Date: Sun, 8 Feb 2004 22:28:52 +0100
From: "T. Ribbrock" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: Linux

On Sun, Feb 08, 2004 at 02:32:00AM -0800, David Cantrell wrote:

[Linux on Libby]
> Yay! How did you get it on there?
> 
> I wrote up my solution here: http://www.cantrell.org.uk/david/tech/libretto/

That's about the way I was using to install Red Hat 7.3 on my 100CT...

When installing Mandrake 9.1 on the 110CT I got later, it was a lot
easier. You need:
- a Libretto (ha, ha...)
- the PCMCIA floppy drive
- a PCMCIA netwerk card
- a second PC that can serve files via NFS or HTTP (FTP is possible,
  too, I think).
 
Roughly, you then:

- make an install floppy from the "PCMCIA" image
- copy all contents of the install CDs into one directory on an NFS or
  HTTP (web) server - make sure, all "RPMSxxx" directories are in the
  "Mandrake" subdirectory
- boot the libby from the install floppy
- choose network install
- tell the installer which network card you have and what parameters to
  use (ID address, etc.)

Voila, you can now install from the server.

I used a Xircom 100/10 card with 56k modem which worked fine for the
install but has some problems when resuming from hibernation.
I picked my XFree86 configuration from somewhere on the net (I think I
found it on http://www.linux-laptop.net/ - which also contains many more
helpful hints). I don't remember what I did to get sound working, but it
wasn't much.

Everything else works just fine. Mandrake's kernel even has the
interface for the Toshiba laptop utilities compiled in (see
http://www.buzzard.org.uk/toshiba/ ), so I was able to install those as
well, which enables me to set the screen brightness dependent on whether
I'm running on battery or power supply and some other helpful settings.

While the 100CT still had a Win98 partition (just in case things didn't
work out - I never used it...), the 110CT doesn't have any Windows
installed. Rather spend those 500MBs on ogg vorbis... ;-)

So far, there are three downsides:
- I never got round to add the floppy driver to the kernel for lack of
  time and motivation... The Libretto is networked most of the time, so
  I just don't miss the floppy enough to be bothered
- Mandrake has done something that causes the boot as well as the first
  user login to take quite long. I've found a workaround for the former
  but am still working on the latter. I have an idea about the cause,
  but didn't find the time to investigate yet. RHL 7.3 didn't have this
  problem, not even on the 100CT.
- I have a compact flash to PCMCIA adapter that worked just fine under
  RHL 7.3, but is having issues under MDK 9.1. Again, I have an idea as
  to why and I have a workaround but lack the time to investigate
  further...

As for boot speed compared to Windows: No idea, I'm not much of a
Windows user - and comparing Win9x to Linux is like comparing Win9x with
Win00, i.e. unfair... ;-) It's not bad in my eyes. Also, what I really
like: I'm able to use a lean window manager instead of a fully fledged
desktop environment (like the Win00 GUI or KDE/GNOME), which makes the
64MB limit a bit more bearable.

Cheerio,

Thomas (who still wants to write a page about Mandrake on the Libby -
        one of these days... maybe... <sigh>)
-- 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Thomas Ribbrock    http://www.ribbrock.org 
  "You have to live on the edge of reality - to make your dreams come true!"



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