NOTE: this doc is a collection of email written by J.R. Pena (jpena@universe.uiwtx.edu) ************************************************** ** ADDENDUM for DOS users by J.R. Pena ** ************************************************** Steps for Installing muLinux 1. Uncompress Dostools.zip to a temporary directory Hint: If you are using Windows 95, use Winzip or pkunzip dearchiver that opens *.zip files. So, use Winzip or another program to open the Dostools.zip file, and decompress the file to a temporary directory. 3. Copy mulinux*.tgz in the same temporary directory. 4. In order to install muLinux, you must be a pure DOS environment. So, if you are using Windows 95/98 or Windows NT you must reboot the system. Before the Windows Logo appears, press F8 and choose Command Prompt Only. 5. Now, change to the directory that contains the uncompressed muLinux files. 6. Now run the Install.Bat file. 7. Simply follow the directions, and insert two disks when prompted. 8. The system will now reboot. 9. Now insert the first muLinux disk. Otherwise, Windows 95/98 will boot. 10. When prompted, insert the X-Windows disk. Note: Please keep in mind that creating a disk for X-Windows is optional. From: "J.R. Pena" To: andreoli@pisoft.it Dear Michele, Hi! You might want to look over this e-mail that I'm sending you. I think you might find it useful. Thanks again! -J.R. On Tue, 26 Jan 1999, Pete Nelson wrote: > Forgive me, I'm stuck on a DOS box. > 6. Now run the Install.Bat file. > > 7. Simply follow the directions, and insert two disks when prompted. > > 8. The system will now reboot. > << > Which is OK, but how do you make the floppies to begin with? There is > nothing in the install.bat to write to the floppies (if it was unix, and > the tar path was /mnt/floppy . . .) Dear Pete, Hi! Thanks for bringing this to my attention. Ok. Let me explain. You're right that the Install.Bat file doesn't contain any lines to write to the floppies. Instead of doing so, the Install.Bat file actually runs an instance of Linux. In Linux, you'll be asked to enter the path for the mulinux image files. Afterwards, Linux will ask you if you'd like to create a swap file (for use with virtual memory.) When you're entering the path for the location of the swap files, keep in mind that /dev/hda1 refers to your C:\ drive. (If you're use a hard disk that has multiple partitions, keep in mind that /dev/hda2 refers to the extended partition. Therefore, the next partition referrs to /dev/hda3. I'm going to create a small chart to explain what I mean. Let's say you're using a 1.2 GB HD. The HD has been partitioned into 4 different partitions. Linux Name DOS/Windows 3.x/Windows 95 & 98/NT name /dev/hda1 C:\ /dev/hda3 D:\ /dev/hda4 E:\ /dev/hda5 F:\ It's not necessary to create a swap file (use virtual memory), unless you're using a PC that has less than 8 MB of RAM. Yet, it wouldn't hurt if you would create a swap file, either. In fact, the author of muLinux recommends that you use a swap file if you plan to run X-Windows. So, when you're prompted to create a swap file be sure to express your desired amount of memory in kilobytes (K). For instance, 1 MB = 1024K, 4 MB = 4096 K, 8 MB = 8192K. Finally, the part that you asked about. (Hehe, sorry about the needed explaination for entering the path and creating a swap file.) You're now going to be asked to enter some 3.5" high-density disks. The first disk will used to create an image disk for the boot/usr/root disk, while the second disk will contain a copy of X-Windows. (Keep in mind that creating a disk for the X-Windows environment is optional.) Don't worry about actually formatting the disks. Linux will take care of that itself. In fact, Linux will format the disks to a 1.72 MB capacity, and will even verify them. If the disks contain any badj sectors at all, Linux will prompt you to enter a new batch of disks. Believe me, this is a rather simply process. But it does get frustrating when you have a bunch of disks that have bad sectors on them. When the two image disks have been made, Linux will shut it self down and will reboot. Now enter the first disk that you made, the boot/root/usr disk. If you made a copy of X-Windows, be sure to insert the disk when prompted. About this time, you'll be asked to create a configuration for muLinux. Simply follow the instructions, and enter the appropriate paramters. That's about it! I hope this helps you. If it doesn't let me know. There's also a way to put muLinux on your hard drive. (This is called cloning.) If you're interesting in doing this, just ask me. I'd be happy to explain. > I'm excited about the concept of microlinux, but just wish I could get > it working! > -- Yes, I know you mean. It took me a long time to figure out how to get muLinux myself. But it was certainly worth it!! I think muLinux is better than a full distribution of Linux, like RedHat and Slackware. For one, muLinux is portable. Since muLinux fits on two disks, it can be distributed much more easily than using CDs. muLinux can also be used to show the power of using Linux at a demonstration at school or at work. I hope you enjoy using muLinux as much as I. If you any more questions, just let me know. Sincerely yours, J.R. Pena P.S. Please note that Linux is not Unix. While Linux is based on Unix, Linux has pretty much evolved on itself. In fact, Linux doesn't use any AT&T or BSD code, at all! So, to answer your question, in Linux the device name for a floppy drive isn't /dev/floppy. It actually depends on the number of disk drives that you have. If you have a 3.5" 1.44 MB drive as your first disk drive, which is referred to as A:\ in the DOS/Windows world, it would be referred to as /dev/fd0 in Linux. A 5.25" 1.2 MB drive is referred to as /dev/fd1. This particular naming system applies to everything as well, like modems. An internal modem on COM 1 inthe DOS world, is called ttys0 in Linux. Com2 would be referred to as ttys2 in the Linux world. One more thing, an internal IDE CD-ROM drive is considered to be /dev/hdd under muLinux. Again, I hope this helps! If not, let me know. -J.R. muLinux Installation Guide ================================ March 1, 1998 Notice: The muLinux disks cannot be accessed directly under Dos,=20 Windows 3.x, Windows 95, or even Windows NT. In fact, the disks can only be read under Linux! Please note that a regular installation of Linux can take up anywhere from 25 to 500 MB, depending on what installation options are chosen. A regular= =20 installation of Linux usually includes networking, programming utilities,=20 X-Windows, TeXt, as well as general system utilities. In addition, traditional Linux distributions, such as Slackware and RedHat,=20 require you to reformat your hard drive upon installation of the Linux operating system.=20 Fortunately, there are a number of distributions of Linux that do not=20 Require nearly as much disk space or that force you to reformat your hard drive. muLinux is one such distribution. muLinux Requirements If you would like to try muLinux, you will need at least a 386SX PC, 4 MB of RAM, a 1.44 MB HD disk drive, and a Hercules or Monochrome Monitor. = =20 For optimal performance, it is suggested that run muLinux on a 486DX 120 MHz PC or better, a 1.44" MB HD, at least 16 MB of memory, a mouse, a modem,=20 and a VGA/SVGA monitor. =20 Please note that a hard drive is not required. Yet, if you so desire,=20 a special version muLinux can be installed onto a hard drive, without the=20 need for repartitioning and reformatting your hard drive. (This=20 installation is quite painless, and muLinux will co-exist on your DOS and Windows 95/NT partitions quite peacefully. For more information on installing muLinux on hard drive, refer to the section on "cloning" in the muLinux documentation.) Otherwise, muLinux will simply be installed in memory and will be lost once= =20 you reboot your system. Running muLinux To run muLinux, you must be in a pure DOS environment. In addition, muLinux cannot be executed directly from the disks. (If you wish to run muLinux on your hard drive and not off from disks, please refer to the section on=20 "cloning" in the muLinux documentation.) If you are in Windows 95 or Windows NT, you must reboot your computer.=20 As your computer reboots, insert the disk labeled "Boot Disk" quickly. =20 Otherwise, Windows 95/NT will boot. In addition, make sure that your 3.5" HD disk drive is your startup drive. (If not, you may need to change the jumpers on the drives and make modifications in the CMOS setup screens.) muLinux should now start booting. If not, check to see if you have inserted the disk properly. Hopefully, you should will now see several screens of scrolling text. Now, muLinux will now prompt you to configure your system. I hope that this will give you a good, first impression of Linux!