install slack-11.0 using SETS from USBHDD
 

first of all Hi from Sydney Aust. im new to LQ and almost new to Linux altogether.

please add your tips and hard earned shortcuts or 'must have' tweaks for my type of situation. i need all the help i can get!

thanks in advance :)

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i have selected sets from the slackware-11.0/slackware directory and would like to learn the method of installation from an attached external hard disk.

the sets i have chosen are;
A, KDE, L, N, and X

additionally i have chosen the slackware-11.0/... directories;
bootdisks (bare.i and README.TXT only)
zipslack (all)

i have added;
opera-9.10

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i have had a bit of an introductory and random read of the slack FAQ's, readme's etc and from what i can tell i need to do the following...

1. create boot disk using RAWRITE and the image bare.i (edit config to suit hardware)
2. boot machine using boot floppy from '1.'
3. machine catches fire!! run for your life!! (just kidding)
4. partition and format the target HDD (create /, /usr, /home)
5. select location of SOURCES (in my case - this is the limited sets located on my external HDD)
6. follow install directions, ending with rebooting and password setting
7. start the package tool to run opera into the /usr directory

tada! shiny new slack box.

well, except for the part where i dont know how the ROOT DISK comes into it. :S

so, can i please get some info about where you think i am about to run into probs? what parts do i have upside down?

i am willing to spend lots of time tinkering to get an install method and software set that suits me.
to start with i only need to set it up as an internet box with multimedia and basic desktop apps.

thanks!

The root disks are used after the boot disk. Basically, the boot disk holds only the Linux kernel, and the root disks (I believe there are at least 2 required) hold the actual OS itself (the programs, configuration files, installer, etc). After booting up to the root disk, it will ask you to insert the root disks when they are needed.

As for the rest of your setup, it sounds fine to me. I have never personally tried using a USB HDD with the install floppies, but I see no reason it wouldn't work (assuming you have the HDD formatted to FAT32, I know the boot floppies can't read NTFS).

thanks. ill be sure to setup the source HDD as something other than NTFS.

initially i will use a direct USB connected disk, probably in FAT, and for ongoing testing to reach my aim of a customised set i will use one of my dedicated freeNAS HDD's in UFS.

so it will be;
BOOT floppy>> ROOT floppy>> ROOT floppy>> root floppy (if there are more options/spec requirements) >>navigate to SOURCE drive with SETS

im going to get started this weekend, once im asked for the SOURCE location will it be scanned and all available gear installed? perhaps if a set isn't full i may be asked to manually install packages individually or in groups? :scratch:

The drive won't automatically be detected, no.

You will need to first make a mount point to attach it to, using a command like:

mkdir /mnt/usbhdd

Then you would mount it like:

mount /dev/sda1 /mnt/usbhdd

(You might need to adjust the device name)

When it comes time to select the source there will be an option that says something like "Install from a pre-mounted directory". You would select that, and then type in the directory where the USB drive is mounted (using this example, /mnt/usbhdd).

maybe my last post was a little untidy

i do this...

BOOT floppy>>
ROOT floppy>>
ROOT floppy>>
root floppy (if options/spec requirements) >>
navigate to SOURCE drive with SETS


once im asked for the SOURCE location [and i have obliged]

will it [the source directory containing sets] be scanned and all available gear installed?
perhaps if a set isn't full i may be asked to manually install packages individually or in groups?

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thanks for the mount command example, i would have had to look it up :Thumbs up: