Baslinux mailing list

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On Tue, 5 Jun 2007 baslinux AT lists.ibiblio.org wrote:

> Message from Steven
> ===================
> Sindi wrote:
> > 2.2.26 lucent modules (by Stephen Clement?):
> > lt_modem.o 415251
>
> Wow, that's a huge module!  It's even bigger
> than busybox!  Bigger than links too.

Windows drivers for winmodems are even bigger.

> > But why not have more options in Xsetup?
>
> Feel free to add more options to Xsetup if think
> you need them.  It's in disk2.tgz.  Unpack, edit,
> repack.
>
> > I know older laptops only do 640 or 800 resolution
>
> Indeed.  None of my six laptops can do any better
> than that.
>
> > but I use the floppy disk version in friends'
> > desktop computers.
>
> I'm not worried about the more up-to-date systems.
> BL3 is targetted at old computers.
>
> > > If you need more, you can create an additional
> > > 4mb ramdisk:
> > > --------------------------------------
> > > mke2fs /dev/ram2 4096
> > > mount -t ext2 /dev/ram2 /usr/local/bin
> > > --------------------------------------
> >
> > Is this some place in the instructions or the jwm menu?

> No, it's not something for inexperienced users to
> get into.  However, if you look in /etc/rc, you will
> see something similar being used to create the ramdisk
> for /usr/X11R6 (where disk2.tgz is unpacked).
>
> BTW, there's no need to create an additional ramdisk
> if you are able to write to the local harddisk.  I
> don't think this works with current Windows partitions,
> but if the HD has a DOS/VFAT/ext2 partition, you could
> mount that and put your extra stuff on that.

Why not just run it directly from the DOS-formatted floppy disk instead, 
if you are only going to run a program or insert a module once?

I could write a 'dial' script on the fd to make ttyLT0, copy over 
resolv.con and eznet.con to where they are expected in ramdisk, and then 
insert the modules in situ and ppp-on (if it worked).

I did try inserting modules for fd BL3.50 from ext2 BL rather than fd or 
copying from fd.  Lucent modem still would nto work in 3.50.

> > How do I copy files to ramdisk?
>
> Once you've mounted it, it behaves like an ordinary
> part of the filesystem.
>
> > Do I do anything special
>
> No.  Although, if you want to execute programs without
> using the full path name, you can put the appropriate
> ramdisk directory in your path.
>
> > or does this just make more space to copy executables
>
> It's just like mounting an empty 4mb HD partition.
> It gives you 4mb of space at the mountpoint.

I meant, is it okay if there are already files in the directory that 
serves as the mount point (/usr/local/bin)?  Do added files end up in the 
same place while the ramdisk is mounted?

> > maybe a larger nano as BL3-50 add-ons
>
> Why nano?  Slackware 4.0 has some fancier editors
> that you can install if you want.  Personally, I
> use the default editor (e3pi) all the time.

James wanted nano for some reason.  With wordwrap.

> > First I want to add Opera 8 to BL3.50.
>
> Let me know how that goes.  I've not tried
> installing Opera on the new BL3.

It went badly last time I tried.  BL3.40 worked fine.
I should have followed this up already before you did the FD version.
Please could you check it out?

> > My partner asks about putting extra files on his
> > USB flash drive
>
> I don't have any USB hardware here, but I frequently
> mount a CF card (via PCMCIA adapter) in BL3.  It
> works great.  Simply execute:  /etc/pcmcia/start
> Then:  mount /dev/hdc1  /mnt

Good idea if you want to run the FD BL from a laptop.  We have a CF 
adaptor.  But this will not work on a desktop.

We have a 64MB CF card and parport CF adaptor with DOS epat drivers.

It plugs into the keyboard port for power.

Someone reported on this for Knoppix.

insmod  parport
insmod  parport_pc
insmod  paride
insmod  epat
insmod  pd

These are all at the BL3 site (along with the two lt modules for 2.2.26).

mknod /dev/pda1 b 45 1
mount /dev/pda1

This is broken for 2.6 (as is the pc_net.cs driver for a D-Link 10MBit 
ethernet pcmcia cards).  It crashes the system.

Re USB:

We now have five pentium laptops speeds 100-266MHz and all but the slowest 
have USB.  People give us them for free. They all have a problem or two 
(dead or missing HD or FD or CD) but are usable.  We were given two free 
USB flash drives and two free external USB hard drives and a free USB zip 
drive.  USB 1.0 is in the obsolete giveaway category here now.

I may try using David Moberg's 1-floppy USB linux and running programs off 
the USB memory stick, and if more libraries are needed mount a ramdisk at 
/usr/lib.  It is easy to mount fs.img -o loop from a flash drive and 
chroot to i.  I tried using the more complicated method suggested by 
Steven but it did not work (as posted previously).

Sindi

> Cheers,
> Steven