DSL vs. Feather and other questions
Forum: HD Install
Topic: DSL vs. Feather and other questions
started by: dhatcher2@neo.rr.com
Posted by dhatcher2@neo.rr.com on Oct. 16 2004,20:32
I have used both DSL and Feather Live versions. I installed Feather to HD and used it for a few days and have had several problems. I know almost nothing about Linux so fixing the problems seemed fairly huge to me in my limited knowlege of Linux. DSL looked nicer and more up to date than Feather when I ran it live. They appear to share almost the same software, only DSL seems to have updated it with newer releases. I understand that in a small distro there will be more manual work (i.e. setting up icons, installing software, etc) but is there anywhere to go to learn this stuff. I hate to keep asking stupid questions.I decided to replace Feather with DSL today and well...I just got through reformatting and reloading Windows due to this decision. I tried to install to a Linux partition OVER Feather but somehow I installed over Windows
. Anywho, from here:1. How do I setup up Linux partitions for DSL (cfdisk never ran for me when I installed DSL)?
2. Do I need a swap partition for DSL (I did for Feather).
3. If I already have Windows 98SE installed, will the DSL LILO configure for a dual boot when installed to the MBR?
4. Is it easier to network and setup a network printer (connected to a Windows XP box) with DSL than with Feather?
Candid input sincerely appreciated.
Posted by afv-13 on Oct. 16 2004,21:12
1. cfdisk never ran? did you run it as root and like "cfdisk /dev/hdx" (x being the harddrive)? did you get any errors?2. a swap partition would help, 128Mb should be plenty though. you will need to create the patition with cfdisk (once number 1 has been resolved), set the type to 82, write, exit cfdisk. Then carefully "mkswap /dev/hdxX" and "swapon /dev/hdaxX" (x = harddrive, X = partition number).
3. you will have to edit the /etc/lilo.conf file. at the bottom of the file should be a section on other opperating systems. and then after that is sorted out, run lilo.
4. never tried printing in either.
Posted by dhatcher2@neo.rr.com on Oct. 16 2004,21:20
So I have to do this partitoning while running the Live version, is that correct, cfdisk will not open and run during the install? How do I log in as root on the Live version?
Posted by afv-13 on Oct. 16 2004,21:30
if you have already done the hdinstall, then you can run cfdisk from the hd, otherwise, off the cd.you will have to do the partitioning before you run the hdinstall script.
"sudo su" will get you to be root, but that should ONLY be temporary, once you have set your root password, get rid of sudo and use "su" to become root.
Posted by Max on Oct. 16 2004,22:52
The live version doesn't need a swap partition. From my limited experience with DSL it seems you have a few options:1. Run purely live and just use the backup facility to save the files you want (e.g. personal files) and configuration files to wherever (hard disk, USB key, CF card, etc.)
2. Run the live version, but from the hard disk. I think on this forum they call it a "frugal" install. This is actually pretty cool. You basically are putting the live CD image on a hard disk and booting to that. Then you put all you data files and DSL extension (e.g., ".dsl" files) on another partition and at boot you can tell DSL where to find them so you have access.
The beauty of this setup is when a new version of DSL comes out or if you happen to trash you system, you just write the new ISO files over the DSL partition.
3. A traditional HD install. Everything is remembered from boot to boot, however, if you trash your system you may be in for some work to get it "right" again.
I've been using DSL about 5 months now and use the live cd on a couple of notebooks I have. I keep a CF card in one of the PCMCIA slots and make the backup to there. After some trail and error, I pretty much get "everything" back to how I like it from boot to boot.
Early in my use of DSL I did a full HD install to another notebook in the kitchen for my kids. (I finally got tired of reloading windows when they'd surf and invariably load some activeX tool bar or other spyware). Anyway, since I was new to DSL (and really to Linux) I didn't know quite what I was doing and there are some things on that machine that aren't exactly how I would like them now and some mistakes I made trying to install stuff. I think when I decide to upgrade that box to the next version, I'm going to go for the "frugal" HD install since I think it gives so much more flexibility.
One caveot though. If you end up using a lot of apps that you manually install (e.g. not available in the DSL repository) then the frugal install may not be the way to go as you would have to modify your install script to "re-install" these apps everytime you reboot. (If I'm wrong on this point, I'm sure someone will correct me.)
Hope this helps a little.
Posted by dhatcher2@neo.rr.com on Oct. 16 2004,23:51
Thanks for the input Max, I am going to do another HD install, I trashed one earlier today so I am going to play around some "Live" and get a better feel for it before I try again. I don't understand the apt-get and wget procedures at all nor can I figure out how to manipulate icons whatsoever. Have you had any success printing or networking with DSL?
Posted by Max on Oct. 17 2004,00:13
Setting up printing is one of the things I think could be greatly simplified for the average user. Must just be the history of linux or unix in general....That being said, it's not that hard and is a two step process. 1) Configure your printer, and 2) turn on the printer daemon.
From the desktop menu: System -> Printing -> Configure printer.
A script comes up and asks you a bunch of questions. Make sure you do a test print. (I've got an HP 5Si that I ended up using a HP4 driver for) I've only set up and used a network printer, so I'm not sure what you tell it for a USB or parallel printer. Most common printer drivers are listed under the "native ghostprint" driver section. Even after you answer all of the questions and get a good test print, one of the last things it to tell the script to save the printer configuration (it put's it into a file call printcap). This is option "I", don't forget to do this.
Next you have to start the printer daemon (this is the background print spooler). Two choices here. System->Printing->Start or use the DSLPanel icon on the desktop and when the screen starts up click Start next to Printing/lpd.
Note that each time you reboot you have to start the print spooler again. I think I read in one of the forums how to have that start automatically at boot. I'm sure someone will chime in with the answer to that one (and to correct anything I miss-said above...
)You asked if I had success with "networking" That word covers alot of territory. Anything specific?? Out of the box DSL will try to configure your network card and request an IP address from your DHCP server and you should be "on the net"
Posted by dhatcher2@neo.rr.com on Oct. 17 2004,00:52
I don't have a problem getting on the internet. My network is controlled by an XP box server with a wired D-Link router. The network name is MSHOME, the printer - Minolta PagePro 1350W is connected directly to the XP box. I want to be able to save files to the XP box and access files that I have saved on the XP box as well as print to the Minolta printer. Had a heck of a time with that on Linux in past. I could access/share files but never could print.
Posted by Max on Oct. 17 2004,01:27
You'll probably need to do that with smb-print (not included with the core DSL install).I found this on the net though:
< http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/SMB-HOWTO-10.html >
Someone else here should be able to explain it also in DSL terms.... (I have a deskjet that I could use this for also).
Sorry, you just hit the limit of my newbieness.....