Are you a Linux newbie ? Are you a Linux guru ? In both cases, you will find this checklist of great help to you.
How many times have you found yourself fumbling in the middle of
a Linux installation process, because some vital information about the
target hardware is not known ?
Have you ever crossed your fingers when you were asked by the installation
procedure, a simple question, like: "to which COM port is the mouse
connected ?
Let's face it, all of us have, at one time or another, felt we should have
been better prepared before starting to install Linux. Here is a simple
solution, brought to you by
This is an aide-memoire which may make installation of Linux a pleasant
experience for you. It fills an important role in the promotion of Linux.
It will help you to be prepared with all the answers which may be needed
during the course of installation of Linux on your machine or on anybody
else's machine. Sometimes, it is very inconvenient and even impossible
to find out some details in the middle of an installation procedure. This
becomes all the more difficult when you are installing Linux on somebody
else's machine, and in somebody else's office.
This checklist, when filled up, will help you go through your Linux
documentation and verify in advance whether certain hardware is supported
by the distribution you are planning to install. It will also help you
to be prepared with the packages you would need to install, and the
configuration choices which need to be done.
The idea is to reduce the chances of frustrating surprises.
This checklist is only for installing Linux on PCs. You may use this
checklist as a model for other classes of machines (e.g.SUN, Alpha, ...)
also.
Where do I find more about Linux ?
If you want professional (PAID) help with Linux -- ask Algologic. Algologic Research & Solutions is listed in the official CONSULTANTS-HOWTO of the Linux Documentation Project.
This checklist does not give any details about hardware compatible with
Linux, or other details about actually procuring or installing Linux. If you want details, just click here.
If you are the impatient type, and want help on installation directly,
click here and jump the pre-installation checklist.
ATTENTION: We are actually overwhelmed by the number of general queries about procuring, installing and using Linux. We DO NOT answer such general mail. We strongly advise you to click here for finding other sources of help. Please DO NOT send us any general Linux queries.
If you are planning to install Linux on somebody else's machine, or
in a location which is not your own work place, you must absolutely get
this checklist completed in advance. It is important to get this
questionnaire answered by your host, so that you go adequately prepared
for the installation.
If you are planning to organise an "Install fest" (we Indians
call it "Linux mela"), ask your participants to come with this
checklist answered.
Conversely, if you are going to an Install fest (aka Linux mela), to get
Linux installed on your machine, do
your home-work. Go with answers to this checklist.
If you are going to ask someone to come over and install Linux for
you, send him/her this questionnaire with as many responses as you know.
If you are the D-I-Y type, you must start by answering all these questions,
so that you can save time for enjoying your Linux !
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LINUX
PRE-INSTALLATION CHECK LIST
(Ver. 2.6 of 1999-12-19)
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prepared by
Algologic Research & Solutions, Secunderabad,
India
S. Parthasarathy
algolog@hd1.vsnl.net.in
Updated versions of this checklist will be posted at:
http://members.tripod.com/~algolog/lnxchk.htm
Please make sure that you have the latest version of this
checklist.
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Welcome
Welcome to the world of Linux. Your first step in installing
Linux on your PC will begin by answering a few (?), simple(?)
questions about your hardware.
This is a FREE service from Algologic. Algologic offers no
warranties, and accepts no liabilities in this exercise. You
are using this checklist at your own risk and responsibility.
This checklist will make it easy for you and us to go through
the installation, painlessly and without surprises. Please
take your own time and fill up the following checklist.
Wherever possible, and necessary, we have given some
suggestions and hints, for your convenience.
If you don't know all the details, you should be able to find
them in your computer's manuals. Or, ask your hardware
vendor, or your local hardware "guru".
If you still have problems finding answers, don't worry --
you can just ignore any areas you don't know. Bring in
your machine and ALL manuals you have. The installation
may succeed with some trials and a lot of luck.
Remember, Linux, like many other software products, is a
growing product. Some of your hardware may still not be
supported in the version of Linux which is being installed.
Each question below can be identified by a letter followed by
a number (e.g. G3 is a question on processor speed). If you
need any assistance/clarifications about the questions asked
in this form, please specify the chapter identifier (an alpha)
and the question number (a numeral), and send an e mail to:
algolog@hd1.vsnl.net.in
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Assumptions:
1. You are interested in installing Linux on a PC (386
upwards).
2. You have a CDROM drive on your PC. You have made sure that
your proposed version of Linux supports this CDROM drive.
Check latest version of Hardware HOWTO of the Linux
Documentation Project (LDP).
3. You have at least one 3.5" floppy diskette drive on
your system.
4. The 3.5" diskette drive is a BOOTABLE drive.
5. You will keep readily available, three, bad-sector-free,
formatted (3.5"), blank diskettes, for use in the
installation procedure.
6. If you wish to install Linux over a LAN, you have
confirmed that your network interface card is supported
by your version of Linux. Check latest version of Hardware
HOWTO of LDP.
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CHECKLIST
A. ABOUT YOU
1* Your Name ____________________
2* Your contact phone numbers:
3* Your email adress ____________________
4* Have you used Linux before ? What distribution?
5* Have you used any version of Unix before ? Which one ?
On what hardware platform ?
6* Is this an upgrade to an existing Linux distribution ?
7* What will be the end-use of this Linux installation ?
8* Do you wish to retain DOS/Win/any other OS along with
Linux, on your system ?
9* Any other detail you want to add:
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
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G. GENERAL
1* CPU type [i386, i486 DX2...]:
2* Bus type [ISA, EISA, VESA, PCI, MCA ... ]:
3* Processor speed (MHz) ?
4* What size is your RAM (minimum 4 MB needed) ?
5* Do you want X Window System (i.e. Graphic User
Interface for Linux) to be installed on your system ?
6* How many serial ports (COM ports) do you have on your PC ?
7* Are you planning to add dumb terminals to your PC ?
How many ?
8* Please mention below, any additional details you wish to
add:
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
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M. MOUSE
1* To which port is your mouse connected ? What IRQ ?
2* What type of mouse are you using
[Microsoft, Busmouse, PS/2 ..] ?
3* How many buttons does the mouse have ?
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C. CDROM
Useful tips: If you are not sure if your CDROM is bootable or
not, power on the machine and go to BIOS settings (do not let
the PC bootup). Look for bootable drive options in the BIOS
settings.
1* What is the make and type of CDROM drive
[e.g. IDE ATAPI, Sony, S-B Pro/Panasonic, SCSI, true
IDE ..] ?
2* On which drive interface [1st IDE, 2nd IDE, 3rd IDE,
4th IDE, SCSI, proprietary interface] and which drive
[drive 1 , drive 2, SCSI-ID 5] is the CDROM connected
(e.g. drive 2 of 1st IDE, SCSI-ID 5 of built-in SCSI
interface) ?
3* Is your CDROM a bootable drive ?
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F. FLOPPY DRIVES
1* Do you have a 3 1/2" floppy drive?
2* Is the 3 1/2 " floppy drive a bootable drive ?
3* Do you have a 5 1/4" floppy drive?
4* Is the 5 1/4 " drive a bootable drive ?
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T. TAPE DRIVES
1* What type of tape drive do you have (can be NONE)
[floppy interface type, SCSI, parallel port ..] ?
2* Do you have a secondary floppy controller for your
tape drive?
_____________________________________________________________
D. DISK
Useful tips: At this point, you must be clear about how your
Linux will be installed and on which disk etc. You must also
be clear how your Linux will be booted (there are
different possibilities).
Read the installation HOWTO before you answer the following
questions.
1* What type of drive do you have [IDE, SCSI, RLL, MFM ....] ?
2* How many partitions are there on your first disk drive ?
Name, type, size ? Collect these details also for other
disk drives you may have on this machine.
3* On which drive are you planning to install Linux (e.g. drive
2 of first IDE, or SCSI-ID 5 of built-in SCSI interface)
4* Can we re-partition your disk ? (All existing data
will be lost)
5* Which partitions can be reformatted to become Linux
partitions ? Note: All information recorded in this
partition will be erased.
6* How much of disk space can you give for Linux
[50 MB minimum] ?
7* What is your second hard disk (if any)?
8* What is your third hard disk (if any)?
9* What is your fourth hard disk (if any)?
10* Do you have any SCSI device ? Which SCSI controller do
you have (if any)?
11* Do you plan to boot from your hard disk or floppy?
12* On which hard disk partition do you want LILO boot
loader to reside?
13* Do you wish to retain the original boot sector/master
boot record that is currently on your hard disk?
14* On which disk partitions will your Linux root reside?
15* Do you access the IDE drive in LBA mode (check your BIOS
settings) ?
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V. Video Display Unit (Monitor and controller)
Useful tips: If you do not have good documentation on your
VDU, try to look at the sticker (nameplate) on the back of
your VDU, you may find the answers to some of the questions
given below.
1* What kind of monitor do you have [Monochrome, Colour]
[EGA, VGA, CGA ..] ? What make ?
2* Size of screen [14", 15", 19"] ? Is it an
interlaced monitor ?
3* What are the resolutions, and number of colours
possible on this monitor [600x480, 800x600, 1024x768]?
4* What is your monitor's vertical refresh rate / vertical
sync. frequency (could be a range)?
5* What is your monitor's horizontal refresh rate / horizontal
sync. frquency (could be a range) ?
6* Monitor's bandwidth ?
7* Video RAM size ?
8* VDU Control card : make and model ?
9* Chip set used in VDU control card ?
10* What RAMDAC do you have ?
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N. NETWORKING
1* Are you using an internal modem | external modem ?
2* What make ?
3* On which COM port is the modem connected ? What IRQ ?
4* What is the speed of the modem [bps] ?
5* What serial interface chip does your computer use (e.g.
8450, 16550C) ?
6* Is it a "Windows only" modem [WIN-MODEM...] ?
7* Which ethernet card do you have [10base2 or 10baseT;
NONE for none] ? What type ?
8* Will this machine be a part of Internet or any
Intranet ?
9* Will this machine use a dialup connection / PPP connection
to an Internet/Intranet server ?
10* Will this machine be used as an Internet or Intranet server ?
11* What will be the hostname of your computer (e.g. penguin) ?
12* What will be the domain name, if any, of your computer
(e.g. family_name.city.country)
12* What will be the IP address, if any, of your computer
(e.g. 123.1.2.3) ?
13* What is the IP address of the DNS server (can be none) ?
14* What is the IP address of the default router (can be none) ?
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P. PRINTER
1* Have you connected any printer on the parallel port of
your PC ?
2* What is the type, make of the printer ?
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L. LAPTOP
1* Number and type of PCMCIA slots on your Laptop ?
2* PC cards you plan to use ?
3* Built-in devices on your laptop (e.g. trackball,
pointer, touchpad) ?
4* COM ports used for the above built-in devices ?
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X. MISCELLANEOUS
Useful tip: Try to make a consolidated hardcopy list of I/O
addresses, IRQs, DMA-addresses used by the different devices
in your machine. Take care to find out the configuration
details of your VDU-driver card, Ethernet card, SCSI card etc.
1* Does your keyboard use a round connector (DIN-5) or
PS/2 connector?
2* Do you plan to use keyboard mapping to any non-US
keyboards [French, Greek, Cyrillic, ..] ?
3* Are you using any Plug & play devices ?
4* Are you using any sound card ? What card ? What I/O,
IRQ, DMA does it use ?
5* How many ISA spare slots do you have ?
6* How many EISA spare slots do you have ?
7* How many VESA spare slots do you have ?
8* How many PCI spare slots do you have ?
9* How many other (describe) spare slots?
10* What kind of other removable media do you have (can
be NONE)?
11* Do you have any other interesting hardware?
12* Please add any details you wish to highlight:
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
Did you find this form clear ? Any suggestions for
improvement ?
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
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That is all. Thanks for filling out the form.
Please crosscheck the above responses, and keep the checklist
handy at the time of installation.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Algologic acknowledges with gratitude the useful suggestions
and inputs from many members of the Linux community, for
preparation of this checklist. This checklist is proof of the
cooperation and goodwill which exists between Linux users.
Algologic submits this checklist to the Linux community, as a
humble tribute to the "spirit of Linux".
********Endchecklist
Even the longest journey has to start with a small first-step. -- Confucious
Now that you have taken the first step of filling up the checklist, you would like to prepare for the real installation. Here are a few tips, for starters:
A very good installation guide is here. You must visit this excellent site. It also gives tips to find answers for some of the questions asked in the pre-installation checklist (e.g. video cards, monitor, chipset, modem, ...etc.).
