how to compile gentoo system on another computer

hrobarik · n00b Joined: 12 May 2005 Posts: 8

Hi guys,
I would like to get a working gentoo on an old computer (Pentium 133 MHz, 40 MB RAM, 1 MB graphic card, 1,2 GB HDD, CD-ROM without network) for playing mp3, making documents in LaTeX and so on. I think that compiling the whole system can take about few weeks and it is not good idea. But I have heard that it is possible to prepare whole system on another computer and then copy it to an old one. I've searched the web for any helpful information but I haven't found anything. At this moment Red Hat 7 is installed on that old computer but I'm not satisfied. So does anybody know how to make a gentoo system on an faster computer and then copy it to an old one.
Thanks for any helpful informations.
P.S. sorry for my english.
Best regards Tom.

Master Shake · Posted: Thu May 12, 2005 9:22 pm Post subject:

You can use distcc in portage if you want.
_________________
System Specs:
64-bit gentoo linux
Q6600 @ 3.2Ghz
P35 Chipset
4 Gigs 800mhz 4-4-4-12
Nvidia GeForce 8800 GTX @ 630mhz

hrobarik · n00b Joined: 12 May 2005 Posts: 8

arma · Posted: Sat May 14, 2005 9:34 am Post subject:

install stage 3 on old computer
use the grp (precompiled packages)
for the packages that don exist in the grp, you can change your flags in the /etc/make.conf to match the old computer then emerge --buildpkg [package]then copy the binary produced (seee your make.conf to know qhere it copy it to the old computer, then emerge this package ... it like you emerge mozilla-bin instead of emerge mozilla
_________________
l'alcool est un ennemi...
et en quelque sorte,...
fuir l'ennemi, c'est lâche

NeddySeagoon · Posted: Sat May 14, 2005 10:12 am Post subject:

hrobarik,

There are two ways to do what you want.
1) Put the HDD fro your P1 into another linux PC. Boot the host PC into linux. make a mount point called /mnt/gentoo and follow the handbook but choose options for CFLAGS and so on, that you would choose for that target PC. Make grun and fstan correct for the host PC. After testing, change grun.conf and /etc/fstab to suit the target and move the drive back.
This works like a charm, I've done it several times.

2) Make some space on the host pc, preferrably partitions. and build and test there, then copy the install over the network.
I've not done this, moving the HDD is so easy.
_________________
Regards,

NeddySeagoon

Computer users fall into two groups:-
those that do backups
those that have never had a hard drive fail.

bsdvodsky · n00b Joined: 17 Dec 2004 Posts: 18

you can also use nfs/chroot to compile on a faster system. Its much easier than setting up distcc while allowing you to cross-compile.

* On the slow machine, you'll need NFS server support
* On the fast machine, you'll need NFS client support

http://gentoo-wiki.com/HOWTO_NFSv4, I use NFSv3.

Exports on Tortoise

hrobarik · n00b Joined: 12 May 2005 Posts: 8

NeddySeagoon · Posted: Sat May 14, 2005 10:39 am Post subject:

hrobarik,

If you go down the partition on host PC route, testing is a matter of an entry in the hosts grub.conf to start the target system instead of the normal host system. Code indended for a P1 will run on all later Athlon and Intel processors.
You will not be able to install grub on the host this way, that will have to be done on the target.

If you use a looback mounted file as a fake partition for the install, I don't know how to test, sincethis would need to be mounted as your root filesystem.
_________________
Regards,

NeddySeagoon

Computer users fall into two groups:-
those that do backups
those that have never had a hard drive fail.

mcfly.587 · Tux's lil' helper Joined: 29 Mar 2005 Posts: 118

Distcc works for mee between an PII 350 mhz an my 3200xp,

But normaly it must be the same architecture ... my PII run with an i686 chost but it work great and very fast for compilation

hrobarik · n00b Joined: 12 May 2005 Posts: 8

btw. I don't know which kernel I shall compile and which filesystem (udev or devfs). Also I would like to have a nice X window manager. I was thinking about xfce4 but I'm affraid that it will be too slow for pentium 133 MHz with 40 MB RAM.What do you think?

NeddySeagoon · Posted: Sat May 14, 2005 12:07 pm Post subject:

hrobarik,

xorg wants about 80Mb of RAM. I wouldn't put X on that box.
You can still use it as a server.
_________________
Regards,

NeddySeagoon

Computer users fall into two groups:-
those that do backups
those that have never had a hard drive fail.

hrobarik · n00b Joined: 12 May 2005 Posts: 8

I think that at least windowmaker has to work fast.

NeddySeagoon · Posted: Sat May 14, 2005 12:43 pm Post subject:

hrobarik,

Its worth trying. You also get twm free with Xorg.
_________________
Regards,

NeddySeagoon

Computer users fall into two groups:-
those that do backups
those that have never had a hard drive fail.