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Path: euryale.cc.adfa.oz.au!newshost.anu.edu.au!harbinger.cc.monash.edu.au!nntp.coast.net!news.kei.com!newsfeed.internetmci.com!in2.uu.net!nntp.wwwi.com!rtd.com!dgy From: dgy@rtd.com (Don Yuniskis) Newsgroups: comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc Subject: Re: A Serious article for the FreeBSD support group Date: 21 Jun 1996 09:35:59 GMT Organization: CICDO Lines: 92 Message-ID: <4qdqe0$kh3@baygull.rtd.com> References: <4qcqts$t61@tzlink.j51.com> NNTP-Posting-Host: seagull.rtd.com In article <4qcqts$t61@tzlink.j51.com>, k <landau@yu1.yu.edu> wrote: >I recently purchased the FreeBSD cdrom from crom.com >(I'll consider the plushie if the price goes down :) And you find some spare body parts, eh? (private joke) >I must say however, that installing the system if far from easy. The >first problem many people have is obviously an unrecognized cdrom >drive. I'm resourceful... so I get a plethora of those floppies and >feed them to my machine. Now my BASIC system is up and running. (sigh) Yes, this is true. But, consider the equivalent type of undertaking in the DOS/Windows world: imagine trying to install DOS, Windows, Word, MSMail, etc. *IN ONE CHUNK*! How long would it take you to sort through the Word manuals to figure out where to specify your name/address/etc.? And configuring the mailer? And deciding how big your swap file should be, etc.? How many folks shoot themselves in the foot with DoubleDisk or DoubleSpace or DoubleSpeak or whatever the hell they call it?? I think one of the big problems folks face when coming to UN*X is there's no really "stripped down" equivalent of DOS to compare it to. Granted, you can install DOS from floppies in an hour. But, all you have then is the ability to copy files and look at directories! (no flames, please... I'm just trying to put things into perspective) >My problem is that this is where the manual stops! It never mentions >that if you leave the system alone and come back on the following day >you'll get an error that you have not configured sendmail. Yes, *or* the fact that the second pass through sysinstall doesn't seem to work (on 2.1R) :-( Have you read your copy of _Running FreeBSD_? You should also look through the handbook and FAQ that come with the system... >To the support group *** please realize that many people want to >learn how to unix (this does not mean that they already know it!!) You forget that there really is no "support group" (unless you are refering to Walnut Creek's staff). This (FreeBSD) all "happens" because there are a few *insane* :> folks that apparently *enjoy* contributing their time and efforts to the rest of us. >Now I've asked my questions here on the newsgroup and I will be able >to configure the application, but what lies ahead? What else has no >one ever told me about? These issues must be addressed if FreeBSD is *Plenty*! :> You really can't imagine all the goodies hiding in FreeBSD. But, there has to be a balance between *nothing* and *everything*! One could argue that the entire ports distribution should be installed for everyone! But, unlike MicroSnot^H^H^Hoft, the FreeBSD developers try not to keep the hardware requirements down to a bare minimum. (I think an install will fit on 60M disk and 4/5M of RAM). I think C:\DOS is around 10M (excuse me if I'm wrong but I haven't been in DOS land lately...) >ever to be an operating system that people can install at home and >use. Why isn't sendmail placed in the setup as a mandatory install >requirement? I hate to say it, but I see plenty of people out there And should sendmail be installed to use a UUCP connection to your mail server? Or a direct network connection? Or, just for "local" (i.e. on this one system) use?? >complaining that they can not install the software. I personally feel >that someone out there should write up a FAQ which takes a user >through a theoretical install and tell the user what he will have to >configure. I would be more than glad to do this myself if someone >would help guide me in the installation process. If any of you are >interested in this joint venture please email me at kenny@essutton.com I *do* hope you have a copy of _Running FreeBSD_. It really tries to address this issue. Unfortunately, to cover *all* the questions you'd need a much larger tome! >I am determined to get this thing to work! (even though I have yet to >use the CD I bought) Keep plugging away and asking questions. If it's any consolation or encouragement, many have gone before you (and hopefully many more will follow!) so you're not alone. One thing I have found to be an extremely handy discipline is to take copious *clean* notes of every step of the procedure (whether you are installing FBSD, installing a port or configuring something or other). I have three journals full of such notes for 2.1R alone. It will help *you* see if you made a mistake, misunderstood something or can point out a problem for the group to fix, etc. Enjoy! --don