Re: Which linux flavor for amd64?
Lennart Sorensen wrote:
> On Fri, Apr 07, 2006 at 12:58:46PM +0000, jjvoyager@netzero.com
> wrote:
>
>> I had a Win98/knoppix p2 machine that was flooded by katrina. I
>> have a new system: cpu AMD Athlon 64 3200+ mb evga 133-k8-nf41-xx
>> uses the nForce4 chipset pcie video card nVidia GeForce 6600LE (do
>> not intend to use SLI functionality) OS WinXP Home + SP2
>> preinstalled on a 160GB SATA HD Use dual (VGA) monitors under win
>>
>> Finished my break-in period with XP, and I'd like to establish a
>> dual boot system with linux. I think I can hack resizing the ntfs
>> volume, repartition the disk, install linux and manage the boot
>> loader. My initial questions concern which linux version should I
>> install?
>>
>> Constraints/desires: 1. I have a dialup connection, therefore I
>> need to install from cd/dvd.
>
>
> Hmm, tricky. I used to maintain a debian unstable system up to date
> on dial up. Every night I connected and asked it to download the
> updated packages and hangup afterwards. Worked great. Install I did
> at my parents place using cable modem.
>
>
>> 2. I'd like to use the dual vga monitors off the nVidia card using
>> xinerama (not nVidia's TwinView)
>
>
> You can run xinerama on the nvidia. I know people doing that.
>
>
>> 3. Other hardware: Agere Systems PCI Soft Modem using SV92PL-T00
>> chipset, (can hook up a serial Creative Modem Blaster if the soft
>> modem can't function under linux), an external usb hd, and a
>> Samsung scx-4216f printer/fax/copy/scanner using either
>> usb/parallel.
>
>
> Soft modems are usually a pain. External serial would work great.
>
> I see no support for the printer. No idea what would be involved or
> what their driver does and how it would integrate with something
> normal like cupsys.
>
>
>> Options considered: 1. Live CD Knoppix v4.0.2 provides a
>> hd-installer, but some Knoppers say if you are going to install
>> Debian anyway, you are better off doing a straight Debian install.
>> Moreover Live Knoppix detects neither the soft modem nor the
>> printer. Haven't made the effort with the xf86conf file to see if
>> I can get dual monitors driven by the one card before deciding
>> between these options. 2. Install official stable (sarge) Debian
>> v3.1r1 i386. DVDs easy to purchase.
>
>
> Won't install on hardware that new.
>
>
>> 3. Install unofficial (sarge) Debian v3.1r01 amd64. CDs (or DVDs?)
>> can be purchased.
>
>
> Not sure anyone has made disks of it. And it won't install on
> hardware that new.
>
>
>> 4. Install testing (etch) Debian which supposedly has internal
>> amd64 support. Can DVDs/CDs be found?
>
>
> No DVD/CDs for testing. Netinstall cds exist, which can grab actual
> needed packages from internet. Discs are usually only made near to
> release time, which is at least 8 or 9 months away for etch
> (testing).
I have just done an etch amd64 install from DVD's built via jigdo
(http://cdimage.debian.org/cdimage/etch_di_beta2/amd64/jigdo-dvd/).
If you can get a high bandwidth connection to build those discs, or a
friend with access to burn them for you, then it is possible to get a
basic system installed. A few packages have to come over the net, but
mostly it installs from the DVDs. It needs a bit of expertize, so I
wouldn't recommend it without previous experience of Debian. I was
installing on machine with a high bandwidth connection, but I think it
will probably be possible to get the few missing or broken packages over
a dialup line. As amd64 etch is undergoing rapid evolution just now, you
would want to update your DVDs, probably using jigdo, in the next month
or two to save bandwidth. While etch is testing, just routine apt-get
updates will be rather slow on dialup.
ael
--
Dr A E Lawrence
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/co/people/acad_staff/lawrence.html
http://www-staff.lboro.ac.uk/~coael/
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