Knowledge Base / Solutions


Feel free to submit solutions to my email address (bigmike160 <at> yahoo.com).

Installation

Get Debian on a machine with ethernet access

NOTE: I have not tried out the new beta installation CDs, but they are supposed to be good. The following principles apply to installation with the older CDs.

Make a Knoppix CD and boot from it.

Run 'lsmod' and save the information. This will be the list of modules you'll probably need.

If you the GUI loads successfully during Knoppix, save the information contained in the '/etc/X11/XF86Config-4' file. You'll probably want to use it later.

Make a net-install CD from any of the sites listed at http://www.debian.org/CD/netinst/.

Think about how you want to have your partitions set up. I usually have a /boot partition that is shared by all of my Linux distros, a /stuff partition (which is completely optional and non-standard by the way) to keep my junk in, and a partition for each distro. Don't forget the swap partition. If you don't have a /stuff partition, you might want to think about a separate /home partition, possibly.

Boot from the install CD after connecting your ethernet card.

On the first boot menu that comes up, enter in 'bf24'. This will install the Linux 2.4 kernel.

Go through the installation process.

When you get to the part where you have to load modules, consult the list of modules that you made earlier and load each one on the list.

Continue on. I can't think of anything more to add. Come back later. ;^)

Configuration

Debian: If you want to use a mix of testing and unstable packages on the same machine

Put the following in a new file called '/etc/apt/apt.conf.d/98local':

// Set up my preferences for mixed distro system
APT::Default-Release "testing";

Edit your '/etc/apt/sources.list' file and put all of your unstable and testing sources in there.

Hardware-specific (machine testimonials)

My Dell Inspiron 1100

First of all, check out http://geocities.com/randomnumbergenerator2001/.

The main deficiency the site has at the moment is that the section on getting X working wasn't specific enough about several steps.

It mentions "Debian Experimental". This is a package repository that is mirrored just like the Stable/Testing/Unstable repositories. To use it, search for 'Debian Experimental' on google or something.

More specifics will be given once I review an email sent out about it.

Just for fun

I want to play these cool DVDs and movies! What do I use?

I recommend the use of 'MPlayer'. To get it, check out the website ftp://ftp.nerim.net/debian-marillat/index.html. If the link doesn't work, try googling for 'unofficial debian mplayer package'.

Installation instructions are found on that page.


[Back to top of BCLUG] [Back to top of Mike's site]