Code listing 19: (Only do this if you are going to configure a 2.6 kernel) # zcat /proc/config.gz > /usr/share/genkernel/x86/kernel-config-2.6 Doing a stage 3 install in my case, the /usr/share/genkernel directory does not yet exist. So zcat uncompresses config.gz, gives an error about the nonexistent destination directory, and then there's no way to recover, since zcat has also at that point removed the /proc/config.gz file. Also, it's a bit vague just above that when it says "Next, if you are going to configure a 2.6 kernel...." Does this mean that if you're using genkernel without extra configuration (which is the point of genkernel, right?) that you need to do this step? Or only if you're doing extra configuration beyond the genkernel defaults? Also, it talks about the "installation CD" here, but I'm not installing from an installation CD. So does this even apply? Come to think of it, isn't that the /proc directory from the underlying Linux install anyway, so it _shouldn't_ apply? If so, this should be specified in the Handbook. Just as a note: Up to this point the handbook has been clear enough to me. But if I were a novice there are at least a half-dozen other points where I would have been seriously lost. It would be good for the authors to sit down and do a usability study, watching a few novices work through it and noting what confused them. Reproducible: Always Steps to Reproduce: 1. 2. 3.
Another problem: If the genkernel script is even on the system at this point, it isn't in the path. So the instruction on invoking it in Code Listing 20 will not, of course, invoke it.
> Just as a note: Up to this point the handbook has been clear enough to me. But > if I were a novice there are at least a half-dozen other points where I would > have been seriously lost. You can always join #gentoo on freenode, search or ask at forums.gentoo.org, subscribe and send your questions to one of our mailing lists... We are more than glad to help every new Gentoo user.
(In reply to comment #0) > So zcat uncompresses config.gz, gives an error about the nonexistent > destination directory, and then there's no way to recover, since zcat has also > at that point removed the /proc/config.gz file. I'm sorry, but it is completely untrue, the above zcat command does *not* remove anything.
(In reply to comment #0) > Code listing 19: > > (Only do this if you are going to configure a 2.6 kernel) > # zcat /proc/config.gz > /usr/share/genkernel/x86/kernel-config-2.6 > > Doing a stage 3 install in my case, the /usr/share/genkernel directory does not > yet exist. So zcat uncompresses config.gz, gives an error about the nonexistent > destination directory, and then there's no way to recover, since zcat has also > at that point removed the /proc/config.gz file. Not true, `zcat` doesn't remove anything. Maybe you got confused by `gunzip`? > > Also, it's a bit vague just above that when it says "Next, if you are going to > configure a 2.6 kernel...." Does this mean that if you're using genkernel > without extra configuration (which is the point of genkernel, right?) that you > need to do this step? Or only if you're doing extra configuration beyond the > genkernel defaults? You didn't mention which document are you talking about (FYI, we have several Handbooks), so I'd guess that the sentence talks about differences between 2.4 and 2.6 kernels. > Also, it talks about the "installation CD" here, but I'm not installing from an > installation CD. So does this even apply? You must be following wrong guide. If you're installing from 2005.1 Install CD *without* network, you should follow 2005.1 Handbook [1], if you are using network, use regular Handbook [2] and finally if you're using something else like Knoppix or existing Linux distribution (which seems to be your case), use Alternative Installation Method [3]. > Come to think of it, isn't that the > /proc directory from the underlying Linux install anyway, so it _shouldn't_ > apply? If so, this should be specified in the Handbook. Handbook is talking about Gentoo Install CDs. [1] http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/handbook/2005.1/index.xml [2] http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/handbook/ [3] http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/altinstall.xml
Thanks for your fast responses. The "Handbook" is the "Gentoo Linux x86 Handbook". I don't generally use zcat, but did in this case. First I looked in /proc to see if the file was there. It was. Then I pasted the command from the Handbook directly. It gave the error about the destination directory not existing. Then I created the destination directory and ran the zcat command (from the history) again. This time it gave the error about the file not existing. So I looked, and sure enough the /proc/config.gz file was not longer there. Whether this is zcat's intended behavior or a bug uncovered by the circumstance, I don't know. But it's what happened from following the Handbook explicitly. The nonexistence of the directory given as the destination in this instance is _certainly_ a Handbook flaw. So _at least_ that part of this report is valid. The install method I'm using is not from CD, it's with the stage 3 file, installing on a new drive alongside an older Gentoo installation, from a remote ssh terminal. The Handbook I'm following does not say that it is inappropriate to this method, see for instance "5.b. Default: Using a Stage from the Internet." If the "altinstall" Handbook is required instead, it is a documentation bug in this version not to present a clear statement about that. In any case, the directory "/usr/share/genkernel/x86/" does _not exist_ if you are following this Handbook and section "5.b. Default: Using a Stage from the Internet." I'm using the current stage 3 from the Internet here. That directory does not exist in it. Therefore the genkernel instructions will fail. This is not a dependency on whether I'm installing from CD or not -- it's a mismatch between the existing directories in the stage 3 file, and the instructions which say nothing about having to create the directory before zcat'ing the file to it. Beyond that, in this circumstance zcat did make the original file disappear too -- although I'm guessing (1) it probably was inappropriate to follow that instruction in my circumstance, and (2) of course if that were a file mounted in /proc from the CD, it could not be erased there (unless CD-RW perhaps).
(In reply to comment #5) > Beyond that, in this circumstance zcat did make the original file disappear too No again; zcat does *not* make anything disappear. Please, post what changes you suggest, I'm still missing this.
(In reply to comment #5) > The "Handbook" is the "Gentoo Linux x86 Handbook". I will assume you're talking about http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/handbook/handbook-x86.xml > I don't generally use zcat, but did in this case. [...] If you are really sure that `zcat` from Gentoo-provided environment erased file *and* you can reproduce it, please open separate bugreport. > The nonexistence of the directory given as the destination in this instance is > _certainly_ a Handbook flaw. So _at least_ that part of this report is valid. See below. > The install method I'm using is not from CD, it's with the stage 3 file, > installing on a new drive alongside an older Gentoo installation, from a remote > ssh terminal. It's irrelevant where are you getting your stages from, important is availability of networking and the *medium* which is providing you the environment for chroot etc. > The Handbook I'm following does not say that it is inappropriate > to this method, see for instance "5.b. Default: Using a Stage from the > Internet." > > If the "altinstall" Handbook is required instead, it is a > documentation bug in this version not to present a clear statement about that. Please see http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/handbook/handbook-x86.xml?part=1&chap=1#doc_chap1_sect3 : "This document covers the installation using a Gentoo Installation CD or, in certain cases, NetBooting." > In any case, the directory "/usr/share/genkernel/x86/" does _not exist_ if you > are following this Handbook and section "5.b. Default: Using a Stage from the > Internet." I'm using the current stage 3 from the Internet here. That directory > does not exist in it. Therefore the genkernel instructions will fail. This is > not a dependency on whether I'm installing from CD or not -- it's a mismatch > between the existing directories in the stage 3 file, and the instructions which > say nothing about having to create the directory before zcat'ing the file to it. But that *do* say that you have to `emerge genkernel` first. Have you performed this step? Did it succeeded? > Beyond that, in this circumstance zcat did make the original file disappear too > -- although I'm guessing (1) it probably was inappropriate to follow that > instruction in my circumstance, and (2) of course if that were a file mounted in > /proc from the CD, it could not be erased there (unless CD-RW perhaps). FYI, procfs is memory-based "virtual" filesystem created on every boot (very simplified). For `zcat` talk, see above. Marking as invalid as I don't see any fault in docs, feel free to reopen & clarify if you oppose.
$ equery f genkernel | grep x86/ /usr/share/genkernel/pkg/x86/README /usr/share/genkernel/x86/busy-config /usr/share/genkernel/x86/config.sh /usr/share/genkernel/x86/kernel-config-2.4 /usr/share/genkernel/x86/kernel-config-2.6 /usr/share/genkernel/x86/modules_load /usr/share/genkernel/x86/modules_load~ The only way how that directory can be missing is that you failed to emerge genkernel first. INVALID.
