##### REPORT ON INSTALLATION OF RULE ON DELL LAPTOP #####

Gabriel M. Beddingfield
29MAY2004

Model:  Dell Latitude LM P-100SD
Type:  Laptop
Resources:  Pentimu 100MHz / 16MB EDO / 500MB HD
OS:  RedHat 9
Status:  Success (text-mode)

SUMMARY

Since this laptop cannot boot to CD-ROM, and cannot hot swap the
floppy and CD-ROM, this was a very difficult install.  It took
me about a week to get all the methods worked out, but eventually
it ended in a success.  This computer is only capable of a text-mode
install because of the hard drive.  A GUI install will totally fill
the hard drive.  Installation was done via FTP through a
PCMCIA ethernet card.  Some things were more difficult since I'm
a Linux newbie.

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

(*) 3 floppy disks:
   (*) Slinky installer
   (*) PCMCIA disk
   (*) Slinky Disk 2
(*) Access to RedHat 9 RPMS using either:
   (-) Internet site
   (-) Local network where you've copied the CD-ROM rpms
       to an accessible location
(+) Some manner of network connection
   (I did a crossover cable from a desktop to the laptop)

FTP SETUP

I set up my desktop (running Fedora Core 2 with Gnome Desktop) 
to be the FTP server.  I intalled all the RedHat 9 RPMS into 
/import/RedHat/RPMS (according to the redhat instructions).  I 
originally set out to do an NFS install, but I couldn't make it
work.

To make the FTP work on my desktop, I did the following (though
I'm not sure if all of this is necessary.)

First, I made sure that vsftp was installed and operating.  This
is done through RedHat | System Settings | Server Settings |
Services.

In /etc/hosts I added the lines:
192.168.0.3   sisters.local	sisters
192.168.0.7   sirius.local	sirius

Running /usr/bin/system-config-network I set up an alias for my
Ethernet card.  Click the "New" button, then Ethernet connection,
Forward, select card, Forward.  Click to statically set IP
addresses.  Set Address = 192.168.0.3, subnet mask = 255.255.255.0,
and Default gateway address = 127.0.0.1.  Save your changes.

I set up /etc/hosts.allow to say:
ALL: LOCAL, 192.168.0.3, 192.168.0.7

And I set up /usr/bin/system-config-securitylevel to allow www, ftp,
ssh, telnet, and mail, and to trust sit0 and eth0.

CAVEAT EMPTOR === BUYER BEWARE:  Setting your firewall like this
makes you very vulnerable.  Be sure to set back your firewall when
you are done.  These settings basically override the firewall coming
in through the ethernet card.

You don't have to reboot -- but it's easier for me to just say:
reboot your machine.

Connect the PC and the laptop with a crossover cable.  NOT a regular
ethernet cable.

Once rebooted, run /usr/bin/system-control-network and make sure
the network connection is activated to the laptop.

LAPTOP

Boot slinky v0.3.96.
boot: linux dd updates

When the screen comes up to install, hit <Ctrl>+<Alt>+<F2>
Now hit <Enter>

Remove disk and replace with PCMCIA disk.

# mount /mnt/floppy
# /mnt/floppy/setup_pcmcia.sh
# vi /scripts/pcmcia.sh
     At about Line 36 change line to:
PCIC_OPTS=i386_base=0xfcfc

# vi /scripts/init_network.sh
     Edit the following parameters:
IPADDRESS=192.168.0.7
NETMASK=255.255.255.0
HOSTNAME=sirius
GATEWAY=192.168.0.3
NAMESERVER=192.168.0.3

...

HOST1="192.168.0.3	pleiades.local	pleiades"
HOST2="192.168.0.7	sirius.local	sirius"
HOST3=
HOST4=

# /scripts/pcmcia.sh start
    Make sure the card is found.
# ping pleiades
    Make sure the ping works.  If not, you're in trouble
# umount /mnt/floppy
# exit

Now hit <Ctrl>+<Alt>+<F1>

Answer normal questions.

!!! IMPORTANT !!!
On FTP install, be sure to add the trailing '/':
/import/RedHat/RPMS/

I with FDISK I set up my hard drive thus:

Device     Boot   Start   End   Blocks   Id   System
======     ====   =====   ===   ======   ===  ======
/dev/hda1   *     1       493   496912+  83   Linux
/dev/hda4         494     525    32256   82   Linux swap

I formatted with ext2.

Packages installed:

lang: en
laptop:  yes
network:  yes
dialup:  yes
dhcp:  yes
webtools: yes
openssh: NO
TinyX: NO
XFree: NO
sendmail: yes

BIGGEST PROBLEM:  ftp typically failed because firewall
on desktop wasn't set right.

When all booted up:

$ df -h
Filesystem         Size  Used   Avail   Use%  Mounted on
/dev/hda1          470M  234M   222M    52%   /
none               6.5M    0    6.5M     0%   /dev/shm

NOTES

There's no way to do a GUI environment on this laptop.  Installing
TinyX and/or XFree requires 490MB to 510MB.

When fully installed, the PCMCIA network card was not working.  I
understand this to be typical of RedHat / Fedora installs.  STFA or
STFW for how to get it set up.  (That's what I have to do... because
I don't know how!!)