[1465] in linux-announce channel archive
REVIEW: RedHat 2.0
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Lars Wirzenius)
Tue Dec 12 02:27:01 1995
Date: Tue, 12 Dec 1995 01:47:58 +0200
From: Lars Wirzenius <wirzeniu@cc.helsinki.fi>
To: linux-announce@vger.rutgers.edu
From: ehjones@whale.st.usm.edu (Eric Hilton Jones)
Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.announce
Subject: REVIEW: RedHat 2.0
Organization: University of Southern Mississippi
Approved: linux-announce@news.ornl.gov (Lars Wirzenius)
Followup-to: comp.os.linux.misc
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I recently obtained a copy of Pacific HiTech's "The Official Red Hat
Commercial Linux." I've been meaning to upgrade to ELF...however, I've been
understandably afraid to due to having a file system that is more or less
(finally) stable.
I initially started running Linux with an old Slackware 1.0 (?) release.
It came with kernel release 0.99pl14, and X 1.2...I ran this for about eight
months before finally getting internet access and upgrading. Since then,
I've upgraded my hardware to the point that the install disks for 1.0 didn't
work.
Dreading the though of FTPing untold megabytes of data, copying it to
diskette, and then installing, I opted to upgrade using RedHat 2.0 via
CD-ROM.
RedHat 2.0 Review
- -----------------
Getting the CD-ROM
- ------------------
I was both excited and apprehensive at the thought of installing a new
distribution of Linux on my machine, because I'm from the old school, i.e.
"Install it a few times, eventually one installation will work." The idea of
fine-tuning a file system for hours on end was extremely unappealing.
I received the RedHat 2.0 CD-ROM in the mail about five days after it was
ordered, and decided to sit on in for a day or two so I could find some free
time to install.
The first thing I noticed was a lack of image files for my particular
set-up (I have a GoldStar R420 cd-rom drive). The .txt and .idx files assured
me that an image existed, but one was not to be found on the CD-ROM.
Initially, I contacted support@redhat.com for information regarding said
missing images. I was informed that redhat.com absolutely does not support the
RedHat 2.0 distribution unless it is purchased directly from them. They
suggested contacting the vendor of the CD-ROM for support, but I wanted to
try a few things first. I combed every Linux ftp site I could think of to
find an image; unfortunately, this didn't work either. I posted a few
messages regarding RedHat to comp.os.linux.*, and also asked a few questions
on the #linux IRC group : no luck.
Finally, I contacted support at linux@pht.com. They were extremely
helpful and seemed honestly interested in getting me up and running, and I
really do owe them a lot of credit for helping me get my system going: most
notably Peter A. Bowen. They subscribed me to the redhat mailing list
(listproc@redhat.com), and worked with me on ways to create an image file
or find some alternate solution to my dilemma. Unfortunately, the only
solution available was to wait for RedHat release 2.1, which did in fact
contain an image file for my CD-ROM drive.
Installation
- --------------
Installing was a breeze, there's really no other way to say it. Redhat
offers two installation procedures, the first is text-based and the second
is X-based. I opted to try installing through X; I learned the hard way
about configuring X window, so I figured the easy way to break the install
would be to do it through X.
To begin with, RedHat does the basic things: lets you partition the hard
drives using either fdisk or cfdisk (graphical fdisk), asks you where you
are installing from, and also gets your network information. The only real
problem I had with this is that RedHat makes no allowances for users that
have dial-in network connections. You either have networking or you don't,
and in either case support for ethernet is installed. I would *really* like
to see some sort of ppp/slip/cslip configuration options. Other than that, I
was very happy with it.
I was pleasantly surprised when I discovered that RedHat configured X
correctly for my video and monitor types. As I said before, I learned the
hard way; this includes countless tries at editing XF86Config (what used to
be XConfig). I didn't have to do this at all. RedHat asked for the com port
that the mouse was on, as well as monitor type. Then, it auto detected my
video card (Trio64 PCI S3) and bang! I was up and running X (Any errors sans
complete lock-ups are accounted for; RedHat provides an initial boot in
which you have to click a box to accept the current configuration). From
there, the graphical installation procedure starts.
Formatting taking care of the drives is the first step...you tell RedHat
where you want the root partition to be and it takes care of the formatting
for you. RedHat then asks you what drives you want to have mounted at boot
time. This option I really liked, because I hate manually editing the fstab
file.
RedHat provides well over 250 packages that can be installed. Included is
a completely configured version of iBCS; sendmail and procmail; elm, tin,
pine, rn, and slrn (for slip/ppp links); serial network programs like pppd
and dip; httpd; bunches and bunches of games for console and X play, like
abuse, all sorts of cardgames, and xpilot; A fully configured installation
of fvwm; lots of TeX programs, as well as GhostScript, xfig, and gnuplot.
These are just a *few* of the things available. The redhat packaging system
is phenomenal, and in my opinion one of the best assets of this distribution.
Programs are installed already configured, and there are options to UPDATE
programs. I don't know about you, but I *hate* installing new versions of
software, because 99% of the time I overwrite something important. The ease
of not only installing but *creating* new packages is something else to be
mentioned; many packages available are from users that installed and
configured a program, then .rpm'd it, and put it at an anon ftp site for all
to get. This is a very, very nice option. Another plus (at least to me) was
that once the package installation begins, a progress meter for packages
remaining, time remaining, and K remaining is presented. An installation of
about 150 meg took about 40 minutes to install on my system. I should note
that the only thing I saw missing from the RedHat 2.0 packages was a host ftp
package. However, as I noted above, one IS available via ftp.
Lilo is set up quite quickly, as well as the basic things like root's
password. From there, installation was done. I rebooted into an all-elf
linux system.
Boot-up
- ---------
I had no problems booting up, with the exception of the "cannot find
ethernet" errors. So, I resolved to fix this before trying anything else.
The first thing I noticed was the lack of single /etc/rc.d files.
Everything in the /etc/rc.d directory is organized by runtime, which proved
to be a real pain when manually editing. After about fifteen minutes of
learning how the files were called, I edited, rebooted, and had no network
errors.
I tried starting X. X window booted up fine, and I was surprised to see
that RedHat sets up X to load arena (a freeware net browser) pointed to
an on-system archive of .html help files. I then tried to tune the
installation by using the control panel that comes with RedHat. This
warrants some comments: I was impressed with the fact that printer
configuration, network adapter configuration (loopback), and even user
configuration is so *easy* now. Adding or editing users, groups, etc. is no
problem, and having a graphical representation of the current users and
groups helps alot. Printer configuration consists of selecting the right
printer device, and selecting a filter type (if ghostscript supports it,
there's a filter for it). I am absolutely thrilled at having a working
printer now.
I did note, that apart from online .html files and a list of HOWTO-files,
there seems to be a lack of readme files for many of the installed programs,
most notably lilo. I would also like to see a possible set of problems and
solutions on the CD-ROM that could be read before installation, to let the
user know what he or she is getting into.
I've been running RedHat continuously for a little under a month now, and
I'm very satisfied with it. I have had no a.out incompatability problems
(complete set of a.out libs included), and everything I ran before seems to
run fine now, as well. I have not had any problems compiling binaries,
either.
I suppose the amazing thing is that I completely installed and configured
in under two hours. Compare this to the never-ending battle that I had with
my first linux installation, and I'd say that this distribution is a winner.
Conclusion
- -------------
If you are considering running linux, or considering upgrading to ELF, I
definitely suggest trying RedHat 2.0. The ease of installation is
phenomenal, and the packaging that comes with it is filled with useful
software. Before you upgrade or install, I suggest checking out the RedHat
mailing list so that you can follow any related threads that might pop up
regarding updates or hardware stuff. Also, remember to subscribe in your
mail reader to the comp.os.linux.* heiarchy of newsgroups, and maybe even
check out the Internet Relay Chat group #linux. All these places are great
sources for information, and are almost 100% spam-free.
Here's a list of RedHat-related url's and e-mail addresses:
http://www.pht.com/
http://www.redhat.com/
listproc@redhat.com
(subscribe redhat-list firstname lastname)
RedHat can be obtained via the following methods:
Anon FTP:
sunsite.unc.edu/pub/Linux/distributions/redhat
or (preferably) any sunsite mirror
ftp.pht.com/pub/linux/redhat
ftp.redhat.com/pub/redhat, I think. NOTE: slow link.
ftp.caldera.com/pub/mirrors
On CD-ROM:
Pacific Hi-Tech
3855 South 500 West, Suite M
Salt Lake City, UT, USA 84115
(801)261-1024 (Voice)
(800)765-8369 (Orders)
(801)261-0310 (FAX)
orders@pht.com
http://www.pht.com/cd-roms/others.html
ACC Bookstore
phone:
(203)454-5500
(800)546-7274
fax:
(203)454-2582
info@acc-corp.com
Red Hat Software
PO Box 4325
Chapel Hill, NC 27515
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