Quick Linux Question

mag

Im hopefully going to install a Linux distro on an old p2 thats lying about here.

The problem is though that the ide busses seem to be a bit shagged or something. The secondary ide channel wont see anything , whereas the first ide channel will only recognise one device at a time. Ive tried different cables, bios settings, etc...

Windos 98 is installed on this machine already, so my question is -

Is there a way to install Linux without going through the cd-rom route. For the reasons ive mentioned above the installing from cd-rom isnt a option. Can any of the installations be run directly from Windows ?

I tried unpacking a linux installation iso to a directory & then booting into dos at startup & running form there but no joy.

Any ideas ?

Thanks.

tomk

If your box has an internet connection, you can probably install Debian using boot floppies. Probably, because if you're using a modem, and it's a Winmodem, you're most likely out of luck. Best scenario - connect via a NIC to a network that has internet access. Next best - connect via an external serial modem - most of them work.

After doing a lot of reading here, download your floppy images here, and you're away. If you're on a slow connection, it may take a while.

You didn't say if this is your first Linux install or not. It has been said that Debian is not the best distro for newbies, but I think it all depends on your point of view. I've only ever used Debian, and I've made plenty of mistakes, but you learn a lot that way. I don't know if any of the other distros can be installed without a CD-ROM - someone else here may have some relevant experience.

mag

Originally posted by tomk
If your box has an internet connection, you can probably install Debian using boot floppies. Probably, because if you're using a modem, and it's a Winmodem, you're most likely out of luck. Best scenario - connect via a NIC to a network that has internet access. Next best - connect via an external serial modem - most of them work.

After doing a lot of reading here, download your floppy images here, and you're away. If you're on a slow connection, it may take a while.

You didn't say if this is your first Linux install or not. It has been said that Debian is not the best distro for newbies, but I think it all depends on your point of view. I've only ever used Debian, and I've made plenty of mistakes, but you learn a lot that way. I don't know if any of the other distros can be installed without a CD-ROM - someone else here may have some relevant experience.

Cheers Tom,

I did have red hat 7 on a machine a couple of years back but it got wiped & i never bothered again until now. Im definatley a newbie/novice though.

The machine in question is networked on a lan though, so would it be possible to install that way ?

I think i really want to try, if possible, to use RH or Mandrake caus e of the user friendliness & maybe climb the learning curve later

Thanks for your help.

tomk

As long as your LAN has internet access, you should be fine. The install procedure will take you through configuring your NIC etc.

Re Red Hat or Mandrake, I've just done some quick googling for "Red Hat net install" and Mandrake net install", and both seem to be possible - try their websites for more info.

mag

Thanks a lot Tom, ill give it a go

rob1891

edit: if you don't have broadband, installing over the net could take a bit too long, so I offer this! :

edit2: there are a million ways of doing this if your machine is networked, one nice way might be to set up an ftp server on one of your other machines, copy the redhat install tree (all the cds) onto the ftp server, point the install program to ftp server & directory and walla!

You can install redhat from a fat/fat32 partition afaik. You'll need to take your disk and drop it a machine that does have a cdrom, copy the installation disks into a folder on the drive, maintain the file structure, i.e. copy cd1 into c:\redhat, copy cd2 into the same c:\redhat etc etc.

Once they are there, drop the hdd back into the knackered computer, boot off floppy follow the install instructions, there should be a point where you choose what media to install from, ftp/cd/nfs/disk, you'll need to read up on the process yourself, but I think it is fairly trivial to select a fat partition and choose the directory.

Obviously you need to keep your windows partition in this senario, and have enough diskspace on the drive.

Rob

vibe666

If it's on a LAN and you have enough HD space, why not just copy the contents of the CD across onto the PC in question and run the installer straight from the HD. you might have to re-partition it first but other than that there shouldn't be a problem.

you could put Linux in one of the other machiens CDROM drive and share it, then you just need to drop to DOS and map the drive locally and install from there.

mag

Originally posted by rob1891
edit: if you don't have broadband, installing over the net could take a bit too long, so I offer this! :

edit2: there are a million ways of doing this if your machine is networked, one nice way might be to set up an ftp server on one of your other machines, copy the redhat install tree (all the cds) onto the ftp server, point the install program to ftp server & directory and walla!

You can install redhat from a fat/fat32 partition afaik. You'll need to take your disk and drop it a machine that does have a cdrom, copy the installation disks into a folder on the drive, maintain the file structure, i.e. copy cd1 into c:\redhat, copy cd2 into the same c:\redhat etc etc.

Once they are there, drop the hdd back into the knackered computer, boot off floppy follow the install instructions, there should be a point where you choose what media to install from, ftp/cd/nfs/disk, you'll need to read up on the process yourself, but I think it is fairly trivial to select a fat partition and choose the directory.

Obviously you need to keep your windows partition in this senario, and have enough diskspace on the drive.

Rob

I tried this exact method with the latest Mandrake & it wouldnt install because it said something like - not enough memory, installation from windows requires more memory - or something. The machine has 64mb ram, which i would have imagined would be sufficient ?

mag

Originally posted by vibe666


you could put Linux in one of the other machiens CDROM drive and share it, then you just need to drop to DOS and map the drive locally and install from there.

As i say i have got the machine networked, its got win98 at the moment. While in windows i can see the cd drives in the other machines but not in dos. How do i map the cd drives in the network machines so that i can them in dos ? I think this would be the answer if i could do this.

Thanks for your help.

echomadman

this is a pretty good network boot floppy,
i use it for instaling OS's on small form factor machines here that have no cd-rom drives.
http://members.iinet.net.au/~bdriver/bootdisk/

mag

Originally posted by echomadman
this is a pretty good network boot floppy,
i use it for instaling OS's on small form factor machines here that have no cd-rom drives.
http://members.iinet.net.au/~bdriver/bootdisk/

This looks promising.

Now, next question

If and when i get this up and running what i want to do on this macine is set up a webserver - im thinking Apache as it seems to be the standard. Also a mailserver, ive been recommended squirrelmail w/apache for this.

I just want to install a basic Linux distro for these options only. Im thinking that RH or Mandrake may be a bit bloated for this. the only reason im considering them at all is for ease of use cause im a newbie of sorts. I looked at Suse but the free version doesnt include Apache, although i suppose that could be installed seperatley. Im kinda looking for the easiest option

Any thoughts recommendations ?

Thanks.