remy215 - Linux Info

1) install debian from netinst
=> on laptop, mount /home in 2nd partition without formating to keep existing data
2) on reboot, do not choose any installation package (desktop and co), we will install our own packages later on=> leave selection boxes blank and click on ok
3) once logged, will upgrade to testing version
3.1) edit /etc/apt/sources.list: "su" then "vi /etc/apt/sources.list"
and add the following entries at the top of the file:
deb ftp://ftp2.fr.debian.org/debian/ unstable main contrib non-free
deb ftp://ftp2.fr.debian.org/debian/ testing main contrib non-free
(server address may change depending on your location)
append contrib non-free to existing line for stable version
3.2) we will default apt to testing version
create apt.conf file in /etc/apt and insert "
APT::Default-Release "testing";
APT::Cache-Limit 32000000;"
3.3) run apt-get update
3.4) run apt-get dist-upgrade to upgrade to testing version
4) we will now install graphical environment GNOME
4.1) install x-window-system, gnome-core packages:
apt-get install x-window-system gnome-core
WARNING: when asked, set kernel framebuffer device to off!
if you turned it on and an error occur when launching startx, edit /ect/X11/xorg.conf and in "Device" section, comment Option "UseFBDev" "True" by prepending #
4.2) we will use nvidia driver => download it from nvidia.com (install firefox if need be)
we will install it later on since we will need to update kernel first, with source and headers (entry 6))
5) update kernel -- the Debian way - done with user rights (not root)
5.1)we will need few extra packages
apt-get install sudo fakeroot kernel-package libncurses5-dev
5.2) download the kernel tar file from www.kernel.org
(if not formated, already downloaded and extracted on /home partition under kernel-installation-pack)
5.3) extract archive in a folder created in your /home directory
5.4)go to the kernel directory you've just extracted
cd linux-x.y.z
5.5)if you already have a config file for your kernel, just copy it to the root of this folder with the .config name (in my case, a config file should exist in kernel-installation-pack folder)
Otherwise configure your kernel runing make menuconfig
WARNING: do not forget to set cramfs filesystem (misc filesystem sections) in the kernel and not simply as module, otherwise will get kernel panick on reboot because cramfs is used on boot sector
5.6)apparte: we will add a specific module for wifi netgear pcmcia card
download module from madwifi.org (read debian section and install required packages) e.g. 5.6.1)install apt-get install madwifi-source madwifi-tools
5.6.2)madwifi archive has been set into /usr/src, move it in the folder where the source of the kernel you want to build is
mv /usr/src/madwifi.tar.bz2 ../
5.6.3)extract the moved bz2 file cd .. then tar -xjf madwifi.tar.bz2
a folder called "module" has been created (normally at the same level as linux-x.y.z folder)
5.7) go on your kernel source folder
cd linux-x.y.z
5.8)now we will build the corresponding debian packages with our new kernel configuration
run fakeroot make-kpkg clean
then:
(below if external modules such as madwifi are to be compiled, use the --added-modules option and specify full path to the module if not created in default directory: /usr/src/modules)
fakeroot make-kpkg --append-to-version "-rdmodified" --revision ".01" --initrd --added-modules path_to_module/madwifi kernel_headers kernel_image kernel_source modules_image
5.9) go fuck around during compilation
5.10) install all the generated .deb packages sudo dpkg -i ../*.deb
if needed, install initramfs-tools package before (sudo apt-get install initramfs-tools and run sudo apt-get -f install if required too)
5.11)reboot on your new kernel!
6)install nvidia video drivers
6.1)get nvidia linux drivers from nvidia.com
6.2)once you are on your new kernel with headers and sources, run nvidia file (first chmod u+x nvidia-file-name) as root and follow instructions
7)set up wifi
7.1) install your wifi card driver (see section 5), or use ndiswrapper tool from ndiswrapper.sourceforge.net
7.2) install the following packages
sudo apt-get install wireless-tools
7.3)edit the configuration file with permanent parameters
sudo vi /etc/network/interfaces
and enter your wifi parameters (XXX being your wireless interface - found with iwconfig (e.g. ath0)):
iface XXX inet dhcp
wireless-essid NETNAME
wireless-key 5BA323BF25
wireless-channel 11
7.4)you can test your settings running:
sudo ifdown XXX
sudo ifup XXX