Arch Linux

Yorak

Member

From: Pennsylvania

Registered: 2007-06-09

Posts: 12

Not sure how to go about this...

I've been lurking around these forums for awhile now, I also read the installation Wiki. I am on Windows XP, and I have all my data backed up and ready to go. The only Linux distros I've used were Ubuntu and Fedora Core series. They were bloated in my opinion, and I want something minimal that you install from the ground up, so that is why I am here. I have Dell Inspiron 6000, and it has an Intel 2915ABG wireless card in it. I really can't plug this into an ethernet cable, so I'm guessing the network install wouldn't work?

I really just don't know what to do first, I'm afraid to try and fail miserably. I don't really know what modules are or how to find them, or which ones I'll need to put in where prompted. I really do want to learn so I'm not giving up, but if I could get pointed in the right direction it would be much appreciated.

FUBAR

Member

From: Belgium

Registered: 2004-12-08

Posts: 1,029

Website

Re: Not sure how to go about this...

Modules are the same thing as drivers. If you don't load the right module, a specific piece of hardware won't work (unless the module has been compiled into the kernel).

Currently, the install CD does a decent job loading most of the modules automatically. I've recently installed Arch (32 bit) on my Athlon64 3000+ and I didn't have to load (or "modprobe") a single module. Obviously, my soundcard and 3D card didn't work during the install, but what would be the point of that.

I admit, it's a bit hard to know which module to load, e.g. "modprobe tg3" for Broadcom NIC's on Proliant G4's, but like I said the install CD does a pretty good job. I don't think there will be a lot of problems installing over a wireless link if you know the correct encryption keys, but in your case it might be better to download the "base" .iso and install Arch from CD. Afterwards you can boot Arch and configure / install it as you go.

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Mikko777

Member

From: Suomi, Finland

Registered: 2006-10-30

Posts: 837

Re: Not sure how to go about this...

maybe:

http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Dell_Inspiron_6400

just for example.

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Planet KDE | Opendesktop.org | Chakra Project

mac57

Member

From: St. Somewhere

Registered: 2006-01-06

Posts: 304

Website

Re: Not sure how to go about this...

Yorak, after running Arch for well over a year on another machine, I have just installed Arch 2007-05 onto a brand new machine, and I can confirm what Fubar said...the install CD does a pretty good job of figuring out what you need and loading it. Inexplicably, the only module it seems to have missed in my system is module "floppy", the floppy disk driver!! I had to manually load that myself - afterwards, I added it to the all important /etc/rc.conf modules list and now it auto loads each time. Another key item you should add there is module "fuse" as well. This enables a number of key new file systems written in user space, like sshfs and ntfs-3g (yes, full read write support for NTFS partitions! Long overdue).

Arch is likely just what you are looking for. When the installer is done, you have a command line linux install that is up on the net and supporting most of your hardware. From there on, you are on your own. Almost nothing else has been loaded. Do take the installer's advice, and at time of installation, ONLY select the BASE package. That way, you get the smallest, lightest initial install, and YOU are in control of what gets added after that.

Some quick advice. The Wiki is your friend. You can find "recipes" for almost everything you want to do there. Consult the wiki before posting here for help - it is a FASTER path to solution! Folks here are very helpful, so if you do post here, you will get good answers, but hey, if you can get them immediately by reading the wiki entry, so much the better.

After your baseline install is up and running, you will likely want to add package xorg, which is the X11 stuff, package mesa, which includes lots of X related extras like glxgears, and a good window manager. If you are looking for "light and fast", I would strongly recommend using XFCE4. This is an excellent window manager, and much lighter than KDE or Gnome. For the ultimate in speed, go to IceWM, but be prepared to configure it via config files - there are few GUI tools. However, the combo of IceWM plus Rox Desktop is unbeatable for raw speed. You type "startx" and it just snaps into existance. It is amazing. I have foregone heavier alternatives like KDE and Gnome and used XFCE4+Rox for well over a year now. It is great - fast, full functional, enough bells and whistles to meet your needs, but not a lot of bloat. A perfect combo.

Good luck!!

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Cast off the Microsoft shackles Jan 2005