KateOS II installation process
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How can you get Kate OS?
Kate OS ISO images are available on official project website www.kateos.org, section download. You may also find them on some other servers, often owned by internet providers. Of course, if you know a member of the Kate_Team, you can just give him or her recordable CDs and ask to burn the system onto them. (they won't refuse ;-) ).
What to do with downloaded ISO images?
If you have already downloaded ISO images, you should just burn them onto CDs using your favourite program. "Cdrecord" will be possibly the best for Linux users, "Nero"- for Windows ones.
Using cdrecord you should just type into your terminal:
cdrecord dev=0,0,0 driveropts=burnfree -v $foo/$bar.iso
The variables foo and bar should be replaced with your real ISO file location.
Remember to check MD5 sums before burning them onto the CDs.
System requirements
Kate OS hasn't got exorbitant requirements, it will run on a i486 computer with 24 MB RAM and 300 MB free disk space (300 MB would be only enough for minimal installation and some free space for SWAP partition, so you have to allow for some space for applications from sections other than 'A'). You may also need CDROM (bootable, if possible) and graphic card - VGA. For using multimedia you should have a computer with processor not less than i586.
Before the installation
Before you start the installation process, you must make sure, that you have at least one Linux and SWAP partition already created. If not, it is high time, you made them. There is a possibility to use the fdisk, or more convenient- cfdisk program to do it. You can find both of them on the first Kate OS CD.
People who have got distribution Kate OS LIVE (running from CD), can use parted or QTparted program (the second one is a "Partition Magic" clone). In this document we will concentrate on cfdisk. Start from:
cfdisk /dev/hdX
where "hdX" is a device you want to partition.
The devices are planned this way:
/dev/hda - primary, master /dev/hdb - primary, slave /dev/hdc - secondary, master /dev/hdd - secondary, slave
You will get the interface:
As presented in this example, you have got 5815 MB of free space on partition hda12. Select it by using down arrow key and than chose option NEW.
Now you have to select the type of partition, depending on your needs (in our example we choose Logical option).
Now it's time to decide on the look of your main tree directory. There is a possibility to put all system in one partition, but for security, you can always allocate each directory in different ones. In our example we have got much space, which we can use for instance this way: /boot hda13 200 MB (boot directory will be mounted with read-only attribute, so there won't be any chance to damage the kernel image. Because of that, you will always be able to use your boot-loader (e.g. GRUB), even if the main partition got damaged. )
/ hda14 800 MB (This space will be enough for all directories, except for /usr)
/home hda15 1000 MB (Separate directory /home would save important users documents in case of some accidents. If you reinstall/update the system, it will retain your favourite settings. )
/usr hda16 3000 MB (This directory contains all additional programs, libraries, etc. Much more free space is needed here, but 3 GB would give us a nice reserve of space for additional applications.)
You can also separate partitions for /var or /tmp, but it is not necessary. Remember about SWAP partition, 250 MB will be enough for it. (In fact, you should type its size depending on your computers memory, but exceeding 250 MB doesn't make any sense. People with great RAM (512 MB) don't have to create this partition).
We type the partition size and press ENTER. The partition was created. Repeat these steps to create next partition.
When everyhing is partitioned and you are happy with it, choose WRITE opion which will write/update your partition table. Confirm your choice by typing "yes" and exit the program. You just finished the first, most important stage.
If you haven't got a bootable CDROM, you have to prepare a floppy disk, which would give you the possibility to run the setup from the first CD. Use the floppy disk image, which is located on 1st CD, in /boot/sbmngr directory. Put the floppy disk into a drive and than type (for Unix and Linux):
dd if=$foobar/boot/sbmngr/sbmngr.img of=/dev/fd0
Variable foobar is the location of cdrom mounting point, so if you have mounted your cdrom in /mnt/cdrom directory, type " ... if=/mnt/cdrom/boot/sbmngr/sbmngr.img ... ".
To save the floppy disk image under Windows and DOS, use RAWRITE or RAWRITEWIN program. They are both located on the first CD in /dosutils directory. The documentation for this applications is available on CD1, so we won't explain how to use them.
Don't forget to check BIOS settings, it must contain the right boot order (so that you can boot the system from CD).
Installation
To begin the installation process, you have to start the system from your first Kate OS CD. You will be greeted by a screen with system's logo, and "boot" mark below. Now it's time to type the additional CD options- for example, if you use SATA devices, enter the sata parameter, for SCSI devices- scsi. For users of old cdroms, which are connected to a printer port- "oldcd" parameter is needed. Don't forget about jsf, reiser4 or xfs, if you are planning to use those filesystems. When the additional options are typed, you have a possibility to insert the kernel parameters. The useful one is "acpi=off", which switches off the support of ACPI- this will avoid some issues on some machines/BIOS. Notice "ide=nodma" parameter, it will disable DMA support (advantageous for some users). The full list of kernel parameters can be found in its source documentation. Type for example:
boot: default sata acpi=off
and press ENTER.
What to do, if our CDROM is not bootable?
The best way is to start CD with SmartBootManager, which has to be saved on floppy disc before hand. Start the computer with this floppy and choose "CDROM" from the list of disks shown. If everything is OK, you will see Kate OS logo and will be able to continue the installation process.
Firstly, you will be asked about keyboard mapping. If you use standard PC one, just continue. Login as "root", when you see the prompt. Type the "pcmcia" command, if you want to use some PCMCIA devices (it will load the necessary kernel modules and configure your equipment). Probably the partitions are prepared (if not - now it's time to create them), so you can start the installation proces, by typing "setup" command. Now you see blue and grey menu program.
Start by choosing KEYMAP option and then tick proper keyboard layout:
Confirm your choice and you will be moved to the SWAP settings section. If you don't want to use SWAP partitions, choose option NO and you will come back to main menu. Choose TARGET option then set up your installation partitions. Meanwhile, we continue our installation and prepare SWAP partition:
You will be asked if mkswap was performed on the partiton and whether to perform it now. We did not perform mkswap and confirmed it.
Confirmation of adding partition or not:
Swap is set and activated, so it's time to choose the root partition:
Format your partition. If you are sure, that disc is not damaged, choose FORMAT option, in other case- CHECK.
Now you have to decide, which filesystem is best for you. If you have typed some special options ("xfs", "reiser4"
or "jfs"), you will see those filesystem available (+ ext2,ext3 and ReiserFS). This choice is very important, because it will determine the system's efficiency and data safety.
Ext2 - standard Linux filesystem. Its structure is based on inods, blocks and tracks. Ext2 is very efficient and stable, but not as resistant to damage as filesystems with archiving.
Ext3 - Ext2 filesystem version, which supports archiving. It is a little bit slower, but there is no reason to be saddened, in case of unexpected power shortage.
ReiserFS - filesystem with archiving, which keeps all your files and filenames in a balanced tree structure. ReiserFS is definetely more efficient in comparision to Ext3, with stability retained. With this filesystem data is safe and the work is productive. Recommended by the Kate_Team, a perfect solution for each user.
Reiser 4 - the most modern filesystem ever, based on "dancing trees principle", easy to expand, fast and flexible thanks to a number of switches. It is the world's fastest filesystem. For today (24-07-2005) it is not as stable as ReiserFS yet.
JFS - filesystem created by IBM, used originally on Enterprise servers. It is a modern filesystem with archiving but not as good as other filesystems (eg. it doesn't support quotas).
XFS - SGI firm's filesystem, genuinely part of IRIX platform. Its features are: high productivity, archiving, section division (data section, log section, realtime section). Perfect solution for a server.
We choose:
Just now, we will be asked if we want all possible partitions and drives that were installed in subfolders /mnt/ to be found. For emaple: /dev/hda1 will be installed in /mnt/hda1.
Everything is ready now, so we can move to SOURCE section. We have to find a system CD or DVD:
You will be asked if it has to be found automatically (AUTO option), or you want to specify the drive yourself (MANUAL option). If you know where the source drive is, choose MANUAL option and save the time spent detecting it. If disc is already detected, then move to the SELECT option. This option allows you to select packages you want to install. Available sections are:
Content of the first installation CD:
A - contains only basic, necessary packages - without them (with few exceptions) your system would not work. Section A is a collection of packages, that can form the simple installation. If you want to have the minimum, you won't need to install any other sections. NOTE: Section A DEFINITELY has to be installed.
AP - applications, which don't need X-server. Typical console programs.
DOC - includes Linux documentation, HOWTOs, FAQ.
G - games set for X.
L - here you can find libraries, which are often necessary to other programs from other sections (but not section A).
M - great multimedia programs, thanks to which you will be able to listen to music, play films, view pictures.
N - net section, contains servers, client programs (http, ftp...), mail applications.
TCL - contains TCL script language.
X- X-servers packages.
XAP - includes big collection of applications, which need x-server. Here you can find window managers and many other usable apps.
XFCE - contains complete XFCE graphic environment with a rich set of plugins.
Content of the second installation CD:
D - this section includes tools for programmers, language interpreters, GCC and many others. Even if you don't plan to compile programs- packages like perl, python, tcl, tk may be useful.
E - includes packages of GNU/Emacs editor/environment. You can skip this section if you don't plan to use it.
OPT - many optional/additional packages, which sometimes cannot exist with programs/libraries from other sections.
T - contains TeteX packages. </div>
Each section size is listed in README file on the first CD. When you choose the packages, you move to the place where you decide how to install them.
Your choices:
FULL - This will install all the packages, except for these that are to be omitted (these are packages from OPT section, which can't coexist with some packages from other sections, because e.g. they do the same as other files or their files have the same names. Also packages which aren't needed are omitted, for example, devfsd, which is an outdated, not elaborated on solution). Omitted packages can be installed later, assuming, of course, that you know what you do and what you want to achieve.
NEWBIE- installs all necessary packages from chosen sections, stopping at every optional package and asking if it should be installed. This option is recommended for beginners, who want to learn what the software contains in each package before installing it. (you have a possibility to read the package description). This is a time-consuming option, because you have to answer a number of questions.
MENU- This opion allows to choose packages to be installed from among different sections before installation. Packages are chosen using a user-friendly menu.
EXPERT- just as MENU, the difference is that required packages won't be installed without you knowing. It allows you to create a barren system this way. Use this option only if you are an advanced user.
We choose FULL option, because we have lots of space on the disk. After a while the packages start to be installed.
[edit]Preliminary system configuration (setup program) After the installation of packages, you will be offered a preliminary system configuration. Database of the libraries will be automatically created, the file of module dependencies will be generated (modules.dep), FreeType font index will also be created. The first thing to configure is initrd. Initrd must contain modules necessary for partition mounting - disc driver and filesystem module. In most cases it is enough to choose SIMPLE option, but users of SCSI devices should enter (in EXPERT option) the name of module, they want to use. Generally speaking, if you do not know what to do, choose SIMPLE option.
Next step - installation of bootloader Lilo. Thanks to this, you will be able to choose which system is to be started. It is recommended to have it even if you plan to have only one operating system. The most suitable installation choice is MBR (works well in most cases).
Just now, you only need to specify disk, where it should be installed. As always, the most suitable choice is often default.
The last option of Lilo configuration: what graphic mode it is to work in. If you are not sure if your graphic card and hardware will cope with given settings, choose STANDARD.
The end of Lilo configuration. You will be asked if you want to create a boot floppy disk. It is very handy, if you cannot start your system for various reasons. Don't forget that even if you do not have a boot disk, you can use an installation CD as its equivalent. In this case, instead of running setup, mount a system partition and chroot on it.
Next step is to choose our modem's device (if it exists). If you don't use it - select NO MODEM option.
Now decide if you want to use HOTPLUG system. It configures and loads necessary modules, that support the devices connected to PCI, USB and FireWire sockets (mainly those ones, which can be connected during system's work). Appropriate sub-systems load all the necessary modules. It is a really good way to automatically detect/configure sound or network card. We recommend using Hotplug, as it is a perfect solution.
Further configuration includes combining "/dev/mouse" to a specific device, depending on the mouse you use. Depending on your choice, GPM mouse server will be configured. (Thanks to this, the mouse will work in console environment).
Try to find the most appropriate description of your mouse device. Most people use ps2 mouse (connected to ps2 port), but if you use a mouse with a wheel (also connected to ps2 port), choose imps2.
The last question regarding the mouse: should gpm be loaded when the system starts up? Gpm allows you to use the mouse in a normal mode. (clicking, copying, pasting etc.)
It is time to configure the network, if you want it. (if you are connected to internet)
The first step is to choose a host and domain name. These can be any names unless you want to use the name set up for your computer by DNS server.
Next, you choose the way of assigning the IP address
Static IP - choose this option if you know (from your admin) your IP and gate address, mask and IP numbers of the DNS servers.
DHCP - choose this option, if your IP number is allocated by DHCP server.
loopback - option designed to modem users (PPP or SLIP).
Confirm your settings, when everything is ready.
Just now you have to decide what is to be run and what not when the system is started. It's a peculiar list of services. Use space bar to select or de-select individual services.
Now let's configure time zone.
If your system time is set up according to UTC/GMT, choose Yes, otherwise, you agree that your clock is set up in compliance with a local time and you choose No. (opion for most users). Now it'sime to choose a time zone:
Decide, which window manager is to be started by default. For beginners the best choice is XFCE.
If you want, the system can now find the best monitor settings. But there is a small risk of your computer suspending itself. (really a very tiny risk)
Have you got a wheel in your mouse? Choose: Yes. If no, choose: No.
Now, you have to decide which run level your system is to start. Three starts the system without loading the graphic environment. Login to the terminal and type startx to start the graphic environment. Four automatically transfers you to graphical login. It's better in this respect, that you do not need to type anything else.
Decide on system location. If you want to use your mother tongue, choose pl_PL.
Last installation steps: it is advisable to work from user's (not administrator) account as it is more difficult to spoil something. You create a user with a given login, who, as default, belongs to one of the groups: WHEEL - to log into root, GAMEs - to access games, DISK gives access to all block devices.
To confirm user name, you type its password twice.
The last very important step: root's password. Follow the pattern for user's password.
The main system password should be well-thought-out. Your system security depends on it.
As a rule, a good password should contain at least 8 characters (5 character ones are quite easy to break, 8 character ones are much more difficult), it should not be: a personal name, a child's name, a partner's name, band's name, car's type or a football team. Choose a password, which is not a word, but contains capital/small letters, special characters ( it is not possible to break it using a dictionary). For example: P#z8>lK0&umAa193. Once you have a password, you can be happy.
Installation process is completed!!
Re-start your computer using ALT+CTRL+DEL as soon as possible.
