Vector Linux Generic Installation Guide


CONTENTS

	1. System requirements
	2. Downloading
	  2.1 Download ISO and MD5
	  2.2 Integrity check in Windows
	  2.3 Integrity check in Linux
	  2.4 Burn the ISO
 	3. Harddisk Preparation
	  3.1 Partition Layout
	  3.2 Tools for Windows/DOS
	  3.3 Tools for Linux
	  3.4 Included Partitioning Program
	4. Installation
	  4.1 Changing the boot order
	  4.2 Other Install Method ?
	  4.3 Start the Installation
	5. Using the system for the first time
	  5.1 Login
	  5.2 Multiple Console
	  5.3 Starting GUI
	  5.4 Administration
  	  5.5 Reboot and Shutdown
	6. Troubleshooting
	7. Credits

Introduction:

This intends to be a comprehensive guide to downloading and installing Vector Linux, the (best) lightweight Linux distro.


1. System Requirements

Vector Linux BASE requires around:


2. Downloading

Vector Linux is distributed in a single ISO file that can be burn into a standard 640MB, or 700MB CD-ROM. You will install VL by booting the CD.

2.1 Download ISO and MD5

If you haven't already done so, download the ISO image file (vl-version.iso) and the corresponding md5 checksum file (vl-version.iso.md5). You should check the image file before burning it to a CD, to make sure it has not been corrupted during downloading. For that, you need to do an "md5sum check", that means comparing the "fingerprint" of your image file (.iso) against the fingerprint stored in the checksum file (.md5). Some web browsers (Internet Explorer, for instance) have a tendency to rename that .md5 file as .htm or .txt. You can just rename it back to .md5.

It is always a good practice to do an md5sum check before you burn a CD image file, so you know if the file was downloaded properly or got corrupted. If you have a slow computer, the md5sum checking may take a long time for a large file such as the VL .iso image. However, it is worth compare to the risk of loosing more valuable times and the CD-ROM.

2.2 Integrity check in Windows

Download and unzip the GUI tool md5summer (http://www.md5summer.org/). Make sure you are using version 1.2.0.5 or above. The first time you run it, it asks permission to associate the extension .md5 with itself. If you agree, you just need to double-click on a .md5 file to check the integrity of the original file (as long as they are both in the same folder). Otherwise, you have to manually browse to the .md5 file within the md5summer interface, then click on the “Verify sums” button and select the .md5 file. If you get an OK for the VL .iso image file, you can proceed to burn it as a cdrom image.

There is another tool you could use (this one is command line driven):

2.3 Integrity check in Linux

The md5sum program is normally included in Linux distros, so you probably don't need to download or install it.

2.4 Burn The ISO

Well, thanks to the vendor, all of us have a Windows program to use the CD-WRITER, for example Nero or Adaptec. So just launch it. Find the menu to burn an Image. Open the VL ISO file, then burn !!!. Wait a while, and you will have a bootable VL CD-ROM. It is ready to be used for installation.

By the way, if you have been running a Linux box, use K3B or xcdroast to burn the ISO.


3. Harddisk Preparation

We are going to install Vector Linux into your harddisk. In this case, you need to divide the harddisk into several partitions. Let's see how we should do that.

3.1 Partitions Layout

Linux sees partitions in the following way: assuming an IDE disk, the first partition on the first disk is /dev/hda1, the second partition is /dev/hda2, etc. If you have two hard drives, the first partition on the second disk is /dev/hdb1, the second is /dev/hdb2, etc. SCSI hard disks are seen the same except the notation is 'sd' (scsi disk) i.e. the first partition on the first scsi disk would be /dev/sda1.

On a harddisk, you can have only 4 primary partitions, namely /dev/hda1 - /dev/hda4. However, you can make a primary partitons as an extended partitions. Inside an extended partitions you can have many more logical partitions, namely /dev/hda5 and so on.

If you already have Windows installed, the drive C: is /dev/hda1. Then Windows usually use /dev/hda2 as the extended partition. So drive D:, E: and so on will be /dev/hda5, dev/hda6 respectivelly.

Vector Linux can be installed on a primary partition as well as on a logical partition. If you use this computer solely for Linux, the recomended partitions are:

Some of us are still using Windows too. In this case, Linux can coexist with Windows as dual boot system. The recomended partitions are:

3.2 Tools for Windows/DOS

If you are going to install dual boot system, it is recomended to use Windows partitions tools to prepare the harddisk. So you might want to set up the partitions ahead of installation using one of these tools:

3.3 Tools for Linux

If you have Linux running on the system, the following tools are recomended:

3.4 Included Partitioning Program

The VL installation program includes GNU parted and CFDISK. You can use them during the install.

4. Installation

Allright, after you have the partitions ready (or at least you got the plan), lets do the installation.

4.1. Changing the boot order

You have to set your computer to boot from CD-ROM. To do this, when your computer starts up, go to the BIOS options setup screen. On most BIOSes, press the [Del] key. However, some systems use one of the F# keys. The others use a combination of keystrokes. You should see which key during POST (ie shortly after turning on your machine), otherwise, check the manual for your hardware.

There should be an option for boot order (general options are C drive, A drive, CD, etc). Choose which should boot first, save out of the screens and restart the computer. Just remember to change your settings back to booting from the hard drive when you're done installing VL.

4.2 Other Install Method ?

Do you mean your computer does not have a CD-ROM drive ? Sorry mate, other option is not available. Really sorry. Maybe you can borrow a CD-ROM from other computer.

4.3 Start the installation

Insert your CD into the CD-ROM drive. If you have multiple CD drives (CD writers also count), the VL installation CD must be located in the first one. Boot the computer, the follow the instructions on the screen. Couldn't be easier!


5. Using the system for the first time:

When you boot the system, you will be greeted by a nice Penguin (his name is Tux, FYI). You must tell him your name and password, or he won't allow you to use the system.

5.1 Login

For everyday use, login as an ordinary user that you have created during installation. Of course you can also login as root. The system is yours. However, you must be carefull when using the root, since:

5.2 Multiple Console

Linux has 6 console so you can login as several users. Just press Ctrl-Alt-F1 until Ctrl-Alt-F6 to switch the console.

5.2 Starting the GUI

What the hell, where is the GUI ?
Many new users (that migrate from Windows or more fancy distro) often struct by the text mode appereance of Vector Linux. Calm down ... just call

$ startx
and you should get the GUI.

If your X-Window has run properly, you can set it to be launched automaticall when the system boots. Try to call

$ vbootset
Select run level 4 or 5 as your default run level.

5.3 System Administration

If you want to do more configurations, Vector Linux has this for you:
$ vasm

5.4 Reboot and Shutdown

There are many ways to reboot the system, including Meanwhile, to turnoff the system, you may:

5.5 What's next ?

Use your system as you wish, of course.
And ... enjoy !!!


6. Troubleshooting

Error type 1:

Installation gives you a message saying that it can't find the Vector bz2 kernel and / or saying that /dev/xxxx is not a valid block device.

This error usually appears when you have more than one optical drive (CD/CD-RW/DVD) and you are trying to install Vector from the second unit. Move the installation CD to the first drive.

Error type 2:

Installation halts or does not start properly after a seemingly correct installation or you get messages about CRC errors during install

That kind of issue often suggests file corruption during download or a faulty burning process.

The first thing to do, if you haven't already done so, is to check the .iso file for corruption; please refer to section 3 of this manual. If the .iso file passed the mdsum integrity check, then you could try burning the file at a slower speed or use a different brand of media.

Remember: burn the .iso as a cd image, not as a conventional file!

Error type 3:

You get one of these two messages:

	Kernel Panic: Aiee, killing interrupt handler!
	In interrupt handler - not syncing.

or

	Error! There was a problem!
	Code: 39 36 75 03 5b 5e c3 5b 89 f0 31 c9 ba 03 00 00 00 5e e9 cb
	Installation not complete
	Please press enter to activate this console

Those errors are usually related to old hardware, and It could mean that you need to pass some commands to the boot process.

Some commands you could try are:

These commands disable power management, Notebooks often require them:

Error type 4:

Your SCSI hard drive is not available to install VL on it or The required driver for you SCSI card is not being loaded, and therefore your disks are not seen by the install routine. You should choose the SCSI enabled kernel.

Error type 5:

Installing from CD-ROM fails with this error: "mount: /dev/scd7 is not a valid block device"

Your CD-ROM or CD-RW requires scsi emulation. When the installation greets you with the first prompt (where it says "boot:" at the bottom left) you should type: "ide hdx=ide-scsi", (where x is your cd-rom unit). If that doesn't work restart and try "scsi hdx=ide-scsi".


7. Credits

Copyright 2004 Vector Linux
Released under [GNU Free Document License | http://www.gnu.org/licenses/fdl.html]
Contributed By: Joe1962, SuSe-Refugee, UKBill, Johnvan, Monty67, Kocil