% % This is the SIPB "Getting Started with Linux on MITnet" Document % $Id: linux-net-install.tex,v 1.10 1996/02/21 19:13:02 fubob Exp $ % \documentstyle[fullpage]{article} \begin{document} \pagestyle{empty} \begin{center} {\huge Getting Started with Linux and Slackware on MITnet} \end{center} Linux is a freely distributable implementation of UNIX for 80386, 80486 and Pentium machines. It supports a wide range of software including X Windows, Emacs, TCP/IP networking (including SLIP and PPP) and more. Before installing, you should: \begin{enumerate} \item Attach the linux locker ({\tt attach linux}) and read the documents in {\tt /mit/linux/docs/install}. Look at the {\tt README} file for more information on the files located there. You should definitely read all of the files there. \item Install an ethernet card listed in {\tt /mit/linux/docs/install/Hardware-HOWTO}. The I/S recommended 3Com 3C509 card works quite well. We recommend it too. The {\it Hardware-HOWTO} also has (pointers to) specific information on what hardware is compatible with Linux. \item Get an IP Address from your RCC, ILG network representative or the Computing Help Desk.\footnote{MIT Departments {\bf ONLY (We mean only!)} x3-4101} This address will be of the form {\tt 18.b.c.d}.% \footnote{For more information, see {\tt http://web.mit.edu/afs/net/admin/residential/home.html} with your favorite web browser.} \item Have a Linux or DOS partition with at least 100MB (250MB recommended) for Linux files. (A Linux only partition will generally require you to repartition/reformat your drive.) \end{enumerate} After you have read through the documentation, you are ready to begin installing Linux on your system. We recommend you use the following basic outline: \begin{enumerate} \item Read the documentation in the linux locker. Again. \item Create boot disks: You will need a boot disk image and a root disk image to boot your Linux box. You can find these disk images on Athena. {\tt add linux} and then look in {\tt /mit/linux/slackware/current/bootdsks.144} for a bootdisk image and in {\tt /mit/linux/slackware/current/rootdsks} for a gzipped root disk image. Use the {\tt README} files in those directories to help you determine which install disks you want. Since you will be doing a network installation, you will need a boot disk image which has network drivers installed. This table summarizes the disks which you might want to use: \begin{tabular}{|l|l|} \hline {\bf Boot Disk} & {\bf Use for}\\ \hline {\tt net} & Machines with approved Ethernet cards (Recommended).\\ {\tt scsinet1} & Machines installing to SCSI hard drives.\\ {\tt scsinet2} & Machines installing to SCSI hard drives.\\ \hline \hline {\bf Root Disk} & {\bf Use to get}\\ \hline {\tt color.gz} & An easy-to-use full screen installation program (Recommended).\\ {\tt text.gz} & A text based installation program. Allows scroll back.\\ {\tt umsdos.gz} & A version of {\tt color.gz} which supports UMSDOS.\\ \hline \end{tabular} {\bf Note:} If you have a SCSI controller, you will want to either {\tt scsinet1.gz} or {\tt scsinet2.gz} depending on its manufacturer. See the {\tt WHICH.ONE} file in {\tt /mit/linux/slackware/current/bootdsks.144} for more information. To write each image to a separate floppy, use: \par {\tt dd if=}{\it image} {\tt of=}{\it /dev/floppy} {\tt bs=18k} Specify the image file ({\tt net} or {\tt color.gz}) in place of {\it image\/} and use a value for {\it /dev/floppy\/} that is appropriate for the type of machine you're on. On a Dec or Vax, use {\tt /dev/rfd0a}. On a Sun, use \break{\tt /vol/dev/aliases/floppy0}.\footnote{You may want to do a {\tt volcheck} first.} On RS6000s, use {\tt /dev/rfd0h}.\footnote{If these do not work, try asking SIPB or OLC.} % Hm... if they have a linux box, they will be reading the howto upgrade % ELF. Not this.... % On Linux boxes, it is usually {\tt /dev/fd0}. Sun and RS6000 floppy drives seem to work slightly better on average. Alternately, look at the {\it Linux Installation HOWTO} for information on how to use {\tt RAWRITE.EXE} under MSDOS. \item Partitioning: We assume you know how to partition a drive now, having read the documentation. You may wish to look into using FIPS, which is usually non-destructive. FIPS is distributed with Slackware in its install directory. If you plan to use a separate partition for Linux, follow the instructions in the {\it Linux Installation HOWTO} for partitioning your drive and installing Linux. Remember, you will want one partition for swap and one partition for your Linux files. If you want, you should also make one partition for your original OS. You will want a minimum of 8 MB for your swap partition; if you plan on running X windows, you should have a total of at least 24 MB of memory (real and swap). If you plan to use UMSDOS (so a Linux and DOS filesystem can coexist on a single partition), you will need to use the {\tt umsdos.gz} root disk. Read {\tt /mit/linux/docs/HOWTO/UMSDOS-HOWTO} before attempting a UMSDOS installation. Be {\bf sure} to make backups of everything on the drive before you repartition --- repartitioning is a very destructive operation. \item Boot your machine with the boot disk you have prepared. If it boots successfully, you will be prompted to insert the root disk. Linux will eventually present some instructions and a login prompt. Type {\tt setup} and follow the instructions in the {\it Linux Installation HOWTO}. You will need to setup your swap partition and format your Linux partition. When you are asked to select the source for the installation, choose {\tt NFS Install}. When prompted, enter the network parameters (IP address, etc) provided to you by your network manager, RCC, or ILG network representative. For most students living in dorms and ILGs, your parameters will look something like: % Yonah says everything is class B \begin{tabular}{|l|r|r|} \hline Parameter & Form & Example\\ \hline IP Address & {\tt 18.b.c.d} & {\tt 18.242.0.198}\\ Netmask & {\tt 255.255.0.0} & {\tt 255.255.0.0}\\ Network & {\tt 18.b.0.0} & {\tt 18.242.0.0}\\ Broadcast & {\tt 18.b.255.255} & {\tt 18.242.255.255}\\ Gateway & {\tt 18.b.0.1} & {\tt 18.242.0.1}\\ \hline \end{tabular} If asked for a nameserver, you can use 18.70.0.160, 18.71.0.151 or 18.72.0.3. When prompted for the name of the machine from which to do the NFS install, enter {\tt 18.177.0.248} (which is small-gods.mit.edu). When asked which directory the files are located in, answer with {\tt /slackware/current}. Select the disksets you wish to install --- you will definitely need the A and N disksets --- and use prompt mode with a custom tagfile extension of ``{\tt .ath}''. \item Once the installation is completed, you will be asked to configure certain aspects of your system. Most of the configuration options are fairly self-explanatory --- when asked to configure networking, you can enter the parameters above, but we {\bf strongly} recommend that you setup your own nameserver. For more information on properly configuring your Linux machine for use on MITnet, look at {\it Inessential Linux-Athena}, available in {\tt /afs/sipb/project/doc/current/linux-athena.dvi} or in the SIPB office (W20-557, x3-7788). \end{enumerate} If you have any questions, send e-mail to {\tt linux-help@mit.edu} or post a message to one of the the\break {\tt comp.os.linux.*} newsgroups. (Probably you'll want {\tt comp.os.linux.setup} or {\tt comp.os.linux.hardware}.) To receive announcements relating to Linux and Athena, subscribe to the {\tt linux-announce} mailing list by typing: {\tt blanche -a \$USER linux-announce}. \vfill {\noindent\it This document was assembled by Erik Nygren (nygren@mit.edu), Emil Sit (sit@mit.edu) and Kevin Fu (fubob@mit.edu). It contains information from the Linux Installation HOWTO by Matt Welsh\break (mdw@sunsite.unc.edu)} {\noindent\it This document is \verb!$Revision: 1.10 $!. Last modified \verb!$Date: 1996/02/21 19:13:02 $!}. \end{document}