This section is written by Florent SAUNIER.
sabetflo@freesurf.fr
I have performed a Slakware installation using PLIP very succesfully. I have also been able to install REDHAT and caldera Open linux using the very same method described below.
As previously specified by Gilles, a slakware installation requires everything specified in the chapter "What do you need" with time increased to 10 hours if you desire to install xfree(86) and some developpement tools.
Further on, you need to read first Gilles installation as I set up mine accordingly to his preset.
Finally, I have performed Slakware and Caldera installation on Twinhead 550C laptop, with 8Mb Ram, and 2Gbytes Hard drive.
To install slakware verion using ATAPI CDROM from your source you will need standard kernel image bareapm.i or bare.i. If you want to make an install from SCSI support take scsinet.i image.
Other image exists, such as net.i which sould include PLIP function but on my i486 laptop, Twinhead550C, the imagedoes not work. I have experienced that the standard image allways work on any laptop I have used.
From ms-dos create the boot disk by typing:
rawrite bareapm.i
then create the root disks:
rawrite color.gz.a (if you are using color screen)
On a dos format disk copy the following file :
Insert your boot disk in your Laptop and start computer. Follow the installtion procedure and wait till the system ask for the root disks. Insert it and wait for the prompt login: "Slakware login".
To start the Slakware installation you must log as root. Type then root at the prompt. Be aware that at that time of installation your keyboard is still qwerty.
Install your source computer according to Gille indication. From chapter 7 to 9.
Install PLIP on the target. To install PLIP module you need to launch program from your PLIP disk. Remember you did it no !!!
Access to your floppy disk by:
& mount /dev/fd0h1440 /floppy
& cd /floppy
& insmod parport 'it will install your parallel port
& insmod parport_pc 'it will set it up
& insmod plip 'it will install plip module
If during the PLIP installation you encounter an error. It means that
your paralell port has not been correctly installed. you may type again
the instruction above, it does work sometimes !!, or go to the parport
directory and write appopriate setting.
& cd /proc/parport/0
& vi IRQ 'Verify that 7 is written in it if you are using
'that interruption'
Look at chapter 8,"PLIP on the source side" to get the proper setting.
You should not bother too much as at 95% on the 5 laptop I have installed everyting went smoothly.
From that point I have choosed to use the creation of a NFS drive on the target computer. Then I will make an installation using the "From directory" option rather than from an nfs support.
Do not forget you are still in US keyboard. Of course you have set up your source accordingly to chapter 7, "Network parameters". You then did ping your source, but yet you cannot ping the target.
So the first step is to configure your PLIP connection: On the target type:
& ifconfig plip0 192.168.0.1 pointopoint 192.168.0.2 netmask 255.255.255.255 up
Test your Plip configuration by pinging the target from the source
& ping target
then create your nfs drive:
& cd /
& mkdir nfsdrive
mount -t nfs 192.168.0.2:/cdrom /nfstest
You have just configure a drive linked to your source directory /cdrom
were you suppose to have slakware CDROM connected to, from your target
directory call nfstest
Now everything is set up and you are ready to launch the Slakware installation program, by typing "setup".
note:if you do not have enough memory, below 8mb setup will not being launched then, you will have to make a swap space to allow the program to work. first Create you disk partition with your swap by typing & fdisk note your swap disk name eg /hda3 quit fdisk with 'w' Once its done type:
& mkswap -c /dev/hda3
& swapon /dev/ha3
Your swap is now set up.
You may then launch the "setup" program.
the setup programm shows various menu:
4b- Select your keyboard, for French take -Fr-latin1.map
4c- Select your swap partition if not already configured
4d- Select the target, default is '/'
4e- Select the source. Here is the tricky stuff choose Installing from a drive type the drive so : /nfsdrive/slakware '/slakware' because your drive must point to your slakware CDROM directory
4f- Select packages to install
4g- Wait, Wait, Wait and Wait........
I told you that Caldera work also with that install. In fact as Caldera launch automatically is Setup program, once you arrived at the menu were you suppose to choose your source disks type ALT F2 and go to another screen then log as root and make your nfs drive as described above in point 2 to 4. Then go back to the installtion screen with ALT F1, and type the famous nfsdrive as your source directory. Caldera will than install without problem.
If you are experiencing any trouble with that installation you may report it tome and I'll try to help as best as I can.