A small preface: I've used linux before, but I've never actually tried installing it. And, well, i'm lost.

I'm actually trying to install RT linux, but I'm extremely confused. There was supposed to be an installation guide thats supposed to come with the download (as the readme claims) but I didn't find anything. (I got Rt linux free from FSM labs website).

I searched some stuff online and I got a little confused. Am I supposed to install a real version of linux and "patch it up" to RT linux format? I also want to install it as a second OS (with my win XP as primary OS). I got partition magic (with boot magic and all that fun stuff) to get started, I was also able to borrow a seperate hard drive.

Can someone tell me how I can get off the ground with this?

Thanks in advance.

There's a brief how-to at http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/RTLinux-HOWTO.html but I think you may have picked the wrong thing to try to install your first time. From what I gather, RTLinux is a 'second kernel' that is used to make programs run in realtime mode at all times. This would only apply to the programs that have been designed with this feature in mind. I think this would then be only useful to someone doing heavy development or serving for which this is absolutely necessary (and even in most of these cases it isn't) otherwise the preemptible kernel extensions should more than suffice. Try giving something simple a try like Mandrake Linux (www.mandrakelinux.com). They have free CD .iso images available that you can burn to a disc, boot from, and install in a few hours. It's even capable of repartitioning Windows drives, although you might as well use Partition Magic to shrink the Windows partition down to what it should be first, leaving the extra space unallocated. BootMagic should be unneccessary for most Linux distibutions, since they'll install a bootloader capable of choosing between Windows and Linux.

So does it matter if i use mandrake or red hat linux?

No, it's really just a matter of personal preference. If you can do something in one Linux distribution, you can do it any other although it might be harder or easier. I've gone through Suse, Mandrake, Knoppix, Libranet, Red Hat, LormaLinux, Gentoo, and Debian and they're all similar enough under the hood. The biggest differences are how they handle installing programs, and the installation of the distribution itself.

rt linux free from fsmlabs is not actually a linux distribution, it is a kernel patch, (and actually it is not even by fsmlabs, from what i gather they just host it and help out sometimes, it is largely i believe a french opensource production). That said, it is one of the more complete rt (real-time) linux versions available.

Basically, if you dont know what you are doing, you dont want this.

But many people may want it, and actually do need it. Anyone developing hardware to interface with their computer whose code is dependent on accurate intervals of real world time should look into it. For example, haptic devices, medical robotics, real-time networking, etc. etc.

so anyways, if you are just starting forget it, but otherwise, id like seeing some more people using it on this board for educational purposes. there just arent enough threads, and lord knows i can always use some more confused people to be confused with

I'd suggest that the best way to get familiar with Linux is to download a Live-CD such as Knoppix from a place like LinuxISO. Burn the image to a CD, put the CD in your drive, then reboot (make sure your BIOS is set to go to the CD before the hard drive).

The beauty of a Live CD is that it essentially is a full blown Linux installation that runs off the CD -- nothing is written to your hard drive, and to return to using Windows (or whatever) all you need to do is remove the CD. This approach will allow you to get comfortable with Linux, without having to be concerned that you will mess anything up on your PC. Good luck with it and Welcome to LQ -- J.W.

Hiya folks

I think this is by far the most user-friendly RTLinux Installation Instruction Set that I have come across. I know this is probably a couple of months late for you but please let me know if it helps.

http://www.ece.osu.edu/~cglee/EE694Z/

On-Line Assistance


RT-Linux installation guide.
Linux kernel 2.4.18: linux-2.4.18.
RT-Linux kernel and patches: rtlinux-3.2-pre1.
RT-Linux manual pages: rtldoc-3.0.
FSMLabs RTLinux.
WebCT may be used to view your grades.
lp_solver is available now.
Rt-Linux Getting Started Document.

I suggest taking a printout of the first RT-Linux Installation Guide, and then following the installation through step by step. I could not properly install using Dinaker's Installation Instructions - i think I am going wrong somewhere with my steps.

Pats