Linux + Windows HOWTO v0.1.0 1999-11-04

Overview

Intended Audience

Nancy just bought a new computer.  It came preloaded with Windows 98. Nancy wants to run accounting software supported by Windows 98 and mathematical research software. Nancy is an accountant and donates her time as the accountant for the local chapter of a charitable organization.  The charitable organization requires the chapters to use standard software that they have chosen.  This software is only supported on Windows 98, so Nancy must have Windows 98 to donate her accounting services.  Nancy also teaches mathematics and personally pursues research mathematics.  She is not a programmer amd doesn't want to waste unnecessary time doing system administration nor working with inflexible software.  She believes that octave, c++ and the best research software is supported by unix.  As a unix dialect she wants linux.

Lisa is shopping for a new computer to replace her aging host.  Her computer will be preloaded with RedHat 6.2 linux.  Lisa is a professional programmer, who plans to run a server and firewall on her old computer.  Lisa wants a low maintenance machine that reliability does her bidding.  Occasionally she needs to read and write files for Macintosh and/or Windows users.  She plans to remove Windows 95 from her old computer and run a dedicated server and firewall under linux.  In accordance with her Microsoft End User License Agreement she will transfer Windows 95 to her new computer.  Since she plans to spend most of her time in linux, it isn't worth buying a second Windows license to run Windows on both hosts.

Oscar is a system administrator for a large corporation that uses Windows NT and Irix workstations.  One of the Windows NT workstations has just crashed and won't boot.  Oscar has to recover critical data from the host which was not backed up.  He needs tools to script searches and filter files.  Oscar wants to use the panolpy of unix commands to low-level examine the hard disk in his search for the lost corporate assets.  Last year Oscar configured a "dual booter" but he no longer remembers the details.

Tom is a graduate school teacher.  Tom also teaches continuing education at the local community house.  Nancy is a friend of Tom and asked for his help with her new computer.  Tom is happy to oblige and this HOWTO is one of the consequences.

Table of Contents 

How to Use This HOWTO

Table of Contents 

Concepts

• Disk and Format
• Partition and Filesystem
• Operating System

Procedure

Reference

1. Backup your software and data
2.    Compile a catalog of hardware component models and software versions.
3. Attach new disks.
4. Compact the existing software and data.
5.    Repartition the disk..
6.    Format the new partitions.
7.    Load the new operating systems.
8.    Install the boot manager (uc).
9. Cross mount the devices.

Backup

Tom warned Nancy that she should backup everything before starting.  Familiar with pluming repair, Tom knew that whey you shut off the water for 10min to replace a dripping faucet, you often find that the pipes in the floor were rusted and leaking.  Nancy knew nothiing of plumbing, but she had a good book collection and had moved several times.  She knew that bookshelves often break when you move them.

Since Lisa is buying a new computer, she has nothing yet to backup.  When Oscar asked for the backups of the crashed computer he was met with the usual blank expressions.  His job is essentially ot make a backup of the otherwise lost data.

This version of this HOWTO does not detail how to backup.  If you wish to see more information on backing up or if you wish to provide information please contact the maintainer.

Table of Contents 

Catalog

Windows and your linux distribution may not support the same hardware.  You should see the Hardware Compatibility HOWTO for a list of what is known to be compatible or incompatible.

In general Windows is the more restrictive with exception of WinModems/WinPrinters/....  Any hardware supported by Windows will usually be supported by linux, though not necessarily included in your distribution.  Much hardware, especially the old and the cutting edge, may be supported by linux but not by Windows.  If not included in your distribution, you can usually download linux drivers and or modules from the Internet.

Winmodems, Winprinters, Winscanners, etc. are not supportable under linux.  These devices are actually firmware that depend on proprietary Windows software.  In the United States it is illegal to sell a linux distribution that supports these devices.

Lisa has dealt with software long enough to know the value of specifications.  Even before purchasing a computer, Lisa has already created a log.  For each computer being considered from each prospective vendor, Lisa has a list of each component, its model and capabilities.

Tom knows that one of the least expensive means to support reliability in any complex system (computer, airplane, car, etc.) is by keeping accurate maintenance records.  Many (if not most) of the compatiblity problems reported by Tom's students would be prevented if accurate records were kept and consulted.

Tom usually recommends avoiding WinModems, etc. because their performance limitations are too severe for most people..

Oscar's company keeps records on the hardware components of each  computer.  Before trying to fix any problem, Oscar examines the log and often finds that intractible problems becomre easily solved when you know the model details.

Table of Contents 

Attach

Oscar has easy access to a spare hard drive.  He checked the Hardware Compatibility HOWTO to select a hard drive model.

• Oscar grounds himself with a wrist strap to avoid accidental electrostatic damage.
• He opens the case according to the service manual.
• He slides the disk into the secondary drive slot and attaches an IDE cable.
• Oscar closes the case and ungrounds himself.

Table of Contents 

Compact

Software is normally stored distributed across the disk partition.  Before splitting a partition, all the data must be moved to the start of the partition, so that when the partition is split, the old software and data won't be lost.   Tom warns Lisa, Nancy, and especially Oscar that compacting is not reversible.  If the partition is error-free, no active files will be lost, but disconnected (deleted) files may be lost.  If the partition has errors, tools exist that can often (but not always) recover disconnected files before compaction.  After compacting , the disconnected files are probably unrecoverable.

The fips included in tomsrtbt-1.6.335 is 0.9e and Tom has used it directly with Windows 95.  Windows98 requires fips-2.0 or later which (at press time) was not included in the archived tomsrtbt distributions.
 
Nancy is unafamiliar with open source code and the Internet, so Tom offers to create her fips disk.

1. Download fips-2.0 and expand in the directory $FIPSROOT

(This may require privelege depending on Tom's linux configuration)
(The address will probably change by the time you read this.)
bash> FIPSROOT=/opt/packages/fips-2.0
bash> mkdir -p $FIPSROOT/original
bash> cd $FIPSROOT/original
bash> wget 'ftp://sunsite.icm.edu.pl/pub/Linux/sunsite.unc.edu/system/installl/fips-2.0.zip'
bash> cd $PIPSROOT
bash> unzip -d oritinal/fips-2.0.zip
2. Insert and mount the startup disk from Nancy.

(This may require priveleges depending on Tom's linux configuration)
bash> mkdir -p /floppy
bash> mount -t vfat /dev/fd0 /floppy
3. Follow the instructions for fips.  At press time, this means copy 3 files to the startup disk.

bash> cp restorrb.exe fips.exe errors.txt /floppy
4. Unmoun the floppy and return it to Nancy.

bash> umount /floppy

1. Create a statup disk and give it to Tom.

[Start] [Settings...\Control Panel] [[Add/Remove Programs] [Startup Disk] [Create Disk ...]
2. Verify that the disk has no detectible errors.

(There may still be hiddent errors.)
[[My Computer] {(C:\)} [Properties ...] [Tools] [Error-checking status\Check now ...] [Type of test\Thorough] [Start]
Fis any errors reported.
3. Defragment the disk to remove blank areas and deleted files.

[[My computer] {(C:\)} [Properties ...] [Tools] [Defragmentation status\Defragment now ...]
4. Insert the fips startup disk from Tom and restart the computer.

[Start] [Shutdown...] [Restart] [OK]
5. When the computer reboots, split the partition.

A:\> fips
Save current partition info: yes
New partition start: 501

Repartition

Tom recommends that the disk be divided into 4 partitions.

1. ~33% Windows bootable

Windows requires residency on the first primary partition
2. ~33% linux bootable

On most computers, bootable partitions must reside entirely below 1024 cylinders.
3. ~64M swap

A filesystem optimized for memory caching improves performance.
4. ~33% data

The last partition may be used by either or both operating systems if is compartible.

At press time, the above division is safe for most computers.

Nancy is unafamiliar with open source and the Internet, so Tom lends her one of his diagnostic disks with tomsrtbt..

tomsrtbt is a small distribution of linux on a single floppy disk that loads into RAM.  Since it does not occupy nor run on the hard disk it is superb for situations where the hard disk will be modified (e.g. repartitioning).

Tom stresses that repartitioning is simple but must be done with meticulous care, since everything else depends on it.  Like ignoring a crack in the foundation of a house, partition table errors may not become apparent for a long time, when it will be difficult or impossible to correct.

Nancy will be using her system primarily with Windows, so Tom recommends that her data partition use FAT32   From the compoent catalog that Tom prepared for her computer, Nancy knows that her hard disk has 1661 cylinders.

1. 0001-0501 Windows FAT32 bootable
2. 0502-1002 linux ext2 bootable
3. 1003-1011 linux swap
4. 1012-1661 data FAT32

1. 0001-0262 Windows FAT32 bootable
2. 0263-0525 linux ext2 bootable
3. 0526-0779 linux swap
4. 0780-0787 data ext2

1. Insert the tomsrtbt disk and restart the computer.
2. Read the fdisk instructions and list of known partition types

bash> /bin/fdisk
fdisk> m
fdisk> l
3. Read and record the partition table

(After fips, her disk has two partitions.)
fdisk> p
4. Since her disk has more than 1024 cylinders, update the cylinder count known to fdisk with an advanced command

fdisk> x
fdisk expert> c 1661
fdisk expert> r
5. Delete the 2nd partition which was created by fips.

fdisk> d
... partition[1-2]? 2
6. Add the new 2nd partition for linux

fdisk> n
... partition ...? 2
... extended ... primary ... type? p
... start ...? 502
... end ...? 1002
7. Add the new 3rd partition for swap

fdisk> n
... partition ...? 3
... extended ... primary ... type? p
... start ...? 1003
... end ...? 1011
8. Add the new 4th partition for data

fdisk> n
... partition ...? 4
... extended ... primary ... type? p
... start ...? 1012
... end ...? 1661
9. Reprint the partition table and check carefully for errors.

(delete and add the partitions if there are any errors)
fdisk> p
10. Set the type (filesystem to be used) on each partition.

fdisk> t
... partition ...? 2
... type ...? 83
fdisk> t
... partition ...? 3
... type ...? 82
fdisk> t
... partition ...? 4
... type ...? 0c
11. Record and repriint the partition table and check carefully for errors.
12. If unsatisfied quit.

fdisk> q
13. If satisfied, write the partition table.

fdisk> w

Disk /dev/hda: 255 heads, 63 sectors, 1661 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16085 * 512 bytes

   Drive  Boot  Start  End  Blocks         Id   System
/dev/hda1 *        1     501  402451+ 0c  Win95 FAT32 (LBA)
/dev/hda2        502  1002  402482  83 Linux Native
/dev/hda3       1003  1011  72292     82 Linux Swap
/dev/hda4       1012  1661  5221125 83 Linux Native

Format

Tom warns that Formatting is the only operation that is neither idempotent nor reversible.  The tool provided by the intended operating system should be used to format the partitions intended for that partition.  Use format under Windows to format FAT32 partitions.  Use

   Nancy formats the data partition under Windows.

1. Restart the computer in Windows
2. Format the partition

[[My Computer]] {(D:)} [Format ...] [Format type\Full] [Start]

1. Insert the tomsrtbt disk and restart
2. Check for bad blocks and format the linux partition.

bash> mke2fs -c /dev/hda2
3. Check the filesystem

bash> e2fsck /dev/hda2
4. Check for bad blocks and make the swap file system

bash> mkswap -c /dev/hda3

1. Insert the tomsrtbt disk and restart
2. Check for bad blocks and format the linux partition.

bash> mke2fs -c /dev/hda2
3. Check the filesystem

bash> e2fsck /dev/hda2
4. Check for bad blocks and make the swap file system

bash> mkswap -c /dev/hda3
5. Check for bad blocks and make the data partition

bash> mke2fs -c /dev/hda4
6. Check the filesystem

bash> e2fsck /dev/hda2

Initial Program Load

Though linux is available at no cost,Tom recommends purchasing a distribution with hardcopy instructions and support tools..  The price of a good distribution is well worth it.  In Tom's opinion, asking friends is the best way to choose a linux distribution.  A distribution that satisfies your friends with similar interests will probably satisfy you.

Tom knows that Nancy got a newly released graphics card with which he has no experience.  He warns Nancy that the X configuration may not work.  When she calls him, he uses the expert options of yast which tell him that though her card is not listed by manufacturer and model it used the mach64 X server.  Now familiar with yast, Nancy installs the mach64 x server and removes the svga X server.  Tom stays to talk Nancy through X installation.  Nancy's monitor is not named in the configuration list, but with the model known from the catalog, a quick visit to the manufacturer's website provides the scan rate limits.

Tom knows that the configurability of linux frightens many new users and so he has often recommended RedHat to first-time users because of its commercial technical support and default configuration settings.  He lets Nancy know that though she should try to consider each question before answering, she need fear a mistake because she can reverse almost any configuration decision later.   Most packages managment tools offer to load and save configurations files (e.g. /etc/linuxrc).

• Keep a list of the configuration questions and each answer to them.
• When in doubt, add a package to linux, and note that it was in doubt.
• A month after installation, go back and remove any packages that you haven't used, and log the removal.
• Expect to discover some linux configuration errors by loss.
• Change the linux configuration when you find that it is different from your desires.
• When in doubt, do not add a package to Windows.

• Set the hardware clock to local time.
• Windows displays time, timestamps file operations, and synchronizes with the netowrk from the same clock.
• Linux uses separate clocks for each of these.  On a linux only system, the hardware clock is usually set to UTC (Universal Time Coordinate), the network standard.  The network and file operations clock are usually just views of the hardware clock by linux.  For display, linux usually shifts the hardware clock according to the timezone and date.
• Since Windows supports only one clock, you must decide (unless you live in Greenwich England) whether to set the hardware clock to local time or UTC.
• If you use UTC, you will have to mentally convert the time displayed by Windows to local time.
• If you use local time, some network activity may become confused.  International email problems are most commonly reported.  Mail sent from Berlin at 1300 local time may be stored a second later in New York at 1200 UTC where it awaits a channel to its San Francisco destination.  To save space, the New York host may delete mail that could not be sent in a reasonable time of 30min.  If the Berlin mail was unclear that ti was sent at 1300 Berlin time, or if the New York host is unwilling to do the conversion, the email may be lost as undliverable after 1 hour (1300 - 1200).

1. Nancy makes sure she has the catalog (and Tom's phone number) handy.
2. She inserts the SuSE  CDROM and reboots the computer.

She selects installation options (English, Color, ...)
3. She examines the hardware detected for her system and confirms that it matches her own catalog.

Both the hard disk and CD-RW were detected.
Both the sound and graphics cards were detected.
Both the PCI and USB buses were detected.
4. Following the instructions from SuSE, she starts YaST, the system configuration tool.
5. Already partitions, Nancy declines YaST's offer to repartition her disk.
6. Already formatted by Windows, Nancy declines YaST's offer to format her Window's partitions.
7. Though already formatted, Nancy accepts the offer to reformat her swap and linux partitions.
8. Set the mount points for the partitions.

[CREATING FILESYSTEMS]
/dev/hda1     no    vfat /WinC Win95 FAT32
/dev/hda2 ... check ext2 /     Linux
/dev/hda4     no    vfat /WinD Win95 FAT32
9. Nancy now selects the packages she wants.
1. Nancy includes the nonstandard packages that she knows she wants (e.g. CD writing).
2. Nancy excludes the standard packages that she knows she doesn't want (e.g. tape drive support).
3. Nancy selects packagas for her specific hardware (e.g. X server) using her catalog.
4. She indicates that the hardware clock is set to local time.
10. Nancy saves a copy of her configuration and puts in her log.

Table of Contents 

Boot Manager Load

Before installing a boot manager, Tom recommends that Nancy and Lisa make a boot disk (and master boot record backup).  He also recommends that each test their boot disks before installing the boot manager.  This is done so that the computer can be booted and the master boot record restored to the hard disk if the boot manager installation fails

Because of its configurability and robustness, Tom recommends lilo to most users..  Most linux distributions support multiple linux versions on the same partition.  This means that you can install and test an upgrade to the operating system without the trouble of a lengthy reinstallation.  When  the upgrade is satisfactory (or not) you can remove versions no longer useful.

During installation, SuSE offers to make a boot disk, and master boot record backup, before installing lilo.

1. Create a rescue floppy.

[CREATE A BOOT DISK?/YES]
2. Nancy write-protects the disk and puts in her log.
3. Nancy installs lilo

[LILO INSTALLATION ...]
Windows /dev/hda1
SuSE    /dev/hda2 /boot/vmlinuz

Table of Contents 

Mount

Table of Contents 

Choices

Architecture

Separate for  linux and Windows	Shared by  linux and Windows	Support	Pros	Cons
	address space	Not Supported.  Windows must be the only operating system in its partition.
address space	partition	Not covered by this HOWTO.  VMWare under Windows	No need to disturb the current configuration.  Linux can be loaded on the emulated system.	linux is slow.
address space	partition	Not covered by this HOWTO.  VMWare under linux	No need to disturb the current configuration.  (unverified) Windows can be loaded on the emulated system.	Windows is slow
address space	partition	Not covered by this HOWTO.  DosLinux	No need to disturb the current configuration.
address space	partition	Not covered by this HOWTO.  Armed distribution (unverified)	No need to disturb the current configuration.
partition	disk	Windows requires that Windows reside in the first primary partition	Works with standard mail-order home computers from the major dealers.	Requires more installation effort.
disk	host		Minimizes risk to existing system and data.  Requires less installation effort.	Normally requires a second computer and extra disks.
host	network	Not covered by this HOWTO.  Classes, books, and online help is readily available.	Minimizes installation effort.	Requires at least two computers equipped with network interface cards.  Data is not directly available to the other operating system.

Table of Contents 

Filesystems

Table of Contents 

Linux Distribution

Table of Contents 

Backup Tools

Table of Contents 

Compaction Tools

Table of Contents 

Repartitioning Tools

Table of Contents 

Formatting Tools

Table of Contents 

Boot Managers

Table of Contents 

Actual Experiences

Adding linux to New Computer Preloaded with Windows 98

The following is an extract from Nancy's log.  Identidation numbers have been changed and some irrelevant data has been removed.  Most of the data came from the invoice that accomapanied the computer and the specifications [Start\Run...\] Open: c:\DELL\DOCS\EDOCS.EXE [OK] that were provided on the computer.

Configuration

Hardware

Bios

Firmware

Software

Appendices

Frequently Asked Questions

After running fips, why does Windows report that I still have only one partition?

Why does my tool report an error that physical length does not match the logical length of the partition?

The severity of this message is dependent on the size of the disk.  Due to historical limitations, most (but not all) computer BIOSs only support disks with less than 1024 cylinders.  Booting the operating system depends on the bios, therefore (on such systems), the entire operating system must fit within this 1024 cylinders..  For the same historical reasons, the partition table format only supports reporting disk sizes of 1024 or less cylinders.  Many disks today have more than 1024 physical cylinders but by convention the partition table records exactly 1024 cylinders.  The operating system still needs to know where the actual partitions begin an end beyond the first 1024 cylinders and this is recorded in the partition table.

A large disk with more than 1024 cylinders will have a logical size (sum of partition sizes) that exceeds 1024 and matches the actual size, though the partition table reports a physical size of exactly 1024 cylinders.  In the case of a large disk, this message is essentially useless.

How do I know what version of Windows I have?

• C:\>ver
• {My Compuer} [Properties] [General]
• [Start] [Run...] Open: command [OK]
• [Start\Run...] Open: ver [OK]
• [Start\Run...] Open: cmd ver [OK]

How do I know what version of linux kernel I have?

How do I know what version of linux distribution I have?

Most distributions are loosely classed by the package manager that they use.

• pkgtool - slackware
• rpm - RedHat

If I make a mistake can I start over?

Formatting is especially dangerous because it is neither idempotent nor reversible.  If formatting succeeds, the original data is lost.  If formatting fails, the original data is probably lost (since indices are usually destroyed early).
 

Operation	Idempotent	Reversible	Inverse Operation	Caveat
Backup	Yes	Yes	Destroy the backup	Try reading the backup lest it be corrupt
Catalog	Yes	Yes	Destroy the catalog	Record too many details since only 1-10% will ever be used, though it is hard to predict which 1-10%.
Attach	No	Yes	Disattach the devices	Use electrostatic protection and personal safety procedures lest the delicate components or yuurself be damaged physically.
Compact	Yes	No		Repair filesystem errors before compacting, since recovery will probably be impossible after compacting.
Repartition	Yes	Yes	Record the starting table  Reenter the recorded starting table	Carefully check the partitioning before using the computer, since applications will believe the partition table and may destroy files.  A small error in partition borders or lengths may cause infrequent disk errors that are not seen for months, but can become very time-consuming.
Format	No	No		All data in the partition is destroyed so make sure that there is no useful information in the partition and/or that the data is in a good backup.
Initial Program Load	Yes	Yes	Format the partition	Carefully record, test, and expect to change the configuration of linux as your understanding, needs, and desires change.  As you use your computer, you can expect to quickly find that you wish you'd made different configuration decisions.  Most linux distributions allow easy reconfiguration of a running system.
Boot Manager	Yes	No		Windows installation overwrites the boot manager with one that loads Windows automatically.  If you isntall Windows+linux, you must installl Windows first.
Mount	Yes	Yes	Unmount	Care with permissions is needed to prevent undesired use of the computer (e.g. openning your telephone to anyone on your cable modem network may tend to increase your phone bills.).

 

How large should my swap partition be?

Should I add package xxx?

Most linux distributions allow you to cleanly remove any package.  unix dialects support permissions so that each package gets a well defined share of the computer and this share can be identified and taken back in its entirety.  unix dialects support symbolic links so that the package can appear to be in a convenient place without actually occupying space from the convenient place.  The distributions that do not support easy removal are usually tiny specialized distributions like tomsrtbt.  The risk that an unwanted  package will plague your linux indefinitely is small since you can remove it at any time.

Most Windows packages can never be uninstalled cleanly under Windows, as they usually leave dll updates and registry entries.  It is therefore important to add packages only when you are sure that you need them, since your only way of removing them may be to reinstall Windows and every package that you want.

Sharing a machine between Windows and linux, means that linux can aid clean removal of packages from Windows.  Since it only identifies but does not predict, linux cannot insure clean removal.  Since linux find resolves to the second rather than Windows find to the day, it can much more accurately identify what was changed.

1. Record the date and time before you install a package to Windows.
2. Install the package.
3. Record the date and time after you install the package.
4. Under linux, use touch to create a file timestamped at the start of installation.
5. Under linux, use touch to create a file timestamped at the end of installation.
6. Under linux, use find to identify every Windows file and folder that was altered during installation.
7. Store the list of altered files and folders to identify what has to be removed or restored.

Caveats

Table of Contents 

Tips and Tricks

Table of Contents 

Reference

Legend

Glossary

Bios

Boot Manager

Defragmenting

Disk

Filesystems

Format

Formatting

Master Boot Record

At power up, cold boot, or warm boot, the bios searches the computer storage media until it finds a master boot record which it then executes it.  The search locations and order differ between different bioses.  Often the search order is configuratble with firmware encoded in the computer hardware with the bios. The most common search order is floppy, cdrom, network, usb disk, scsi disk, ide disk.

A more complex master boot record, called a boot manager, loads a program into memory that gives the user an opportunity to select which operating system to load.
 

Operating System

• Allocator
• Toolkit
• Virtual Machine

 Partition

Partition Table

 Repartitioning

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
|I|I|d|A|d|d|d|d|d|d|d|d|A|A|d|d|d|d|d|d|A|A|A|d|d|A| | | | |
'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
|I|I|A|A|A|A|A|A|A|d|d|d|l|l|d|d|d|d|d|d|l|l|l|d|d|l| | | | |
'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
|I|I|A|A|A|A|A|A|A|d|
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
|d|d|l|l|d|d|d|d|d|d|l|l|l|d|d|l| | | | |
'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
|I|I|A|A|A|A|A|A|A|d|
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
|d|d|l|l|d|d|d|d|d|d|
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
|l|l|l|d|d|l| | | | |
'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
|I|I|A|A|A|A|A|A|A|d|
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
|N| |N| | | | | | | |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
|V|V|V| | | | | | | |
'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'

Splitting

Winmodem

By analogy low-cost headlights for an automobile might consist of a flashlight atop a battery tray that sits in the front passenger seat.  To use the headlights, you must start the car, remove the battery from the car, and install the car battery in the flashlight tray.  The headlight cost is reduced by the cost of the solenoid, dashboard switch,  wiring, and fuses.  If you use the headlights, the limitations mean that you can't carry a front passenger, you can't restart the car, you can't use the car radio, and the fuel guage reads empty.

Winmodems are distinct from the slightly larger class of these low-cost devices by the fact that they use proprietary firmware included in the Windows operating system.  In the United States, it is illegal to sell firmware to use this proprietary firmware without Microsoft consent.  At press time, the price of Microsoft consent is only slightly less than the cost of a convential device.

Table of Contents 

Bibliography

This HOWTO

Copyright

Copyright (c) 1999 by Dr. Robert J. Meier. This document may be distributed only subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the LDP License, except that this document must not be distributed in modified form without the author's consent.

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Mere aggregation of LDP documents with other documents or programs on the same media shall not cause this license to apply to those other works.

All translations, derivative documents, or modified documents that incorporate any LDP document may not have more restrictive license terms than these, except that you may require distributors to make the resulting document available in source format.

LDP documents are available in source format via the LDP home page at http://sunsite.unc.edu/LDP/.

Submission of Errors, Omissions, and Modifications

Future Work

• Split out maintenance record format as separate HOWTO.
• Write Open Software Distribution Standard as HOWTO and reference.

Revision History