Install FAQ


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Also see the [Knoppix Hard Disk Installation HOWTO]


General Installation Information

Sudoing

First of all for security reason all accounts are blocked - ie you can't log in to any account. To run things as a root the user 'knoppix' is allowed to sudo - ie to run things as a root.

Script

Christian Perle provided us a script to copy and define knoppix to a "prepared partition" in your disk. But first we have to set an empty partition on our disk. (With the new script, knoppix-installer, by Fabian Franz this changed a bit.)

Preparing a New Partition

Before partitioning the disk backup any data you don't want erased! To partition your drive use "parted /dev/DESIRED_DISK(hda,hdb...)". The ? key to get a list of commands for resizing partitions and making a new ext3 partition.

Activating the script

From Knoppix 3.3 and onward open a terminal and enter:

  • sudo knoppix-installer

For Knoppix before 3.3 enter:

  • sudo knx-hdinstall

Simply follow the instructions on screen.

You also might want to check: http://debian.tu-bs.de/knoppix/installer/ for a newer version or use the script knoppix-installer-latest-web

Questions

Q: Why does "df" not list my root partition ("/")?

A: The entry for "/" is somehow missing in /etc/mtab. Either edit that file and add a correct line for "/" or better replace /etc/mtab with a link to /proc/mounts, thn everything should be shown.

  • su -c "ln -sf /proc/mounts /etc/mtab"

Q: Why is DMA disabled by default and how do I enable it?

A: Some chipsets and/or harddiscs are broken or buggy. Using DMA would cause problems on such systems. If your system works properly with DMA, you can enable it with it by typing "/sbin/hdparm -c3 -d1 -m16 -k1 /dev/hda" or by editing the "/etc/init.d/bootmisc.sh" startup script and uncommenting the hdparm -qd1 /dev/hda line to have it permanently on at reboot, if the line is not there add it. Read more: [1]

Q: How do I test the downloaded ISO file?

A: You can use md5sum -c filename.md5 in Linux or md5gui for windows.

Q: How do I install Knoppix over a Network?

A: Install Over Net HowTo

Q: Is there a way that does not use so much space?

A: There is the "Poor Mans Install", where you can copy some files from the CD to the harddisk. It will run like from CD, but the CDROM is free for other use and its a bit faster. Although you'll need a bootfloppy or change the Bios options to boot first the hard disk with Knoppix (i.e. the second hard disk or d: unit).

Q: Is there other way that does not use so much space? Perhaps by having a compressed file system?

A: Yes, you can install Knoppix in 700 megs instead of 2.3 gigs for the real install, but it will run as if it were from a physical CD, so you cannot install anything, unless you do a 'normal' install. Each time you boot your hardware will need to be redetected. This is not for novices. For more information see the HOWTO for the Hd Based HowTo hard drive based install.

Q: Why doesn't my sound work?

A: Just run "/etc/init.d/alsa-autoconfig" as root once and you'll be fixed up nicely. To have the sound levels set at boot (alsa defaults to muted) edit the file "/etc/init.d/bootmisc.sh" and add aumix -w 75 -v 75 to the bottom of the file.

Q: How do I install the latest Gnome?

A: Comment all the lines in /etc/apt/sources.list except by the unstable ones.

  • apt-get update
  • apt-get install gnome

In order to have gnome-session working you must exec the following and choose metacity

  • update-alternatives --config x-window-manager

Optionally you can also install gdm, galeon, evolution, etc.

Q: how to install knoppix-terminalserver and/or knoppix-terminalopenmosixserver ???


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