 2007,17:14

Ditto. I'd hate to see dsl-n die a death. But I know Robert can only be stretched so far ...

Posted by Greengrass on Feb. 12 2007,14:48

Quote (WDef @ Feb. 09 2007,12:14)

Ditto. I'd hate to see dsl-n die a death. But I know Robert can only be stretched so far ...

DSL-N is/was my great hope, but I can't roll it out at it current release state. Its been on-again/off-again with DSL-N. Tried all the alternatives I could find. Xubuntu/Icebuntu/UbuntuLite/PicoDebian/Puppy. Puppy uses it own package manager, and the *buntu's have too big a disk footprint. DSL-N is just north of 300M of disk on an HDD install with X and Flux. It fits well with the hardware I'm using, runs well. I'll never convence management to use DSL with the 2.4 kernel, so I'm stuck between DSL-N RC4 or more expensive hardware and one of the BUNTU/Debian distros.

I've worked on *NIX since the pre-SYS V days as an sysadmin, and a fair amount of s/w development has passed under the bridge, so Robert, if I can be of help to get DSL-N moving, please let me know.

regards

Posted by WDef on Feb. 12 2007,17:47

Sounds like an offer John & Robert! - enslave Greengrass into doing some work for you? Doesn't sound like he's one of these urchins either - sounds more like Robert and my generation (ie old! correction: youthful middle-aged)

If you know anything (or can learn) about udev Greengrass, have a look at < http://damnsmalllinux.org/cgi-bin....t=17474 >

ipw2200 is a common wireless card now and from Robert's post about the problems with dsl-n it seems these types of hardware issues are part of the holdup ...

Just curious: for what purpose do you want to roll out dsl-n?

Posted by roberts on Feb. 12 2007,19:57

One of the big issues for me, is not having the hardware to test. Without it is like shooting in the dark.

Greengrass, if you have an ipw2200 and wish to compare and look for possible missing udev related files as WDef has suggested, then that would be welcomed. I would think it would not be too difficult, with unionfs, to add in any found missing files for quick and easy testing. I would then add those in and do an RC5 and then a release.

We would still have the issue of Debian and those who clamor for the latest kernel and modules.

Then there is my philosphy of non traditional hard drive installations. Those who know me, know that I like to do new things with code.

No offense to those who maintain distributions, but I don't want to swim in the sea of sameness. DSL has been fun for me, because it has a stable base, with which I could "do my thing", push and extend this small base system in many new ways.

Having the burden, of constantly compiling a kernel, compiling all the modules, i.e., compiling other people's work, is not very fun or interesting for me

It was the basis of why Knoppix was chosen to be the base and strip it down. At least the mundane task of kernel, modules, and libs were tested well beyond the "well it works for me" stage.

Perhaps there were some mis-steps with DSL-N. Obviously some hardware did not work that should have. For some Debian is mandatory. Perhaps DSL-N should have contained both sets of libraries, gtk1 ansd gtk2. At least the existing MyDSL extensions would have a better chance.

I am currently extremely busy with a DSL related project. Hopefully it will come to fruition and then all will benefit.

After that, a decision needs to be made with DSL, DSL-2.1b, and DSL-N on how to move forward.

There are some who would like to see 2.1b be brought forward with all the new features of DSL.

I am still leaning towards a smaller base. A leaner core. But there is much debate on that as well.

One thing for sure, for any new kernel based system, I will need to package up and release a development system so that the community can easily compile and therefore contribue modules for any hardware that they may own.

Comments and suggestions on moving forward are welcomed.

Robert

Posted by andrewphoto on Feb. 12 2007,21:02

Robert,
top of your long paragraph, is that you need certain hardware.

What is the best way to get you a ipw2200, donate to DSL, or post (ship,) you actual hardware item?
Including the ipw2200, are there 3 or 5 items of hardware you could really do with?

Posted by Greengrass on Feb. 12 2007,22:23

Quote

Greengrass, if you have an ipw2200 and wish to compare and look for possible missing udev related files as WDef has suggested, then that would be welcomed. I would think it would not be too difficult, with unionfs, to add in any found missing files for quick and easy testing. I would then add those in and do an RC5 and then a release.

I've got access to a centrino 2200 Mini PCI card if that will fit the bill.

Quote

We would still have the issue of Debian and those who clamor for the latest kernel and modules.

This will always be a problem, chasing the latest release. Having went through a number of versions of Fedora and SuSE, Ubuntu 6.06 was the first to recognize all my H/W and drive my screen at 1600x1200. I decided to stick with it for my workstation and do any testing on my mini-ITX boxens or under VMWare Workstation where possible.

Quote

Then there is my philosphy of non traditional hard drive installations. Those who know me, know that I like to do new things with code.

Not a problem to me. All my DSL installs have been to HDD. I will want to run from CF, but that can wait for now.

Quote

Perhaps DSL-N should have contained both sets of libraries, gtk1 and gtk2

I'll give that a big vote of confidence.

Quote

There are some who would like to see 2.1b be brought forward with all the new features of DSL.

I hadn't notices the 2.4.26 -> 2.4.31 -> 2.4.26 "blip" until you mentioned it. It looks like that stirred the 2200/Centrino pot, or am I mistaken?

I've got two mini-ITX 600Mhz boxen. One with a 250G 3.5" HDD and the other with a 40G 2.5" HDD. Both with slimline DVD/CD R/W and a couple of wireless cards + a wireless router. If I can to some testing for you on any of than kit, let me know.

Quote

Comments and suggestions on moving forward are welcomed.

Personally I want to see apt-get working as there are a fair number of applications I need to test/get working.

Posted by WDef on Feb. 12 2007,23:44

I just unpacked a udev deb package from debian stable onto dsl-n and tried starting the udevd daemon for a laugh. It starts with an error some unknown command mountpoint, but runs in the background nevertheless. It's an older version than knoppix-4.0.2 claims it has installed with dpkg -L (can't remember offhand but can supply that info later).

I also copied the hal.udev rules or whatever from knoppix-4.0.2 to /etc/udev and did the echo "100" >/sys/firmware/class/timeout thing referred to in a number of places and reloaded.

No difference, firmware doesn't load. Just a wild shot in the dark.

I'm not certain that knoppix-4.0.2 is actually even using udev or if it's some relic from debian, and if it does I'm not sure I can find the rule that loads the firmware.

Here's a few more links I stumbled across:

< http://www.bughost.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=601 >

< http://jmatrix.net/dao....2D1-959 >

Quote

There are some who would like to see 2.1b be brought forward with all the new features of DSL.

Not a bad idea, especially if it's (as I imagine) not so difficult to graft a contemporary dsl userland over dsl-2.1b. But then I'm not the one doing the work. 2 strands of dsl classic - 2.4.26 and 2.4.31? It might also be worth having a look at what Slackware does with the 2.4.31 kernel, I could be wrong but I have an idea they use a backports kernel with a number of the features of 2.6.xx? (where's Mikshaw, he's a Slacker?).

I'd still hate to see dsl-n just die though. If I haven't used it much, it's because of the lack of things like apt-get, gtk1 and other conveniences, and I think that's story for many users.

Quote

I will need to package up and release a development system so that the community can easily compile and therefore contribue modules for any hardware that they may own.

Brilliant idea. It's wonderful to open up that knoppix-4.0.2 dvd and see prepared kernel sources, many of the header packages, all the module sources etc just sitting there, and know that it's a full development environment for dsl-n ..

Posted by ripcrd6 on Mar. 09 2007,16:19

Quote (WDef @ Feb. 12 2007,16:44)

So, what are we to do, going forward, if Knoppix 4.0.2 dvd is used as a base for DSL-N if we never downloaded it when it came out? I just did a quick scan of Knoppix versions I have and that one is not there, especially the DVD version. I may have the CD version at home or something.

If that or another Knoppix version is used for development, please post a link to where it is avail or host it for a while via bittorrent or something. I know I went thru hell slogging around to find the Knoppix 3.4 that I needed to be able to compile a wireless module for a SMC 2635 card I had. Luckily I no longer use that card, but you know what I mean for other projects.

Posted by andrewphoto on Mar. 09 2007,18:35

I have a pucker, branded 4.02 DVD that I bought off Ebay a few years ago, and I've the cd-rom that I burned in my local library a few years ago. I can copy & post/mail/ship anywhere, gratis, with pleasure.
It is not hard to contact me.
Andrew J.Chapman, English, Photographer.
andrewphoto

Thinking about it, DVD from me no problem.
Perhaps one can donate PayPal or whatever a few bucks to DSL.

Posted by lucky13 on Mar. 09 2007,22:48

Quote (ripcrd6 @ Mar. 09 2007,11:19)

So, what are we to do, going forward, if Knoppix 4.0.2 dvd is used as a base for DSL-N if we never downloaded it when it came out?

Huh? Knoppix 4.0.2 is widely available, including at the knoppix site and knoppix mirrors. See also:
< http://kernel.org/pub/dist/knoppix-dvd/ >