-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 On Sunday 23 February 2003 8:58 pm, Simon Durston wrote:

Hi all

I'm new to Linux (windows flunky trying to learn a real OS) so sorry if this question sounds daft or if it is the wrong mailing list.

I am currently trying to install 8.1 onto a P2 300, 256MB RAM, 3COM NIC with two 60GB HDD's running off a promise fast trak 2000 raid controller in a mirror configuration, the box's job will be the office mail server running sendmail. Running the install is fine as is loading the promise kernel module. I start having problems after the first disk has finished installing a pop up appears saying that the YaST module has failed to install and then the install does not install the other modules off the other CD's. The CD's are brand new with no scratches and I have only used them a couple of times before on a test install that went through fine. Below is a list of packages in trying to install and partion sizes.

Minimal Install with Pine, Pico, Sendmail, ftpd, ftp, php, perl, squirrel mail, open ssh.

/boot = 200MB / = 2GB swap = 1GB /usr = 20GB /var = 12GB /home = 20GB

My question is, is there anything obvious that I'm doing wrong that would cause the issues that I'm having.

Cheers

Simon

I have found, through others suggestions, that instead of makingh the /usr dir, it may be preferable to make it /usr/local/ . Many third party packages such as YaNC (Yet another Nvidia Configurator) and Xine/Mplayer, or other packages, espeically games such as Tribes2/Q2A, etc.. install in the /usr/local directory. The reason for doing this is if you have to reinstall and the OS, and in that case re-format the partition you won't lose the programs in that partition. Unlike windows where the configuration of all the programs are kept in a registry file (or a couple of them in some cases - but usually a master reg file) and you have to repartition the C drive to reinstall Windblows you'll lose the reg file and all the program settings. In Linux, however, most programs have their own config files in their directory in plain text (nice when you want to edit them :) ), with the expection of some base system files in the /etc dir which will be lost, but rebuilt with litte or no effect at all to the aforementioned programs (providing stuff like the X86Config is setup the same, as well as other system fies). If your using a large HDD (say 60 or 80+ GB) you can go a step further and segregate many of the sub dirs. Such as /usr, /opt, and so forth. My present setup is as such. /dev/hda1=/windows/C and the windows partition span to HDDs such as /dev/hda5=D, hda6=E, hdb5=F, hdb6=G, hdb7=H, hdb8=I, hdb9=J, hde5=K,hde6=L, hde7=M. While the Linux partitions are /dev/hdb11=/boot 86.2MB with 49.1 MB free/46% used. /dev/hdb12 / <root> (which incl /usr)[not the /root], at 8.0 GB with 4.3 GB free/45% used. /dev/hdb13 /usr/local/ at 9.8 GB with 3.5 GB free/64% used. /dev/hde1 /home at 4.8 GB with 2.9 free/39.3% used /dev/hdb10 /swap at 1 GB (I have 512MB ram so I dbl'ed the swap according). Now realize that I have plenty of room for 3rd party apps in /usr/local and won't lose them. My /home dir is about 1/2 used and this is good should I load up on MP3s, Wine/WineX games (which can now be individual assign, again, to /usr/local with the help of a few 3rd party apps for wine/winex) or what ever I might load into my /home dir. If your more interested in a file server, or data base then you would partition accordingingly. The thing about this is to figure out how you plan to use you Linux box and partition according. Taking into consideration about preserving certain partition by segragating them from root or usr and the size that your specific partitions will need as well. Mind you it is important to write down these partition in the event that you have to reformat the /root /boot/ partition so you can avoid formatting the /usr/local, /home, or whatever by accident and lose your data/programs. Linux is focused on flexibility and is very easy to tailor to your specific needs once you get familiar with it. I should also mention, that if your a newbie to the Penguin as I as not to long ago that you may likely do like I have by experimenting or goofing and hose your system - hence the precautions related to protecting certain programs/directorys by segragation. It takes a little fore thought and time to get the hang of it. The learning curve can be a few months to a year or two depending on your background. Forgive me if I seem to be stating things either to simplicity or complexly, since I don't know your experience level with computers. :) And lastly, given your system is a P2 300, it might help to install in the text mode. This conserves some memory and lessens the processor resources used to generate the nice and pretty graphics of the gui installer. The text/manual mode uses "ncurse" so it is graphical -but basic in terms of eye candy. HTH, Curtis -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.0.7 (GNU/Linux) iD8DBQE+WZhO7WVLiDrqeksRAnUSAKCqrYyjFxd8hHoMiPHD4nFxx5HesQCfZGQW oSgxtlGPB5H7/SNHn5bbTGg= =IpjR -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----