DamnSmallManual 4 DamnSmallLinux (LONG POST)
Forum: HD Install
Topic: DamnSmallManual 4 DamnSmallLinux (LONG POST)
started by: NoRiMorse
Posted by NoRiMorse on Aug. 09 2004,16:45
I hope this is helpful for someone:DamnSmallManual 4 DamnSmallLinux - Installation Guide
NOTE: This manual is meant only to help get you started. It is not the linux bible, don't worship it. If you are new to linux I suggest you find an online manual, and since this distribution of linux is based on knoppix and debian you might look to their sites first.
So you want to install DamnSmallLinux 0.7.3. Me too, so here's what I did.
I've used this method to install on two sets of hardware, you're mileage may vary:
Pentium II-350
64 Meg of ram
Soundblaster 16
intel odin i740 video card
3 hd's 1.62Gig (root), 340meg (hypertext storage), 107meg SWAP
intel Network Interface Card
PIII-667
64 meg of ram
compaq onboard video, audio and network card (intel 82810a, Allegro, Network Everywhere)
broadband connection...I don't suggest doing enhanced install, or upgrades over telephone modems.
Why am I installing Linux? Well, the operating system that dominates the market is far to unstable for my liking, crashes that cause information loss and force me to reboot are at the very least an annoyance. Also, for practical purposes I have choosen to build and opensource internet server. This server will be built on the LAMP foundation, that is Linux Apache MySQL and PHP (LAMP). Finally, this computer will also have to act as to my home intranet gateway.
Download a version of DSL from links at < http://damnsmalllinux.org. > I used version 0.7.2, and version 0.7.3 but it should work for other versions as well.
If you encounter a problem not dealt with in this Micro-Manual your best source of information will be the forums at < http://damnsmalllinux.org >
If you encounter an error in this manual, email me at norimorse@hotmail.com with the error details and I will correct.
If you have information you think should be added to this manual, please refer to above email. Keep in mind this is meant as a starter manual and not the complete linux desktop reference.
How to use this manual. Follow instructions ... lines preceeded by a - indicates you want to type the command indicated. For example:
- apt-get install gaim
indicates that the command "apt-get install gaim" should be typed.
Let's Roll:
1. INITIAL BOOT / HARDDRIVE INSTALLATION
Boot from the CD, if all you want is to make a computer functional...you're done. The CD boot of DamnSmallLinux has many programs that are ready to use. Though a CD bootable operating systems has advantages you may want to increase it's functionality, personalize the configuration, add more software, etc. To do this you may want to Install to a harddrive. To do this:
We need to prepare our harddrive for linux by creating a linux partition
right-click > Xshells > Root Access
- fdisk /dev/hda
- n [New partition]
- p [primary]
- 1 [partition number]
- return to choose default start cylinder
- return to choose default end cylinder
- w [write new partition information]
This partition should be at least 300 megabytes.
then:
right-click > Apps > Tools > Install to Hard Drive
For destination type hda1 if that is the desired drive and partition, change if necessary. You may want to look to more complete documentation to understand the linux methods of using devices like harddrives.
I installed enhanced, this is not necessary but it speeds things up minutely by installing some files not installed in the standard version.
I choose not to use multiuser logins...this is up to you if you need to enable several different users choose yes here.
Files will be copied and you will be asked to install lilo, lilo is the first program your computer uses, a boot manager from where you can choose linux or, if available, other installed operating systems.
Finally you'll be asked to reboot and the CD will be ejected, remove it.
2. BOOT FROM HARD DRIVE
You'll first see lilo where you can choose your operating system, Linux will be default and will start automatically in about 15 seconds.
Now it's time to configure your new operating system.
First we must provide a password for root and one for user called dsl, your non-root account. Using linux in root is not advised as a precaution, this is because root is all powerful and a mistake could cause problems for the system, so it is generally recommended to use root ONLY when necessary.
You should now be in a graphical environment...welcome to DamnSmallLinux
3. UPGRADING THE OPERATING SYSTEM AND INSTALLED COMPONANTS
Follow these steps
Installing gnu-utils, make, gcc, g++.
0. right-click > Desktop > Full Enhanced Desktop
1. right-click > Apps > Tools > Enable-Apt
2. open a root access terminal (RAT) right-click > Xshells > Root Access
- nano /etc/apt/sources.list
[#this is where the source repositories are for the debian operating system which will be used by apt, the packet manager we'll use to upgrade the system. ]
comment out "stable" lines (insert # at beginning of line)
uncomment "testing" lines (Remove # )
ctrl+x then yes to save
- apt-get update
3. back on the desktop, click the MyDSL icon and then click the get button beside gnu-utils.dsl
4. In a RAT
- apt-get install make gcc g++
[NB: if process stalls while downloading, use ctrl-c to kill process and restart it by pressing the up arrow on your keyboard to retrieve command and return, it should pick up where it left off]
5. Leave the Graphic interface using ctrl+alt+del. Although this is not necessary, I do this to minimize the number or running processes and to ensure upgrades are not interrupted due to conflicts.
6. At prompt change to root shell:
- sudo su
- apt-get dist-upgrade
This takes awhile and may stall during download of 160+ files, if so remember...ctrl+c and restart
choose the default response for all questions -- just hit enter
choose dialog and critcal for messages
if there is an error during install
- apt-get -f install
should fix ... remember to retype the command
- apt-get dist-upgrade
to finish the upgrade
It maybe necessary to do this more than once. Should you encounter repeated errors you can try running
- apt-get clean
- apt-get autoclean
- apt-get -f install
This will clean the downloaded files, and redownload then, in the event they weren't cleanly downloads the first time around...remember to run apt-get dist-upgrade once errors are taken care of.]
In the end I could not get APT to install pcmcia because it could not find the file /etc/init.d/pcmcia...so I deleted the existing link to the CD version, created the file and tried again, this cleared up the error]
And now you have a fully installed GNU-Linux System, based on KNOPPIX and DEBIAN. You can type startx to reenter graphic interface, or reboot. Enjoy.
On reboot I encountered some harddrive issues, it automatically checked the drives and forced another reboot. On 2nd reboot no more issues.
4. PERSONALIZING THE GRAPHIC INTERFACE -- FLUXBOX
Once into fluxbox (the graphical interface) I have a number of changes I like to make...first, the appearance.
open RAT:
- nano .xinitrc <<---note the . preceeding the filename, this indicates a "hidden" file in linux
comment out all lines EXCEPT fluxbox this will stop the loading of the enhanced graphical interface(icons, etc) and dillo.
NB: fluxbox MUST be last command in .xinitrc AND it is only command that does not end line with &.
BACKGROUND in RAT:
- fbsetbg -f /path/to/yourimage.jpg
In order to load the background image on reboot we need to add the following to on the line before 'fluxbox' in .xinitrc:
- fbsetbg -l &
OR
- fbsetbg -f /home/dsl/yourimage.jpg
this will load the last background used
EX: fbsetbg -f /home/dsl/seiryu1024.jpg
STARTUP TOYS
lets add a few startup toys:
memory information (asmem), cpuload (wmcpuload), mount (mount.app), volume mixer (wmix), desktop manager (bbpager)
and a messenger like gaim (you'll have to install this in RAT using apt-get install gaim)
asmem -withdrawn -swap yellow -bg black -fg green -memory blue -buffer white -asis -cache red -standout &
wmcpuload -bl &
mount.app &
wmix &
bbpager &
gaim &
When finished my .xinitrc looks like this
# put X windows...
# Be sure to ...
#grep...
#if....
# enha...
#fi
#dillo ...
asmem -with..... &
mount.app &
wmix &
gaim &
fbsetbg -l &
fluxbox
use ctrl+x and yes to save
changes wont' take effect until you next start fluxbox...either by ctrl+alt+del then startx at prompt, or by rebooting
I also want to change the appearance of the desktop, so:
right-click > desktop > styles > choose one
NB: this may change background, however, fbsetbg should reload choosen background on reboot/startx if specified in .xinitrc.
SWAP
I have a drive i want to use for swap as I have limited -64megs- of memory.
In RAT:
- fdisk /dev/hdc [This is location of disk to use as swap]
- d [to delete any existing partitions]
- n [for a new partition]
- p [for primary]
- 1 [number to identify it as]
enter [select default starting cylinder - modify if necessary]
enter [select default end cylinder - modify if necessary]
- t [for partition type]
- 82 [set type to linux swap
- p [will show new partition information]
- w [write partition information to drive]
- mkswap /dev/hdc1 [sets operating system to use the drive]
- swapon /dev/hdc1 [turns swap on....if you are using enhanced and asmem is visible, you will now see a value beside swap..not 0 ]
5. INSTALLING SYNAPTIC
In order to make installation of software a little less difficult we'll install synaptic
right-click > Apps > Tools > Got Memory and Bandwidth > Synaptic
Synaptic will do the apt-get commands for us, we just pick software and let it do the hard work
Once installed click refresh, when finished click mark all upgrades and select smartupgrade...if all has gone well we should have no upgrades to make. So let's install some software. I'll be using Apache, mysql, php, iptables, ipmasq, webmin and its various modules....as well I want to remove some software that I won't be needing, such as cdrecord (this system has not cdr drive), joe and ted (two editors I don't use). To do this I simple right click on the program and select to either install or remove (upgrade, reinstall, etc) then when I'm done, click apply and away we go.
NB: by installing webmin-module synaptic will sometimes also select the associated program..i.e. choose webmin-apache and synaptic will also add apache, apache-common, apache-utils, cron, etc...all of which webmin-apache expects to find. However, you should ensure the program you wish to install is marked for installation rather than assume it was added.
We need a proper webbrower so we can use webmin:
right-click > Apps > Net > Got the bandwidth? > Firefox
Using Webmin:
open firefox
< https://localhost:10000 >
use root and the password you previously gave root to log in to webmin. Note that webmin is a configuration tool, it will change applications, configurations and other variables. Use it carefully.
NB: to configure linux firewall I had to add the directory iptables to /var/lib/ before setting up nat on eth0 otherwise it would not save the changes.
6. CONNECTING TO MY LAN
My lan is really just one other computer, also running linux, set up to be a client.
We edit host file to let computer know names and addresses of computers and Network Interface cards
nano /etc/hosts
add ip and names for n.i.c.'s and other computers on lan
After modification my hosts file looks like this
127.0.0.1 box localhost (my pc)
192.168.69.69 box firewall (my pc's interface to LAN)
192.168.69.68 box2 (the other computer on my LAN)
xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx xxxxxxxxx.xxx (these represent my External I.P. and Domain name...you must have a registered domain name or this will not work..this ip number is issued by my providor via DHCP)
We also have to permit forwarding if we want to use the LAN to access the internet:
nano /etc/network/options
change ip_forward=no to yes
Having used netcardconfig to configure eth0 (usb attached to RCA cable modem) and eth1 (N.I.C. gateway to LAN) I now give them access to the lan
nano /opt/bootlocal.sh add:
iptables --table nat --append POSTROUTING --out-interface eth0 -j MASQUERADE
iptables --append FORWARD --in-interface eth0 -j ACCEPT
ifconfig eth1 up
Please note...this is a very basic set up, it is NOT a secure one. I strongly suggest you use a firewall (iptables are not a firewall, though they work very well at controlling traffic they do not offer all the protections a firewall offers).
You should now be able to surf the internet from the computer named box2 (second pc on LAN)
7. SOME ERRORS I ENCOUNTERED
if on boot you encounter an error similar to
Note: /etc/modules.conf is more recent than /...
then open a RAT and run:
- update-modules
if on boot the DHCP broadcast/network detection is skipped, as per bootline ...
then delete net* files from /tmp/ with
- rm -Rf /tmp/net*
if on boot you get CDCEther.c: CDCEther_open failed intr_urb -22(and/or failed tx_urb -6) .. this problem vanished after I ran update-modules
if on boot you get usb-uhci.c: interrupt, status 3, frame# 482
CDCEther.c: CDCEther failed intr-urb -22ifconfg
... I have no solution for this problem yet, but it does not prevent booting or performance as far as I can tell
8. GENERAL CONFIGURATION
to change the right-click menus edit /home/dsl/.fluxbox/menus
to create keystroke shortcuts edit /home/dsl/.fluxbox/keys
to add color to directory listings you can type ls --color=auto but this is not permanent. By editing /home/dsl/.bashrc you can add an alias which will us this command every time you type ls, just add:
alias ls="ls --color=auto"
To simulate shooting yourself in the foot reinstall a microsoft operating system and wait for gangreene to set in.
Linux is no more difficult to use than other operating systems, there are things to learn and ways of doing things that are unique to linux, but that can be said of all operating systems. What Linux does offer is portability and stability, some things that more popular operating systems do not offer. Another advantage is that software of all types can be found in repositories and other locations online, and most are well written and free or low cost. Also you can use applications for other systems with proper supporting software and set-up.
I hope this has helped you set up DamnSmall Linux. For further information I suggest using < http://google.com > to find linux sites, there are many and most offer a plethora of information either through FAQ's, message boards, guides, etc. Keep in mind when searching that DSL is based on KNOPPIX and DEBIAN.
Questions, comments, discovered errors or cash rewards regarding this document should be sent to norimorse@hotmail.com. This document may be freely reproduced by anyone EXCEPT employees of Microsoft, for them reproduction costs are equal to the current Manufacturer's suggested list price on the current Windows Operating System multiplied by the number of times a Windows operating system has crashed on the day this document is reproduced. If you modify this document please remove my email address from it to deter people from contacting me regarding your modifications
The author has no association with DamnSmallLinux, DamnSmallLinux.org or anyone else for that matter. The author does use the software mentioned in this document and encourages the use of said software as an alternative to the contemporary market dominant software. This document was written as an installation guide for my own use but I have decided to share it so that others might benefit. No warranties or guarantees are implied by this document. Use it at your own risk.
Posted by LinLearner on Aug. 11 2004,04:53
Thank you for the DamnSmallManual.I am attempting to install DSL as the only OS on my P200. So far I have not had any success.
The furthest I have gotten is responding to the lilo question... and then nothing. I answer either y or n and the damn little else happens.
I am not giving up... but I am getting a wee bit frustrated.
Can anyone help me?
Posted by klc on Aug. 12 2004,22:58
Hi NoRiMorse,I sure appreciate the Manual as well. Did come accross one item so far that has me a bit stumped.
At this point:
apt-get install make gcc g++
It came back with some dependancy errors. I haven't continued on as of yet just in case I did miss something. Any thoughts if it is ok to proceed or should I try to install again?
As I am sure that you can tell, I too am a Noob - this being my first linux box. I am running the stock DSL 0.7.3 installation on a P75 with 32 meg ram. I am nicely surprised how quick it seems to run on this old box.
Look forward to hearing your thoughts,
KLC
Posted by ke4nt1 on Aug. 13 2004,03:47
Be sure you change your /etc/apt/sources.list to unstable, and have the gnu-utils.dsl installed before you try to install...
Did you enable-apt from menu, or install dsl-dpkg.dsl ?
32 megs ram may make for a tough go at it..
Let us know how it does for you..
73
ke4nt
Posted by Dylan on Aug. 13 2004,04:03
Nice guide.I had a hard time installing it on my old P 133 so I had to do a hard drive swap with my new computer that boots from cds. Once I got it working on the old computer, I found that it took over 9 minutes to boot! That was untill I turned Turbo back on. Now it boots in 1 minute. I guess it does do something after all.
My old computer lives again!
Posted by gui on Aug. 13 2004,23:50
Do you think must do apt-get dist-upgrade? Sometimes I had problems doing that...I loose all my stuff and I have to reinstall
Posted by klc on Aug. 15 2004,04:28
Hi Guys,Ok, just to be on the safe side I followed the manual all the way down and this time it seems to have worked. The reason I say seems is that I couldn't connect to the url that provided the sources. That is what came up as an error before (teach me to try to do this late at night without my reading glasses <G> ).
So I appear to have successfully installed the gcc g++ utilities, I am onto the revision of the desktop and wish to install a background pic however xwindows (and bash for that matter) tell me that the command fbsetbg does not exist.
I hope you guys are patient with noobs because I am probably going to be one for a while <G>.
Any thoughts?
klc
Posted by tomtool on Aug. 20 2004,04:55
i think this post should be pinned.it really help me.
thanks.
Posted by invi[tus on Aug. 27 2004,07:38
bump- agreed this should be pinned
very good information...
Posted by Nagy on Aug. 27 2004,18:26
I have done everything like it is described in this manual, but i have a problem at the following point:3. back on the desktop, click the MyDSL icon and then click the get button beside gnu-utils.dsl
when I try to open MyDSL it opens the window, but closes it again.
the same thing happens with Dillo
Can anyone help me?!
Posted by Nagy on Aug. 28 2004,11:31
Now I installed it a 3rd time, and now it works! 
Thanks for this great HowTo!
Posted by corneliu on Aug. 29 2004,14:11
Dear Sir,I am new to the Linux world but I want to install DSL 0.73 on my old laptop COMPAQ LTE 5300. I hope this way it will run faster.
The problem is that the laptop does not recognize the bootable CD as bootable. On other computer this CD is working properly.
What can I do in this case?
Can install the system if I connect the computer to a network or shall I use a bootable diskette?
I would vy much appreciate your comments.
Posted by cbagger01 on Aug. 29 2004,18:06
Check out the FAQ/HOWTOs. You can make a boot floppy and use it to boot up DSL on many computers that do not support direct booting from a CD disk.