This is a Read Me for Abject Newbies to Linux on the Power Mac like myself who are innocent of the errors you can make in choosing to install contradictory packages, stuff you don't need , ect...
THIS IS MEANT FOR SINGLE USER LINUX BOXES AT HOME OR SCHOOL WITH DIAL UP NET NEEDS!

No matter what you choose at install time, you are going to have to do some post-install configuration.

----------------ABOUT 10 MINUTES:

Basic installallation :
-Have your Unix Partions all ready.
-Make a HD Floppy with INSTALLER.COFF on it.

Method A
-Copy Boot Vars to your Mac OS
-Launch BootVariables, set:
Coose "all variables"
and set:
Input Device: kbd ---------> (keyboard)
Output Device: screen ---------> ( or, on the 7600: /chaos/control)
Boot Device: fd:INSTALLER.COFF ----->(the capitalization is important!)
Boot File: root=/dev/sda4 --------> (you can leave this blank)
Reboot

Method B
Reboot to Open Firmware, ( Clover-leaf/Option/O/F...as the reboot chime hits )
insert INSTALLER.COFF floppy
type in BOOT fd:INSTALLER.COFF
hit RETURN

The INSTALLER.COFF menu will come up in 2 minutes of toe-tapping You will answer a series of questions, concluding with "CD.ROM" as the source for your distribution.

The CD takes over at asking you some questions,...FINALLY:

1.) Choose: "Networked workstation"...
...this way your installation won't freak out demanding a domain identity every three minutes, refuse to let you issue passwords, or inconvieniantly refuse to reconize the PATH to your X11R6 stuff!

2.) All the development tools...c, c++ ....

3.) ...and X, the entire X package and all X applications,...

4.) ...and any packages that the installer tries to make you accept in order to support the above.

Dont't go for everything! This is Huge (800megs).

----------------ABOUT 45 Minutes:
[ The installer will prep the partition chosen for "root" and install packages showing progress bars as to how much will be installed, how much has been installed, and how much is left to go... in both Mega Bytes and Minutes... HANG AROUND, some packaged such as "imap", "vlock" and the immortal "Xmahjongg" will FAIL DO TO SCRIPT FAILURE! You will be presented a menu demanding permission to continue. ( HINT: don't select these packaged when choosing packages to install)]

----------------ABOUT 5 Minutes:
[ The installation is finished, but you have three screens to wrap up ]

a.)Answer "no" to the Network Setup dialog. [ You aren't setting up a LAN are you? If you are you are either already a Linux Guru/eXpert, and are WAY beyond this little help faq. ]
Do this later with "ifconfig".

c.) I like to go for the quick boot option.

----------------ABOUT 10 Minutes:

Right away after installation:
Edit your "startx" script and be sure that the last line is "screenrestore". (This was ommited in my distribution)

[ Note, after setting up your modem in Modem Configuration in Afterstep, and adding a ppp option in Network Configuration, you can dial-up by selecting "activate" in the ppp line in the Network menu]

ppp:
you should get "ezppp". It is out there, easy to find. Full graphical interface to pppd sevices including dialer. Very nice.

www browser: Mosaic
Mosaic binary is provided in the distribution and if its not installed just do it yourself.

ftp client: llnlxftp
It is also around at the various archives. You may need to build it from source though; the statically linked binary that I have seen will not run on the linuxppc.org distribution which is all shared libs.

Get Running Linux published by O'Reilly. It covers everything you will need to know in exactly enough detail to help you make things work right the first time. Really, it is a fantastic book.

Maybe this helps a little: jimf

Thanks to From: Jim Fair <jimf@jps.net> for helping me choose the stuff that made for a Works the First Time Installation!

Hal
hsundt@eugn.uswest.net