RE: Elks Distribution

Stefan de Konink
2002-05-28T11:12:01Z

Maybe its a good idea to put the roadmap for ELKS: The Distribution
Edition, on the website.

On Tue, 28 May 2002, Neil Holmes wrote:

> Hi Riley,
>
> I am very greatful to you for your support of what I am doing. Basic, though
> it is at the moment, I do expect it to go much, much further.
>
> The goal of the Distribution Edition is to create a version of ELKS that is
> accessible to the less technically able of us out there. Simply stated - to
> be able to boot from a floppy disk, follow a procedure, and finish up with
> a PC that boots into ELKS at the end of that process. (From my web page)
>
> I remember that, when I first started out with Elks, I had a lot of trouble
> getting going from anything other than the disk images. I had an 80286 PC
> that had been sat around gathering dust and I decided that it should be my
> ELKS desktop PC.
>
> Even then it took me a long time to get anywhere far with that. Although I
> have an IT career, its not as a 'C' Programmer. And my low level knowledge
> is sketchy to say the least. I find Tannebaum's tome very interesting but
> hard going. I guess that sort of level is not my scene.
>
> But what I do have is a gritty determination. And that is how I got going
> with the 80286. I resolved that I would get it self booting and running
> ELKS. I achieved that after a lot of experimentation and Newsgroup scouring.
>
> As I said in my email last week. I then got to the point where I wanted to
> try and put something back into the project of my own. But what could I do ?
> I certainly don't have, and probably never will have, the low level skills
> that you guys have. But what I did have was my own experience of getting
> started with ELKS.
>
> I realised that many others may be getting turned off to ELKS because they
> don't possess the same kind of determination that I do. So that was when I
> decided to pull together my experience into what, I hope, will become a
> decent Distribution Edition for people like me.
>
> So the roadmap that I have now goes something like this :-
>
> 1. Bootable Install Floppy
> - Shell Scripting
> - Maybe look at some of the mini "curses" code that is lying around to try
> and make it
> look prettier later
> - I would appreciate some feedback on what I can do with the bcc version
> of "curses".
> I noticed it in the ELKSCMD source.
>
> - I am thinking that for a Distribution I need to be able to, pretty well,
> automate everything.
> But, of course, with manual options for those who prefer that way. The
> key installation issues
> that I see my needing to consider are :-
> - How do I resolve the kernel configuration for each platform/ disk layout
> ?
> - May be Linux controlled as per your information.
> - How do I control partitioning during install ?
> - Again your suggestions are likely to help here.
> - How do I deal with different types of install images ?
> - Your suggestions, again, will be key.
> - How do I Resolve the multi-booting issue ?
> - This may be a lilo answer ? Not really thought about it yet.
>
> 2. SLIP Network Installation
> - Automatic installation of a SLIP connection and test during install
> - I have not really played with this yet though I do have Harry's notes in
> my file.
>
> 3. Package Installation
> - Look to install package sets as part of the installation process
> - Here I will need suggestions and contributions. I can start work on this
> now so, if anyone
> has anything then please let me know. Please be sure that I am ok with
> licensing before
> submitting anything. Documentation would be very helpful too ! I will
> try them out on my
> desktop before I include them.
> - SmallC I expect to be one
> - Elvis perhaps
>
> So there you have it. Thats what I am up to. The feedback that I get is
> vital and I very greatful for all the encouragement that I have had thus
> far.
>
> Many Thanks
>
> Neil
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: linux-8086-owner@vger.kernel.org
> [mailto:linux-8086-owner@vger.kernel.org]On Behalf Of Riley Williams
> Sent: 28 May 2002 07:27
> To: Neil Holmes
> Cc: Linux 8086
> Subject: Re: Elks Distribution
>
>
> Hi Neil.
>
> > Thanks Riley.
> >
> > I have a few things to do before I get to disk formats. Thank you for
> > your, as ever, very useful information.
>
> No problem. Here's how I would envision your install image working:
>
> 1. The user does the current `make comb` or `make full3` or `make
> full5` to create the relevant bootable system image, which provides
> an outline of the files that should be on the target system. If the
> `make comb` route is taken, they also do `make net` to create one
> with the SLIP networking tools on it.
>
> 2. The user then does a `make imstimg` that creates a second system
> image, which produces a 720k image that can be written to either
> a 720k floppy, a 1200k 5.25" floppy or a 1440k 3.5" floppy, and
> which basically partitions and formats the hard drive, then mounts
> the disk produced in step 1 and then copies each file on that to
> the same relative location on the hard drive.
>
> 3. Also included on the `make instimg` disk and copied to the hard
> drive is a script that can copy additional disks over to the hard
> drive. This script would be used for the `make net` disk referred
> to in (1) above.
>
> How does that compare with your design?
>
> Best wishes from Riley.
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: linux-8086-owner@vger.kernel.org
> > [mailto:linux-8086-owner@vger.kernel.org]On Behalf Of Riley Williams
> > Sent: 27 May 2002 19:53
> > To: Javier Sedano
> > Cc: Linux 8086
> > Subject: Re: Elks Distribution
>
> > Hi Javier.
>
> >>>> I will arrange somewhere to post my distributions for download.
> >>>>
> >>>> I'll post a message when I have this arranged.
>
> >>> ftp.linux.org.uk will be happy to provide space
>
> >> Wouldn't it be better to upload that files to the official ELKS home
> >> page at sourceforge? Riley?
>
> > Ideally, it would be an extension of the elkscmd package that was
> > implemented as a `make instimg` command that created the disk images in
> > a similar way to how the `make full3` creates a disk image of a 1.44M
> > 3.5" ELKS boot floppy. If Neil wishes to do that, I have no problem with
> > the idea, and my recommended route would be to create an elkscmd/hdinst
> > directory in the existing tree and develop this in there, then go from
> > that.
> >
> > Comments?
> >
> > Best wishes from Riley.
>
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