CONRAD Installation Guide __OLD_RELEASE___ - link inside

[cheater1034]

DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT USING THIS DOCUMENT WHEN THERE IS A NEW RELEASE OUT, SHAME ON YOU!
(Just kidding, get the new release here: http://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic-t-508349.html)


Join IRC #conrad and #no-sources on freenode! It's the quickest way to get help, We have great people and we can always use some more. General chat is allowed!
=~~-~~=
CONRAD Installation Guide 3.1.0 "Don't use thei guide or you may cry, wait for the real release, which will be posted here momentarily.[color]"
By: cheater-conrad (aka cheater1034, Brandon)

Real-User experiences:
"... The best installation document I've ever come across for gentoo, and there have been many around. The combination of features and the no-sources kernel is awesome. I've never had a faster system!"
"... I run conrad on every box, and even my laptop, and I must say it is the best"
These people have had success, if you've had success share it with me in this thread, in a PM, email, aim, or on IRC

Names of these users are not going to be showed for general reasons,
share your experience too
=~~-~~=
Update Log
Update Log: Will list all non-major updates here committed to overlays (conrad-updater will update to these commits)
2006-07-22 (1): committed GCC overlay fix
=~~-~~=
Background Check
What is the Conrad Installation Document?
An installation method for gentoo linux, not supported by gentoo linux, but trusted by thousands of gentoo users. It is for an ultimate system, probally one of, if not the best installation of gentoo you'll ever have. It uses unique techniques and packages which make the system blazing fast, and stable enough for every day use on any type of system. Several people along with me encourage you to try to make your next install be a Conrad one

The Conrad guide 3.x.x series is a landmark in the history of Conrad installation guides, it is much more functional than ever, easier to install, faster than ever imaginable, and more organized than ever.

We encourage you to try it, post your results, suggestions, comments, etc, and good luck
=~~-~~=
3.0.2-3.1.0 upgrade guide
1) <home@host:> su
(enter password)
2) <home@host:> conrad-updater
3) GET MAKE.CONF CHANGES FROM conrad-projects.org/make.conf!, I can not write a detailed step for this because everyone's make.conf is different, just read over the commentaries and edit it up.
4) emerge gcc libstdc++-v3 glibc binutils
5) emerge -e world
6) prelink -amR
=~~-~~=
Changelog > 3.0
)
* Conrad-Updater for updating and fresh installation
* The fbsplash was re-added to the overlay
* completely re-done hdparm section
* The overlay and configs were cleaned up a lot
* New CFLAGS
* Added option to EXPLAIN INSTALL WITH THE GENTOO LIVECD
=~~-~~=
Hosting/Donations
I am absolutely at a loss for hosting, if anyone could contact me and we can establish atleast a monthly $5, that would help more than you can imagine, so we can get a virtual server or a dedicated server for hosting the big files.
=~~-~~=
Forewarning
This is an advanced install guide for Gentoo Linux, it assumes you have previous knowledge of both Gentoo and GNU/Linux in general!
Also, DO NOT POST BUGS ON BUGS.GENTOO.ORG! I Will handle your support requests personally. The CONRAD Installation Guide is not supported in any way, shape, or form by the Gentoo Linux.
Please report your requests in #conrad (FreeNode * we have a great community there), or this thread.
=~~-~~=
FAQ
(Q) This is pure unadulterated insanity, it is completely unstable, a system would never run like this!
(A) It is a little intense, but it is stable enough for 98% of users - There are only very few packages if any known to break. The result is a high performance system, which is definitely worth the long and tedious compiles.
(Q) I thought Reiser4 was unstable? Will I lose data?
(A) Reiser4 isn't unstable. You are hearing stories
(Q) How do I submit bug reports including unsupported testing items, related problems to bugs.gentoo.org?
(A) Only post bugs regarding unsupported software to the upstream developers. If a package fails to build try it with a set of stable CFLAGS, if it still fails to build post a bug to the developer of that product. If you have a fix you may wish to submit it to bugs.gentoo.org including the patch.
=~~-~~=
Conrad IRC Channel
We have a great group of individuals who stick around and are glad to help you, or just chat with you.
Join - #conrad on FreeNode
=~~-~~=
Conrad's Crew
cheater-conrad
Role: Project Manager, Install Documents, Kernel Patches, Conrad LiveCD and Toby X LiveCD (installable)
thoffmeyer
Role: Install Documents
vipernicus
Role: Super Cool Editor
joecool,vanquisher,bigbob73,seren,p4r0l3, and RobNYC
Roles: Just super cool people
=~~-~~=
Notes: You can safely assume that x in 'hdx' is a drive letter throughout this guide. Example: 'hdx = hda or hdb'

[-1-] - Choosing a LiveCD
You have a choice between 3 reccomended and trusted install mediums. These are the 3 supported mediums by the conrad guide at this time.

1.1 - Choice 1: The Conrad LiveCD 1.0.0 (reccomended)
Should work very well, best choice for you probally.

NOTE: This LiveCD is also required for reiser4

Download Link:

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http://www.elfenbeinturm.cc/download/

1.2 - Choice 2: Using the gentoo 2006.0 LiveCD
This is a new option in 1.0.0, it does have a few cons, but will work almost just as well.
Cons:
* Does not support reiser4
* Only supports up to 2.6.11 linux headers

Choose a mirror:
You can use any mirror you want as seen here:

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http://www.gentoo.org/main/en/mirrors.xml

Download Link:
From a usually reliable mirror

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http://gentoo.osuosl.org/releases/x86/2006.0/installcd/install-x86-minimal-2006.0.iso

1.3 - Using lxnay's rr4 DVD
This supports everything the conrad CD supports, except it's over 2gb of a download for a DVD. It features a full graphical user interface (GUI)

Torrent (reccomended):

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http://linuxtracker.org/torrents-details.php?id=2241

Mirrors at:

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http://www.lxnaydesign.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16&Itemid=27

NOTE: it is not really reccomended to use a full blown installation medium like this that has XGL and such, as it will slow down compilation times and such during the installation!

1.4 - Burn LiveCD and Boot
This is self explanatory. Please do not continue if this is beyond your abilities.

[-2-] - Preparing Your Network

2.1 - Check For Internet Connection
Quick test:

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# ping http://google.com

If failed:

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# net-setup eth0

[-3-] - Using HDPARM
THIS IS FOR ATA DRIVES ONLY!, NOT SATA OR SCSI

3.1 - View Hard Disk Configuration
This is important so we know exacty what options to set, if you get confused please do skip this step.
We must know the configuration to know what options to set.

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# hdparm -i /dev/hdx

3.2 - Some of our options
These are some of our options I'm going to personally set, these will change on your configuration (hdparm -i)
I don't expect you to enable every single one, you don't have to, but you can if you would like, btw
DO NOT THINK YOU HAVE TO ENABLE EVERY ONE OF THESE SETTINGS! Most people will not/should not!
* After we set this up, make sure you add these options to /etc/conf.d/hdparm (Explained later in the guide)
* -a1024 = sets read_ahead buffer to 1024 bytes
* -a256 = default read_ahead_buffer
* -c1 = sets io support to 32bit (most commonly supported)
* -c3 = sets io support to 32bit with sync, if -c1 gives you problems, this is an alternitive, but will be slightly slower.
* -c0/2 = set io support to 16bit, if your hdd does not support 32bit
* -d1 = turn on dma
* -m16 = sets multile buffers count to 16 (my hd max. find it using hdparm -i)
* -A1 = enables read-lookahead
* -X70 = sets UDMA6
* -X69 = sets UDMA5, -X68 sets UDMA4, etc.
* -u1 = enable unmaskirq, lets Linux unmask other interrupts while handling a disk interrupt, overall improvement
non-laptops:
* -M254 = change the acoustic management, 254 is the maximum for speed, 128 is the quiet, you can choose anything in between <-- will increase power usage
laptops?:
* -B1 = enable full power management, 255 turns it completely off, you can choose any number between 1-255

3.3 - Test Hard Disk Speed

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hdparm -tT /dev/hdx

3.4 - Enhance Hard Disk Performance - Optional

NOTE: THESE ARE ALL OPTIONAL OPTIONS! If you can not understand hdparm -i, do not mis set any options.
First option: enabling DMA
We'll do things one at a time, and we'll start by turning on DMA

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hdparm -d1 /dev/hdx

Second option: setting DMA mode
This varies, we are going to set UDMA, and we'll do it as follows:
ATA133 drives: -X70
ATA100 drives: -X69
Everything below: -X66

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hdparm -X70 /dev/hdx

Third option: Setting multi sectors
This varies, hdparm -i should read MaxMultiSect, which will specify what you can use. For me, it is 16

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hdparm -m16 /dev/hdx

Fourth option: unmask irq
Turn it on if you like it

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hdparm -u1 /dev/hdx

Fifth option: Acoustic Management
I'm going to set it to the maximum, 254

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hdparm -M254 /dev/hdx

Sixth option: Power Management
I'm going to turn it down because I don't need to worry about conserving power in my particular case. I'll leave it default

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<no command>

Seventh option: read lookahead
Lets enable it for our purposes

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hdparm -A1 /dev/hda

Eigth option: readahead
You can adjust the amount of readahead buffer with -a
I want it a little bigger than my drive's default (256) so I'll set it up to 1024
don't set this yourself, unless you're sure you know what you're doing!

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hdparm -a1024 /dev/hdx

Ninth option: IO support
Most drives can support 32-bit, if yours doesn't use 16-bit, if yours gives you problem with -c1, try with sync, -c3 (slower), otherwise use 16-bit (default -c0, -c2)

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hdparm -c1 /dev/hdx

Recap: All options we have chosen

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# hdparm -d1 -c1 -X70 -m16 -u1 -M254 -A1 -a1024 /dev/hdx

[-4-] - Partitioning
This guide will go about using the following setup:
/dev/hdx1 - boot
/dev/hdx2 - swap
/dev/hdx3 - root
/dev/hdx4 - windows


4.1 Using Fdisk

Remember that once you have the partition layout, you need to set the type to 82 (A.K.A Linux Swap) for the swap partition. Once you have it setup correctly, hit *w* to write and exit.
Explanations
Swap (suggestions): The swap space should be double the amount of ram you have *** up to 768mb.
e.g. (256mb ram * 512mb swap, 512mb ram * 1gb swap, 768mb ram * 1.5 gb swap)
If you have 1gb of ram, optimal swap is 1gb.
If you have 2gb of ram, optimal swap is 512mb
If you have over 2gb of ram, no swap is reccomended.

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# fdisk /dev/hdx
Command (m for help): p

Disk /dev/hdx: xxx heads, xx sectors, xxxx cylinders
Units = cylinders of xxxxx * 512 bytes

Device Boot    Start       End    Blocks   Id  System
/dev/hdx1             1        14    158760  83  Linux # boot * about 100 MB
/dev/hdx2            15        49    264600   82  Linux swap # swap * about 512 MB
/dev/hdx3            50        70    2564563   83  Linux # root * remainder of space, unless you dual boot windows
/dev/hdx7            70        90    remainder 07  Windows # windows * remainder of space unless you don't have windows

4.2 - Creating Partitons
It is recommended that you use Reiser4 for '/', and Ext2 for '/boot'.

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# mkfs.reiser4 /dev/hdx3
# mkfs.ext2 /dev/hdx1
# mkswap /dev/hdx2
# swapon /dev/hdx2

4.3 - Mounting your hard drives

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# mount /dev/hdx3 /mnt/gentoo
# mkdir -p /mnt/gentoo/proc /mnt/gentoo/boot /mnt/gentoo/dev /mnt/gentoo/var/log/portage /mnt/gentoo/usr/local/portage /mnt/gentoo/var/tmp/binpkgs /mnt/gentoo/usr/portage/distfiles /mnt/gentoo/usr/portage/distfiles/cvs-src
# mount /dev/hdx1 /mnt/gentoo/boot 

[-5-] - Preparing Chroot

5.1 - Downloading THE conrad-updater script
What the...?
Glad you asked, the conrad-updater is all-new in guide 3.x, it allows easy, painless updates in a friendly dialog-based interface, in our case, we have the 'First Install' update implemented into the script, this will allow us to run the option, and skip a few steps.

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# wget conrad-projects.org/conrad-updater
# chmod +x conrad-updater
# mv conrad-updater /mnt/gentoo
(please read ALL of step 5.2 to continue)

5.2 - Downloading and Extracting a stage3

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# cd /mnt/gentoo 
# wget http://gentoo.osuosl.org/releases/x86/2006.1/stages/stage3-i686-2006.1.tar.bz2 
# tar -jxvpf stage3-i686-2006.1.tar.bz2
(conrad-updater cont'd)
# mv conrad-updater /mnt/gentoo/usr/bin 

5.3 - Downloading and Extracting Portage Snapshot

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# wget http://distfiles.gentoo.org/snapshots/portage-latest.tar.bz2
# tar -jxvpf portage-latest.tar.bz2 -C /mnt/gentoo/usr/

5.4 - Copying resolv.conf

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# cp /etc/resolv.conf /mnt/gentoo/etc/

[-6-] - Preparing New Environment

6.1 - Running the conrad-updater for the first time
We need to run the conrad-updater for the first time OUTSIDE of the chroot, so we can get the conrad files.
NOTE: gpm no longer required as of 1.1

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# cd /mnt/gentoo/usr/bin
# ./conrad-updater
(choose option 5 <new install>)

If the conrad-updater doesn't run (it will on the proper install mediums):

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# wget conrad-projects.org/latest_files_fresh.tar.bz2
# tar jxf latest_files_fresh.tar.bz2 -C /mnt/gentoo

6.2 - *** IMPORTANT *** Getting GCC piepatches
I will improve the ebuild soon so we don't need to do this, until then:

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# wget conrad-projects.org/gcc-4.1.1-piepatches-v8.7.8-cg.tar.bz2
# mv gcc-4.1.1-piepatches-v8.7.8-cg.tar.bz2 /mnt/gentoo/usr/portage/distfiles

6.2 - Mounting /proc and /dev

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# mount -t proc none /mnt/gentoo/proc
# mount --bind /dev /mnt/gentoo/dev 

6.3 - Chrooting

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# chroot /mnt/gentoo /bin/bash
# env-update; source /etc/profile

6.4 - Setting Timezone
Change according to your zone

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# rm -rf /etc/localtime
# ln -s /usr/share/zoneinfo/US/Eastern /etc/localtime

DO STEP 6.5 IF YOU ARE USING THE GENTOO OFFICIAL MINIMAL CD
6.5 - Using the older linux headers

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# echo ">=sys-kernel/linux-headers-2.6.16" >> /etc/portage/package.mask/misc
# echo "=sys-libs/glibc-2.4-r4" >> /etc/portage/package/mask/misc

[-7-] - Preparing For Installation

Conrad 3.1.0 make.conf file
Config File:

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# Conrad Installation Guide 3.1.0 make.conf file
# <etc/make.conf>
# After reading all the commentary's in this file, you probally will want to delete them.

# Architecture Setting
# replace with your architecture
# Ex. athlon64, athlon-xp, pentium-m, and so on.
YOURARCH="i686"

# Hashstyle
# Uncomment when directed in the conrad guide
#LDFLAGSHASHSTYLE=" -Wl,--hash-style=gnu"

# Compiler Parameters
CFLAGS="-Os -march=${YOURARCH} -frename-registers -fweb -pipe -fomit-frame-pointer -funit-at-a-time -freorder-blocks -fno-ident -freorder-blocks-and-partition -fgcse-sm -fgcse-las -fgcse-after-reload -fmerge-all-constants -combine"
CXXFLAGS="${CFLAGS} -fvisibility-inlines-hidden"
LDFLAGS="-Wl,-O1${LDFLAGSHASHSTYLE}"
CHOST="i686-pc-linux-gnu"

# Keywords to accept
ACCEPT_KEYWORDS="~x86"

# Setup the overlays
CONRAD_OVERLAY="/usr/local/overlays/conrad"
PORTAGE_OVERLAY="/usr/local/portage"
PORTDIR_OVERLAY="${CONRAD_OVERLAY} ${PORTAGE_OVERLAY}"

# Niceness and features
PORTAGE_NICENESS="10"
FEATURES="distlocks"

# USE Flags
# (fill in USENO with use flags you want disabled, and USEYES for use flags you want enabled)
# DO NOT PUT THE "-" SIGN IN THE USENO SECTION
# The USENO section must NEVER BE BLANK; Separate use flags by spaces
USENO="livecd"
USEYES="nptlonly unicode hashstyle"
USE="-${USENO} ${USEYES}"

# Multiple Cores/CPUS (uncomment as necessary)
# 1 CPU: one core
#MAKEOPTS="-j2"
# 1 CPU: two cores
#MAKEOPTS="-j3"
# 1 CPU: four cores
#MAKEOPTS="-j5"
# 2 CPUs: one core each
#MAKEOPTS="-j4"
# 2 CPUs: two cores each
#MAKEOPTS="-j6"
# 2 CPUs: four cores each
#MAKEOPTS="-j8"

# Input_Devices for Modular Xorg
# (nvidia-based example given)
# INPUT_DEVICES="keyboard mouse"
# VIDEO_CARDS="nv nvidia vesa"

EXAMPLE: make.conf customized with comments removed for an intel core 2 duo

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YOURARCH="pentium-m"

#LDFLAGSHASHSTYLE=" -Wl,--hash-style=gnu"

CFLAGS="-Os -march=${YOURARCH} -msse3 -frename-registers -fweb -pipe -fomit-frame-pointer -funit-at-a-time -freorder-blocks -fno-ident -freorder-blocks-and-partition -fgcse-sm -fgcse-las -fgcse-after-reload -fmerge-all-constants -combine"
CXXFLAGS="${CFLAGS} -fvisibility-inlines-hidden"
LDFLAGS="-Wl,-O1${LDFLAGSHASHSTYLE}"
CHOST="i686-pc-linux-gnu"

ACCEPT_KEYWORDS="~x86"

CONRAD_OVERLAY="/usr/local/overlays/conrad"
PORTAGE_OVERLAY="/usr/local/portage"
PORTDIR_OVERLAY="${CONRAD_OVERLAY} ${PORTAGE_OVERLAY}"

PORTAGE_NICENESS="10"
FEATURES="distlocks"

USENO="gnome"
USEYES="nptlonly unicode hashstyle fbcon X alsa kde qt gtk xmms jpeg png win32codecs"
USE="-${USENO} ${USEYES}"

MAKEOPTS="-j3"

INPUT_DEVICES="keyboard mouse"
VIDEO_CARDS="nv nvidia vesa"

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wget http://conrad-projects.org/make.conf
# mv make.conf /etc

7.2 - Customizing Make.conf
You will need to change 'YOURARCH="i686"', to your supported processor.
Options: pentium2, pentium3, pentium4, prescott, k8, opteron, pentium-m, i686, athlon-xp, etc.

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# nano /etc/make.conf

7.3 - Choosing processor-specific USE FLAGS

This is optional, if you are unsure of yourself, skip to next step. Check /proc/cpuinfo for available options.

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# nano /etc/make.conf

# Options we're using (cat /proc/cpuinfo will tell you your options available)
# DON't MESS UP! Otherwise you system won't work correctly
USE="nptlonly unicode sse sse2 sse3 3dnow 3dnowext mmx mmxext"

NOTICE: You can and will BREAK packages if you choose the wrong options.

7.3 - If your CPU Supports sse3.....
Most recent processors support sse3, such as: most athlon64 939 CPUs, all AM2 AMD CPUs, Some pentium4's, All pentium d's, core 2 duo, and so on.
Check /proc/cpuinfo for sse3 or pni in the flags section, either of these things means your CPU supports sse3.
If it does support it, add the following to your CFLAGS:

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-msse3

[-8-] - Manual Bootstrap (Building Base System)

8.1 - Setting Locales - OPTIONAL
This is optional. Set this according to your area. It saves build time.

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# nano -w /etc/locale.gen

Example file:

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# This file names the list of locales to be built when glibc is installed.
# The format is <locale>/<charmap>, where <locale> is a locale from the
# /usr/share/i18n/locales directory, and <charmap> is name of one of the files
# in /usr/share/i18n/charmaps/. All blank lines and lines starting with # are
# ignored. Here is an example:
# en_US/ISO-8859-1

en_US/ISO-8859-1
en_US.UTF-8/UTF-8

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# locale-gen

8.2 - Upgrading Portage

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# emerge portage
# emerge --sync

8.3 - Setting for use of hashstyle

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# emerge binutils glibc
# binutils-config 2
# source /etc/profile
# emerge -P binutils

8.4 - Enabling hashstyle in make.conf

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# nano /etc/make.conf

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Uncomment the following line:
#LDFLAGSHASHSTYLE=" -Wl,--hash-style=gnu"
... It should now look like ...
LDFLAGSHASHSTYLE=" -Wl,--hash-style=gnu"

8.5 - Building Toolkit

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# emerge glibc binutils gcc libstdc++-v3 libtool portage

8.6 - Configuring New Toolkit

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# gcc-config -l
(Lists installed gcc(s), if you see 4.1.1 you're on a role)
# gcc-config 6
# env-update; source /etc/profile
# emerge -P gcc

8.7 - Rebuilding Toolkit
Rebuild your toolkit again. It is the proper method that with a new toolkit, that it be built on itself.

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# emerge binutils glibc gcc libstdc++-v3 libtool portage

8.8 - Removing Pam-login
We need to remove the version of pam-login included in the stock Stage3. It is now included in the shadow package, and creates a world confict on ~x86.

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# emerge -C pam-login; emerge shadow
(the "c" is capital "C")

8.9 - Rebuilding the World

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# emerge -e world
# etc-update
(Merge all files....) -5

[-9-] - Setting up No-Sources (best performance/interactivity)

9.1 - Emerging No-Sources

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# emerge no-sources

9.2 - Configuring and Compiling Kernel
-----
All I can do is tell you how to get started, and what is required.

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# cd /usr/src/linux
# make menuconfig

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Required Options...
Code maturity level options --->
  [*] Prompt for development and/or incomplete code/drivers

General setup  --->
  [*] Support for hot-pluggable devices

Loadable Module Support --->
  [*] Module unloading support

Processor type and features --->
  [*] Standard x86 support (Used for amd64/em64t cpus)
  (Change accordingly)
  (Your Processor Family) Processor family
  [*] Symmetric multi-processing support
  # If you have exactly 1GB of memory use the following else just leave it at default.
         Memory Split (3G/1G user/kernel split (for full 1GB Low memory)) ---->

File systems --->
  Pseudo Filesystems --->
    [*] /proc file system support
    [*] Virtual memory file system support (former shm fs)
  <*> Ext3 journalling file system support
  <*> Second extended fs support

Device Drivers --->
  ATA/ATAPI/MFM/RLL support --->
    [*] Generic PCI bus-master DMA support
    [*]   Use PCI DMA by default when available
    [ ] SCSI Emulation Support

Device Drivers --->
  Networking support --->
    <*> PPP (point-to-point protocol) support
    <*>   PPP support for async serial ports
    <*>   PPP support for sync tty ports
  100 MBIT/1000 MBIT --->
   (make sure you compile in your proper network driver
   Sound --->
    [M] Sound card support
        Alsa --->
            PCI Cards --->
                 [M] Your Driver, mine is intel8x0, a common one is emu10k1 for soundblaster cards

USB Support --->
  <*>   USB Human Interface Device (full HID) support

Device Drivers > Graphics support:
 [*] Support for frame buffer devices
 <*>   VESA VGA graphics support
         VESA driver type (vesafb-tng)  --->
 (HRESxVRES@FREQ) VESA default mode    # Pick your resolution - eg. 1024x768@84

Device Drivers > Graphics support > Console display driver support:
 [*] Video mode selection support
 <*> Framebuffer Console support

Device Drivers > Graphics support:
 [*] Support for the framebuffer splash

Device Drivers > Block devices:
 <*> RAM disk support
 (4096) Default RAM disk size (kbytes) (NEW)
 [*]   Initial RAM disk (initrd) support

9.3 - Choosing an IO Scheduler
We're going to configure another important aspect in our kernel. Here is a run down of each IO Scheduler.
CFQ: Best all-around for desktop performance, including reiser4. If you want to use the others go for it, but CG now reccomends CFQ

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KERNEL CONFIGURATION
Block Devices > IO Schedulers
 [*] Anticipatory
 [*] Deadline
 [*] CFQ
 (Default = Anticipatory/Deadline/CFQ) 

NOTE: To test different IO Schedulers, you can use 'elevator=' boot parameter in Grub (Example: elevator=deadline)

9.4 - Emerging Grub

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(make sure the /boot partition is mounted)
# emerge grub

The Conrad Install Guide does not support installing on a root partition only. Grub does not support reiser4 on '/boot'

9.5 - Compiling the Kernel

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# make all ; make modules_install ; make install

[-10-] - Emerging Additional System Files

10.1 - Emerging Services and Tools

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# emerge syslog-ng reiserfsprogs reiser4progs sysfsutils dhcpcd gentoolkit acpid slocate vixie-cron

10.2 - Adding the programs to the default runlevel

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# rc-update add syslog-ng default
# rc-update add net.eth0 default
# rc-update add acpid default
# rc-update add gpm default
# rc-update add vixie-cron default
# rc-update add numlock default

[-11-] - Setting up the CONRAD Gensplash

11.1 - Emerging Splashutils and the Conrad Boot Theme

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# emerge gentoo-sources
# cd /usr/src/linux
# make allyesconfig
# make modules_prepare
# emerge splashutils
# emerge -C gentoo-sources
# rm /usr/src/linux
# ln -s /usr/src/linux-2.6.17-no5 /usr/src/linux
# emerge conrad-fbsplash
# rc-update add splash default

11.2 - Generating an Initramfs
Please select your default resolution here.

Code: Select all

# cd /etc/splash
# splash_geninitramfs -v -g /boot/fbsplash -r 1024x768 conrad

[-12-] - Configuring and Installing Grub

12.1 - Modifying '/boot/grub/grub.conf'
In grub, hdx1 is (hd0,0), and hdx2 is (hd0,1) and so forth.

Code: Select all

nano -w /boot/grub/grub.conf

timeout 30
default 0
# Splash is on boot partition
splashimage=(hd0,0)/grub/splash.xpm.gz

title=Conrad-Gentoo 3.1 | 2.6.18-no2
root (hd0,0) # boot partition
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.18-no2 root=/dev/hda3 video=vesafb:1024x768-32@80,mtrr,ywrap splash=silent,fadein,theme:conrad quiet CONSOLE=/dev/tty1
initrd (hd0,0)/fbsplash

title=Windows Partition
rootnoverify (hd0,3) # pretend it is on hda4
makeactive
chainloader +1

12.2 - Running grub for installation to MBR

Code: Select all

# grub
<grub:> root (hd0,0) # boot partition
# (hd0) is the MBR of the drive.
<grub:> setup (hd0)
<grub:> quit

[-13-] - Configuring Your System

13.1 - Editing Configuration Files
Replace 'hdx' with the correct drive letter.

Code: Select all

# nano -w /etc/conf.d/hdparm
# lets add all our options as seen previously above. refer back to it if you need to

13.2 - Set Your Hostname and Domainname

Code: Select all

# nano /etc/conf.d/hostname
HOSTNAME="conrad-gentoo"

Code: Select all

# nano -w /etc/hosts
127.0.0.1 conrad-gentoo localhost

If you don't understand these 2 files, leave them alone.

Code: Select all

# nano -w /etc/conf.d/domainname
# DNSDOMAIN=""
# NISDOMAIN=""

13.3 - Editing the /etc/conf.d/net
(Not necessary for dhcp users.)

Code: Select all

# nano -w /etc/conf.d/net
For help, refer to '/etc/conf.d/net.example'

13.4 - Configuring FSTAB
NOTE: Reiser4 users use noatime and nodiratime in the options

Code: Select all

# nano /etc/fstab

13.5 - Setting up Users
First set the root password

Code: Select all

# passwd
<enter new password>
<confirm new password>

Then set up a user

Code: Select all

# useradd -m -G users,wheel,audio,video conrad
# passwd conrad
<set conrad password>
<confirm conrad password>

[-14-] - Rebooting System

14.1 - Unmounting and Rebooting

Code: Select all

# exit
# umount /mnt/gentoo/boot /mnt/gentoo/proc /mnt/gentoo /mnt/gentoo/dev
# reboot

14.2 - Booting New System
Hopefully you'll have a grub menu, and be able boot into your new system.
If you get a kernel panic then check to make sure you configured everything correctly by booting back into the Conrad LiveCD and following, Steps 4.3, 5.3, 6.1

14.3 - Prelinking
We need to prelink our binaries to get full usage from hashstyles. We need to edit conf.d for prelink first, so don't skip that, and do it before running prelink.

Code: Select all

# emerge prelink
# env-update
# nano /etc/conf.d/prelink
...find:
PRELINKING="no"
...change to:
PRELINKING="yes"
# prelink -amR

[-15-] - USE flags and additional configuration

15.1 - Looking at the possible use variables

Code: Select all

# nano -w /usr/portage/profiles/use.desc

There are tons of user variables, by x86 the following are used by default

Code: Select all

USE="x86 oss apm arts avi berkdb crypt cups encode foomaticdb gdbm gif gpm gtk gtk2 imlib jpeg kde gnome libg++ 
libwww mad mikmod motif mpeg ncurses nls oggvorbis opengl pam pdflib png python qt quicktime readline sdl 
slang spell ssl svga tcpd truetype X xml2 xmms xv zlib indent"

15.2 - Setting USE Flags

There are tons of use flags to choose from, personally, I like a kde/gtk/nvidia system, here is how I will set my use flags

Code: Select all

# nano -w /etc/make.conf
USE="nptlonly alsa X gtk -gnome qt kde -arts win32codecs nvidia opengl -gstreamer"

15.3 - Deleting the 'netmount' service if it is unneeded
Most people don't need this, it will fail to start in most cases

Code: Select all

# rc-update del netmount

For more In-Depth configuration information, consult the Gentoo Handbook

[-16-] - Installing Modular X and a graphical environment

16.1 - Emerging Xorg

Code: Select all

# emerge virtual/x11

16.2 - Getting an xorg.conf setup
You should be able to do this on your own.

Code: Select all

# xorgconfig

or

Code: Select all

# X -configure

16.3 - Installing a DE/WM
You can choose to install any DE or WM, by typing "emerge gnome gnome-light kde openbox fluxbox blackbox etc"

16.4 - KDE - The CONRAD Reccomended Way*

Code: Select all

First of all, we are going to emerge the base of kde

NOTE: perrty and risky use flags are already enabled for QT in package.use

# emerge kdelibs kdebase-startkde
We need to emerge a file manager, I recomend emerging konqueror too

Now we need to emerge some nice applications we use, here is a list of applications that I use with KDE
01. konqueror - KDE/QT Web Browser and File Browser
02. net-im/kopete - Latest Kopete instant messanger, I reccomend this one instead of the kde-base/kopete one, as this is newer
03. konversation - QT Irc Client
04. kmail - QT E-mail Client
05. ksnapshot - KDE Screenshot Taker
06. kpdf - pdf viewer
07. Amarok - audio player
08. Konsole - KDE Terminal Program
09. KTorrent - KDE Torrent
There are tons of more qt applications for certain items, you can check the kde-base directory in /usr/portage. Also check the meta ebuilds if you are looking for a certain app included in one of the bundles (e.g. kdegraphics-meta) 

16.5 - Graphics Drivers
If you have 3D acceleration on your card, you may want to, and should install the NVidia or ATI Drivers.
Gentoo NVIDIA Guide: http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/nvidia-guide.xml
Gentoo-Wiki ATI Guide: http://gentoo-wiki.com/HOWTO_ATI_Drivers

16.6 - Configuring Login Manger (GDM)
If you did gnome-light or kde you need to emerge gdm

Code: Select all

# emerge gdm
# nano /etc/rc.conf
DISPLAYMANAGER="gdm"
# rc-update add xdm default

[-17-] - Configuring ALSA

For more information you may want to visit the Gentoo Linux Alsa Guide.
Gentoo Alsa Guide: http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/alsa-guide.xml

17.1 - Emerging alsa packages
(Assuming you have the sound card and alsa items as modules in-kernel)

Code: Select all

# emerge alsa-lib alsa-headers alsa-utils

17.2 - Running alsaconf

Code: Select all

# alsaconf

17.3 - Editing Additional Files

Code: Select all

# nano -w /etc/modules.d/alsa
<Find near the botton snd-***, and sound-***>
change *** to your sound card name, for example...
(if it is already there, just ignore it)
snd-intel8x0 sound-intel8x0
snd-emu10k1 sound-emu10k1

17.4 - Running ALSAMIXER
You should run alsamixer to adjust the levels of your card, and make sure it is all unmuted, you can press 'M' to unmute/mute the card, by default, alsaconf should unmute all or most, depending on setup, of the things required.

Code: Select all

# alsamixer

17.5 - Adding Alsasound to Default Runlevel

Code: Select all

# rc-update add alsasound default

[-18-] - Keeping an Up-To-Date System

18.1 - Updating the world
First of all always keep the sync up-to-date, a emerge sync once a day at least is recommended

Code: Select all

# emerge --sync

To update all the packages, run

Code: Select all

# emerge -pvuD world

Well this brings us to our end, I hope you the best of luck.

Now your system should be on the edge in speed and it should be the most up-to-date system once installed.

Your system (hopefully) Now includes...
* Reiser4 Filesystem (with deadline IO sched)
* GCC 4.1.1-conrad built system (exclusive conrad gcc rigged overlay, which improves compilation and all)
* Incredibly quick system, surprisingly more stable than needed for everyday desktop use
* The latest packages portage has to offer
* A very nice boot-up splash with a progress bar
-----
Please leave your feedback, suggestions, and support issues.

For Support
For support issues, post in this forum.

If you need other assistance, have suggestions, or need to contact me personally, do so at.
Email: cheater1034@gmail.com
AIM: cheater1034
IRC: #conrad ON Freenode
------
Messages from Conrad

If you are interested in developing/help develop something for Conrad Gentoo Projects, email me at,
cheater1034@gmail.com

Thanks,
cheater-conrad

Post all support issues in this thread or on IRC at #conrad

[andrew_wiggin]

looks good

btw, the codename is kinda freaky,because at the moment israel is getting missiled by Lebanon.

[vipernicus]

You use SDPARM for SATA drives.

[eremini]

No upgrade path is a bit sucky
Shouldn't rebuilding the toolchain and updating the make.conf bring it pretty much up to sync?

P.S. If you need server space, pm me, I got plenty.

[eremini]

http://bfgraphics.net/conrad-fbsplash.tar.bz2
contains teh ebuild not the files

[junki]

conrad-updater script seems dont want to work ... I think there's a problem with dialog command, and not with gpm.

Anyway, good job !

[eqlb]

there is not a probem with the conrad script its a error in the install guide. The conrad script should be ran before you chroot into the install. . Since you cant use gpm in a chroot session..thats a pre install guide for you. Thnaks for the new guide Cheater ..... One last thing should the hashvalue flag for binutils be on or off since it is off in the usekeywords?

[Donman]

I take it the conrad-updater script is meant to be run inside the chroot, so shouldnt the last part of step 5.2 be changed from:

Code: Select all

(conrad-updater cont'd)
# mv conrad-updater /usr/bin

to:

Code: Select all

(conrad-updater cont'd)
# mv conrad-updater /mnt/gentoo/usr/bin

This way, the scipt is in the chroots' $PATH, not residing outside of the chroot in the livecds' /usr/bin (if you follow me). Also, I think the reminder to start gpm should be moved up to the steps before entering the chroot, since I dont believe you can start gpm from inside the chroot.

Another thing, regarding step 11.1 Setting up the CONRAD Gensplash, I would reccomend changing '# emerge splashutils' to '# emerge --oneshot splashutils', so splashutils is not recorded in the users world file, causing problems when the user is re-emerging world, since it will fail to build against the kernel. And adding --oneshot to emerge when installing any splash themes would be a good idea to, so splashutils isnt rebuilt as a dependency.

And then, just one more thing, when it somes time for [-13-] Configuring your system, maybe add editing /etc/conf.d/clock for users that dualboot with windows, so their clock doesnt get screwed.

Hope you dont mind my critique of the guide, this is just stuff that I believe would help the user out. But other than that, this guide looks perfect!

[eqlb]

Donman:
open the script up in nano or vim and see what number 5 does...
pretty much states:
cd /mnt/gentoo
wget ****
tar xfj ****
so it is not meant to run in a chroot

[EAD]

Hi,
It seem there is a problem with the scrtip, any one know how to fix it?
I have just download the step 5 manually, is that right? any thing else? also, will the new kernel p4 is here?

[nbvcxz]

This guide is still going better - I use most of the mentioned components for some time and all is quite stable. You can also include tip with using libata for ATAPI drives.
BIG THX for the guide and no-sources

[EAD]

What king of patches are on the Binutils? and is there any new other speical patches?

[EAD]

also, why does it install me glibc 2.4 r4 and not 2.4.9(2.5) ?
and is there a need to do emerge -e system so I can optmize the Stage1-3 ?

[vipernicus]

also, why does it install me glibc 2.4 r4 and not 2.4.9(2.5) ?
and is there a need to do emerge -e system so I can optmize the Stage1-3 ?

Because, that is what the conrad guide is supporting right now.

[Donman]

eqlb wrote:

Donman:
open the script up in nano or vim and see what number 5 does...
pretty much states:
cd /mnt/gentoo
wget ****
tar xfj ****
so it is not meant to run in a chroot

I see. I only thought the script was meant to be run in the chroot because the step where you run run it (step 7.2) is after you have chroot'ed. Then I suppose moving step 7.2 up to before step 6.1 is a good idea, that way people know to run the script before they chroot.

[EAD]

I dont know why, but while doint the install after enable the hashstyl (section 8.4), I done the "emerge glibc binutils gcc ..." and my computer got stuck!
I mean, I couldn't even see what , because the screen went black, and I need to do a "power down" to my computer, is there a bug here?
I follow all the install stages as in the install.

[eqlb]

Donman:
the funs and joys of a new install guide, that is incomplete in some parts no fault towards Cheater at all.
Its not really a error its a feature :-p

Cheater:
You should add a step for nvidia and ait users and xorg. That masks xorg 7.1 like evo mission did.
Since the new xorg 7.1 doesnt work with it

[cheater1034]

Sorry, I'm going to be away a bit more than usual, so I won't be as active.

Updated/Updating to 3.0.0_pre2 <-- fixes reported guide problems, and masks xorg 7.1 (as seen in conrad 2.8.0)

If the newInstall doesn't bring up the correct package.mask, you can get it here, bfgraphics.net/package.mask

I'm editing it for the newInstall option as we speak.

-cheater

[Donman]

eqlb:
Lol, yeah. I'm not trying to put anyone at fault, just trying to help cheater1034 polish up his guide .

[cheater1034]

3.0.0_pre2 is ready to be installed

* Fixed first conrad-updater run in guide
* Cleaned up
* Added new runlevel stuff


Should be ready for primetime rather quickly.

[EAD]

I allways can't seem something in this guides.
I love using guids, and you are doing a great job
but,
Why not writing a script that can do most of the things here?
for example
Why should some one write

Code: Select all

# emerge portage 
# emerge --metadata 
# emerge --sync 


8.3 * Setting for use of hashstyle 
Code: 
# emerge binutils glibc 
# binutils-config 2 
# source /etc/profile 
# emerge -P binutils 


8.4 * Enabling hashstyle in make.conf 
Code: 
# nano /etc/make.conf 

Code: 
# REPLACE THE LDFLAGS WITH THE COMMENTED ONES WHEN PROMPTED IN THE CONRAD INSTALL GUIDE 
LDFLAGS="-Wl,-O1 -Wl,--as-needed" 
# After binutils and glibc rebuild 
# LDFLAGS="-Wl,-O1 -Wl,--as-needed -Wl,--hash-style=both" 

CHANGE TO: 
Code: 
LDFLAGS="-Wl,-O1 -Wl,--as-needed -Wl,--hash-style=both" 

8.5 - Building Toolkit 
Code: 
# emerge glibc binutils gcc libstdc++-v3 libtool portage 

When it can be done auto by a script? why not updateing the Conrad script to do all this "static" things ?

Also, Does the GCC 4.2 is stable?! is it from SVN or something? and does reiser4 is stable? and why do you say it uses glibc2.5 when it is 2.4 in fact?

and anthor thing, why are they tweaks in EVO mission that arn't here? why can't we put all the tweaks here like some ldflags?

[seren]

Code: Select all

#!/bin/bash
wget bfgraphics.net/conrad-updater
chmod +x conrad-updater
mv conrad-updater /mnt/gentoo
cd /mnt/gentoo
wget http://gentoo.osuosl.org/releases/x86/2006.0/stages/stage3-i686-2006.0.tar.bz2
tar -jxvpf stage3-i686-2006.0.tar.bz2
mv conrad-updater /mnt/gentoo/usr/bin
wget http://distfiles.gentoo.org/snapshots/portage-latest.tar.bz2 
tar -jxvpf portage-latest.tar.bz2 -C /mnt/gentoo/usr/
cp /etc/resolv.conf /mnt/gentoo/etc/
cd /mnt/gentoo/usr/bin
wget bfgraphics.net/latest_files_fresh.tar.bz2
tar jxf latest_files_fresh.tar.bz2 -C /mnt/gentoo
chroot /mnt/gentoo /bin/bash

its as easy as a little copy + paste

[eremini]

Right, a little something on updating for anyone interested. It is possible to upgrade from the previous guides (no matter really 2.7 or 2.8, theres not that much of a difference). But conrad is right it will mess up your system, another thing is that you can easily un-mess up it
So whats the problem with upgrading? The main is that we have to downgrade glibc, which is generally not a good idea and is blocked by the ebuild's sanity check. The thing is both versions are 2.4, so really its not such a big deal. I've done it and everything works fine, but don't blame me if it makes your pc go up in flames . So basically you have 2 options: the easy - remove the sanity check from the ebuild and just downgrade or unemerge glibc and through some very shitty moves install the other one. Now since I am dumb and I do not plan my moves I didn't think of the easy way and went the hard way, hence I have not tested the easy way and can't tell you nothing about it. Here are general notes about the hard way though.

So while thinking about completely different things I blindly typed emerge -C glibc, for obvious reasons that process didn't complete, after none of the system commands worked I finally started to think. Rebooted into the live cd and tried to restore glibc from binary distibutions provided by some nice gentoo developer for some reason that didn't work, so then I had a crazy idea to copy the contents of live cds /lib to /mnt/gentoo/lib. Ha that worked! So now the logical step for me was to finish the unemerge of glibc, things weren't that easy though, coreutils and findutils which are kinda needed for portage were built against glibc 2.4 and on the live cd we have 2.3. So what to do? Borrow the files from the livecd again! So I copied the files that were giving me errors while quering them up with equery belong. Somehow I already managed to loose that list, but from memory the packages were coreutils, findutils, perl, gettext and autoconf. Basically I just looked through the ebuild and configure operations for warnings - if glibc says something is found but its not usable that indicates that kind of problem. The good thing is that even though the things build with glibc 2.4 dont work on 2.3 but things built on 2.3 do work on 2.4, so ur copied files will still work later on. From here its pretty straight forward: emerge the new binutils, emerge the new old glibc (you should be now able to boot into ur old system all fine) update ur make.conf rebuild the toolkit, eselect the new old version of gcc, update the toolchain again and rebuild world. That should do it. Hope this been helpfull to someone!

[EAD]

it seem that the conrad-updater still doesn't work.
It load, I see a menu with all the options, but when pressing 5 it thrue me out of the script.
Any one notice this? is there a fix?

[elkhunter]

As a suggestion, how about adding a section on to use distcc during the intial install to speed things up? For example if a person had multiple computers on the network (which I do), it would be nice to boot from a conrad CD on each one (which presumably already have a compatible compiler setup), run distccd, then during install the actual target machine setup distccd to point to the others. I use distcc a lot now for updating but I've never used it during install.

Another suggestion/request would be to supply a vmware or dar or tar or similar image of a pre-installed conrad env to download. That way it could be used for evaluation purposes as well as installing on multiple machines. Ideally I'd like to be able to download a pre-built conrad env and a pre-built evolution env (a pre-built standard gentoo env is already available), then do some performance comparisons before deciding which to use to replace the existing installs on my machines.