I just installed gentoo on another machine, so I could follow the install steps from start to end. here is what I would change in the quick-ref: * tar -xvjpf /mnt/cdrom/stages/stage?-*.tar.bz2 is misleading. there are two images here on the 2004.2 ISO package, so this command will say it did not find it. we should say "ls ... ;" then pick one. --- I would also write 'stage 3 includes everything in stage 2, which includes everything in stage 1'. in a sense, we should rename these to stage1, stage12, and stage123. stages imply more of a sequence. * the optional copy over distfiles command fails at this stage, because /mnt/gentoo/usr/portage/distfiles/ has not yet been created. * the mirrorselect command must be totally wrong, and is almost a showstopper. I believe that, as given, it writes the sample downloaded blocks into the make.conf file, which of course is a real problem thereafter. * optional: in code listing 1.3, I would write 'edit make.conf.example' and then save to make.conf . * in code list 1.6., you need to give an example of how for 'emerge <kernel-package-here>' given that this is the x86 package, you might say $ emerge search genkernel and then pick one. This may be the wrong command---I have not yet figured out where the linux kernel is stored. I hope this helps. regards, /iaw
adding the comment describing the diff stages is nice, but they'll never get renamed mirrorselect is not wrong, some versions have a bug which corrupts make.conf the make.conf.example copying might have a snag where users dont import the correct $CHOST from make.conf, but oh well ;) i dont understand the kernel thing
hi spanky: yeah, then let's just drop in a comment that stage 3 includes stages 1 and 2. the mirrorselect I use is what is on the 2004.2 livecd. that's the one that is broken??? arrrggghhh! agreed on make.conf on the kernel: in code listing 1.6, replace (Install the kernel sources, pick from gentoo-dev-sources, or ...) # emerge <kernel-package-here> that is, add the words "pick from ..." regards, /ivo
I've fixed the distfiles issue, but for the rest I have to remind you that this is a Quick Installation Reference, "Users should already have prior experience with installing Gentoo Linux if they want to follow this guide." - The stage-stuff was already fixed previously. - If you have prior experience in installing Gentoo, then there is no need to explain how to search for a kernel source. This document should never grow unless absolutely necessary.
hi sven: none of the changes I suggested would grow the document much. (they are fragments.) I think you really should say something about mirrorselect being broken in 2004.2 --- at least until 2004.3 comes out. then again, I am happy that I am not in charge here, but you are. I am just trying to help, and being now a moderately experienced/novice user, I hope to give you guys a little perspective. regards, /iaw
Ivo, I have updated the mirrorselect cmd to match the one in the hanbook, i.e. grep on GENTOO_MIRRORS instead of grepping -v the text about Netselect that was sent to stdout instead of stderr. Wouldn't that solve the issue with the version of mirrorselect that is on the LiveCD?
Probably, yes. Ivo: it's those small thingies that make a document grow =)
unfortunately, it won't, because there is no newline inserted before the GENTOO_MIRRORS command. so, you will pick up binary junk followed on the same line by the GENTOO_MIRRORS. (it will still be better than several MBytes of trash, though.) regards, /iaw
