SuSE Linux FrEE AS IN BeER (ftp miniHOWTO for SuSE distro)

From: Erich Friesen (erichbfnoospaaaam_at_networkusa.net)
Date: 07/15/04 

Date: Thu, 15 Jul 2004 03:35:09 GMT

All:

Here is my updated MINIHOWTO originally posted 23 January 2004. With all
the IP addresses, and directory structure information that you need to
install a totally free OS,. for AMD64 (or 32 bit i386 if you're still in
flatland...) erichbfnospam@networknospamusa.net

Instructions for the ftp install that I have seen seemed a little light on
details, so here goes, hope this works for everybody...

Comments appreciated, just remove nospam from the address above...

I. What you need to have:

1. Fast internet connection

2. Computer compatible with SuSE Linux: check it (in English) here:
http://hardwaredb.suse.de/?LANG=en_UK 

II. What you need to know before you start:

1. The directory structure of the ftp server that you will be installing
from. (see below)

2. The IP address of the server from which you will be installing from. (see
below)

3. What modules your network card requires. (usually just look and the card
and read the chip info, if you don't have documentation)4. What protocol
your fast internet connection uses to assign IP adress to your
machine—either static address (rather rare) or 'dhcp' in say 95% of
cases. If you don't know it is almost certainly dhcp.

III. What do do:

1. Download the boot iso and burn a cdrom from it. The boot iso is different
for different architectures. So using the ANL ftp server, This is the place
to get the Intel boot disk (for Intel Pentium, AMD Athlon):
ftp://mirror.mcs.anl.gov/pub/suse/i386/9.1/boot/boot.iso
and for the 64 bit Athlon architecture:
ftp://mirror.mcs.anl.gov/pub/suse/x86_64/9.1/boot/boot.iso

2. Boot from that cdrom. Select 'MANUAL INSTALLATION' from the boot menu. (I
know you can set up using the F3 button, BUT that doesn't work if your
ethernet card wasn't detected and initialized correctly)

3. Chose language, then keyboard layout, from the next dialog boxes.

4. From "MAIN MENU" select 'KERNEL MODULES (HARDWARE DRIVERS)', then from
menu "KERNEL MODULES (HARDWARE DRIVERS)" select 'LOAD NETWORK CARD MODULES'
then from menu "LOAD NETWORK CARD MODULES", select your network card. For
almost all network cards just hit 'enter' through the requests for
parameters. Select 'BACK' to return to "MAIN MENU"

5. From "MAIN MENU," select 'START INSTALLATION SYSTEM,' from "START
INSTALLATION SYSTEM" select 'START INSTALLATION UPDATE'

6. From "PLEASE CHOSE SOURCE MEDIUM' Menu, select 'NETWORK', From next menu
select "FTP" Then answer question re: dhcp, probably the answer is yes, but
depends on your ISP.

7. When requested to enter ftp, enter one of the below listed IP addresses
exactly as listed below, e.g.: "140.221.9.138" Then, since most of the ftp
sites allow anonymous logins, select 'No' to request to set up name and
password for ftp access.

8. Next there will be a request for the directory on that ftp server, (enter
the initial "/") for example: "/pub/suse/i386/9.1" or for AMD64
architecture "/pub/suse/x86_64/9.1" would be correct if you are using the
anl server. There may be a garbage character in this entry box,(usually a y
with an umlat) just hit backspace to delete it before entering the
directory.

9. Next the data will load from the server to ramdisk, then you will be in
YaST2. Use YaST2 as you would normally, selecting items as appropriate.

10. HINT: since even with a fast connexion things can hang, delete
openoffice and some other large packages from those scheduled to be
installed (you can easily install them later) but if the installation hangs
on a dropped connection YOU WILL HAVE TO START ALL OVER. First install a
minimal set, than add packages to your hearts content after you have a
working connection.

IV: List of ftp servers and their directory structures. SuSE 9.1
is /current. Note that not all include x86_64 directories :-(

Bloomington, IN:
ftp://chuck.ucs.indiana.edu/linux/suse/suse/i386/9.1
ftp://chuck.ucs.indiana.edu/linux/suse/suse/x86_64/9.1
IP address:129.79.6.12
verified jan 2004

Los Angeles, CA:
ftp://mirrors.usc.edu/pub/linux/distributions/suse/i386/9.1
ftp://mirrors.usc.edu/pub/linux/distributions/suse/x86_64/9.1
IP address:128.125.253.59
verified jan 2004

Louisville, CO:
ftp://mirror.storagetek.com/pub/systems/suse/i386/9.1
ftp://mirror.storagetek.com/pub/systems/suse/x86_64/9.1
IP address:199.117.144.10

Chicago, IL:
ftp://mirror.mcs.anl.gov/pub/suse/i386/9.1
ftp://mirror.mcs.anl.gov/pub/suse/x86_64/9.1
IP address:140.221.9.138

Knoxville, TN:
http://sunsite.utk.edu/ftp/pub/linux/suse/i386/9.1
(AMD64 architecture appears to be empty on this server)
IP address:160.36.178.159
Sunsites ftp requires authetication, http does not. (http disconnects rather
more often than ftp, from my experience so use it for small installs) NOTE:
IF YOU USE HTTP INSTEAD OF FTP, YOU NEED TO SELECT HTTP AS NETWORK TYPE IN
STEP 7 ABOVE

Chapel Hill, NC
ftp://distro.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distributions/suse/suse/i386/9.1
ftp://distro.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distributions/suse/suse/x86_64/9.1
IP address:152.2.210.109

Boston, MA
ftp://ftp.rpmfind.net/linux/SuSE-Linux/i386/9.1
(Does not mirrior x86_64 for AMD64)
IP address:216.254.0.38

Atlanta, GA
ftp://ftp-linux.cc.gatech.edu/pub/suse/suse/i386/9.1
ftp://ftp-linux.cc.gatech.edu/pub/suse/suse/x86_64/9.1
IP address:130.207.108.134

Corvallis, OR
ftp://ftp.oregonstate.edu/pub/suse/suse/i386/9.1
ftp://ftp.oregonstate.edu/pub/suse/suse/x86_64/9.1
IP address:128.193.0.3
verified Jan 2004

PR
ftp://linux.cnnet.clu.edu/pub-linux/ftp.suse.com/i386/9.1
(only mirrors updates for x86_64)
IP address:136.145.187.121
verified Jan 2004

Copyright (c) 2004 Erich Burgdorff FRIESEN
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