VectorLinux HOWTO Install (versions 2.5 +) November 2002
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Getting VectorLinux
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There are several ways you can get VL:
* Purchase a CD at the VL online store
* Download ISO and burn to CD. Each version of VL has an ISO image
in the iso directory on the ftp site. Note that this is the only
way to download VL SOHO.
* Download individual files. With VL 2.5 and 3.0, you can also
download individual files. You don't need to download all the
files from the ftp site. Here's what you'll need:
- veclinux.bz2 file (main file containing the system, programs, etc)
- XF421.bz2 or XF336.bz2 (X Window system) XF421 is for newer
computers, XF336.bz2 is provided for older computers.
- a kernel image from the kernels folder - you only need one
- root and boot images from the disks folder - you need one boot
image plus the root image. Note the boot image must match the kernel
you are going to install.
Note that for VL2.5 and 3.0, the CD at the online store contains
more programs, including KDE, than are included in the free
downloadable version.
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Before you install
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System Requirements:
VL is designed to run well even on older hardware. To run VL,
you'll need at least a 386 processor and 16MB RAM. A full install
of VL requires 350MB hard drive space.
Partitions:
Linux requires two partitions, a partition where the system is
installed, and a swap partition, used for virtual memory. You have
several options on how to set up these partitions:
from Windows:
Partition Magic is a popular commercial product for non-
destructively resizing and formatting partitions.
fips:
Using fips is beyond the scope of this document. However, the fips
package comes with it's own extensive documentation so please take
the time to read it before attempting to resize or partition your
drive with this method.
other tools:
parted from http://gnu.org. There are also some dos based
utilities. Check http://www.download.com.
In addition, the VL installation program includes a partitioning
utility (parted) that you can use during the install. This may be
the easiest way. Otherwise, you might want to set up the partitions
ahead of time using Partition Magic, fips, or another tool.
Note on partitions:
Linux sees partitions in the following way. Assuming an IDE
disk, the first partition on the first disk is /dev/hda1,the
second partition is /dev/hda2, etc. If you have two hard
drives, the first partition on the second disk is /dev/hdb1,
the second is /dev/hdb2, etc. SCSI hard disks are seen the
same except the notation is 'sd' (scsi disk) i.e. the first
partition on a scsi disk would be /dev/sda1.
If you already have Windows installed, it's probably installed
at /dev/hda1 (c:\). If you're resizing that partition and adding
Linux partitions, those partitions may be at /dev/hda2 or at
a higher number. This is important to keep in mind when you do
the actual install because you need to tell VL which partition
you want to use for VL.
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CD Install
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This is by far the easiest way to install, so if your
computer can boot from the CD, use this method. Just boot
from the CD and follow the instructions on the screen.
Couldn't be easier!
Set your computer to boot from CD
Generally, when your computer starts up, press Delete and you'll be
taken to a set up screen where you can configure BIOS options.
There should be an option for boot order (general options are C
drive, A drive, CD, etc). Choose to start up from CD first and
save out of the screens and restart the computer. Just remember
to change your settings back to booting from the hard drive
when you're done installing VL.
Some older computers do not recoqnize the boot routines used
to boot the VL cd. If yours is one of those then simply make
the boot and root floppies as explained in the next section.
Boot with the floppies and the installer will find the CD with
the installation files.
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DOS/WINDOWS/LINUX HD Install
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If you can't boot from a CD, you'll need to boot from
floppy disks and then place the VL files somewhere on your
computer where they can be found during the install process.
Create root and boot floppies. The ftp archive contains
a "disks" folder that contains one root image and several
choices for boot floppies
Which boot image should I choose?
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i386ide.img - for 386/486 computers with an ide interface
i386scsi.img - for 386/486 computers with a SCSI interface
pentide.img - for pentium or newer computers with an ide interface
pentscsi.img - for pentium or newer computers with a SCSI interface
rootdisk.img - there's only one, so you need this one!
How to transfer the img file to a floppy:
--------------------------------------------
- from Windows you can use rawrite. This is available in the
dostools directory on the VL ftp site or at
<http://uranus.it.swin.edu.au/~jn/linux/rawwrite.htm>.
- from Linux, issue the following command to write an image to a
floppy: dd if=diskimagename.img of=/dev/fd0
Where do I place the VL files:
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- create a veclinux directory at the top/root level of a Windows or
Linux partition. The veclinux folder should contain the veclinux.bz2
file, either XF421.bz2 or XF336.bz2 (assuming you want to install a
graphical interface, which most users will want), and a kernel image
(choose one). These files should all be placed in the same veclinux
directory, not in any subdirectory. So a standard install might
have a veclinux directory that looks like this:
veclinux/
veclinux.bz2
XF421.bz2
pentide.bz2
Which kernel should I choose?
---------------------------------
i386ide.bz2 - for 386/486 computers with an ide interface
i386scsi.bz2 - for 386/486 computers with a SCSI interface
pentide.bz2 - for pentium computers with an ide interface
pentscsi.bz2 - for pentium computers with a SCSI interface
Set your computer to boot from floppy
-----------------------------------------
Generally, when your computer starts up, press Delete and you'll be
taken to a set up screen where you can configure BIOS options.
There should be an option for boot order (general options are C
drive, A drive, CD, etc). Choose to start up from floppy first and
save out of the screens and restart the computer. Just remember to
change your settings back to booting from the hard drive when you're
done installing VL.
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The Install Process Step by Step
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If you boot from a CD, after some initial start up messages, you'll
be taken directly to the install screens. If you boot from a
floppy, after the boot floppy loads, you'll be asked to insert the
root floppy, and then you'll be taken to the install screens.
Either way, you'll soon arrive at the install screens. The actual
install is a menu-driven process that should be easy to do - just
follow the instructions on each screen.
1. Start up - just press enter to start the install process
2. Select keyboard map
3. Choose to edit partition map or install to existing partition
note: if you've already set up your partitions using Partition Magic
or another tool, you'll want to choose to install to existing
partitions.
4. Find install media
5. Select partition where you want to install VectorLinux
note: you need to type in the name of the partition. For example,
/dev/hda2
6. Choose swap partition
note: if you already have a swap partition it should be found
automatically.
7. Check files for errors before install
8. Choose file system (ext2, reiserfs, or ext3)
note: ext2 is the older, standard Linux file system. Resierfs and
ext3 are both newer journaling file systems. If you want to play it
safe, go for ext2, otherwise choose ext3 or reiser.
9. Last chance menu - hit ok to format and install
10. Install kernel
11. Install X
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Post-Install Configuration
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Once VL has been installed, a post-install configuration screen is
presented. This allows you to configure sound and video, set up
your network connection if you have one, etc. This screen can also
be accessed later using the command "vasm" as root.
Set up Lilo
Lilo is the Linux Loader that boots the system. You have the option
of simple or expert configuration. Simple works well in most cases.
Then you have a choice of where to install lilo:
the root partition (if you installed VL to /dev/hda2, this would
install lilo to /dev/hda2)
the MBR (master boot record) for the disk
a floppy drive
If you have another boot manager that can point to your Linux
partition, then you can install to the root partition where you
installed VL. If you want Lilo to take over the boot process
entirely, install to the master boot of the entire disk. If you're
not sure and you don't want to cause any problems, install to a
floppy. Just make sure your computer's BIOS is set to boot from the
floppy drive first. This is probably the safest method if you're
worried about altering your existing configuration.
After you've installed VL, you can change lilo by issuing the
command "vasm" as root, which will bring up the configuration
screen again, or, as root, you can edit the /etc/lilo.conf file
by hand. After editing the file, be sure to do the following
command as root: /sbin/lilo. This will install lilo according
to the what you've specified in the /etc/lilo.conf file.
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Using the system for the first time
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You may have noticed that we haven't set up users or created a
password for root yet. So, when you reboot into VL, the first thing
you need to do is set a password for the root user.
Log in as root. You shouldn't be asked for a password; instead
you'll be taken direcrly to a shell prompt. Type passwd and choose
a password for root.
Running Linux as root isn't a good thing, so next you'll need to set
up a normal user. The easiest way to do this is with the adduser
command. Type:
adduser user
and follow the instructions to set up the user. Then you can logout
and login again as the new user.
To start the X Window system, type startx.
Enjoy!
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Troubleshooting
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Q. X starts fine, but my scroll mouse jumps around, or I can't
scroll. What's going on?
A. Check your /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 file. There should be a
section for input device. Make sure that there is a ZAxisMapping
option set to "4 5". The 4 and 5 correspond to moving the scroll
up and down.
Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Mouse0"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Protocol" "put protocol here"
# fyi IMPS/2 is Intellimouse protocol
# used on many new scroll mice
Option "Device" "put location here"
# PS/2 mice are usually at /dev/psaux
# usb mice are usually at /dev/input/mouse0
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
# this is what controls the scrolling
Option "Resolution" "3000"
# doesn't work for all systems
End Section
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Enjoy the fruits of your labor.
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Please join our message forum as you can get great information
and help there to enhance your Vector Linux experience.
This HOWTO was produced through a joint effort from the VL
Community. Many thanks to 'Jeff McCoy' for doing most of the leg work.