I am trying to work with Gen2 for the first time, and it appears that I can't even install it. Please help. I've gone through the instructions provided by the handbook on the cd but I'm just stuck.

What should the make.conf say in it. can you send me a working copy of what's entered in yours?
I am also having a problem with the following command : " ln -s /usr/src/linux " . The directory appears to get created but the source files for aren't found there. In fact it appears more like a file because I can't " cd " into it.
The command : " genkernel --menuconfig all " doesn't work. And from what I understand this is where I go to configure my mods.

I have some knowledge of Linux but I'm still very much a newbie.
Thnx for any input you maybe able to impart.

I'm trying to config the kernel, however I can't "cd /usr/src/linux" it acts as if the linx dir doesn't exist. The staep is to run "make menuconfig". This command doesn't woek at all. I get the message : No rule to make target 'menuconfig'
So then I go to the alternative genkernel

What exactly does the command emerge do?

The first thing I noticed is that the emerge command never downloads the files. It always fails.< ie... emerge genkernel> So I try to download them manually based on the path to the server and location where the file is to stored, so I download the file to the correct location.
When I type the command "genkernel all"

I get the message grep: /usr.src/linux/Makefile: Too many levels of symbolic links ERROR: Error: No kernel .config specified, or file not found!

I've been hung up here for a week. I don't know how to get around this.

PLEASE LINUX buddies......H_E_L_P



PS. Is there a better way to install Gentoo that I don't know about?

FYI...I got my install from the LinuxISo.org site I downloaded the AMD64 ISO. for my AMD64 PC.
If any of that helps ya'll .
WHere are you guys downloading your install Cd's and what instructions do you guys have?

The emerge command installs stuff. In order to compile a kernel, you need to use the emerge command to download the kernel source code.

Make sure your computer is plugged into a network first. If you can, post the output of the command "ifconfig" here.

When you get emerge working then if you haven't already, run the command "emerge sync"

Then run "emerge gentoo-sources" to get kernel sources for you to compile.

Thnx for your input...
I am getting an IP address, Iam also able to browse and download via Links2.
So does the "emerge" command download and install stuff at the same time, for each time I type the command?

Thnx again.

emerge is like Gentoo's version of RPMs or apt-get. It is the command you use to download and install programs for your Gentoo Installation.

You can use the command "emerge -s <string>" to search for stuff to install and "emerge <name>" to install stuff

"emerge sync" will update you to the latest database (called the portage repository) of programs you can install and "emerge -u <name>" updates a program.

You can read more about portage and emerge at :
http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/handboo...?part=2&chap=1

whoever


Is like

Except it does it all for you, you really need to make sure that your internet connection is active and follow the Handbook word for word

Pete

That is VERY good advice. I've had gentoo installed twice, get it right and it's excellent, get it wrong even just missing a tiny bit and it can be a complete nightmare.

You should read the install handbook VVV carefully. Get the most recent set of discs possible. Then if you can actually connect to your network, great, if you can't connect to the net, then follow the instructions to install without a network. With a "stage 3 + GRP packages" install, the main system is on the first disc, the GRP (Gentoo Reference Platform) packages are precompiled binaries.

With that in mind, there is a big difference between commands like and because the -k switch will be the difference between having a precompiled binary package from one of the discs and the system going off and getting the package from the net. On my 3 year old system, I made that error once, and it took a massive 15 hours for KDE to compile.

Hell, even if you succeed with a stage 3 + GRP, when it's time to do you'll find that it will take quite some time to update everything.

The bonus of this ? Gentoo is usually very "cutting edge" i.e. it often gets vvv up to date packages available before nearly all other distros. If you then discover you'll find it changes, from cutting edge, to "bleeding edge".

Good luck

regards

John

Thnx ya'll but the problem is still happening.

I know my net connection works because I can use Links2 to any website I want successfully.

I type the emerge command which attempts to download the genpatches.
After I type the following " emerge gentoo-sources" I get the display of where it's trying to reach and where the file is suppose to be downloaded but always the same message:

Resolving ftp.ussg.iu.edu...failed: Temporary failure in name resolution.

No matter which server I try to connect.

What does mirrorselect do? Will it help if I keep getting this message? I've tried several sites. Still the same thing.
Thnx.

Did you configure your name servers in /etc/resolv.conf -- you need to edit it and add a name like

nameserver <IP of your name server>

Can you reach the mirrors from another computer via FTP?

whoever

As btmiller says, check /etc/resolv.conf

Also a common mistake is

It's "resolv.conf" not "resolve.conf"

Pete

You guys support has been awsome!!!!!

I am now on the cusp of actually booting the OS from the Hard drive. BUt there's a problem.
When it boot's it tells me file not found on the last line of the grub.conf file.

grub.conf

default 0
timeout 10
splashimage=(hd0,0)/grub/splash.xpm.gz

title=Gentoo Linux 2.6.12 Gentoo r6
root (hd0,0)
kernel /kernel-2.6.12-gentoo-r6 root=/dev/hda3


I believe my problem is here kernel /kernel-2.6.12-gentoo-r6 root=/dev/hda3 (correct me if I'm wrong)
I don't have a file called kernel-2.6.12-gentoo-r6, I do have a file called Linux-2.6.12-gentoo-r6.

So, I changed the grub.conf to read this way:

default 0
timeout 10
splashimage=(hd0,0)/grub/splash.xpm.gz

title=Gentoo Linux 2.6.12 Gentoo r6
root (hd0,0)
kernel /Linux-2.6.12-gentoo-r6 root=/dev/hda3

When it boot's it appears to try and load some stuff but then I get the message:
Kernel panic -not syncing: VFS: unable to mount root fs on unknown-block (0,0).

:twisted:
It seems that during my install I have found all the speed bumps. Somebody please tell me that this OS is worth the week long install attempt.

It only took me approx. 4 hours but I think it was worth it. I've been using it for like 3 weeks now.

whoever

How did you compile your kernel ?

Was it genkernel or did you compile it manually, makes a difference to grub.conf
or
Pete

I did it manually.
make menuconfig

Thnx for the help.

whoever

First check that grub.conf matches your partition scheme, so

According to your post

dev/hda1 is /boot
dev/hda3 is /

This should match /etc/fstab

Second did you compile in to the kernel support for for your chosen file system type, built in not as module

Pete