[gentoo-dev] Help w/Install

[gentoo-dev] Help w/Install

[Jerry A!]

Arghh!!!  I'm having trouble getting this thing up and running on my
Vaio z505ls.  This is the same machine I've previously enjoyed running
Gentoo on.  All I've needed to do to install is add "ide1=0x180,0x386"
to the kernel line.  This time around (using the latest ISO), the kernel
boots but hangs when it tries to mount /dev/hdc.

8P

Anyone have any ideas?

        --Jerry

name:  Jerry Alexandratos         ||  Open-Source software isn't a
phone: 703.599.6023               ||  matter of life or death...
email: jerry@thehutt.org          ||  ...It's much more important
                                  ||  than that!

Re: [gentoo-dev] Help w/Install

[Daniel Robbins]

On Thu, Apr 05, 2001 at 11:45:30PM -0400, Jerry A! wrote:
> Arghh!!!  I'm having trouble getting this thing up and running on my
> Vaio z505ls.  This is the same machine I've previously enjoyed running
> Gentoo on.  All I've needed to do to install is add "ide1=0x180,0x386"
> to the kernel line.  This time around (using the latest ISO), the kernel
> boots but hangs when it tries to mount /dev/hdc.
> 
> Anyone have any ideas?

I'd wait until we release 1.0_rc4 -- you should be using at least an updated
2.4.2 kernel.  Give us some time.

Best Regards,

-- 
Daniel Robbins					<drobbins@gentoo.org>
President/CEO					http://www.gentoo.org 
Gentoo Technologies, Inc.			

Re: [gentoo-dev] Help w/Install

[Jerry A!]

On Thu, Apr 05, 2001 at 08:46:47PM -0600, Daniel Robbins wrote:
: On Thu, Apr 05, 2001 at 11:45:30PM -0400, Jerry A! wrote:
: > Arghh!!!  I'm having trouble getting this thing up and running on my
: > Vaio z505ls.  This is the same machine I've previously enjoyed running
: > Gentoo on.  All I've needed to do to install is add "ide1=0x180,0x386"
: > to the kernel line.  This time around (using the latest ISO), the kernel
: > boots but hangs when it tries to mount /dev/hdc.
: > 
: > Anyone have any ideas?
: 
: I'd wait until we release 1.0_rc4 -- you should be using at least an updated
: 2.4.2 kernel.  Give us some time.

I was hoping to get rc4_pre2 installed and get back on the bandwagon.
Oh well.

        --Jerry

name:  Jerry Alexandratos         ||  Open-Source software isn't a
phone: 703.599.6023               ||  matter of life or death...
email: jerry@thehutt.org          ||  ...It's much more important
                                  ||  than that!

Re: [gentoo-dev] Help w/Install

[Daniel Robbins]

On Thu, Apr 05, 2001 at 11:52:14PM -0400, Jerry A! wrote:

> I was hoping to get rc4_pre2 installed and get back on the bandwagon.
> Oh well.

I just got all known Portage bugs fixed today and I'm currently testing out
Achim's build environment.  After a bit of testing, we can release something
that you can use.  I'm also waiting to rebuild my development box... I can't
give you a specific date, but I can't imagine it'll take more than a week to
get the build environment working.  What do you think, Achim -- is that too
optimistic or too pessimistic?

-- 
Daniel Robbins					<drobbins@gentoo.org>
President/CEO					http://www.gentoo.org 
Gentoo Technologies, Inc.			

Re: [gentoo-dev] Help w/Install

[Jerry A!]

On Thu, Apr 05, 2001 at 08:57:44PM -0600, Daniel Robbins wrote:
: On Thu, Apr 05, 2001 at 11:52:14PM -0400, Jerry A! wrote:
: 
: > I was hoping to get rc4_pre2 installed and get back on the bandwagon.
: > Oh well.
: 
: I just got all known Portage bugs fixed today and I'm currently testing out
: Achim's build environment.  After a bit of testing, we can release something
: that you can use.  I'm also waiting to rebuild my development box... I can't
: give you a specific date, but I can't imagine it'll take more than a week to
: get the build environment working.  What do you think, Achim -- is that too
: optimistic or too pessimistic?

I'm not sure if the current build stuff will work.  rc3 worked just
fine.  I'm guessing that part of the reason was b/c we had
root=/dev/loop0 in there (hey, but I'm not really sure).  I tried adding
this line to rc4_pre2, but no luck.  My guess is that if rc4_final boots
like rc4_pre2, I'll still be in SOL.

        --Jerry

name:  Jerry Alexandratos         ||  Open-Source software isn't a
phone: 703.599.6023               ||  matter of life or death...
email: jerry@thehutt.org          ||  ...It's much more important
                                  ||  than that!

Re: [gentoo-dev] Help w/Install

[Daniel Robbins]

On Fri, Apr 06, 2001 at 12:40:11AM -0400, Jerry A! wrote:

> I'm not sure if the current build stuff will work.  rc3 worked just
> fine.  I'm guessing that part of the reason was b/c we had
> root=/dev/loop0 in there (hey, but I'm not really sure).  I tried adding
> this line to rc4_pre2, but no luck.  My guess is that if rc4_final boots
> like rc4_pre2, I'll still be in SOL.

Many recent 2.4 kernels had broken loopback device implementations.  This was
*just* fixed in 2.4.3, as were several major ReiserFS filesystem corruption
bugs.  I think the last kernel that seemed really stable was 2.4.0-test10 (I
think we used this one with 1.0_rc3).  Since then, it's been a bumpy ride.
That's the primary reason to wait for a new release -- so you'll have a stable
kernel to install from.

For example, if you use kernel 2.4.1.19 (aka 2.4.1-ac19) to create your
ReiserFS filesystems and install Gentoo Linux, your filesystems will be badly
corrupted from the get-go.  :(  I can't remember what kernel is included with
1.0_rc4_pre2 right now, but it very likely has ReiserFS bugs that are worth
avoiding if at all possible.

Best Regards,

-- 
Daniel Robbins					<drobbins@gentoo.org>
President/CEO					http://www.gentoo.org 
Gentoo Technologies, Inc.			

Re: [gentoo-dev] Help w/Install

[Jerry A!]

On Thu, Apr 05, 2001 at 09:49:13PM -0600, Daniel Robbins wrote:
: On Fri, Apr 06, 2001 at 12:40:11AM -0400, Jerry A! wrote:
: 
: > I'm not sure if the current build stuff will work.  rc3 worked just
: > fine.  I'm guessing that part of the reason was b/c we had
: > root=/dev/loop0 in there (hey, but I'm not really sure).  I tried adding
: > this line to rc4_pre2, but no luck.  My guess is that if rc4_final boots
: > like rc4_pre2, I'll still be in SOL.
: 
: Many recent 2.4 kernels had broken loopback device implementations.  This was
: *just* fixed in 2.4.3, as were several major ReiserFS filesystem corruption
: bugs.  I think the last kernel that seemed really stable was 2.4.0-test10 (I
: think we used this one with 1.0_rc3).  Since then, it's been a bumpy ride.
: That's the primary reason to wait for a new release -- so you'll have a stable
: kernel to install from.
: 
: For example, if you use kernel 2.4.1.19 (aka 2.4.1-ac19) to create your
: ReiserFS filesystems and install Gentoo Linux, your filesystems will be badly
: corrupted from the get-go.  :(  I can't remember what kernel is included with
: 1.0_rc4_pre2 right now, but it very likely has ReiserFS bugs that are worth
: avoiding if at all possible.

I understand.  But looking at things, I'm curious, is the current cd
using devfs?  If so, then anyone who needs to use a pcmcia cdrom to boot
will be out of luck.  I believe that we would need to install a kernel
which supports pcmcia and have cardmangler installed to correctly
register pcmcia devices.

Anyway to install an rc3 system and bring it up to date?

        --Jerry

name:  Jerry Alexandratos         ||  Open-Source software isn't a
phone: 703.599.6023               ||  matter of life or death...
email: jerry@thehutt.org          ||  ...It's much more important
                                  ||  than that!

Re: [gentoo-dev] Help w/Install

[Daniel Robbins]

On Fri, Apr 06, 2001 at 01:00:04AM -0400, Jerry A! wrote:

> I understand.  But looking at things, I'm curious, is the current cd
> using devfs?  If so, then anyone who needs to use a pcmcia cdrom to boot
> will be out of luck.  I believe that we would need to install a kernel
> which supports pcmcia and have cardmangler installed to correctly
> register pcmcia devices.
> 
> Anyway to install an rc3 system and bring it up to date?

The current CD doesn't use devfs by default, but it is supported.  Also note
that we haven't actually tested Gentoo Linux on a laptop yet -- and PCMCIA
support doesn't exist yet.  Is that something you'd be interested in fixing?

Yes, it's possible to install rc3 and bring it up-to-date -- if you're careful.
cvs.gentoo.org is an updated rc3 system, but, err... I'd wait for rc4 if you
can.  Actually, it'll be called rc5 since there have been so many improvements
in the last two months. :))

Sorry that I don't have a distribution ready for you, but we will soon.  For
now, if you want a distro on your laptop, I'd recommend installing a
mini-distro with laptop support and then using Achim's build.tbz2 file to get
Gentoo Linux up and running on a new partition.  You may need to add a few
ebuilds (for laptop support) along the way.  If you have the time and the
patience, go for it -- otherwise, hold tight for a week or so.

Best Regards,

-- 
Daniel Robbins					<drobbins@gentoo.org>
President/CEO					http://www.gentoo.org 
Gentoo Technologies, Inc.			

Re: [gentoo-dev] Help w/Install

[Jerry A!]

On Thu, Apr 05, 2001 at 10:15:23PM -0600, Daniel Robbins wrote:
: 
: The current CD doesn't use devfs by default, but it is supported.  Also note
: that we haven't actually tested Gentoo Linux on a laptop yet -- and PCMCIA
: support doesn't exist yet.  Is that something you'd be interested in fixing?

Actually, we have tested it against a laptop.  This is the machine I've
been using all along.  I just haven't had any time to make clean
portages of the laptop utilities.

: Yes, it's possible to install rc3 and bring it up-to-date -- if you're careful.
: cvs.gentoo.org is an updated rc3 system, but, err... I'd wait for rc4 if you
: can.  Actually, it'll be called rc5 since there have been so many improvements
: in the last two months. :))
: 
: Sorry that I don't have a distribution ready for you, but we will soon.  For
: now, if you want a distro on your laptop, I'd recommend installing a

I understand.  Two things.  First, I'm worried that I may not get
another two/three day break which I can spend reconfiguring this machine
for a while.  Second, I'm impatient.  8)

        --Jerry

name:  Jerry Alexandratos         ||  Open-Source software isn't a
phone: 703.599.6023               ||  matter of life or death...
email: jerry@thehutt.org          ||  ...It's much more important
                                  ||  than that!

Re: [gentoo-dev] Help w/Install

[Daniel Robbins]

On Fri, Apr 06, 2001 at 01:21:51AM -0400, Jerry A! wrote:

> Actually, we have tested it against a laptop.  This is the machine I've been
> using all along.  I just haven't had any time to make clean portages of the
> laptop utilities.

Oooh. :)  I'll look forward to those ebuilds.

> I understand.  Two things.  First, I'm worried that I may not get another
> two/three day break which I can spend reconfiguring this machine for a while.
> Second, I'm impatient.  8)

You shouldn't mention two/three day breaks on this list... Achim and I might
get jealous :)

-- 
Daniel Robbins					<drobbins@gentoo.org>
President/CEO					http://www.gentoo.org 
Gentoo Technologies, Inc.			

Re: [gentoo-dev] Help w/Install

[Achim Gottinger]

"Jerry A!" wrote:
> 
> On Thu, Apr 05, 2001 at 10:15:23PM -0600, Daniel Robbins wrote:
> :
> : The current CD doesn't use devfs by default, but it is supported.  Also note
> : that we haven't actually tested Gentoo Linux on a laptop yet -- and PCMCIA
> : support doesn't exist yet.  Is that something you'd be interested in fixing?
> 
> Actually, we have tested it against a laptop.  This is the machine I've
> been using all along.  I just haven't had any time to make clean
> portages of the laptop utilities.

I have an Compaq Armada laptop here with a defect display, maybe I can
use it with an external monitor
to test gentoo agains it and build a pcmcia-utils package.

Jerry if you have problems with the kernel, you can build your own
during installation, it's documented in the
install guide.

> 
> : Yes, it's possible to install rc3 and bring it up-to-date -- if you're careful.
> : cvs.gentoo.org is an updated rc3 system, but, err... I'd wait for rc4 if you
> : can.  Actually, it'll be called rc5 since there have been so many improvements
> : in the last two months. :))
> :
> : Sorry that I don't have a distribution ready for you, but we will soon.  For
> : now, if you want a distro on your laptop, I'd recommend installing a
> 
> I understand.  Two things.  First, I'm worried that I may not get
> another two/three day break which I can spend reconfiguring this machine
> for a while.  Second, I'm impatient.  8)

I can build you a current sys.tbz2 today if that helps.

achim~

> 
>         --Jerry
> 
> name:  Jerry Alexandratos         ||  Open-Source software isn't a
> phone: 703.599.6023               ||  matter of life or death...
> email: jerry@thehutt.org          ||  ...It's much more important
>                                   ||  than that!
> 
> _______________________________________________
> gentoo-dev mailing list
> gentoo-dev@gentoo.org
> http://www.gentoo.org/mailman/listinfo/gentoo-dev

Re: [gentoo-dev] Help w/Install

[Jerry A!]

On Fri, Apr 06, 2001 at 03:49:40PM +0200, Achim Gottinger wrote:
: 
: I have an Compaq Armada laptop here with a defect display, maybe I can
: use it with an external monitor
: to test gentoo agains it and build a pcmcia-utils package.
: 
: Jerry if you have problems with the kernel, you can build your own
: during installation, it's documented in the
: install guide.

I can't get that far.  The install kernel chokes and doesn't correctly
probe /dev/hdc, so I never finish booting.

: > I understand.  Two things.  First, I'm worried that I may not get
: > another two/three day break which I can spend reconfiguring this machine
: > for a while.  Second, I'm impatient.  8)
: 
: I can build you a current sys.tbz2 today if that helps.

And then I can just slap this over a rc3 install?  I would absolutely
appreciate it if you could do that.  Hey, can you save me the effort and
"-mcpu=i686 -march=i686" that for me?  8)

        --Jerry

name:  Jerry Alexandratos         ||  Open-Source software isn't a
phone: 703.599.6023               ||  matter of life or death...
email: jerry@thehutt.org          ||  ...It's much more important
                                  ||  than that!

Re: [gentoo-dev] Help w/Install

[Achim Gottinger]

"Jerry A!" wrote:
> 
> On Fri, Apr 06, 2001 at 03:49:40PM +0200, Achim Gottinger wrote:
> :
> : I have an Compaq Armada laptop here with a defect display, maybe I can
> : use it with an external monitor
> : to test gentoo agains it and build a pcmcia-utils package.
> :
> : Jerry if you have problems with the kernel, you can build your own
> : during installation, it's documented in the
> : install guide.
> 
> I can't get that far.  The install kernel chokes and doesn't correctly
> probe /dev/hdc, so I never finish booting.

You mean you can't boot from the cd?
If you can boot from a floppy and still be able to access your cdrom on
your laptop, you can
make yourself a bootfloppy from the image on the cd and replace the
kernel on that floppy.

> 
> : > I understand.  Two things.  First, I'm worried that I may not get
> : > another two/three day break which I can spend reconfiguring this machine
> : > for a while.  Second, I'm impatient.  8)
> :
> : I can build you a current sys.tbz2 today if that helps.
> 
> And then I can just slap this over a rc3 install?  

You can try it, but please backup before.

I would absolutely
> appreciate it if you could do that.  Hey, can you save me the effort and
> "-mcpu=i686 -march=i686" that for me?  8)

Yes I'll use that flags. It will be a i686-pc-linux-gnu sys with
"-mpentiumpro -march=pentiumpro -O2" options.
Tell me what special kernel options you need to boot on your laptop.

achim~

> 
>         --Jerry
> 
> name:  Jerry Alexandratos         ||  Open-Source software isn't a
> phone: 703.599.6023               ||  matter of life or death...
> email: jerry@thehutt.org          ||  ...It's much more important
>                                   ||  than that!
> 
> _______________________________________________
> gentoo-dev mailing list
> gentoo-dev@gentoo.org
> http://www.gentoo.org/mailman/listinfo/gentoo-dev

Re: [gentoo-dev] Help w/Install

[Jerry A!]

On Fri, Apr 06, 2001 at 04:12:25PM +0200, Achim Gottinger wrote:
: 
: You mean you can't boot from the cd?
: If you can boot from a floppy and still be able to access your cdrom on
: your laptop, you can
: make yourself a bootfloppy from the image on the cd and replace the
: kernel on that floppy.

That's the problem.  The BIOS on a VIAO recognize three boot devices,
the hard drive, the usb floppy and the pcmcia cdrom. On boot, the BIOS
make the floppy and cdrom appear as /dev/fd0. Not a problem. With the
funkiness of the IDE bus, I can pass "ide1=0x180,0x386" to the kernel,
and w/out loading any pcmcia drivers make the cdrom appear as device
/dev/hdc. At least I could do that with rc1, rc2 and rc3. rc4_pre2
breaks this behavior.

So, the booting appears to work fine. It's the drive discovery/mounting
that's now failing under rc4_pre2.

: You can try it, but please backup before.

No need to, it'll be a fresh install. If I can setup the network card,
I'll just ftp this build.tbz2 over and install it instead of the rc3
one.

: I would absolutely
: > appreciate it if you could do that.  Hey, can you save me the effort and
: > "-mcpu=i686 -march=i686" that for me?  8)
: 
: Yes I'll use that flags. It will be a i686-pc-linux-gnu sys with
: "-mpentiumpro -march=pentiumpro -O2" options.
: Tell me what special kernel options you need to boot on your laptop.

A standard kernel with eepro100 being supported is all I need. The nice
thing about this machine is that it has a built-in EtherExpress 100 so I
don't really need the PCMCIA initially.

        --Jerry

name:  Jerry Alexandratos         ||  Open-Source software isn't a
phone: 703.599.6023               ||  matter of life or death...
email: jerry@thehutt.org          ||  ...It's much more important
                                  ||  than that!

Re: [gentoo-dev] Help w/Install

[Achim Gottinger]

"Jerry A!" wrote:
> 
> On Fri, Apr 06, 2001 at 04:12:25PM +0200, Achim Gottinger wrote:
> :
> : You mean you can't boot from the cd?
> : If you can boot from a floppy and still be able to access your cdrom on
> : your laptop, you can
> : make yourself a bootfloppy from the image on the cd and replace the
> : kernel on that floppy.
> 
> That's the problem.  The BIOS on a VIAO recognize three boot devices,
> the hard drive, the usb floppy and the pcmcia cdrom. On boot, the BIOS
> make the floppy and cdrom appear as /dev/fd0. Not a problem. With the
> funkiness of the IDE bus, I can pass "ide1=0x180,0x386" to the kernel,
> and w/out loading any pcmcia drivers make the cdrom appear as device
> /dev/hdc. At least I could do that with rc1, rc2 and rc3. rc4_pre2
> breaks this behavior.
> 
> So, the booting appears to work fine. It's the drive discovery/mounting
> that's now failing under rc4_pre2.
> 
Ah I think I understand, the linuxrc program does not detect a valid
gentoo cd on /dev/hdc.
Is this correct?


> : You can try it, but please backup before.
> 
> No need to, it'll be a fresh install. If I can setup the network card,
> I'll just ftp this build.tbz2 over and install it instead of the rc3
> one.

So you only have one partition you can use with gentoo? 
If we don't get the iso working on your machine, a solution could be
using tomstbr (a single floppy distro)
for installation. It should have all the tools required to setup your
network, ftp the sys.tbz2 and install it.

achim~

> 
> : I would absolutely
> : > appreciate it if you could do that.  Hey, can you save me the effort and
> : > "-mcpu=i686 -march=i686" that for me?  8)
> :
> : Yes I'll use that flags. It will be a i686-pc-linux-gnu sys with
> : "-mpentiumpro -march=pentiumpro -O2" options.
> : Tell me what special kernel options you need to boot on your laptop.
> 
> A standard kernel with eepro100 being supported is all I need. The nice
> thing about this machine is that it has a built-in EtherExpress 100 so I
> don't really need the PCMCIA initially.
> 
>         --Jerry
> 
> name:  Jerry Alexandratos         ||  Open-Source software isn't a
> phone: 703.599.6023               ||  matter of life or death...
> email: jerry@thehutt.org          ||  ...It's much more important
>                                   ||  than that!
> 
> _______________________________________________
> gentoo-dev mailing list
> gentoo-dev@gentoo.org
> http://www.gentoo.org/mailman/listinfo/gentoo-dev

Re: [gentoo-dev] Help w/Install

[Daniel Robbins]

On Fri, Apr 06, 2001 at 04:12:25PM +0200, Achim Gottinger wrote:
> > And then I can just slap this over a rc3 install?  
> 
> You can try it, but please backup before.

Yep. "slap on" is not a supported install method :))

-- 
Daniel Robbins					<drobbins@gentoo.org>
President/CEO					http://www.gentoo.org 
Gentoo Technologies, Inc.			

Re: [gentoo-dev] Help w/Install

[Jerry A!]

On Fri, Apr 06, 2001 at 04:56:48PM +0200, Achim Gottinger wrote:
: > 
: Ah I think I understand, the linuxrc program does not detect a valid
: gentoo cd on /dev/hdc.
: Is this correct?

Bingo!!!!!

: So you only have one partition you can use with gentoo? 
: If we don't get the iso working on your machine, a solution could be
: using tomstbr (a single floppy distro)
: for installation. It should have all the tools required to setup your
: network, ftp the sys.tbz2 and install it.

Sadly yes.  I can either map the cdrom to ide1 and have it come up as
/dev/hdc or ide2 and have it come up as /dev/hde.  Of course the
installer doesn't probe /dev/hde, so I normally choose mapping the cdrom
to ide1.  8)

        --Jerry

name:  Jerry Alexandratos         ||  Open-Source software isn't a
phone: 703.599.6023               ||  matter of life or death...
email: jerry@thehutt.org          ||  ...It's much more important
                                  ||  than that!

Re: [gentoo-dev] Help w/Install

[Daniel Robbins]

On Fri, Apr 06, 2001 at 11:38:28AM -0400, Jerry A! wrote:

> : Ah I think I understand, the linuxrc program does not detect a valid
> : gentoo cd on /dev/hdc.
> : Is this correct?
> 
> Bingo!!!!!

Sounds like the "version" file didn't end up on the CD.  If there is no
"version" file in the root CD directory (normally containing the name
of the particular version of Gentoo Linux), then linuxrc will say that
the CD is not a Gentoo Linux CD.

-- 
Daniel Robbins					<drobbins@gentoo.org>
President/CEO					http://www.gentoo.org 
Gentoo Technologies, Inc.			

Re: [gentoo-dev] Help w/Install

[Achim Gottinger]

"Jerry A!" wrote:
> 
> On Fri, Apr 06, 2001 at 04:56:48PM +0200, Achim Gottinger wrote:
> : >
> : Ah I think I understand, the linuxrc program does not detect a valid
> : gentoo cd on /dev/hdc.
> : Is this correct?
> 
> Bingo!!!!!

If you can boot from a floppy and concurrently acces your cdrom, I can
make you a modified version
of linuxrc that only probes your unmapped cdrom device. Making a floppy
from images/boot-grub.? creating
the device on that floppy and replacing linuxrc should work. Replacing
the kernel on that floppy with a 
one that has support for your network card build if the above solution
works should give you the posiibility to 
grab the sys.tbz2 via ftp and install it instead of the one on the iso.

> 
> : So you only have one partition you can use with gentoo?
> : If we don't get the iso working on your machine, a solution could be
> : using tomstbr (a single floppy distro)
> : for installation. It should have all the tools required to setup your
> : network, ftp the sys.tbz2 and install it.
> 
> Sadly yes.  I can either map the cdrom to ide1 and have it come up as
> /dev/hdc or ide2 and have it come up as /dev/hde.  Of course the
> installer doesn't probe /dev/hde, so I normally choose mapping the cdrom
> to ide1.  8)

Hmm, we should extend linuxrc's device list.

achim~

> 
>         --Jerry
> 
> name:  Jerry Alexandratos         ||  Open-Source software isn't a
> phone: 703.599.6023               ||  matter of life or death...
> email: jerry@thehutt.org          ||  ...It's much more important
>                                   ||  than that!
> 
> _______________________________________________
> gentoo-dev mailing list
> gentoo-dev@gentoo.org
> http://www.gentoo.org/mailman/listinfo/gentoo-dev

Re: [gentoo-dev] Help w/Install

[Jerry A!]

On Fri, Apr 06, 2001 at 05:35:10PM +0200, Achim Gottinger wrote:
: 
: If you can boot from a floppy and concurrently acces your cdrom, I can
: make you a modified version
: of linuxrc that only probes your unmapped cdrom device. Making a floppy
: from images/boot-grub.? creating
: the device on that floppy and replacing linuxrc should work. Replacing
: the kernel on that floppy with a 
: one that has support for your network card build if the above solution
: works should give you the posiibility to 
: grab the sys.tbz2 via ftp and install it instead of the one on the iso.

Okay, I'll go ahead and do that.  I'm also dd'ing a tomsrbt disk right
now as well.  Dammit, I'm gonna have Gentoo before the end of the
weekend.  I need my fix!!!

So, where's the sys.tbz2 that I should be using?

        --Jerry

name:  Jerry Alexandratos         ||  Open-Source software isn't a
phone: 703.599.6023               ||  matter of life or death...
email: jerry@thehutt.org          ||  ...It's much more important
                                  ||  than that!

Re: [gentoo-dev] Help w/Install

[Achim Gottinger]

"Jerry A!" wrote:
> 
> On Fri, Apr 06, 2001 at 05:35:10PM +0200, Achim Gottinger wrote:
> :
> : If you can boot from a floppy and concurrently acces your cdrom, I can
> : make you a modified version
> : of linuxrc that only probes your unmapped cdrom device. Making a floppy
> : from images/boot-grub.? creating
> : the device on that floppy and replacing linuxrc should work. Replacing
> : the kernel on that floppy with a
> : one that has support for your network card build if the above solution
> : works should give you the posiibility to
> : grab the sys.tbz2 via ftp and install it instead of the one on the iso.
> 
> Okay, I'll go ahead and do that.  I'm also dd'ing a tomsrbt disk right
> now as well.  Dammit, I'm gonna have Gentoo before the end of the
> weekend.  I need my fix!!!
> 
> So, where's the sys.tbz2 that I should be using?

I'm building it right now should be available in an hour. Hope you don't
get a cold turkey till then.
Your unmapped cdrom is on /dev/floppy or what?

achim~

> 
>         --Jerry
> 
> name:  Jerry Alexandratos         ||  Open-Source software isn't a
> phone: 703.599.6023               ||  matter of life or death...
> email: jerry@thehutt.org          ||  ...It's much more important
>                                   ||  than that!
> 
> _______________________________________________
> gentoo-dev mailing list
> gentoo-dev@gentoo.org
> http://www.gentoo.org/mailman/listinfo/gentoo-dev

Re: [gentoo-dev] Help w/Install

[Jerry A!]

On Fri, Apr 06, 2001 at 05:51:12PM +0200, Achim Gottinger wrote:
: "Jerry A!" wrote:
: > 
: > On Fri, Apr 06, 2001 at 05:35:10PM +0200, Achim Gottinger wrote:
: > :
: > : If you can boot from a floppy and concurrently acces your cdrom, I can
: > : make you a modified version
: > : of linuxrc that only probes your unmapped cdrom device. Making a floppy
: > : from images/boot-grub.? creating
: > : the device on that floppy and replacing linuxrc should work. Replacing
: > : the kernel on that floppy with a
: > : one that has support for your network card build if the above solution
: > : works should give you the posiibility to
: > : grab the sys.tbz2 via ftp and install it instead of the one on the iso.
: > 
: > Okay, I'll go ahead and do that.  I'm also dd'ing a tomsrbt disk right
: > now as well.  Dammit, I'm gonna have Gentoo before the end of the
: > weekend.  I need my fix!!!
: > 
: > So, where's the sys.tbz2 that I should be using?
: 
: I'm building it right now should be available in an hour. Hope you don't
: get a cold turkey till then.
: Your unmapped cdrom is on /dev/floppy or what?

The unmapped cdrom is recognized as fd0.  There is no /dev/floppy.
However, this is only to boot.  Once the kernel starts up the cdrom will
be probed and recognized as /dev/hdc.  If I have the usb floppy
attached, that will be proved and recognized as usb mass storage device
/dev/sdb.

The more I think about it, the more I may be getting bit by this whole
flakey loop device bug (which is of course fixed in 2.4.3).

        --Jerry

name:  Jerry Alexandratos         ||  Open-Source software isn't a
phone: 703.599.6023               ||  matter of life or death...
email: jerry@thehutt.org          ||  ...It's much more important
                                  ||  than that!

Re: [gentoo-dev] Help w/Install

[Achim Gottinger]

"Jerry A!" wrote:
> 
> On Fri, Apr 06, 2001 at 05:51:12PM +0200, Achim Gottinger wrote:
> : "Jerry A!" wrote:
> : >
> : > On Fri, Apr 06, 2001 at 05:35:10PM +0200, Achim Gottinger wrote:
> : > :
> : > : If you can boot from a floppy and concurrently acces your cdrom, I can
> : > : make you a modified version
> : > : of linuxrc that only probes your unmapped cdrom device. Making a floppy
> : > : from images/boot-grub.? creating
> : > : the device on that floppy and replacing linuxrc should work. Replacing
> : > : the kernel on that floppy with a
> : > : one that has support for your network card build if the above solution
> : > : works should give you the posiibility to
> : > : grab the sys.tbz2 via ftp and install it instead of the one on the iso.
> : >
> : > Okay, I'll go ahead and do that.  I'm also dd'ing a tomsrbt disk right
> : > now as well.  Dammit, I'm gonna have Gentoo before the end of the
> : > weekend.  I need my fix!!!
> : >
> : > So, where's the sys.tbz2 that I should be using?
> :
> : I'm building it right now should be available in an hour. Hope you don't
> : get a cold turkey till then.
> : Your unmapped cdrom is on /dev/floppy or what?
> 
> The unmapped cdrom is recognized as fd0.  There is no /dev/floppy.
true, just my alias under devfs

> However, this is only to boot.  Once the kernel starts up the cdrom will
> be probed and recognized as /dev/hdc.  If I have the usb floppy
> attached, that will be proved and recognized as usb mass storage device
> /dev/sdb.
Sounds strange, I will make a linuxrc that scans /dev/fd0, hope that
works if you don't add any kernel
options.

> 
> The more I think about it, the more I may be getting bit by this whole
> flakey loop device bug (which is of course fixed in 2.4.3).

I don't think this loop device flakeyness is the cause. In this
situation your cdrom whould be detencted
but could not be mounted. So in this case the install process hangs. But
in your situation it should repeate
the scan endless.

BTW: is there a mkreiserfs on tomstbr? If not I'll upload a statically
linked version too.

achim~
> 
>         --Jerry
> 
> name:  Jerry Alexandratos         ||  Open-Source software isn't a
> phone: 703.599.6023               ||  matter of life or death...
> email: jerry@thehutt.org          ||  ...It's much more important
>                                   ||  than that!
> 
> _______________________________________________
> gentoo-dev mailing list
> gentoo-dev@gentoo.org
> http://www.gentoo.org/mailman/listinfo/gentoo-dev

Re: [gentoo-dev] Help w/Install

[Jerry A!]

On Fri, Apr 06, 2001 at 06:30:56PM +0200, Achim Gottinger wrote:
: > The unmapped cdrom is recognized as fd0.  There is no /dev/floppy.
: true, just my alias under devfs
: 
: > However, this is only to boot.  Once the kernel starts up the cdrom will
: > be probed and recognized as /dev/hdc.  If I have the usb floppy
: > attached, that will be proved and recognized as usb mass storage device
: > /dev/sdb.
: Sounds strange, I will make a linuxrc that scans /dev/fd0, hope that
: works if you don't add any kernel
: options.

Well, I will need to add ide1=0x180,0x386.  Will that hose things on
your end?  Or will it not be necessary since I'm booting off the floppy
and fetching over the wire?

Is it feasible to make linuxrc look for a gentoo boot disk on /dev/hdb,
/dev/hde, /dev/hdf, /dev/sdb, /dev/sdc, etc?  My guess is that as more
and more people start using Gentoo, we'll run into more and more users
that have laptop hardware.

: BTW: is there a mkreiserfs on tomstbr? If not I'll upload a statically
: linked version too.

Just checked, there is on reiserfs support on tomstbr.  It's using a
2.0.38 kernel.  So, I guess a statically linked mkreiserfs would be
nice, but wouldn't be any help.  8(

        --Jerry

name:  Jerry Alexandratos         ||  Open-Source software isn't a
phone: 703.599.6023               ||  matter of life or death...
email: jerry@thehutt.org          ||  ...It's much more important
                                  ||  than that!

Re: [gentoo-dev] Help w/Install

[Achim Gottinger]

[-- Attachment #1: Type: text/plain, Size: 2558 bytes --]

"Jerry A!" wrote:
> 
> On Fri, Apr 06, 2001 at 06:30:56PM +0200, Achim Gottinger wrote:
> : > The unmapped cdrom is recognized as fd0.  There is no /dev/floppy.
> : true, just my alias under devfs
> :
> : > However, this is only to boot.  Once the kernel starts up the cdrom will
> : > be probed and recognized as /dev/hdc.  If I have the usb floppy
> : > attached, that will be proved and recognized as usb mass storage device
> : > /dev/sdb.
> : Sounds strange, I will make a linuxrc that scans /dev/fd0, hope that
> : works if you don't add any kernel
> : options.
> 
> Well, I will need to add ide1=0x180,0x386.  Will that hose things on
> your end?  Or will it not be necessary since I'm booting off the floppy
> and fetching over the wire?
> 
I focus on both possibilities right now.

If we use tomstbr, it seems that using reiserfs requires splitting the
partiton first and install
sys.tbz2 in a second small temporary ext2 partition. The from this
partition sys can be installed 
on the firts reiserfs partition. after that you can drop the secod and
extend the first partition.
Not so nice moethod.

The alternative is to get this iso working an and use it as a rescue
system. At the moment linuxrc scans
 /dev/hd[a-d] /dev/scd[0-1]. I'm planing to replace it with a devfs
version then I must only scan /dev/cdrom/*.
I attached a special linuxrc that only scans /dev/fd0, /dev/hdc and
/dev/hde additionally it outputs all kernel 
messages to the console. Additionally it does not test if a version file
exists on the cd. Make sure that the devices exist on the boot-floppy.

achim~

> Is it feasible to make linuxrc look for a gentoo boot disk on /dev/hdb,
> /dev/hde, /dev/hdf, /dev/sdb, /dev/sdc, etc?  My guess is that as more
> and more people start using Gentoo, we'll run into more and more users
> that have laptop hardware.
> 
> : BTW: is there a mkreiserfs on tomstbr? If not I'll upload a statically
> : linked version too.
> 
> Just checked, there is on reiserfs support on tomstbr.  It's using a
> 2.0.38 kernel.  So, I guess a statically linked mkreiserfs would be
> nice, but wouldn't be any help.  8(
> 
>         --Jerry
> 
> name:  Jerry Alexandratos         ||  Open-Source software isn't a
> phone: 703.599.6023               ||  matter of life or death...
> email: jerry@thehutt.org          ||  ...It's much more important
>                                   ||  than that!
> 
> _______________________________________________
> gentoo-dev mailing list
> gentoo-dev@gentoo.org
> http://www.gentoo.org/mailman/listinfo/gentoo-dev

[-- Attachment #2: linuxrc --]
[-- Type: application/octet-stream, Size: 9354 bytes --]

Re: [gentoo-dev] Help w/Install

[Jerry A!]

On Fri, Apr 06, 2001 at 07:15:02PM +0200, Achim Gottinger wrote:
: 
: The alternative is to get this iso working an and use it as a rescue
: system. At the moment linuxrc scans
:  /dev/hd[a-d] /dev/scd[0-1]. I'm planing to replace it with a devfs
: version then I must only scan /dev/cdrom/*.
: I attached a special linuxrc that only scans /dev/fd0, /dev/hdc and
: /dev/hde additionally it outputs all kernel 
: messages to the console. Additionally it does not test if a version file
: exists on the cd. Make sure that the devices exist on the boot-floppy.

Okay, call me stupid.  How can I crank out a Gentoo boot-floppy?  Also,
I'm out of the office now so I won't be able to burn a CD.  Think I'll
be able to use this floppy and the existing rc4_pre2 cdrom I have?

Oh, and what about that build.tbz2?

        --Jerry

name:  Jerry Alexandratos         ||  Open-Source software isn't a
phone: 703.599.6023               ||  matter of life or death...
email: jerry@thehutt.org          ||  ...It's much more important
                                  ||  than that!

Re: [gentoo-dev] Help w/Install

[Achim Gottinger]

"Jerry A!" wrote:
> 
> On Fri, Apr 06, 2001 at 07:15:02PM +0200, Achim Gottinger wrote:
> :
> : The alternative is to get this iso working an and use it as a rescue
> : system. At the moment linuxrc scans
> :  /dev/hd[a-d] /dev/scd[0-1]. I'm planing to replace it with a devfs
> : version then I must only scan /dev/cdrom/*.
> : I attached a special linuxrc that only scans /dev/fd0, /dev/hdc and
> : /dev/hde additionally it outputs all kernel
> : messages to the console. Additionally it does not test if a version file
> : exists on the cd. Make sure that the devices exist on the boot-floppy.
> 
> Okay, call me stupid.  How can I crank out a Gentoo boot-floppy?  

There is an image for the boot-floppy on the cd in the images subdir. dd

Also,
> I'm out of the office now so I won't be able to burn a CD.  Think I'll
> be able to use this floppy and the existing rc4_pre2 cdrom I have?

Yes that must work.
> 
> Oh, and what about that build.tbz2?
Had a few troubles with the kernel first. After that I started uploading
and found a bug meanwhile whom I'm
currently fixing. 

achim~
> 
>         --Jerry
> 
> name:  Jerry Alexandratos         ||  Open-Source software isn't a
> phone: 703.599.6023               ||  matter of life or death...
> email: jerry@thehutt.org          ||  ...It's much more important
>                                   ||  than that!
> 
> _______________________________________________
> gentoo-dev mailing list
> gentoo-dev@gentoo.org
> http://www.gentoo.org/mailman/listinfo/gentoo-dev

Re: [gentoo-dev] Help w/Install

[Achim Gottinger]

"Jerry A!" wrote:
> 
> On Fri, Apr 06, 2001 at 07:15:02PM +0200, Achim Gottinger wrote:
> :
> : The alternative is to get this iso working an and use it as a rescue
> : system. At the moment linuxrc scans
> :  /dev/hd[a-d] /dev/scd[0-1]. I'm planing to replace it with a devfs
> : version then I must only scan /dev/cdrom/*.
> : I attached a special linuxrc that only scans /dev/fd0, /dev/hdc and
> : /dev/hde additionally it outputs all kernel
> : messages to the console. Additionally it does not test if a version file
> : exists on the cd. Make sure that the devices exist on the boot-floppy.
> 
> Okay, call me stupid.  How can I crank out a Gentoo boot-floppy?  Also,
> I'm out of the office now so I won't be able to burn a CD.  Think I'll
> be able to use this floppy and the existing rc4_pre2 cdrom I have?
> 
> Oh, and what about that build.tbz2?
> 
I fixed the bug and it is on his way to 

ftp://www.ibiblio.org/pub/Linux/distributions/gentoo/gentoo-x86-distro/gentoo-1.0_rc4/packages/

called sys-i686-20010406.tgz. (~78MB). May take a while, I only have a
128k uplink here.

I used gzip for the case that you must use a rescue disc for the
installation that does not come with bzip2.

achim~
>         --Jerry
> 
> name:  Jerry Alexandratos         ||  Open-Source software isn't a
> phone: 703.599.6023               ||  matter of life or death...
> email: jerry@thehutt.org          ||  ...It's much more important
>                                   ||  than that!
> 
> _______________________________________________
> gentoo-dev mailing list
> gentoo-dev@gentoo.org
> http://www.gentoo.org/mailman/listinfo/gentoo-dev

Re: [gentoo-dev] Help w/Install

[Jerry A!]

On Fri, Apr 06, 2001 at 07:15:02PM +0200, Achim Gottinger wrote:
: 
: The alternative is to get this iso working an and use it as a rescue
: system. At the moment linuxrc scans
:  /dev/hd[a-d] /dev/scd[0-1]. I'm planing to replace it with a devfs
: version then I must only scan /dev/cdrom/*.
: I attached a special linuxrc that only scans /dev/fd0, /dev/hdc and
: /dev/hde additionally it outputs all kernel 
: messages to the console. Additionally it does not test if a version file
: exists on the cd. Make sure that the devices exist on the boot-floppy.

Okay, I think this is the default linuxrc from the distro.  I put this
on my new boot floppy and it still probes for /dev/hdc, etc...

        --Jerry

name:  Jerry Alexandratos         ||  Open-Source software isn't a
phone: 703.599.6023               ||  matter of life or death...
email: jerry@thehutt.org          ||  ...It's much more important
                                  ||  than that!

Re: [gentoo-dev] Help w/Install

[Achim Gottinger]

"Jerry A!" wrote:
> 
> On Fri, Apr 06, 2001 at 07:15:02PM +0200, Achim Gottinger wrote:
> :
> : The alternative is to get this iso working an and use it as a rescue
> : system. At the moment linuxrc scans
> :  /dev/hd[a-d] /dev/scd[0-1]. I'm planing to replace it with a devfs
> : version then I must only scan /dev/cdrom/*.
> : I attached a special linuxrc that only scans /dev/fd0, /dev/hdc and
> : /dev/hde additionally it outputs all kernel
> : messages to the console. Additionally it does not test if a version file
> : exists on the cd. Make sure that the devices exist on the boot-floppy.
> 
> Okay, I think this is the default linuxrc from the distro.  I put this
> on my new boot floppy and it still probes for /dev/hdc, etc...
> 
Yes, it scans /dev/hdc /dev/hde /dev/fd0 doesn't it?

I'm currently modifying slackware boot discs in a way that they can act
as a rescue system for gentoo.
I need a floppy based install for a laptop here.

achim~


>         --Jerry
> 
> name:  Jerry Alexandratos         ||  Open-Source software isn't a
> phone: 703.599.6023               ||  matter of life or death...
> email: jerry@thehutt.org          ||  ...It's much more important
>                                   ||  than that!
> 
> _______________________________________________
> gentoo-dev mailing list
> gentoo-dev@gentoo.org
> http://www.gentoo.org/mailman/listinfo/gentoo-dev

Re: [gentoo-dev] Help w/Install

[Jerry A!]

On Sat, Apr 07, 2001 at 01:41:48AM +0200, Achim Gottinger wrote:
:
: Yes, it scans /dev/hdc /dev/hde /dev/fd0 doesn't it?

No, it scans /dev/hdc, /dev/hdd, /dev/scd0, /dev/scd1... like the
standard linuxrc.

: I'm currently modifying slackware boot discs in a way that they can act
: as a rescue system for gentoo.
: I need a floppy based install for a laptop here.

Oh yeah!!!

        --Jerry

name:  Jerry Alexandratos         ||  Open-Source software isn't a
phone: 703.599.6023               ||  matter of life or death...
email: jerry@thehutt.org          ||  ...It's much more important
                                  ||  than that!