How many CDs do you NEED to install Debian?
 

Do you really need all seven? I know you need the first two if you want X. I would do a net install, but the kernel didnt support my ethernet. (Marvell Yukon Gigabit LAN on an ASUS P5AD2 Premium motherboard) anyone know where I can get the kernel module or something for it so I dont have to use all seven CDS only to have to web access later on (Using Sarge)

Well, even if you have all 7 CD's, your network adapter is not likely supported yet in the Sarge distro, which does not help you any further.

My advice would be to install a supported network adapter in the machine. Even if you don't have one, they are so dirt cheap that buying one cannot be a problem. Download the Sarge install CD, which really is excellent now. After that, you have a bootable system, and you can continue to install whatever you like over the Net. Note that you need the Sarge install CD, not Sarge CD #1.

If you use Sarge CD #1, you will end up with a bootable and workable system as well, but you have to download 650 MB instead of a modest 110 MB for the installer.

Once that is done, and you have a stable running system AND internet access, I would try and google around for Linux support of your Giga Nic. It is not that well supported yet.

jlinkels

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...04/10/4/238021 <-- I found that, and thats what I have but I still dunno how to install it... :(

To be honest with you i have nevel installed Sarge distro. I'm installing Woody distro.
In my case Woody boots and installs by default 2.4 kernel.
If at the boot time of the installation cd you have the option to enter a deferent boot methot and installation, and if Sarge support it, enter the paramiter "linux26"
This will force the booting of 2.6 kernel in my case and will solve a lot of my problems ( Sata HDD, e.t.c)

I'm not even sure if Sarge boots and installs by default a 2.6 kernel

I'm suggesting you this way because you may have support on some hardware of yours that you did't had before.

Anyone having a bit more knowledge on Sarge can correct me please if I have something wrong

HOWTO install Sarge with the net-installer-rc2
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...icle&artid=330

Thats very helpful, but I have an Intel 925X chipset which seems like it isnt supported by Debian Sarge yet. (Is there a net installer for sid? Maybe that has the drivers for my chipset.)

There is a netinstaller for sid, but its not recommended to use. Try to use the 2.6 kernel maybe its supports your network card.

I did. It didnt.

id recommend getting the sarge netinstall cd image for your cpu architecture and then installing it with options linux26 if you have a newer computer (probably around 500Mhz plus is considered newer). It's fast easy and fun, well not really. You'll get sick of download stuff afterwards, but it's worth it, you use all you download if you do it like this. Hope it helps.

EDIT: if the chipset isn't supported by the kernel2.6 you should also make a cd or floppy with the modules you find for it and the utilities to use them: ie modconf make gcc... so then you can get it all working.

I put the .tar.bz2 archive for my ethernet on a floppy it said it didnt "see" the drivers, so I looked in the archive and saw a install.sh script which meant it had to be installed for whithin Debian, so how do I make it "see" the drivers so that it can install? (I got the drivers off of ASUS' site.

"Thats very helpful, but I have an Intel 925X chipset which seems like it isnt supported by Debian Sarge yet. (Is there a net installer for sid? Maybe that has the drivers for my chipset.)"

If you had read the article, you would have seen that the Sarge installer includes the option to install Sid and Woody besides Sarge.

thats AFTER its installed so I'd have to have loaded my ethernet drivers for it to work.

I really don't get what you're trying to say. If it's a shell script, then the drivers are embedded in the shell script and you just have to run the script and it will run a guide to install it. If you have to compile the module you'll also need more tools (which is normally the case), so you'd have to burn a cd with your kernel's headers and source, plus gcc make and all the other standard compiling tools and the dependencies you need. I'm prett much sure there is another way to do this, maybe doing a sid install, or whatever, cuz otherwise you'd have to:
First get modconf, etherconf, kernel-source, kernel-headers, gcc... on a CD (get the .deb), install the packages on the cd, then run ./install.sh (drivers) and install the drivers. Run modconf and load the proper module. Reboot and run etherconf to configure your internet wtih eth0. It might or might now work, but it'll be a hassle.
You could also try using an extra PCI slot 100/10 ethernet card, i have some 82557 cards (i know theyre old), but they work great since it automatically detects them, so i can get it all working quickly. Then once you have internet with eth1 you can calmly install the drivers for your gigabit lan and then switch to that.
Good luck.

I think I'll do that! Thanks so much guys.