Mandrake-Linux Installation

1
Chapter

• Mandrake-Linux Installation

2
Acknowledgements

• Thanks to Darrin Morrison for his contribution in
  creating this presentation

3
Chapter Objectives

• Demonstrate a basic Mandrake-Linux installation
  on a PC.
• Show how to install an RPM package using
  Kpackage, the KDE X-Windows RPM installer

4
Chapter Modules

• Mandrake Linux installation
• RPM package installation

5
Module

• Mandrake-Linux Installation

6
Pre-installation Considerations

• Hardware compatibility
• Documenting your hardware
• Hard disk preparation
• BIOS configuration

7
Hardware Compatibility Issues

• Win modems are not currently supported
• USB support is somewhat limited but improving
• Some ISA Plug n Play devices continue to cause
  problems in Linux

8
Collecting Hardware Information

• Document all your hardware properties
  (manufacturer, model etc.) using both the
  documentation from the manufacturer and the
  windows device manager.
• The latter require a previous Windows
  installation
• To view hardware in Windows, right-click on the
  My Computer icon, choose Properties, select the
  Devices Manager tab then select view.

9
Obtaining Device Properties in Windows
My Computer
Properties
Device Manager
10
Hardware Details on Device Manager
11
Windows Device Manager
(source http// www.linux-mandrake.com)

• Click on Plug and Play BIOS, PCI bus, PCI
  standard
• ISA bridge to view ISA devices and their
  properties

12
Locating the Resource Assignments

• You will have to write down the base address(es)
  (Input/output range) used, together with the
  IRQ(s) for ISA and PCI devices. Also write down
  the DMA channel(s) used for the sound cards.

13
Configuring the BIOS

• Your must configure your BIOS to initialize plug
  n play devices instead of your Windows 9x OS.
  Changing your BIOS settings is usually performed
  by pushing the del just after the computer is
  turned on. In the BIOS setup look for the option
  Plug n Play OS installed set this to NO.
• If your BIOS can boot up from CDROM and you want
  to perform a standard installation of
  Linux-Mandrake (not using Lnx4Win), you can also
  set your BIOS to boot from the CDROM before
  searching the hard disk. Look for Boot sequence
  in the BIOS features setup.

14
Installation from the CD-ROM( using
Mandrake-Linux DrakX )

• Place Linux CD in the CDROM drive and restart the
  computer. Rremember to boot to CDROM by changing
  boot sequence in your BIOS setup. Your computer
  should boot to the following screen.

15
DrakX GUI Installation
This is the initial Mandrake-Linux DrakX
graphical user interface installation screen
(source http// www.linux-mandrake.com)

• Select English (US) and click on OK

16
Automated Installation Class
Completed tasks are in green.
Tasks yet to be completed are in red.
(source http// www.linux-mandrake.com)

• Choose the Automated installation then Click on
  the Install Button.

17
Hard Drive and PCI SCSI card detection
(source http// www.linux-mandrake.com)

• DrakX will automatically detect all hard drives
  and PCI SCSI controllers on your system

18
Keyboard Configuration
(source http// www.linux-mandrake.com)

• DrakX will normally have your keyboard selected
  if it is not highlight your keyboard and click on
  OK

19
Selecting Mount Points

• You need to specify where the various partitions
  on the hard disks will be mounted.
• In automated mode you normally will not have to
  do anything.
• The Linux partitions are displayed in red. You
  should also have a green one for swap. You may
  not have any swap partition at all, but it is
  highly recommended that you have one. (100MB swap
  partition is recommended).
• To mount a partition you just have to select the
  (red) partition you want with a mouse click a
  menu will then appear in the window on the right,
  in which you will select mount point. The window
  which appears then will ask you where you want to
  mount it, and proposes / (root) as a default,
  which is what you want. If you want to have
  several mount points, you just have to repeat the
  operation.

20
Hard Disk Partition Details
(source http// www.linux-mandrake.com)
21
Multiple CDROM Installation
(source http// www.linux-mandrake.com)

• Because the Mandrake-Linux distribution is
  getting bigger and bigger it spans several CDs.
  If packages have been selected that reside on
  other CDs DrakX will eject the current CD and
  prompt you to insert the specified CD and then
  click on OK.

22
Time Zone Configuration
(source http// www.linux-mandrake.com)

• Choose the correct time zone for your area by
  highlighting it and then click on OK.

23
Printer Configuration
(source http// www.linux-mandrake.com)

• If you have a printer attached to your machine
  and you would like to install and configure it
  now click on OK. You may choose NO and install a
  printer at a later time.

24
Local Printer Configuration
(source http// www.linux-mandrake.com)

• There are several ways you configure a printer in
  Linux. You can configure it as a Local printer
  (physically attached to your machine), a printer
  served by a UNIX machine, a printer served by a
  Windows machine (9x or NT) or a printer served by
  a NetWare machine. This will demonstrate the
  configuration of a Local printer therefore click
  on the Local button.

25
Local Printer Configuration
(source http// www.linux-mandrake.com)

• If you have a local printer, DrakX will try to
  detect the make and model modern printers
  support this feature. If it does not succeed, it
  will then ask you what port your printer is
  connected to. If you only have one printer, you
  should choose /dev/lp0 (the first parallel port
  or LPT1 under Windows) Then click on OK.

26
Configuring the Printer Driver
(source http// www.linux-mandrake.com)

• Next you must select the correct printer driver
  for your specific printer. If you see no precise
  reference to your printer in the list of drivers
  which DrakX offers you, choose the most similar
  driver. A balloon help will appear when the mouse
  is over the name of a filter, which describes the
  printers supported by these drivers, along with,
  if any, its limitations. This can help you in
  choosing the driver. Various options for
  configuring the driver you have chosen will then
  follow.

27
Printer Driver Options
(source http// www.linux-mandrake.com)

• Choose paper size (the standard is A4).
• Eject after last page is usually for older
  printers that didnt eject the last printed page.
  You usually wont need this.
• Stair-stepping is usually not an issue you can
  choose no.
• Finally choose the resolution for your printer if
  you arent sure consult your printer
  documentation. Click on OK.

28
Setting Root Password

• This is the most crucial point for the security
  of your Linux system you are going to have to
  enter the root password. root is the system
  administrator and is the only one authorized to
  make updates, add users, change the overall
  system configuration etc. Choose an Alpha-Numeric
  Password that is difficult for others to guess.
  DrakX will tell you if it is too easy. As shown,
  you can choose not to enter a password, but we
  strongly advise you to enter one! Would it be
  only for this reason do not think that because
  you booted Linux, your other operating systems
  are safe. That's even the opposite root can
  overcome all limitations and erase all data on
  partitions by accessing the partitions
  themselves!

29
Setting Root Password
(source http// www.linux-mandrake.com)

• You will have to type the password twice -- a
  typing error in the first attempt could be a
  problem if you do not repeat it when you connect
  up to the system...
• YOU MUST REMEMBER THIS PASSWORD! If you forget
  the root password you will be unable to
  administer the system. Therefore, commit the root
  password to memory.

30
Creating a User Name for the Administrator

• Linux is a multi-user system, and this means that
  each user can have his own preferences, his own
  files and so on. You can read the User Guide to
  learn more. But unlike root, which is the
  administrator, the users which you will add here
  will not be entitled to change anything, except
  their own files and their own configuration. You
  will have to create at least one other user name
  for yourself, and that is where you have to
  begin, although it is very practical to log in as
  root everyday, it is also very dangerous! The
  slightest mistake could mean that your system
  would not work any more.

31
Adding Users

• First you have to enter your real user name. You
  can enter what you want. DrakX will then take the
  first word you have entered in the box and will
  bring it over to the User name. This is the name
  that this particular user will use to log into
  the system. You can of course change it. You then
  have to enter a password here. Of course, a
  non-privileged user's password is not as crucial
  as that of root from a security point of view,
  but that is no reason to neglect it -- after all,
  it's your files...

32
Adding Users (cont.)
(source http// www.linux-mandrake.com)

• If you click on Accept user, you can then add
  another, and as many as you want. When you have
  added all the users you want, select Done.

33
CDROM Rescue Mode

• The Linux-Mandrake CDROM has a built-in rescue
  mode. You can access it by booting from the
  CDROM, press the F1 key at boot and type rescue
  at the prompt. But in case your computer cannot
  boot from the CDROM, you should create a Rescue
  Boot Disk.

34
Creating a Rescue Boot Disk
(source http// www.linux-mandrake.com)

• When you click on this step, you will be asked in
  which floppy drive you will put the floppy disk.
  Unless you have several floppy drives, choose the
  first one. Then insert the disk. Of course, the
  floppy disk that you will insert must be empty or
  must only contain data which you do not need. You
  will not have to format it DrakX will rewrite
  the whole disk.

35
Installing a Boot Loader

• Grub is a boot loader for Linux. This stage is
  normally totally automated. In fact, DrakX will
  analyze the disk boot sector and will act
  depending on what it finds here
• If it finds a Windows boot sector, it will
  replace it with a Grub boot sector so that you
  can start Linux or Windows
• If it finds a Grub boot sector, it will replace
  it with a new one
• If in doubt, DrakX will ask you where you want to
  install Grub.

36
Warning!

• First time installers are advised to install
  Linux in a new hard disk
• Mixing Windows and Linux on the same hard disk is
  not recommended until Linux releases improve
  coexistence with Windows

37
Installing a Boot Loader (cont.)
(source http// www.linux-mandrake.com)

• If you use another bootloader, answer First
  sector of boot partition. If you want to use Grub
  instead of your current bootloader to start the
  machine, choose First sector of drive (MBR). Note
  that, if you use another bootloader, you will
  have to configure it afterwards so that it can
  boot Linux. This is out of the scope of this
  manual.

38
Configuring X-Windows

• X (for X Window System) is the heart of the Linux
  graphical interface on which all the graphical
  user environments (KDE, GNOME, AfterStep,
  WindowMaker...) bundled with Linux-Mandrake rely.
  In this section, DrakX will try to configure X
  automatically.
• It is extremely rare for it to fail. The only
  reason for it doing so is if the hardware is very
  old. If it succeeds, it will start X
  automatically, with the best resolution possible,
  depending on the size of the monitor! A window
  will then appear and ask you if you can see it.
  (See above)

39
X-Windows (cont.)
(source http// www.linux-mandrake.com)

• If you answer Yes, DrakX will then ask you if you
  want to start X directly on bootup this will
  give you the ability to directly run the
  graphical user interface upon booting the system.

40
X-Windows (cont.)
(source http// www.linux-mandrake.com)

• The first try might not be a good one (screen is
  too small, shifted left or right...). This is
  why, even if X starts up correctly, DrakX will
  then ask you if the configuration suits you and
  it will propose to change it by displaying a list
  of valid modes it could find and then asking you
  to select one from the list.
• As a last resort, if you still cannot get X to
  work, choose Change graphics card, select
  Unlisted card, and when prompted on which server
  you want, choose FBDev this is a failsafe
  option, which works with any modern graphics
  card. Then choose Test again to be sure.

41
End of Installation

• Installation is now complete and your Linux
  system should be ready to use. You can start
  Linux or Windows, whichever you prefer, as soon
  as the computer has booted up again
• Note If you have installed on a new hard disk,
  only Linux will be available

42
End of Module
43
Module

• Installing and RPM module

44
A Note on RPM

• RPM is a (software) package management feature
• RPM is the acronym for Red Hat Package Manger
• The purpose of RPM is to simplify the
  installation of packages such as Star Office, for
  example

45
Installing an RPM with KPackage

• Kpackage is the KDE package management program.
  This is the program with which KFM associates RPM
  packages clicking on an RPM package in KFM will
  start Kpackage with this RPM, and here you will
  see the information on the package. Kpackage also
  supports Drag'n'Drop, and you can drag an RPM
  from KFM to an existing Kpackage window.
• Click on a package in KFM, drag an RPM from KFM
  to an existing Kpackage window or invoke kpackage
  ltname_of_rpmgt.rpm from the command line. You will
  then receive the information on the package

46
RPM Installation (cont.)
(source http// www.linux-mandrake.com)

• You should see the above KPackage screen
• Click on Install if you want to install it, or on
  Cancel to cancel the operation.

47
RPM Package is Installed

• At this point your RPM package should be
  installed and you can start using the installed
  software.

48
End of Module
49
Key Terms to Remember

• BIOS
• Plug n Play
• Hard drive partitions
• Hardware resources (bass addresses, IRQ, DMA)
• Installation Class
• Printer Types (Local, Network(Unix or Windows))
• Root and User setup
• RPM packages
• Servername
• Apache httpd.conf file

50
Appendix

• Key Terms, Major Linux Distributions etc.

51
Web References

• Major Linux Distributors
• X-Windows Distributors
• Apache Web Server Site

52
Major Linux OS Distributors

• Caldera OpenLinux
• Caldera OpenLinux is designed for corporate
  commercial use. Their package includes Star
  Office (personal use) and KDE. See their web site
  for other commercial packages they distribute.
• Platforms Intel only
• Kernel 2.2
• http//www.caldera.com/

53
Major Linux OS Distributors (cont.)

• Corel GNU/Linux
• Corel Linux built specifically for the
  desktop.This Debian-based operating system
  delivers a simple four-step graphical installer
  that automatically detects most PCI hardware. It
  also features a KDE-based, drag-and-drop desktop
  environment and an innovative browser-style file
  manager. The fact that Microsoft has bought an
  interest in Corel adds a new dimension to its
  product.
• http//linux.corel.com/

54
Major Linux OS Distributors (cont.)

• Debian GNU/Linux
• Debian GNU/Linux is almost unique now in that
  it has no specific commercial backer. Instead the
  Debian project is maintained by a team of
  volunteers in the same manner as the kernel and
  anyone can take the images and make Debian CD's
  freely.
• Platforms Alpha, Intel, m68k and Sparc
  (others under development) Kernel 2.0/2.2
• http//www.debian.org/

55
Major Linux OS Distributors (cont.)

• Mandrake Soft
• Mandrake Linux is targeted at both end users
  (with easy installation and internationalization)
  and cutting edge users (latest releases and
  fixes). A corporate version is also available.
• Platforms Intel, Alpha, SparcKernel 2.2
• http//www.linux-mandrake.com/en/

56
Major Linux OS Distributors (cont.)

• Red Hat Software
• Red Hat produces Linux CD distributions that
  are oriented around simple management. Being able
  to readily upgrade is also an important issue
  with Red Hat.Red Hat includes graphical and web
  based configuration tools, RPM package
  management, and extensive multi-platform support.
  It is perhaps the most popular release of Linux.
• Platforms Sparc, Intel and Alpha.
  (Unsupported PPC, ARM, m68k, SGI) Kernel 2.2
• http//www.redhat.com/

57
X-Windows Distributors

• The K Desktop Environment (KDE)
• KDE is a powerful graphical desktop
  environment for Unix workstations. It combines
  ease of use, contemporary functionality and
  outstanding graphical design with the
  technological superiority of the Unix operating
  system.
• KDE developers say that KDE is an Internet
  project and truly open in every sense.
  Development takes place on the Internet and is
  discussed on our mailing lists and USENET news
  groups to which we invite and welcome everyone.
• http//www.kde.org/

58
X-Windows Distributors (cont.)

• GNOME
• The GNOME project has built a complete free
  and easy-to-use desktop environment for the user,
  as well as a powerful application framework for
  the software developer. GNOME is part of the GNU
  project, and is free software (some times
  referred to as open source software.)
• GNOME is included in almost every BSD and
  GNU/Linux distribution and works on many other
  Unix systems.
• http//www.gnome.org/
• Major vendors such as Sun have shown interest in
  supporting this interface

59
Apache Web Server Resources

• The Apache Software Foundation
• This is the official Apache web site where
  you can find Apache Web Server documentation, the
  latest release for download, installation setup
  instructions, etc.
• http//www.apache.org/

60
END OF CHAPTER