03 – Hardware Requirements & Selecting a Distribution

December 5, 2009 – 10:16 pm

Please note… This information no longer exists at the referenced locations.  This is only a copy of what was available in 2003.

Basic Linux Training™

Hardware Requirements & Selecting a Distribution

Barrie James

Table of Contents

Hardware Requirements

Linux installation tools are getting better all the time at automatically detecting and configuring hardware, and there is a good chance that – particularly if you have modern equipment – you will have few problems installing Linux. However, this is by no means certain, and having a list of all your system hardware in as much detail as possible before you begin an installation is a prudent first step. You should then check the hardware for suitability by referring to a Linux Hardware Compatibility List as some hardware may not work properly or require special treatment. Being forewarned of potential difficulties can save a great deal of time later on. Software-based modems – often referred to as Winmodems – are a particular problem. CD Writers, printers, and sound and/or video cards integrated into motherboards can also be sources of installation difficulties. If you are installing on an older machine with cards in ISA rather than the more modern PCI slots you will probably have to input more hardware details during the installation as automatic PCI detection is generally much better than ISA. For optimum installation of a graphical interface, or gui, you will almost certainly need details of your monitor’s vertical and horizontal refresh rates and supported screen resolutions, together with your graphic card’s supported modes. Even after the new Linux system is up and running, keep your hardware list safe – it can be a very useful tool in trouble-shooting if problems arise down the line.

Choosing a Distribution

There is a bewildering choice of distributions available and selecting which to use for your first install may appear daunting as a result, but if you follow a few simple guidelines you should find the decision straightforward. First of all, assess your knowledge and aspirations. One of the most effective ways to learn is to face challenges which stretch your knowledge and experience, although being completely out of your depth can mean being put off the exercise altogether. Some distributions are specifically designed to be as easy as possible to install and as a result can enable even an inexperienced user to get a system up and running. Other distributions can be more challenging to install, but may offer a greater degree of flexibility in configuration as they leave more decisions to be made during the installation process. If you have very little practical experience it may be sensible to choose one of the distributions which provide easy installation, but if you are prepared to put in the effort then there is no reason why you should not succeed in installing almost any distribution successfully. However, remember that the installation process is one that you won’t need to do very often, and, with a great deal to learn, spending a lot of time on this part of the process may not be a sensible option.

There are pros and cons with all the distributions. If you select one of the more popular distributions their large user bases mean that they will have been installed on a wide range of hardware combinations. It is also likely that if you have questions or problems there will be users with the same distribution who can offer specific help and advice. However, many of the smaller distributions have particular features or approaches and some of these may be exactly what you are looking for. All distributions are still Linux and if you select one of the smaller distributions you will still get informed help and comment on problems. It’s also the case that many experienced Linux users have moved away from the distribution that they first installed, so don’t worry too much about having to choose the “right” distribution at this stage.

The following are comments on a few of the more popular distributions :

Debian : (Current release 3.0 r1 – codename “Woody”) Debian is a non-commercial, international project, run entirely by volunteers. The distribution has a reputation for stability and the extensive collection of software packages – perhaps the largest included with any distribution – is exhaustively tested prior to release. This means that new releases are less frequent with Debian than with many distributions, and generally the software packages are not the most recent versions, and for some this can be a negative aspect. The Debian package manager is generally recognised as being particularly good in handling dependencies and updates, and these are important areas you’ll learn more about later in the course. The Debian installer is fairly basic and the project team are working on a major update prior to the next release.

Knoppix : (Current release 3.3) Knoppix is not currently one of the most popular distributions, but it is worthy of mention. Knoppix is a bootable CD which enables a computer to run Linux without modifying the hard drive. It is based upon Debian and has excellent hardware detection and configuration, booting to a fully functional Linux system with little or no user intervention. Whilst it is possible to install it on a hard drive, the great strength of Knoppix is being able to run it temporarily from the CD – it can be used for evaluation or demonstration of Linux, or for testing the suitability of hardware for example. After shutting down and removing the CD the computer is left entirely unaffected.

Mandrake : (Current release 9.2) Mandrake is frequently recommended for new and inexperienced Linux users. The installation is straightforward with very good hardware detection, and much of the subsequent configuration is simplified through the use of graphical user interface system administration menus. Mandrake will seem familiar to those coming from a Microsoft Windows background. The software in Mandrake is almost invariably the latest versions, although this has occasionally resulted in reports of bugs and instability from some users. Mandrake is a commercial operation that has recently seen financial problems in spite of the fact that it has probably had the fastest growth in user-base of any distribution over the past few years.

Red Hat : (Current release 9) Red Hat probably has the largest user base among Linux distributions, and is certainly the largest for commercial implementations. The commercial area is where the company that produce Red Hat appear to be concentrating much of their recent efforts. A wide range of support services are provided commercially, including certification for technicians working on Red Hat systems. Installation and configuration are generally straightforward, although Red Hat retains a few aspects that can be confusing for users new to Linux. The widely used rpm software packaging format was developed by Red Hat.

Slackware : (Current release 9.1) Slackware is the oldest of all the current Linux distributions. It adopts a simple approach and requires the editing of configuration files for many areas rather than providing graphical tools, and this can make it more challenging for an inexperienced user. It has a good reputation for stability and is perhaps the most “UNIX-like” of the Linux distributions. The installer is straightforward with hardware detection that is very good. Although generally seen as a conservative distribution, recent releases have all been based on current versions of the software packages. Slackware, a commercial distribution, is essentially a one-man operation – Patrick Volkerding.

SuSe : (Current release 9) SuSE is a distribution that is recommended for new and experienced Linux users alike. It comes with a wide range of software packages and has very good hardware support. The boxed sets sold by SuSE provide a high standard of documentation – the manual is superior to anything provided by other distributions – and include a period of user support. Unlike many distributions, SuSE do not make ISO images available for download, although they do provide an installer via ftp. This means that installation CDs for SuSE are not available in the low-cost CD sets.

You can find out a lot more by visiting the web sites of the specific distributions, and also by checking for comparisons on some of the general Linux sites. If there is a local Linux Users Group (LUG), make contact – either by going along to a meeting and/or joining the mailing list. You can locate your nearest LUG by checking at http://www.linux.com/interact/lugs/ . If you don’t find a group nearby it is worth a check with a search engine such as google, searching on your country name and “LUGS” – unfortunately not all listings are up to date. Most local LUG members will be happy to offer advice, and you will get a better feel as to the distributions being used and, most importantly, why they are being used in preference to others.

Obtaining the Installation Media

For most people the installation media will be CDs, although DVD is also available for some distributions. For the commercial distributions you can order boxed sets of CDs with manuals via their websites. Boxed sets for some of the most popular distributions can be purchased from software and book stores, although you should be careful that the version is the most recent as old stock is frequently offered for sale long after a newer version has been released.

An alternative to purchase of an official boxed set is obtaining CDs from one of the many low cost suppliers. Most Linux distributions make CD ISO images available for download and there are a large number of resellers who will provide copies of the CDs for little more than the cost of the materials and shipping. As well as sourcing a particular distribution this way, it is also possible to obtain a collection of CDs for several distributions for a relatively low price. This is an excellent way to experiment with different distributions and to understand the differences in approach between them.

It is of course possible to download CD images yourself from the distribution website or a local mirror. For this to be practical you will need a broadband connection as most CD images will be over 600MB, as well as the means of writing the downloaded image file to CD. Alternatives to direct downloads of ISO image files are now being used on some sites, examples being jigdo and bitstream torrent. To employ these to obtain CD images you will need to install the appropriate software before starting the download. Details will be found on the download sites that support these techniques for their image files.

If you have made contact with a local LUG you will probably be able to get sets of CDs, or copies, from some of the members, and this could be advantageous as they will have already used them and be able to comment on the installation process.

Several Linux books come with CDs included. However, new versions of Linux distributions are released more frequently than books, and many of the CDs included with books are no longer current versions.

Whichever of the above routes you use, it is best to stick to the current release of the distribution you choose, and generally no earlier than the previous release. This is an important point as all software can have bugs, and security vulnerabilities are frequently being identified and fixed. If you use the current release you will have an installation that is as up-to-date as possible with regard to patches – but even here you may not have all the fixes, particularly if the release has been out for some time. You can, and should, apply patches to your new system to ensure that it is secure and reliable, and you will learn about this in later lessons, and using the current release of a distribution should reduce the amount of work involved.

If your machine can boot off the CD, one of the sets from above will be all that you need. However, if your BIOS or CD drive do not support booting you will need an alternative boot device, normally one or more floppies. In most cases the CD(s) will have image files for boot floppies and you need to copy the appropriate images onto floppies. To do this under Windows you need to use the rawrite.exe (or similar) utility which will probably be included on the CD with the image files. You should follow the on-screen or included instructions when you run rawrite.exe. If you are using a Linux machine you should use the dd utility. The command will be :

dd if=< image file> of=/dev/fd0

You will need to replace <image file> with the full path to the image file, and if your floppy is not on /dev/fd0 you will have to replace this part of the command with the appropriate path. Most distributions have boot floppy images available for download on their websites, so you can obtain them in this way as well. After booting the system with a floppy, and perhaps loading essential drivers from one or more further floppies in order to ensure that your CD drive is available, installation will then proceed using CDs.

It is also worth noting that although many distributions come on several CDs, most of the software on the CDs consists of applications. Usually, the Linux operating system and the most commonly used software packages will be on the first two or three CDs and these will often be all that you need. Additional software can subsequently be downloaded as required from the distribution website.

The great majority of people will be installing Linux on hardware based on the so-called Intel platform. This comprises Intel x86 processors – 386, 486, the various Pentiums, and Celerons, as well as compatibles, the most common being the AMD variants – K6, Athlons, and Durons. However, Linux supports more hardware platforms than any other operating system. Almost all distributions have variants for the Intel platform, and many have other variants available as well. If you are downloading image files it is important that you have selected the right platform. Some distributions are optimised for recent processors so if you are intending to try out Linux on an old 486 or early Pentium, be sure to check the recommended hardware requirements on the distribution websites.

Linux Distributions

The following is an abbreviated listing covering the more popular distributions described above. For a more exhaustive listing, consult the web page at http://blt.basiclinux.net/distributions.html

Bookmark any or all of the following sites. You’re not expected to visit all of them , although it’s a great learning exercise to see what they have to offer on-line. That might help you decide which distribution to try first.

Other Sources for CD-ROM

linux.org is an excellent source of information on Linux in general, and you will find links there to many other sites. The link above is a listing of vendors of Linux merchandise by country of origin. At this link you can select your country and you will then find outlets selling Linux books, merchandise, and low cost CDs for many of the popular distributions.

This is a site with links to downloads of CD images for a wide range of distributions.

Assignments

Terms and Concepts:

Define and add these to your glossary:

  • proprietary

  • controller (card)

  • gateway

  • moderated/unmoderated

  • disk image

  • platform

  • block transfer

On-line:

Distributions:

Hardware:

Bring all your User’s Manuals together and get started on an inventory of your hardware. There is a rough hardware survey for new installations that Henry ‘liberated’ from the North Texas Linux Users’ Group (and slightly modified) to give you some help in gathering the pertinent information. Fill out as much as you can, but don’t spend too much time on this.

Copyright © 1997-2001 Henry White. Copyright © 2001-2003 Chris Palmer. Copyright © 2003 Barrie James. All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction or redistribution without prior written consent is strictly prohibited. Address comments and inquiries to info@basiclinux.net

Basic Linux Training™

Hardware Requirements &
Selecting a Distribution

Barrie James

Table of Contents

Hardware Requirements

Linux installation tools are getting better all the time at automatically detecting and configuring hardware, and there is a good chance that – particularly if you have modern equipment – you will have few problems installing Linux. However, this is by no means certain, and having a list of all your system hardware in as much detail as possible before you begin an installation is a prudent first step. You should then check the hardware for suitability by referring to a Linux Hardware Compatibility List as some hardware may not work properly or require special treatment. Being forewarned of potential difficulties can save a great deal of time later on. Software-based modems – often referred to as Winmodems – are a particular problem. CD Writers, printers, and sound and/or video cards integrated into motherboards can also be sources of installation difficulties. If you are installing on an older machine with cards in ISA rather than the more modern PCI slots you will probably have to input more hardware details during the installation as automatic PCI detection is generally much better than ISA. For optimum installation of a graphical interface, or gui, you will almost certainly need details of your monitor’s vertical and horizontal refresh rates and supported screen resolutions, together with your graphic card’s supported modes. Even after the new Linux system is up and running, keep your hardware list safe – it can be a very useful tool in trouble-shooting if problems arise down the line.

Choosing a Distribution

There is a bewildering choice of distributions available and selecting which to use for your first install may appear daunting as a result, but if you follow a few simple guidelines you should find the decision straightforward. First of all, assess your knowledge and aspirations. One of the most effective ways to learn is to face challenges which stretch your knowledge and experience, although being completely out of your depth can mean being put off the exercise altogether. Some distributions are specifically designed to be as easy as possible to install and as a result can enable even an inexperienced user to get a system up and running. Other distributions can be more challenging to install, but may offer a greater degree of flexibility in configuration as they leave more decisions to be made during the installation process. If you have very little practical experience it may be sensible to choose one of the distributions which provide easy installation, but if you are prepared to put in the effort then there is no reason why you should not succeed in installing almost any distribution successfully. However, remember that the installation process is one that you won’t need to do very often, and, with a great deal to learn, spending a lot of time on this part of the process may not be a sensible option.

There are pros and cons with all the distributions. If you select one of the more popular distributions their large user bases mean that they will have been installed on a wide range of hardware combinations. It is also likely that if you have questions or problems there will be users with the same distribution who can offer specific help and advice. However, many of the smaller distributions have particular features or approaches and some of these may be exactly what you are looking for. All distributions are still Linux and if you select one of the smaller distributions you will still get informed help and comment on problems. It’s also the case that many experienced Linux users have moved away from the distribution that they first installed, so don’t worry too much about having to choose the “right” distribution at this stage.

The following are comments on a few of the more popular distributions :

Debian : (Current release 3.0 r1 – codename “Woody”) Debian is a non-commercial, international project, run entirely by volunteers. The distribution has a reputation for stability and the extensive collection of software packages – perhaps the largest included with any distribution – is exhaustively tested prior to release. This means that new releases are less frequent with Debian than with many distributions, and generally the software packages are not the most recent versions, and for some this can be a negative aspect. The Debian package manager is generally recognised as being particularly good in handling dependencies and updates, and these are important areas you’ll learn more about later in the course. The Debian installer is fairly basic and the project team are working on a major update prior to the next release.

Knoppix : (Current release 3.3) Knoppix is not currently one of the most popular distributions, but it is worthy of mention. Knoppix is a bootable CD which enables a computer to run Linux without modifying the hard drive. It is based upon Debian and has excellent hardware detection and configuration, booting to a fully functional Linux system with little or no user intervention. Whilst it is possible to install it on a hard drive, the great strength of Knoppix is being able to run it temporarily from the CD – it can be used for evaluation or demonstration of Linux, or for testing the suitability of hardware for example. After shutting down and removing the CD the computer is left entirely unaffected.

Mandrake : (Current release 9.2) Mandrake is frequently recommended for new and inexperienced Linux users. The installation is straightforward with very good hardware detection, and much of the subsequent configuration is simplified through the use of graphical user interface system administration menus. Mandrake will seem familiar to those coming from a Microsoft Windows background. The software in Mandrake is almost invariably the latest versions, although this has occasionally resulted in reports of bugs and instability from some users. Mandrake is a commercial operation that has recently seen financial problems in spite of the fact that it has probably had the fastest growth in user-base of any distribution over the past few years.

Red Hat : (Current release 9) Red Hat probably has the largest user base among Linux distributions, and is certainly the largest for commercial implementations. The commercial area is where the company that produce Red Hat appear to be concentrating much of their recent efforts. A wide range of support services are provided commercially, including certification for technicians working on Red Hat systems. Installation and configuration are generally straightforward, although Red Hat retains a few aspects that can be confusing for users new to Linux. The widely used rpm software packaging format was developed by Red Hat.

Slackware : (Current release 9.1) Slackware is the oldest of all the current Linux distributions. It adopts a simple approach and requires the editing of configuration files for many areas rather than providing graphical tools, and this can make it more challenging for an inexperienced user. It has a good reputation for stability and is perhaps the most “UNIX-like” of the Linux distributions. The installer is straightforward with hardware detection that is very good. Although generally seen as a conservative distribution, recent releases have all been based on current versions of the software packages. Slackware, a commercial distribution, is essentially a one-man operation – Patrick Volkerding.

SuSe : (Current release 9) SuSE is a distribution that is recommended for new and experienced Linux users alike. It comes with a wide range of software packages and has very good hardware support. The boxed sets sold by SuSE provide a high standard of documentation – the manual is superior to anything provided by other distributions – and include a period of user support. Unlike many distributions, SuSE do not make ISO images available for download, although they do provide an installer via ftp. This means that installation CDs for SuSE are not available in the low-cost CD sets.

You can find out a lot more by visiting the web sites of the specific distributions, and also by checking for comparisons on some of the general Linux sites. If there is a local Linux Users Group (LUG), make contact – either by going along to a meeting and/or joining the mailing list. You can locate your nearest LUG by checking at http://www.linux.com/interact/lugs/ . If you don’t find a group nearby it is worth a check with a search engine such as google, searching on your country name and “LUGS” – unfortunately not all listings are up to date. Most local LUG members will be happy to offer advice, and you will get a better feel as to the distributions being used and, most importantly, why they are being used in preference to others.

Obtaining the Installation Media

For most people the installation media will be CDs, although DVD is also available for some distributions. For the commercial distributions you can order boxed sets of CDs with manuals via their websites. Boxed sets for some of the most popular distributions can be purchased from software and book stores, although you should be careful that the version is the most recent as old stock is frequently offered for sale long after a newer version has been released.

An alternative to purchase of an official boxed set is obtaining CDs from one of the many low cost suppliers. Most Linux distributions make CD ISO images available for download and there are a large number of resellers who will provide copies of the CDs for little more than the cost of the materials and shipping. As well as sourcing a particular distribution this way, it is also possible to obtain a collection of CDs for several distributions for a relatively low price. This is an excellent way to experiment with different distributions and to understand the differences in approach between them.

It is of course possible to download CD images yourself from the distribution website or a local mirror. For this to be practical you will need a broadband connection as most CD images will be over 600MB, as well as the means of writing the downloaded image file to CD. Alternatives to direct downloads of ISO image files are now being used on some sites, examples being jigdo and bitstream torrent. To employ these to obtain CD images you will need to install the appropriate software before starting the download. Details will be found on the download sites that support these techniques for their image files.

If you have made contact with a local LUG you will probably be able to get sets of CDs, or copies, from some of the members, and this could be advantageous as they will have already used them and be able to comment on the installation process.

Several Linux books come with CDs included. However, new versions of Linux distributions are released more frequently than books, and many of the CDs included with books are no longer current versions.

Whichever of the above routes you use, it is best to stick to the current release of the distribution you choose, and generally no earlier than the previous release. This is an important point as all software can have bugs, and security vulnerabilities are frequently being identified and fixed. If you use the current release you will have an installation that is as up-to-date as possible with regard to patches – but even here you may not have all the fixes, particularly if the release has been out for some time. You can, and should, apply patches to your new system to ensure that it is secure and reliable, and you will learn about this in later lessons, and using the current release of a distribution should reduce the amount of work involved.

If your machine can boot off the CD, one of the sets from above will be all that you need. However, if your BIOS or CD drive do not support booting you will need an alternative boot device, normally one or more floppies. In most cases the CD(s) will have image files for boot floppies and you need to copy the appropriate images onto floppies. To do this under Windows you need to use the rawrite.exe (or similar) utility which will probably be included on the CD with the image files. You should follow the on-screen or included instructions when you run rawrite.exe. If you are using a Linux machine you should use the dd utility. The command will be :

dd if=< image file> of=/dev/fd0

You will need to replace <image file> with the full path to the image file, and if your floppy is not on /dev/fd0 you will have to replace this part of the command with the appropriate path. Most distributions have boot floppy images available for download on their websites, so you can obtain them in this way as well. After booting the system with a floppy, and perhaps loading essential drivers from one or more further floppies in order to ensure that your CD drive is available, installation will then proceed using CDs.

It is also worth noting that although many distributions come on several CDs, most of the software on the CDs consists of applications. Usually, the Linux operating system and the most commonly used software packages will be on the first two or three CDs and these will often be all that you need. Additional software can subsequently be downloaded as required from the distribution website.

The great majority of people will be installing Linux on hardware based on the so-called Intel platform. This comprises Intel x86 processors – 386, 486, the various Pentiums, and Celerons, as well as compatibles, the most common being the AMD variants – K6, Athlons, and Durons. However, Linux supports more hardware platforms than any other operating system. Almost all distributions have variants for the Intel platform, and many have other variants available as well. If you are downloading image files it is important that you have selected the right platform. Some distributions are optimised for recent processors so if you are intending to try out Linux on an old 486 or early Pentium, be sure to check the recommended hardware requirements on the distribution websites.

Linux Distributions

The following is an abbreviated listing covering the more popular distributions described above. For a more exhaustive listing, consult the web page at http://blt.basiclinux.net/distributions.html

Bookmark any or all of the following sites. You’re not expected to visit all of them , although it’s a great learning exercise to see what they have to offer on-line. That might help you decide which distribution to try first.

Other Sources for CD-ROM

linux.org is an excellent source of information on Linux in general, and you will find links there to many other sites. The link above is a listing of vendors of Linux merchandise by country of origin. At this link you can select your country and you will then find outlets selling Linux books, merchandise, and low cost CDs for many of the popular distributions.

This is a site with links to downloads of CD images for a wide range of distributions.

Assignments

Terms and Concepts:

Define and add these to your glossary:

  • proprietary

  • controller (card)

  • gateway

  • moderated/unmoderated

  • disk image

  • platform

  • block transfer

On-line:

Distributions:

Hardware:

Bring all your User’s Manuals together and get started on an inventory of your hardware. There is a rough hardware survey for new installations that Henry ‘liberated’ from the North Texas Linux Users’ Group (and slightly modified) to give you some help in gathering the pertinent information. Fill out as much as you can, but don’t spend too much time on this.

Copyright © 1997-2001 Henry White. Copyright © 2001-2003 Chris Palmer. Copyright © 2003 Barrie James. All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction or redistribution without prior written consent is strictly prohibited. Address comments and inquiries to info@basiclinux.net

Sorry, comments for this entry are closed at this time.

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