Hi I downloaded the iso installer and started about the directions for install.txt, after it not being able to 'make bzImage' I was informed that the documentation called install.txt on the CD was old and out of date, knowing that could have saved me 18 hours waiting for my machine to compile the base install... I didnt even know there was a way to do binary installs (this would have helped on my P200) so I gave up. Later on the IRC channel they were telling me all this but It would be nice to see that documentation on the CD. I will hopefully try your distribution next version but be noted I do like the idea and enjoy the fact that making a Gentoo Linux install is not bloated like so many other Distributions. Thank you for your time. Rahim.
Usually the latest documentation is on the web site, but the install.txt should be recent enough to get you through an install. We will take a look at this.
Beginning at section: "9.Unpack the stage you want to use" the install.txt file becomes fairly unclear and ambiguous for the person who is opting to go with the stage3*tbz2 file due to their inability to download any ebuilds over a network connection. Continuing with section: "14.Final steps: kernel and system logger" The instructions appear to assume you have a network connection. For the following "code listing 24" states the following command: # emerge sys-kernel/gentoo-sources Upon typing this command from home where I do not have a network connection, I get an error that I am unable to connect to a mirror, etc. However, I have installed from the 1.2 ISO image on CD and opted for a stage3 install. Shouldn't I have these sources on my hard drive following the tar -xjvpf operation? Further, upon reading the emerge --help documentation (which is very nice btw), choosing to use the '-k' option in order to use a local ebuild/package does not seem to work. This concludes my contribution toward requesting further clarity in this already excellent documentation. Thanks.
Ahh, ok that makes sense. I always go stage 1 so I didn't notice. We will review the doc in this light sometime soon! =) sherman
Stocke, Take a look at this and tell me what you think. It looks like the install.txt really needs updated. Do you think that there is a way (using python or bash) to strip the XML file of tags and just use that? //ZhEN
I am not sure where to find this file...gerk said I should give it to you all
i cant find it on chiba even..where is it kept? //ZhEN
install.txt on the ISO's are generally just copied as text only from the install guide at the time of the ISO's creation (which explains why it is out of date). Aside from making a new ISO with the updated install.txt on it there is no real solution except to maybe tell people that install.txt may be old and that the updated version can always be found on gentoo.org
Should we just go ahead and phase the CD based install.txt out of the releases then? Trying to keep both docs (web and CD) updated is a pain, and the web doc is bleeding edge current. Any thoughts? //ZhEN
it might be worth it to keep it on the cd's with a big warning at top of it in bold that it may not be current and go to website for latest... just thinking its handy for people who have a single machine or want to install offline, etc
This is kind of a stale issue. In order for the cd install guide to be updated, the ISO needs to be remade. The 1.4 iso has the updated guide on it. I am working on a way to fix this, but until then, we have to deal with this. Consult the web docs as they are the most current. //ZhEN