>>Date: Fri, 8 Oct 1999 12:05:47 +0800 (SGT)
>>From: Alvin Chong <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>>To: Eugene Teo (LUGS) <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; Ng Kai Hoe Raymond
><[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; LUGS Mailing List <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>>CC:
>>Subject: RedHat 6.1 online FTP install review ( FINAL 2 )
>>
= SORRY =
Found some spelling mistakes, must have click wrongly during spell check
Read another time, should be alright now.
= end =
=change from draft 2 =do not publish this part=
Removed all personal intro, experience due to comments from Ng Kai Hoe Raymond
Added 2 more final note
remove some singlish
read through it one more time.
= end of change=
Well seeing others writing reviews on products they try, I also thought of
contributing my
bit to LUGS and also a chance to voice my opinion and share my experience.
This review would cover installation of RedHat 6.1 via FTP
Due to lack of knowledge, I am unable to capture the screenshots.
=Pre Installation Requisite=
* I am doing this via Cable Modem with DHCP and FTP
1) Boot Disk
Go to ftp://ftp.linux.com.sg/pub/redhat-6.1/i386/images/
Download bootnet.img
* This support installation from NFS, HTTP and FTP
* The boot.img only support install from HDD and CD-ROM
Go to ftp://ftp.linux.com.sg/pub/redhat-6.1/i386/dosutils/
Download rawrite.exe
RUN rawrite.exe
enter the location of bootnet.img
e.g.: c:\temp\bootnet.img
Then enter the location of floppy such as a: or b:
You got a Boot disk !
= Boot Up =
Insert the boot up disk into the floppy drive and then reboot your machine.
*Make sure you set floppy as you first boot option in your bios.
Then you would see the welcome to Red Hat Linux 6.1 screen
The first two options states that hit <ENTER> for graphical mode and second option
states
" text <ENTER> "
I chose the first graphical option thus hit <ENTER>
Begins Loading.......
Then choose language, English for me.
Then choose Keyboard, US for me.
Installation Method which includes NFS / FTP/ HTTP. I choose FTP
Configure TCP/IP
I select [ * ] Use Dynamic IP Configuration ( BOOTP/ DHCP) and the following fields
left blank.
IP Address, Netmask, Default Gateway(IP) and primary name server.
FTP Setup
Site Name : ftp.linux.com.sg
RedHat Directory: /pub/redhat-6.1/i386
*note it is case sensitive
Retrieving.........
Loading...........
RedHat Linux Welcome screen, click OK
Install KDE Workstation
There are others such as Gnome Workstation, server..etc and of cause custom for
professionals.
Automatic Partitioning Continue OR Manually Partition
@ READ THE MESSAGE ON SCREEN PROPERLY @
Continue would delete any Linux partition ( would not touch your dos partition) and
auto
partition the freespace it finds.
For partition of HDD, I choose the automatic as since RH5.2, it would find
freespace and auto partition the freespace and install into there withOUT touching your
current dos/windows partition.
*Backups are still recommended*
I choose Continue as I know I have tons of freespace.
*note : freespace = no partition, no drive, no format, absolutely nothing.
Hostname configuration
It automatically fills in for me cable.bp.singa.pore.net
Mouse Selection, for me I choose Microsoft-Intellimouse (PS/2) and [ ] Emulate 3
buttons
= Comparison=
*One solid advantage of SuSE6.2 better than RH 5.1, 5.2 is that my Microsoft
Intellimouse
is supported as a
3 button mouse and thus cut and paste is no sweat.
*Saying this, I would like to point out few disadvantage of SuSE6.2
@ The list of mouse protocol in Yast is NOT = The list of supporter mouse protocol
in
SAX( Have much more)
@ Selecting Intelli Mouse with Wheel PS/2 in SuSE6.2 under yast only result in the
mouse working fine under console but is out of control in X
@ Configuration of Intellimouse in SAX would work in X but NOT in Console, thus it
is
either way :<
@ In SAX, choose IMPS2 protocol under EXPERT Mode and NOT Microsoft or Intellimouse
= End of Comparison=
= Major Advantage of RH6.1=
Testing after installation show that with above configuration for my intelli mouse, my
mouse works 100% fine as a 3 button mouse an cut and paste is a luxury.
It works both in X and Console.
Thus RH6.1 solves the problem I am having in SuSE6.2
*For brand new users, don't think cut and paste is no big deal, it is a big deal when
you
need to cut and paste error messages.
Two button mouse can paste by emulating 3 button mouse enabled and you have to press
both
at same time but till now I never succeed.
=end=
Time Zone configuration
[ ] Hardware Clock set to GMT
Asia/Singapore was selected from the list.
Root Password
*case sensitive
=NEW in RH6.1 as compared to 5.1 and 5.2 =
Add User
It now explains and make you create a non root account which is useful as like me last
time, to be spared from those access controls..etc, most would just log in as root and
do
everything with that.
Very simple too, very similar to SuSE6.2 Yast but I remember Yast configuration had
more
settings such as access to modem.
Add User
After creating at least one non root account, it then takes you to create a few more
and
it is as simple as above.
=end of new=
Reading package information................
X probe Results
Vide Card: Cirrus Logic GD543X
X Server: SVGA
Click OK
=SuSE 6.2 VS RedHat 5.1, 5.2 and 6.1 in term of X configuration =
SuSE6.2 need to learn from this, in SuSE, it is not fully auto, I would say quarter
auto.
It does not goes through the configuration of graphics card during installation and
does
not install the graphics packages even if you choose almost everything.
It is only after reboot, go to Yast, it expects you to know you must go install the
right
package for your graphics card which implies you must know your chip is supported or
not
and if yes under which server package beforehand.
Even if you try to go SAX before install any graphics packages, sax would not inform
you
that you need to get the package installed.
I would prefer it at least for the first time it run, inform user that they need to
check
where and install what then go SAX.
ONLY after install the right package then SAX would "auto" detect and select for you.
= End of Comparison =
Installation to begin, Click OK
Formatting / file system............
/boot ..............
/swap .............
Package Installation Total 377 packages, 574Mb and EST 30 min.
After 30 min...
=Post Installation configuration=
Monitor setup
*Below settings are based on past experience of try and error as my monitor is not
listed.
*You are highly recommended to find the exact technical details from your vendor as a
wrong setting can burn your monintor
Choose Custom
Custom Monitor setup, click OK
Extended Super VGA 800 x 600 @ 60Hz, 640 x 480 @ 72Hz
Vertical Sync Range 50-70
Screen Configuration
Choose Probe
Probing to begin, click OK
Finished, it choose 800 x 600 8bit {I wonder why so low even when the message say it
would
choose best option}
Anyway, I choose [Let me Choose] and selected 800 x 600 16Bit
Starting X test, Click OK if you get to see the message, else just wait for timeout and
edit your above setting.
Start X on reboot, I choose NO { I choose yes before and it does look pretty nice}
=NEW in RH6.1 compared to 5.1 and 5.2 =
LILO Configuration is 100% automatic
I used to select install lilo to master boot record or boot record.
In RH6.1, there is no such stage but lilo is still installed into the master boot
record.
*At lilo: enter dos to boot your dos/windoze as normal and Linux or just hit enter by
default would boot Linux.
=End of new in RH6.1=
=Lilo configuration in SuSE6.2 VS RH 5.1, 5.2 and 6.1=
NOTE : SuSE6.2 expect you to manually configure that lilo for all your OS.
You must create one for dos at /dev/hda1 and for anyother OS, I did lost
my
RH5.2 boot option last time as I do not know /dev/hda?
For brand new users, this is nightmare
=end of lilo in SuSE6.2 =
=Missing in RH6.1 as compared to RH5.1 and 5.2 =
It no longer creates a rescue disk during installation
= End of missing=
INSTALLATION 100% COMPLETE :P
TOTAL TIME TAKEN 35 MIN.
=END of entire installation and configuration =
Reboot and first thing I enter at lilo: was.......dos !
Must make sure it did not mess up my dos as my work are there.
Well it works fine.
Then second reboot
at lilo: hit enter and by default goes to Linux
Then you see a lot of task executing follow by a OK which is similar to SuSE6.2 Done.
Final notes:
1) DHCP works 100% fine in RH5.1, 5.2 and 6.1
2)dhclient in SuSE6.2 does NOT work fine even when it says DONE
=Cute and Paste from Danny Mail=
dhclient doesn't start in SuSE 6.2.
The script /sbin/init.d/dhclient (which is new by the SuSE 6.2) expects
the following settings from the variables NETCONFIG="_0" and IFCONFIG_0=""
in the /etc/rc.config
Although you start the DHCP client via YaST, this variables are not
modified, so you have to change them manually
=end of Danny's mail =
3) KDE is 1.1.2
4) Xfree86 is 3.3.5
5) I heard a lot about RH6.1 comes with a new graphical installation( I was expecting
something like Caldera 2.2 or above) but the interface I am having even when I choose
graphical mode is similar to those in RedHat 5.1 and 5.2
I was thinking maybe because it is a online install, the interface was stripped down
and
the graphical mode is only via CD.
6) I remember correctly I choose KDE Workstation but when I enter startx, it goes into
GNOME with Enlightment and star up is slow, KDE is much faster.
Must edit the xinitrc file manually like before when I was using RH5.2
*IF you choose Start X on boot, then it have no problem as there is a KDE option
below*
=CUT AND PASTE =
http://linux.com.sg/mirrors/www.kde.org/documentation/faq/kdefaq-4.html
4.10 How do I start KDE?
The most comfortable method to start KDE is to use the startkde script. Simply put the
line
startkde
at the end of your .xsession file (or into your .xinitrc file, if you are not using
kdm or
xdm). Please also remove the lines that started your previous window manager. If there
is
no .xsession or .xinitrc in your home directory, simply create a new one that just
contain
one line saying "startkde" (without the quotes!).
=END OF Cut & Paste=
There is no .xinitrc or .xsession for RH5.2 and RH6.1
I use pico to create a .xinitrc with only startkde in it.
Save ( Write out) to /root for root and /home/username for other non root user.
startx brings me to KDE directly.
You have to put this is your home directly.
Home directory does not mean /home
it means /root for root and /home/username for any other and every users.
*Gnome applications are installed too and booting to Gnome seems just fine, wonder
what is
the difference between Gnome Workstation and KDE Workstation installation.
7) There is a very neat "utility" in SuSE6.2 that start automatically in X after
configuration in SAX, it test by starting X and if works, you get to have a UP, DOWN,
LEFT
, RIGHT to enlarge the screen to make full use of the monitor.
If anybody knows such a similar utility(graphical one pls. ) in RH 6.1, please
inform
me as currently my X screen had 2 borders on the vertical sides.
This problem exist until I installed SuSE6.2
It also exist in Windoze.
BUT I am able to use full screen in all directions in DOS and Linux CONSOLE.
8) Netscape is 4.61 :<
9) How to create a rescue disk?
I still find having a rescue disk safer.
It did saved me few times in the past
10) I just found out that the graphical rpm manager glint that I used to use in RH 5.1
and
5.2 is no longer available in my current, installation.
Found GnomeRPM and Kpackage which seem to subsitude the glint.
Have yet to figure out how to use.
11) Try to launch control panel gives me a error with type = in config ?
Overall, other than note 7 on the screen problem, there is nothing SuSE6.2 win RedHat
6.1
in terms of installation and basic hardware support and configuration.
Would not comment on other stuff beyond basic installation and configuration of basic
necessary hardware such as graphics, mouse, cable modem.
All views are my personal views.
No offends to supporters of other distributions such as SuSE
All selections and configuration are based on my own machine thus it does not mean with
above settings, it would work fine on your machine.
Have fun !
Hope you like it.
Regards
Alvin Chong
_____________________________________________
Messaging Center http://www.m1.com.sg/msgcenter/
Message Pager: 92203700 Sent 2 Xs for reliability
_____________________________________________
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potential users should view that in comparison to NT 4.0 and
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(IDG) -- Just about the time most IT departments
will be putting the dreaded Y2K issue behind them,
they will encounter the second crisis of the new millennium:
the arrival of Microsoft's Windows 2000.
I think the review should go to slp list =)
Nice job done alvin, proud of u.
The Forum? I am not sure if i got the time to settle the forum now. Need to discuss on
that.
Thanks. see you all at lugs meeting tonite.
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