Hi. I've made a few of attempts to build an LFS system now, failing at various points in chapter 5. Despite being almost a complete Linux beginner, I'm eager to learn, and am not completely unfamiliar with the Linux/UNIX-ish way of doing things, being a longtime user of Mac OS X. (Note, I'm not trying to build LFS on the Mac, before anyone asks).

What I'd like to know is this - what is the best distro to build LFS from?

I have copies of Fedora Core 2, Debian 3.0r1, Debian 3.1 (Sarge) beta (from a magazine cover DVD), and Mandrake 9. Although I'd prefer to use a distro I've already got, I'm willing to purchase other ones if they will provide a significant advantage.

Another thing I'm curious about is the best version of GCC to use.

Any help would be much appreciated. Also, please bear in mind that I'm a complete n00b, and the most complex thing I've done on linux so far (besides attempting LFS) is installing NVIDIA drivers on Fedora. Not exactly rocket science. Despite this, I am very determined to learn and get LFS working. Eventually, I plan to use it as my main distro.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Use the versions that are mentioned in the books........be it LFS 5 or 5.1
I have built 5 LFS systems.....I still use 2 of them with Slackware...........

AFTER you have built 1 or 2 LFS.......then you can experiment/change versions of different programs
but follow the book on your first one........and don't give up......it's worth the effort!!!

Thanks for your reply. The only reason I mentioned GCC was that I wasn't sure if it made a difference which version was already installed in the distro I use to start off. (i.e. which version I already have).

It shouldn't matter, if the kernel is not ancient.
Just install all developing tools your distro supplies and follow instructions in the book.
I installed LFS 5.1 with RedHat 8.

Hi,

I'm currently putting the finishing touches on my first install of LFS, it's a fantastic way to learn the nitty-gritty of how Linux systems are set up. It may be a good idea for you to first work through a good introductory Linux book (the online manuals supplied by Redhat and/or Mandrake come to mind, or a good SAMS/QUE text book), so that you can get a good feel for finding your way around and for important things in the LFS process that are taken for granted such as compiling and installing new software - this comes in handy when you are trying to work out in LFS WHERE you are meant to be in the filesystem (i.e. in which directory), because IMHO this is pretty much assumed knowledge in the book. E.g. the difference between ./ and ../ No problem for old hands and third year apprentices but maybe a bit confusing for first-timers...

Anyway, spend a little bit of time learning the Linux/Unix basics and then have a go at LFS, if you can get Debian up and running (in a multiboot as well!) then as a genuine noob you are doing OK and the learning process should not take long at all.

Best host system to install from? I'm doing it from Fedora Core 1, no problems, I don't think that which host system to use is really too much of an issue (but doesn't Debian use older kernels etc. in the name of stability?), as once you're into Chapter 6 you are really setting up an independant system anyway, the host is only temporary...

one more thing, you didn't mention what your problems with LFS actually were, make sure that your host system has all the development software installed (this should have been an option to select during installation)...

Just my 2¢!

have fun & good luck with your next attempt...

cheers,

jdw

Short and easy, use what distro your most familiar and comfortable with.