Hardware Requirements

Hardware Requirements @@ -56,75 +56,318 @@

-The Gentoo Universal Installation CD +The Gentoo Installation Approaches Introduction

-Gentoo Linux can be installed using one of three stage tarball files. A -stage file is a tarball (compressed archive) that contains a minimal +Gentoo Linux can be installed using one of three stage tarball files. +A stage file is a tarball (compressed archive) that contains a minimal environment.

- A stage1 file contains nothing more than a compiler, Portage (Gentoo's - software management system) and a couple of packages on which the - compiler or Portage depends. -
- A stage2 file contains a so-called bootstrapped system, a minimal - environment from which one can start building all other necessary - applications that make a Gentoo environment complete. -
- A stage3 file contains a prebuilt minimal system which is almost fully - deployable. It only lacks a few applications where you, the Gentoo user, - needs to choose which one you want to install. -
+ A stage2 file contains a so-called bootstrapped system, a minimal + environment from which one can start building all other necessary + applications that make a Gentoo environment complete. +
+ A stage3 file contains a prebuilt minimal system which is almost fully + deployable. It only lacks a few applications where you, the Gentoo user, + needs to choose which one you want to install. +

-We will opt for a stage3 installation throughout this document. If you want to -perform a Gentoo installation using the stage1 or stage2 files, please use the -installation instructions in the Gentoo Handbook. They do -require a working Internet connection though. +To help you decide what stage file you want to use, we have written down the +major advantages and disadvantages of each stage file. +

+ + + + +A Stage1 Approach + + +

+A stage1 is used when you want to bootstrap and build the entire system +from scratch.

+Starting from a stage1 allows you to have total control over the +optimization settings and optional build-time functionality that is +initially enabled on your system. This makes stage1 installs good for +power users who know what they are doing. It is also a great +installation method for those who would like to know more about the +inner workings of Gentoo Linux. +

+ + + + + + + + + + Allows you to have total control over the optimization settings and optional + build-time functionality that is initially enabled on your system + + + + + Suitable for powerusers that know what they are doing + + + + Allows you to learn more about the inner workings of Gentoo + + + + Takes a long time to finish the installation + + + + + If you don't intend to tweak the settings, it is a waste of time + + +

Stage1	Pros and Cons
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+ -Gentoo Universal Installation CD +A Stage2 Approach

-An Installation CD is a bootable medium which contains a self-sustained Gentoo -environment. It allows you to boot Linux from the CD. During the boot process -your hardware is detected and the appropriate drivers are loaded. The Gentoo -Installation CDs are maintained by Gentoo developers. +A stage2 is used for building the entire system from a bootstrapped +"semi-compiled" state.

-There currently are two Installation CDs available: +Stage2 installs allow you to skip the bootstrap process; doing this +is fine if you are happy with the optimization settings that we chose +for your particular stage2 tarball. +

+ + + + + + + + + You don't need to bootstrap + + + + Faster than starting with stage1 + + + + You can still tweak your settings + + + + You cannot tweak as much as with a stage1 + + + + It's still not the fastest way to install Gentoo + + + + You have to accept the optimizations we chose for the bootstrap + +

Stage2	Pros and Cons
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+ + + + +A Stage3 Approach + + +

+A stage3 installation contains a basic Gentoo Linux system that has been +built for you. You will only need to build a few packages of which we can't -- gentoo-doc-cvs@gentoo.org mailing list