DSL v2.3 RC1

Forum: Release Candidates
Topic: DSL v2.3 RC1
started by: roberts

Posted by roberts on Mar. 09 2006,06:01

The first release candidate for DSL v 2.3 is now posted < here. >

Change Log for v2.3RC1
1. New check and prompt to save APSFILTER printer setup.
2. New check and prompt to save wireless setup.
3. New MyDSL is now a separate menu via a fluxbox [include]
4. New prompt when keyboard is changed while running X.
5. New usb pendrive installs now support "toram"
6. New faster dsl-embedded loading in Windows.
7. New theme and xmms skin
8. New boot floppy supports, fromusb, fromzip, frompcmcia (requires 2nd pcmcia module floppy
9. Updated Getting Started document.
10. Improved mount tool for cdrom access.
11. Fixed UCI loop counter during unmounts.
12. Fixed prims2.sh bug
13. Removed unused icon in dsl-embedded (Flwriter)
14. Improved display of dock app dmix/mount tool.

Posted by roberts on Mar. 09 2006,06:03

Crtical user files that need to be updated if you happen to have them in your backup or persistent storage:

1. .xinitrc
2. .fluxbox/menu
3. .xfiletool.lst
4. .xmms/config

You can copy these from /etc/skel if needed.

Please test the new features as listed in the change log and leave feedback here in the release candidate area.

Thanks,
Robert

Posted by JohnH on Mar. 09 2006,13:49

Hey all Damn sweet Linux users! ;)

25 minutes ago I saw that 2.3 RC1 was available.
Now I'm running from pen drive after downloading, burning CD booting CD installing to pendrive refreshing my boot floppy.

25 minutes complete OS upgrade!

Posted by doobit on Mar. 09 2006,14:29

Quote (roberts @ Mar. 09 2006,01:01)

The first release candidate for DSL v 2.3 is now posted < here. >

Change Log for v2.3RC1

I'd like to know how you did all that and made it smaller!

Posted by JohnH on Mar. 09 2006,14:43

I'm very intrested in the issue of mounting the pen drive that is holding the OS.

Hardware:

Gateway E-3200
Pheonix BIOS 4
450Mhz PII (upgraded from 350Mhz)
512Mb ram,
128Mb Apacer Steno 1.1pendrive
Diamond Viper 770 (had to cut off bottom corner of card to fit)
Prehistoric CD,
no HD

Here is the plan:

Now that DSL 2.3 is up and running from the pen drive, it's time to customize.
The mount tool in the lower right indicates that the pen drive (sda1) is mounted. This is a change from 2.2b which showed the pen drive as "irregular"

I tried to go to my DSL and download extensions such as Audacity to the pen drive. Here are the steps I took:

1. Click on the MyDSL desktop icon
2. Click "multimedia" button
3. Click "Audacity1.2.2-info"
4. Click "download"
5. change the To Dir location to "/sda1"
6. Click "download"
7. a "wget" window appears and indicates DSL is contacting the server
8. a message appears saying "please mount media containing optional dir and try again"

But the mount tool in the bottom right of the desktop says sda1 is mounted already.

Questions:
1. Is placing the MyDSL extensions in the root of the pen drive the correct location to make the application available next boot?
2. Why am I not able to save the files to the root of the pen drive?

Posted by doobit on Mar. 09 2006,14:52

This is because you are downloading a .dsl package which likes to reside in the /optional directory or folder. You have to create this directory. However, you should also notice that, even though you got this error, the file has, in fact, been downloaded to the ramdisk. That means it's there temporarily until you shutdown or reboot. Since it is residing in a virtual directory, it's very easy to copy it over to the actual pendrive. Do not copy it to the top directory of the drive or you could corrupt knoppix. Instead, either create an /optional folder and copy it there, or just copy it as root to /cdrom.

Posted by Galileo on Mar. 09 2006,15:31

As i make upgrade DSL 2.2b to 2.3Rc1?

Sorry my English!!

Thank's

Posted by JohnH on Mar. 09 2006,16:33

Quote (doobit @ Mar. 09 2006,09:52)

This is because you are downloading a .dsl package which likes to reside in the /optional directory or folder. You have to create this directory.

Rebooted machine, showing sda1 mounted in lower right corner.

1. clicked ATerminal
2. enetered "sudo su"
3. clicked Emelfm
4. clicked Mkdir button
5. entered /optional for new directory name
6. clicked OK
7. oops - directory made on ramdrive
8. navigated to /mnt/sda1 directory in left panel
9. clicked Mkdir
10. entered /optional for new directory name
11. clicked ok
12 recieved "Permission denied" message in box at bottom of Emelfm window.

Posted by doobit on Mar. 09 2006,16:44

You did not open EmelFM as root. Linux is a multi-user, multi-tasking OS. That means that several users can open several programs at the same time on one machine. In this instance you opened a terminal and became root in the terminal, but then you opened EmelFM as a normal user as a seperate process. To open EmelFM as super user, or root, you can open the terminal, type sudo su, enter, then type emelfm to open it as root, but you need to be in an x terminal to do that (that's a terminal that runs graphical programs, like EmelFM.) The easier way is already set up for you in DSL. Simply right click on the EmelFM icon and select EmelFM as super user. Now you should be able to select the top directory and create a new directory under it that's called optional.

This is probably not the right forum for this discussion any longer. Maybe the moderator could move it to somewhere more appropriate.

Posted by JohnH on Mar. 09 2006,18:47

Quote (doobit @ Mar. 09 2006,11:44)

You did not open EmelFM as root. ....
This is probably not the right forum for this discussion any longer. ....

True about the discussion on making directories.
Thanks for the help on Mdir though, It worked.

Getting back to this 2.3 RC1

Is there a reason for not including the latest firefox version?

Maybe we should first ask if there is a reason to move to the latest version of firefox....;)

Posted by doobit on Mar. 09 2006,19:06

The problem I continue to have with the isolinux 2.4.26 kernels is that my nvidia network adapters do not work with it. The 2.4.31 kernel works with the nvidia network adapters. It's not a big problem because almost everything else seems OK, and it works fine with my other ethernet adapters.
Purple is not my favorite color for fluxbox... but I have been switching to jwm immediately anyway. The built-in Xfree86 seems to work pretty well with my 1028x1280 LCD monitors. I haven't ried the new wireless scripts yet, but I'll give it a shot tonight.

Posted by roberts on Mar. 09 2006,19:43

I thought I would share are few comments on this new cut:

The main goal was to try to address the most common questions that come up the forums by way of automation, see Change Log items 1-4.

How do I save my wireless so I don't have to enter it each time I reboot?
Now if you setup a wireless using the GUI tools provided, upon shutdown, exiting X, you will be prompted to have the system automatically save those settings. Same, if you setup a printer using the standard printing systems in DSL, Apsfilter. Hopefully, this will allow an easier time using DSL in a liveCD, compressed (frugal) install. Which is our focus for DSL. What is new here is the automation of adding the configuration files to /opt/bootlocal and .filetool.lst

Another new area is the new combined single boot floppy.
Using a single boot floppy, you can now use the boot time option of fromusb to get the same results that the old separate usb bootfloppy provided. Also, new is the frompcmcia. During boot it will prompt for the required second floppy of pcmcia modules. Then for consistency, I added the fromzip which provides the same boot from zipdrive as before. The new pcmcia should allow easier installation on old laptops and even running DSL on old laptops with no hard drive at all!

Other areas, was to add functionality and to fix user reported bugs. The usb pendrive toram option now works correctly. The prism2 script now correctly handles wep, the dock app, should not display in the upper left corner, covering some icons. The cloop count should be updated correctly when unmounting. The dynamic mydsl menu now being in an include allows the user to make changes to the standard fluxbox menu, which is now included in the default backup.

Thanks as always to the community for it is the feedback, bug reporting, and contributions that make DSL.

Robert

Posted by mikshaw on Mar. 09 2006,20:15

Is xsetup intentionally being forced during login now, or is this the result of something i misconfigured? If this was intentional, I'm wondering if there is a new (or old?) boot option to use the default without starting xsetup (noxsetup, or defaultxsetup or something). Don't think this is an "I don't like the change"...i think it's smarter to do this than to assume the user wants/needs 1024x768x32 3-button ps/2. But it would be handy to have the option to automatically boot into the default on a vanilla DSL if desired.
With my personal configs I know I can override this, but I was thinking about the many times i boot without my configs, for testing and junk.
I guess it's not that important, though...a few keypresses will make it go with the defaults.

Posted by roberts on Mar. 09 2006,20:18

No change to X starting as before.

Posted by mikshaw on Mar. 09 2006,20:53

well...that's odd, then. I booted it with "base", "norestore", and without "xsetup", and i got xsetup when i logged in. Maybe I overlooked something else in my grub entry. I just needed to know if this was a DSL change, and now i know...thanks.

Posted by jls legalize on Mar. 09 2006,21:18

The new fluxbox style is missing the point indicating that there is a submenu under a menu item.
I liked very much a previus style with the elephants.
The new boot time options are not documented when u press F2 or F3 at boot time.
I don't undestand why I have to put /dev when I use fromhd or tohd options and not when I use mydsl or other boot time options.

Legalize Cannabis. 11 march Rome, Italy, antiproibitionist parade.

Posted by roberts on Mar. 09 2006,22:20

Quote (jls legalize @ Mar. 09 2006,13:18)

The new fluxbox style is missing the point indicating that there is a submenu under a menu item..

At first I didn't know what you are talking about, but now I do.
This is true, the tiny arrow does not show.

Quote

I liked very much a previus style with the elephants.

Me too. Maybe someone can suggest another theme.

Quote

The new boot time options are not documented when u press F2 or F3 at boot time.

These are only for the new bootfloppy and not the general distro.

Quote

I don't undestand why I have to put /dev when I use fromhd or tohd options and not when I use mydsl or other boot time options.

The difference is between Klaus Knopper's code in minirt24.gz and after boot which is usually dsl-config but could be most any script. I try to avoid changing core Knoppix code. Usually makes it easier to upgrade then having to remember to go in change core. I guess I am lazy too.

Why do you write in purple color? Maybe its not purple? I am visually challenged and find it hard to read. Please use black. Thanks

Posted by ShaneRay on Mar. 10 2006,00:19

Hey, all.

Been lurking a lot for some time, haven't posted in a while. I've been happily using DSL and following the development when time permits.

I have a suggestion. Would it be possible to post seperate threads for any issues related to a RC rather than one potentially long thread? When these threads get long, I find it difficult to read through with all the various issues.

Anywho, just a suggestion

...If the current way is fine for the majority, I ain't gonna rock the boat ;)

Thanks.

Posted by JohnH on Mar. 10 2006,11:41

Quote (roberts @ Mar. 09 2006,14:43)

..... The new pcmcia should allow easier installation on old laptops and even running DSL on old laptops with no hard drive at all!

....The usb pendrive toram option now works

Thanks for addressing that issue with pmcia and diskless laptops. I'm shopping for some used laptops with dead drives now...

RE: pendrive install
Thanks again for this wonderful capability! When I set up my pendrive it installed easily and as in my post #3 of this thread went very quickly. Ram usage reported for a boot without the "dsl toram" command is 29.4Mb and with the "dsl toram" boot option it reports 36.4Mb ram usage. I do wonder though why I have to type in the "dsl toram" option since during my pendrive setup I specified "dsl toram" as an automatic option.

In general DSL has been by far the most bug free Linux distribution for this computer (see post #3 for specs).

Posted by ldsl on Mar. 10 2006,15:18

Quote (roberts @ Mar. 09 2006,01:01)

New boot floppy supports, fromusb, fromzip, frompcmcia (requires 2nd pcmcia module floppy)

I have been trying to get DSL to work on my old laptop, an ibm 560z, using a pcmcia cdrom drive, for some time. This version so far WORKS! when nothing else has! In particular the new bootfloppy with new pcmciafloppy did the trick.
Congratuations -- this is truely outstanding!
Thank you.
ldsl

Posted by eloasis on Mar. 10 2006,17:50

It's possible to add a version with Adeos and RTAI for DSL?
Thanks

Posted by desnotes on Mar. 10 2006,20:02

Just downloaded the embedded version of the release candidate. I love the fluxbox style and the new background. The added cheat codes were helpful also. I had a few already but not all. I do have a couple of suggestions:

-Once a background is picked, once cannot seem to go back to the new background. Is there a way to go back to the default?

Qemu has had two revisions since 0.7.0. There have been lots of bug fixes and enhancements but the main two for me in using 0.8.0 is the full screen mode no longer crashes (I think that was introduced on 0.7.2) and the latest is faster at booting.

To get Qemu 0.8.0 for Windows as host:
< http://www.h7.dion.ne.jp/~qemu-win/ >

To get Qemu 0.8.0 for Linux as host:
< http://fabrice.bellard.free.fr/qemu/download.html >

When using qemu 0.8.0 change the following in the dsl-windows.bat & dsl-linux.sh files:

From: -enable-audio

To: -soundhw sb16

Keep up the great work,

desNotes

Posted by mikshaw on Mar. 10 2006,22:37

Quote (desnotes @ Mar. 10 2006,15:02)

Once a background is picked, once cannot seem to go back to the new background. Is there a way to go back to the default?

If you press the "Install" button in the wallpaper tool, the background is added to your .fluxbox/init file. The result is that no matter what style you choose, the background will remain the same (rootcommand in init overrides rootcommand in a style).
If you press the "OK" button the background is set but it is not written to init, so if you change the style your background will also change (if the style sets a background).

If you have written the change to init and decide you don't want it, look for the "RootCommand" line in /home/dsl/.fluxbox/init, and remove the command (do NOT remove the "RootCommand" text).

Posted by roberts on Mar. 10 2006,22:57

Quote

removing it will not break anything.

Since the rootCommand is the target for the install, it would break installing any other wallpaper/background using the GUI. You could clear out the xsri command after the rootCommand. Maybe I should add another button to do that?

Posted by mikshaw on Mar. 10 2006,23:23

oh....I wasn't aware that your script looked for the rootcommand string. my bad. now editing. =o)

Posted by doobit on Mar. 10 2006,23:44

OK, I did a USB HDD install with the toram option. How do I verify that the whole thing is in the ramdisk? Also, I use shared RAM for the video card. It seems to work ok, but I get mtrr overlap errors when I boot up. I'm typing this on the lunchbox computer using Firefox from DSL-2.3rc1

Posted by roberts on Mar. 11 2006,00:36

You should see that /dev/shm is mounted on /cdrom

Posted by doobit on Mar. 11 2006,01:25

OK, yes it is. This is working great. When Ipowerdown the dialog pops up to ask me to save my wireless settings. Good stuff Robert!

Posted by blimthorpe on Mar. 11 2006,22:20

On this release, it will NOT boot from pen drive on my bargain ITX that I bought from you. It hangs after 'finding usb devices' and drops into a useless shell. The same thing happened on 2.2 and 2.2b. I hope you plan to fix this. I can only make this work by using an older minitrc.gz file, and then I don't think I can use USB2.

Blimthorpe

Posted by roberts on Mar. 12 2006,00:02

Didn't you already post this and got an answer from John?
I personally don't have such hardware, but I believe the answer was to not only change the bios setting to USB-ZIP, but also to reinstall DSL onto the pendrive as USB-ZIP and proably, most likely, change the BIOS to also enable USB keyboard, even if you don't have one. These USB-ZIP tips are in the Wiki. Like I said, I don't have this hardware but USB-ZIP usually requires these.

Posted by ldsl on Mar. 12 2006,01:34

Despite my enthusiasm for this version there are a few issues: (ibm laptop 560z, 128Mb ram):
mc (midnight commander) refuses to write (as superuser) when editing /boot/grub/menu.lst after I did a harddisk install -- nano worked perfectly.
Issue two: and I'm less certain about this, is that I had erratic problems with network connection thru a usb to ethernet (netgear ea101)adapter (the ibm 560z has no builtin ethernet) while using the pcmcia cdrom. So I'm wondering about a possible timeing or sequencing issue here?
Cold reboots solved this for me but it seems odd.
The great thing is dsl is on my harddisk and grub works great!

Posted by blimthorpe on Mar. 12 2006,09:02

Quote (roberts @ Mar. 11 2006,19:02)

Yes, I posted this when 2.2 and 2.2b were new. I tried John's ZIP suggestions, and it will not even boot -- it just gets 'DISK BOOT FAILURE - INSERT BOOT DISK' So, that does not work at all on my Bargain ITX Fanless.

The only things that work are:
1) Use an older minirt24.gz file
or
2) Turn OFF USB-2 support in the bios.

If the USB2 driver could be loaded AFTER DSL boots, it would probably work with USB2, but I am hardly expert enough to do this mod. Perhaps someone can figure this out --- it would be nice to have USB2 working on this box.
thanks,
Blimthorpe

Posted by Delboy on Mar. 12 2006,16:26

RobertS, I jumped at the chance to use this 2.3RC1 with the pmcia boot disk so that I boot my Tishiba Portege from the external CDrom. It doesn't work I am afraid on this - I get the regular "cannot find knoppix files" message then am dropped to the shell. I have tried all boot parameters. The cdrom and pcmia card/cable are both original optional items supplied with the notebook. I am forced to you the poor mans boot from DOS hda1 copied files. CDRom cannot be mounted after this. I think this pcmcia bootdisk feature is worth pursuing as it seems a devil to get these things working even for windows reinstalls. Ubuntu knows what to do with this cdrom automatically there is a seamless install.
Anyway, lilac /purple new theme is really nice - keep up the excellent work.

Posted by ldsl on Mar. 12 2006,17:57

Quote (Delboy @ Mar. 12 2006,11:26)

I jumped at the chance to use this 2.3RC1 with the pmcia boot disk so that I boot my Tishiba Portege from the external CDrom. It doesn't work I am afraid

Try using dsl noapic frompcmcia

When you use the second bootfloppy with the pcmcia drivers what happens? Do you get cardmanager engaged? Can you hear your cdrom turning?

Posted by doobit on Mar. 12 2006,20:43

I've noticedwhen using the new save script for wireless that the entry for /opt/myprism.sh is written in /opt/bootlocal.sh everytime I make a change. This results in several connects and disconnects on reboot until I go in and delete the extra entries.

Posted by kuky on Mar. 12 2006,22:48

1º for config wireless card i notice that only iwconfig tool in dsl control panel make the scrip in myiwconfig.sh (to write line in bootlocal.sh and automatice boot) the other tools netcard config and wlanconfig no. Iwconfig only is in mode managed ,ad-hoc no ¿who is the reason of two "tools" for the same target?. The ifconfig ok ...

2º Advice to newbes of "smallmania" make the iso in cd-rewritable...

thanks from Spain (Alonso Champion!!!)
kuky newbe tester..

Posted by ldsl on Mar. 13 2006,02:39

Quote (ldsl @ Mar. 11 2006,20:34)

Issue two: and I'm less certain about this, is that I had erratic problems with network connection thru a usb to ethernet (netgear ea101)adapter (the ibm 560z has no builtin ethernet) while using the pcmcia cdrom. So I'm wondering about a possible timeing or sequencing issue here?

Swaping out the netgear and replacing it with a SMC 2208 usb to ethernet adaptor solves this issue. The hardware is OK (runs perfectly in win98) so it's a driver issue apparently limited to this model?

Posted by jls legalize on Mar. 13 2006,16:55

Code Sample

#!/bin/bash
# put other system startup command here
export PRINTER=lp
start_gtk2 &
#/usr/sbin/cupsd
killall -9 pump
ifconfig eth0 down
ifconfig eth0 ip 192.168.0.2 netmask 255.255.255.0
route add default gw 192.168.0.1
echo nameserver 192.168.0.1 > /etc/resolv.conf
ifconfig eth0 up
nmbd
smbd
/etc/init.d/ssh start &
loadkeys it

using this /opt/bootlocal.sh
my ip is 192.168.0.92 and not 192.168.0.2 and if I reboot it changes again.

Posted by jls legalize on Mar. 13 2006,19:42

the case for germany in .xinitrc can be applied also for italian keyborad "it".

legalize cannabis

Posted by roberts on Mar. 13 2006,21:01

jls legalize,

Probably would be easier to boot with the nodhcp option than to kill pump and ifdown eth0 to get rid the auto supplied ip. Or if you have grub or lilo add the nodhcp option in their respective boot strings. Otherwise, you may need to sleep, no, not you, in the script to allow time for the device to become free. Still I think nohdcp is better solution.

Posted by jls legalize on Mar. 14 2006,01:37

I had to remove "ip" from the ifconfig line.
I didn't think it is possible to test the file issuing

Code Sample

sudo /opt/bootlocal.sh

legalize cannabis

Posted by morphado on Mar. 14 2006,14:21

I download the last dsl2.3RC burned it but I get a problem. the cd boot but after trying to install it it keeps teling me that the it can not find the KNOPPIX file system and instead give me acces to a very;) limited shell

What's wrong

P133 and an sis chipsets

Posted by humpty on Mar. 14 2006,22:07

again, my not so important whines;

1. empty right-click menu after startup needs to be clicked away.

2. window manager > restart. moves virtual desktop selector to top left of screen and dMix to blank out.

Posted by Delboy on Mar. 15 2006,12:35

Quote (ldsl @ Mar. 12 2006,12:57)

Quote (Delboy @ Mar. 12 2006,11:26)

I jumped at the chance to use this 2.3RC1 with the pmcia boot disk so that I boot my Tishiba Portege from the external CDrom. It doesn't work I am afraid

Try using dsl noapic frompcmcia

When you use the second bootfloppy with the pcmcia drivers what happens? Do you get cardmanager engaged? Can you hear your cdrom turning?

Thanks. Tried this boot code again - 2nd pmcia bootdisk was entered. Still does not register DSL image on cdrom but does on hda1 of course. This carries on:-
".........
Running linux Kernal etc....
Processor 0 is pentium etc...
PMCIA found, starting cardmgr.
cardmgr(410): starting, version is 3.2.2
cardmgr(410): socket 0: Freeom IQ-drive
cardmgr(410): executing 'modeprobe ide-cs'
I "
After the last line the cursor stops blinking, the cdrom spins for a minute or two and then stops. It all hangs.
When I take the card out and put it back it continues with:
".......
USB found managed by hotplug.
Autoconfiguring devices.....cardmgr(410): get dev info on socket 0 failed: resource temporarily unavailable.
cardmgr(410): executing 'modeprobe -r ide-cs'
cardmgr(410): socket 0: Freeom IQ-drive
cardmgr(410): executing 'modeprobe ide-cs'
I..................."
cursor stops again. Ejecting card again starts cursor again then
"Autodetection seems to hang
check bios settings"
It then opens up fully configured at the correct 1024x768 res. in X - very impressive). I seem to remember this "socket 0 , resource temporarily unavailable message years ago with DSL on another laptop which I solved by changing ports / card socket settings in the bios. I will try this on the Portege.

Posted by Delboy on Mar. 16 2006,15:34

I've found that changing card controller setting in bios from 'Cardbus-16bit' to 'auto selection' means that boot now continues for a long way past the hang in previous post without errors until it starts giving interrupt lost errors. I believe this all points to to the IRQ11 universal setting for devices on these bloody notebooks. I need to give a different one to the pcmcia somehow.

Posted by Guest on Mar. 18 2006,10:33

Quote (Guest @ Mar. 14 2006,09:21)

Try to boot with dsl dma cheat, it works for my SIS chipset.
Normal hd install(with default kernel) wont work with SIS(kernel panic), but frugal works with dma enabled.

If you can use your hd with dma enabled and you want to make normal install instead of frugal install, then contact me and i will give you something which makes SIS to work with dsl, or at least it works for me and without any problems.

Posted by ldsl on Mar. 18 2006,19:39

problem mounting usb drive:
In ibm 560z laptop as above.
On reboot should give /dev/sda1 or similar but I get nothing.
/proc/usb/devfs is available, but I don't know what to do with that.
Please advise
TIA

Posted by humpty on Mar. 19 2006,11:08

pls have someway to save volume settings ?

< http://damnsmalllinux.org/cgi-bin....t=11942 >

Posted by doobit on Mar. 21 2006,01:04

The default boot up script has the line dsl noapic. Should that be noapci?

Posted by mikshaw on Mar. 21 2006,01:42

APCI = Advanced Configuration and Power Interface
APIC = Advanced Programmable Interrupt Controller

They are both available kernel options

Posted by roberts on Mar. 21 2006,06:04

Moving on to RC2.
Thanks to the many who have posted bugs and suggestions..