Personal Fedora Core 2 Installation Guide

Personal Fedora Core 2 Installation Guide
Mauriat Miranda (http://www.mjmwired.net/contact/)
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Published: 11 May 2004 (updated: 23 September 2004)
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New Guides: Fedora 9, Fedora 8, Fedora 7, Fedora Core 6, Fedora Core 5, Fedora Core 4, Fedora Core 3

    * Custom Boot Settings
    * Install Nvidia Driver
    * ALSA Drivers
    * XMMS mp3 Plugin
    * Install TrueType Fonts
    * Modify Services/Daemons
    * Macromedia Flash Plugin
    * Disable IPV6
    * Java Runtime Plugin
    * Modify Xterm Resources
    * Modify BASH Defaults
    * Setup Samba
    * Mount NTFS Partitions
    * Install RealPlayer

       

This guide is my personal configuration of Fedora Core 2. I put this page together to provide some common installation tips that I would hope other people would find useful. Keep in mind this works for me, so take care in doing proper backups to critical files whenever trying something.

I did a custom install of Fedora Core 2.

    * By default I install X-Windows, Gnome, KDE, Windows File Server, Development Tools. I also recommend Kernel Development, X-Server Development, and KDE and Gnome Development. For me, this takes up about 3.7GB.
    * I have 3 partitions: a 6GB / main partition, a 10GB /home partition and a 1GB <swap> partition.
    * My boot loader is Grub which is installed on the / partition, NOT the MBR. I use Bootpart from Windows 2000 to load Linux. An alternative to Bootpart is the NT OS Loader + Linux mini-HOWTO.

Custom Boot Settings

13 June 2004

* I duplicate the entry first entry and remove 'rhgb' which prevents the
  Graphical Boot Loader from running.
* I add the 'vga=788' to give a larger text console at boot.
* I need the 'hdc=noprobe', since the 2.4.20 kernel and newer seem to have
  a problem detecting that I have NO hdc disk.

* You may remove 'quiet' if you would like to see the kernel boot information.

edited /boot/grub/grub.conf:

title Fedora Core (2.6.5-1.358)
        root (hd0,8)
        kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.5-1.358 ro root=LABEL=/ rhgb quiet
        initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.5-1.358.img

title Fedora Core 2 (2.6.5-1.358)
        root (hd0,8)
        kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.5-1.358 ro root=LABEL=/ quiet hdc=noprobe vga=788
        initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.5-1.358.img

Installed Nvidia Driver

1 July 2004

http://www.nvidia.com/object/linux_display_archive.html

The Nvidia 1.0-5336 and newer drivers supports 2.6.x based linux kernels.

Fedora Core 2 uses Redhat's X.org X-server instead of the
official XFree86. This creates some minor differences.

I recommend using the 1.0-6106 driver for Fedora Core 2.

Login as root to text console  (or F2,F3,F4)
disable X-server, install driver, re-enable X-server:

# init 3

# sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-6106-pkg1.run

EDIT /etc/X11/xorg.conf (see below)
        (*** this previously was: /etc/X11/XF86Config)

# init 5

Changes to /etc/X11/xorg.conf
        (*** this previously was: /etc/X11/XF86Config)

ection "Module"
add (if not already there):
        Load  "glx"
comment out (add # in front of them, if they are there):
        #Load  "dri"
        #Load  "GLcore"

("glx" and "dri" were there for me, "GLcore" was not)

Section "Device"
change from:
        Driver      "nv"
to:
        Driver      "nvidia"

necessary(?) RPM's:
        kernel-source-2.6.5-1.358.i386.rpm

If you update your kernel, make sure you obtain matching kernel-source
for that specific kernel. The NVidia driver will need to be reinstalled
if you update your kernel.

Most all information available from Nvidia. Read more: http://www.nvidia.com/object/linux.html

PROBLEMS:

*** Note: As of 30 June 2004, the Nvidia 1.0-6106 has
support for 4kstack kernels. Hence these problems most likely
are resolved.

Some people maybe having problems with the 5336 driver with their
FC2 installation. Although I have not, it has been recommended to
switch your kernel. Note that you must either recompile it from a
kernel.org source, or you must obtain a new kernel.rpm. I also
recommend installing the matching kernel-source.rpm.

nvnews: http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=29208
linuxant (RPM's): http://www.linuxant.com/driverlo ... fc2-kernel-i686.php

unzip kernel-2.6.5-1.358.8kstacks.i686.rpm.zip
rpm -Uvh kernel-2.6.5-1.358.8kstacks.i686.rpm

You must reboot into this new kernel, and reinstall the nvidia
driver once booted into the new kernel.

ALSA

1 July 2004

ALSA now comes standard in Fedora Core. The 2.6 kernel includes ALSA.

FC2 should properly detect almost every sound card. No additional
configuration changes should be required.

Note: I was having some difficulty with my onboard sound
system. To correct this I had to run a mixer (alsamixer, kmix, or
gnome-volume-control) and select ALSA Mixer settings and find:
VIA DXS, there are 4 of them. I had to increase the 1st
to MAX to get sound to work correctly.

My sound: Analog Devices AD1980 / VIA 8235
ALSA driver: via82xx
Mainboard: Asus A7V8X-X, VIA KT400 chipset


Get XMMS to play MP3

13 June 2004

http://tettnang.freshrpms.net/rpm.html?id=296

Get:
xmms-mp3-1.2.10-2.2.p.1.fc2.fr.i386.rpm

Run:
rpm -ivh xmms-mp3-1.2.10-2.2.p.1.fc2.fr.i386.rpm

Run xmms:
Options > Preferences > Audio I/O Plugins
MPEG Layer 1/2/3 Placeholder Plugin  [lib_rhmp3.so]
==> Uncheck [ ] Enable Plugin
Apply

If you want the XMMS status plugin for Gnome, go here:


http://newrpms.sunsite.dk/apt/redhat/en/i386/fc2/RPMS.newrpms/
Get:
xmms-status-plugin-1.0-2.rhfc2.nr.i386.rpm
Restart xmms:
Options > Preferences > General Plugins
Status Docklet Plugin 1.0   [libstatusdocklet.so]
==> Check [ ] Enable Plugin
Apply

Install Microsoft Truetype Fonts

11 May 2004


http://corefonts.sourceforge.net/

You have to make the RPM, to speed things up I've created the RPM:
msttcorefonts-1.3-4.noarch.rpm

rpm -ivh msttcorefonts-1.3-4.noarch.rpm
/etc/init.d/xfs restart

(or just log out and log back in, reboot not required)

If you are NOT running 'xfs' service then you do not need to restart it.

Disable Unneeded Services/Daemons

13 June 2004

Run 'serviceconf', edit running services
disabled a lot:

My CPU doesn't support Speed change (cpuspeed)
If you use ACPI, APM is not necessary (apmd)
I can't print (cups)
I don't require schedulers (cron, atd, anacron)
I use a hardware firewall (iptables)
I don't need mail server/transport (sendmail)
I don't have pcmcia or isdn (pcmcia, isdn)
I don't have a Software Raid (mdmonitor)
I don't use NFS (nfs, nfslock)
I don't use NFS4 (rpcgssd, rpcidmapd, rpcsvcgssd)

You get the idea

Do it for run level 5 *AND* 3, other not necessary

Be careful, do not disable things that you're not sure if need or
if you don't know what they are.

Macromedia Flash Plugin

13 June 2004

http://macromedia.mplug.org/

Current Version: 7.0.25   (05/27/2004)
RPM Version:     7.0.25-1 (05/27/2004)

Fedora Core 2    flash-plugin (apt, yum rpm)
file:
flash-plugin-7.0.25-1.i386.rpm

[root@charon root]# rpm -ivh flash-plugin-7.0.25-1.i386.rpm

Preparing...                ########################################### [100%]
   1:flash-plugin           ########################################### [100%]

Registering flashplayer as a XPCOM component in
/usr/lib/mozilla-1.6
Setup is complete.


Make sure you are logged into the X server (init 5, runlevel 5) and do
not have Mozilla open when you install the RPM. Make sure to (read)
accept the agreement.

Disable IPV6

12 July 2004

FC2 by default uses IPV6. This causes serious slow down in DNS queries.

To disable IPV6: As root, you must add the line: "alias net-pf-10 off" (without quotes)
to the end of your /etc/modprobe.conf file.

-OR-

Quick solution:

[root@charon root]# echo "alias net-pf-10 off" >> /etc/modprobe.conf

A reboot is required.

More info:
DNS lookups under Fedora Core 2
Mozilla bug report 239358

Installed Java Internet Plugin

11 May 2004

URL: http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4.2/download.html

Choose:

J2SE v 1.4.2_04  JRE
        includes the JVM technology
        The J2SE Java Runtime Environment (JRE) allows end-users
        to run Java applications. More info...
        Download J2SE JRE

Java(TM) 2 Runtime Environment, Standard Edition 1.4.2_04

Choose:

RPM in self-extracting file  (j2re-1_4_2_04-linux-i586-rpm.bin, 12.95 MB)

run:

sh j2re-1_4_2_04-linux-i586-rpm.bin
rpm -ivh j2re-1_4_2_04-linux-i586.rpm
ln -s /usr/java/j2re1.4.2_04/plugin/i386/ns610-gcc32/libjavaplugin_oji.so /usr/lib/mozilla/plugins/libjavaplugin_oji.so

Note: If you have Mozilla open, I recommend closing Mozilla
before testing a Java page.


Xterm Default Xresources

11 May 2004

Settings, for EVERY user:

edit /etc/X11/Xresources
add at the end:

xterm*visualBell: true
xterm*background: Black
xterm*foreground: Wheat
xterm_color*background: Black
xterm_color*foreground: Wheat

Modify BASH Defaults

11 May 2004

Settings, for EVERY user:

edit /etc/bashrc
add:

# alias interactive
alias rm='rm -i'
alias cp='cp -i'
alias mv='mv -i'

These prevent common errors of deleting or overwriting files.

Setup Samba

13 May 2004

Edit /etc/samba/smb.conf
Set workgroup name in [global] section.
To enable blank passwords add the following line in the [global] section:
   null passwords = yes

Added shares at the end of the file:
[media]
   path = /mnt/media
   public = yes
   writable = no
[work]
   path = /mnt/work
   public = yes
   writable = yes

If 'writable' the location need to be writable in Linux first. Example: NTFS is not writable in Linux.
If home data (all work in /home/username) is to be accessible, set 'browseable = yes' under [homes] (~line 185).

Run samba check for errors:
/etc/init.d/smb start

Use chkconfig or serviceconf to enable samba (smb) in both runlevels 3 and 5.

[root@charon samba]# chkconfig --list smb
smb             0:off   1:off   2:off   3:off   4:off   5:off   6:off
[root@charon samba]# chkconfig --level 35 smb on
[root@charon samba]# chkconfig --list smb
smb             0:off   1:off   2:off   3:on    4:off   5:on    6:off

Add users who can access these shares with the 'smbpasswd' command.
[root@charon samba]# smbpasswd -a username
New SMB password:
Retype new SMB password:
Added user username.

Restart Samba for every change to users/passwords or 'smb.conf'

[root@charon samba]# /etc/init.d/smb restart
Shutting down SMB services:                                [  OK  ]
Shutting down NMB services:                                [  OK  ]
Starting SMB services:                                     [  OK  ]
Starting NMB services:                                     [  OK  ]

Mount NTFS Partitions

13 June 2004

Either recompile your kernel for NTFS read support. (Hard)
Or obtain the matching the proper kernel module. Again make sure
you have the correct version (example similar to: 2.6.5-1.358).
Use the 'uname -a' command for more information.

Go to http://linux-ntfs.sourceforge.net/rpm/fedora2.html
for the module/rpm.
Go to http://linux-ntfs.sourceforge.net/rpm/instructions.html

for the instructions.

[root@charon root]# uname -a
Linux charon 2.6.5-1.358 #1 Sat May 8 09:04:50 EDT 2004 i686 athlon i386 GNU/Linux

I selected '2.6.5-1.358' 'i686' for my Athlon-XP computer.

[root@charon root]# rpm -ivh kernel-ntfs-2.6.5-1.358.i686.rpm
Preparing...                ########################################### [100%]
   1:kernel-ntfs            ########################################### [100%]
_______________________________________________________________________________

The Linux NTFS RPM has been successfully installed.

Please read the NTFS FAQ if you want to know how to:

* Mount an NTFS partition
* Change the permissions/ownership of a mounted NTFS partition
* Automatically mount an NTFS partition

FAQ: http://linux-ntfs.sourceforge.net/info/ntfs.html
RPM: http://linux-ntfs.sourceforge.net/rpm/index.html
SRC: http://linux-ntfs.sourceforge.net/rpm/rpmsrc.html
_______________________________________________________________________________

Edit /etc/fstab for automatic mounting of NTFS partitions at boot:

/dev/hda6 /mnt/work     ntfs    ro,defaults,umask=0222 0 0
/dev/hda7 /mnt/media    ntfs    ro,defaults,umask=0222 0 0
/dev/hda8 /mnt/temp     ntfs    ro,defaults,umask=0222 0 0
/dev/hda1 /mnt/win2000  ntfs    ro,defaults,umask=0222 0 0

Run 'fdisk -l /dev/hda' to determine which partitions are NTFS.

Make sure all the mount points are created, then run 'mount -a' to
mount all partitions. (ex: 'mkdir /mnt/win2000')


Install Realplayer

16 August 2004

Download RealPlayer 10.0 GOLD:
        http://www.real.com/linux/

Select: "Download RPM Package"

NOTE: You may have a previous version of RealPlayer installed
if you do, note the difference below.

As ROOT, check to see if you have an OLDER RealPlayer:

[root@charon root]# rpm -q RealPlayer
RealPlayer-8.0-1

Uninstall OLDER RealPlayer -AND- the Mozilla Plugins it installed:

[root@charon root]# rpm -e RealPlayer
[root@charon root]# rm /usr/lib/mozilla/plugins/rpnp.so
rm: remove regular file `/usr/lib/mozilla/plugins/rpnp.so'? y
[root@charon root]# rm /usr/lib/mozilla/plugins/raclass.zip
rm: remove regular file `/usr/lib/mozilla/plugins/raclass.zip'? y

Install RealPlayer 10 GOLD:

[root@charon root]# rpm -ivh RealPlayer10GOLD.rpm
Preparing...                ########################################### [100%]
   1:RealPlayer             ########################################### [100%]

As user (yourself, not ROOT):

Reset Mozilla Plugin Cache:

[mirandam@charon mirandam]$ rm ~/.mozilla/pluginreg.dat
rm: remove regular file `.mozilla/pluginreg.dat'? y

Remove OLD RealPlayer files (if you want):

[mirandam@charon mirandam]$ rm ~/.RealNetworks_Real*
rm: remove regular file `/home/mirandam/.RealNetworks_RealCookies_60'? y
rm: remove regular file `/home/mirandam/.RealNetworks_RealMediaSDK_60'? y
rm: remove regular file `/home/mirandam/.RealNetworks_RealPlayer_60'? y
rm: remove regular file `/home/mirandam/.RealNetworks_RealShared_00'? y



RealPlayer/HelixPlayer Forums:
https://helixcommunity.org/forum/?group_id=154

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Disclaimer: The author makes no claim to the accuracy of the information provided. This information is provided in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY. There is no implied support from referencing this guide. Any help that is provided is at will. Use this information at your own risk. Always make proper backups and use caution when modifying critical system files.

PLEASE DO NOT mirror, translate or duplicate this page without contacting me. I have spent countless hours of work personally researching and verifying these steps.

Copyright © 2003-2008 by Mauriat Miranda (mjmwired.net). Hosted by MidPhase.