From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 From: "Neil Holmes" Subject: RE: Elks Distribution Date: Tue, 28 May 2002 10:53:05 +0100 Sender: linux-8086-owner@vger.kernel.org Message-ID: References: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Return-path: In-Reply-To: List-Id: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" To: Stefan de Konink Cc: Linux 8086 Already done. I have called it the shopping list. http://homepage.ntlworld.com/neiluk/elks-distro/ Thanks Neil -----Original Message----- From: Stefan de Konink [mailto:skinkie@kinkrsoftware.xs4all.nl] Sent: 28 May 2002 12:12 To: Neil Holmes Cc: Riley Williams; Linux 8086 Subject: RE: Elks Distribution 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. > > - > To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-8086" in > the body of a message to majordomo@vger.kernel.org > More majordomo info at http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html > > > > - > To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-8086" in > the body of a message to majordomo@vger.kernel.org > More majordomo info at http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html >