So, my new 4760 arrived yesterday, and after some agonizing, I selected Gentoo as the distro to install. It seemed to be a good compromise between the source-based goodness and hardcore do-it-yourself of Linux From Scratch, with the convenience of a command-line installer and well-established setup routine. Slackware tempted me somewhat, as another very back-to-basics, do-it-yourself option, but since I've used it before I decided to go experimental.
I downloaded the Gentoo basic LiveCD and burned it to disc. To boot from CD on the 4760, I had to hit the ESC key once, very quickly, after the initial bootup display and before XP Home jumped in. It took several tries to get it right since the machine boots so fast. (Yes, I bought XP Home. I figured I should have it to test on alongside OS X and XP Pro, and will set up the dual boot later.)
The machine booted on the LiveCD, detecting the proper screen resolution right off. I then followed the instructions on the Gentoo site which are quite detailed and explicit. I read them on my PowerBook, which, placed next to the 4760, looks like a small, pallid reflection of the new beast.
The only place I found myself scratching my head was on the kernel config. I had the hardware specs from Sager's website ("Compare Models" page), and I had Laclasse's outstanding install guide to refer to, but I had never done an lspci befor starting the install (d'oh) and ended up making best guesses about most of it. I will almost certainly be going back to tweak things and I will definitely want to post my config file when I have tested all the functionality.
The stage 1 -> stage 2 compile went overnight, so I am not sure how long it took. Stage 2 -> stage 3 was supposed to take a very long time (according to the docs; the author recommended a Star Wars PS2 game to pass the time) but it took less than two hours for me. The kernel compile was very fast - took less than an hour. It was so fast that the first time I checked up on it it was already done! I will pay more attention next time. I should hve tacked a "&& date" at the end of the compile commands.
Well, I am caught between the dual pressures of wanting to take this opportunity to learn everything about linux internals (since I have mainly been a user up to this point and have only picked up enough sysadmin knowledge to get by) and being basically flat out busy. I am still mining this forum for more info on the various hardware issues. I find myself still wondering about Hyperthreading (SMP?), Integrated Wireless, the 6-in-1 card reader (wonder if that'll work with any available drivers), and so on. Stay tuned, I'll post my progress to this thread.
Oh, and I'm glad to finally be part of the Sager-owning el33t crew!
-Ratha
I downloaded the Gentoo basic LiveCD and burned it to disc. To boot from CD on the 4760, I had to hit the ESC key once, very quickly, after the initial bootup display and before XP Home jumped in. It took several tries to get it right since the machine boots so fast. (Yes, I bought XP Home. I figured I should have it to test on alongside OS X and XP Pro, and will set up the dual boot later.)
The machine booted on the LiveCD, detecting the proper screen resolution right off. I then followed the instructions on the Gentoo site which are quite detailed and explicit. I read them on my PowerBook, which, placed next to the 4760, looks like a small, pallid reflection of the new beast.
The only place I found myself scratching my head was on the kernel config. I had the hardware specs from Sager's website ("Compare Models" page), and I had Laclasse's outstanding install guide to refer to, but I had never done an lspci befor starting the install (d'oh) and ended up making best guesses about most of it. I will almost certainly be going back to tweak things and I will definitely want to post my config file when I have tested all the functionality.
The stage 1 -> stage 2 compile went overnight, so I am not sure how long it took. Stage 2 -> stage 3 was supposed to take a very long time (according to the docs; the author recommended a Star Wars PS2 game to pass the time) but it took less than two hours for me. The kernel compile was very fast - took less than an hour. It was so fast that the first time I checked up on it it was already done! I will pay more attention next time. I should hve tacked a "&& date" at the end of the compile commands.
Well, I am caught between the dual pressures of wanting to take this opportunity to learn everything about linux internals (since I have mainly been a user up to this point and have only picked up enough sysadmin knowledge to get by) and being basically flat out busy. I am still mining this forum for more info on the various hardware issues. I find myself still wondering about Hyperthreading (SMP?), Integrated Wireless, the 6-in-1 card reader (wonder if that'll work with any available drivers), and so on. Stay tuned, I'll post my progress to this thread.
Oh, and I'm glad to finally be part of the Sager-owning el33t crew!
-Ratha
I guess when that wears off, I'll start looking to break things.
gentoo is my distro of choice, too.
