Phat Linux V 3.0 (Igloo) User Manual
Version 1.01 July 1999
Generally one of the first thing's you should do after installing Linux is create a custom kernel suited entirely for your machine. To compile a new kernel you need the linux kernel source, available at kernel.org and you need to know what parts of the kernel you are going to use. Will you need NFS? BSD Partition support? PPP? You must also know the drivers that your sound card, network card, etc. use.
With that said you know need to get the source, place the .tgz file in /usr/src/, remove the old linux directory, untar it and then start configuring it by issuing the command 'make menuconfig'. After you have saved your configuration use 'make dep bzImage modules modules_install'. Depending on the speed of your computer and what you have chosen this can take anywhere from 5 minutes to 1 hour. After this has completed, your new kernel will be in /usr/src/linux/arch/i386/boot/, under the name of bzImage.
A more complete guide can be found at the Linux Documentation Project.
For your new kernel to work with Phat Linux you must have ramdisk and loop device built into the kernel.
4.1 Setting up an Ethernet Card
The first step to setting up an Ethernet Card is gathering information. Check the IRQ and I/O of the card in windows, and also check the driver it uses. Then check to see if your card is supported in linux here.
If your card is not supported you are pretty much well out of luck. You can either wait until a driver is written, write your own or buy a new card.
Next you need to know if the driver is either built into the kernel or included as a module.
If it is, run linuxconf either from the command line or from X-windows, go to the 'networking section', and fill in all of your card's information.
4.2 Installing/Configuration of X-Windows
Phat Linux comes with X-Windows and KDE pre-installed. All you have to do is configure X by issuing the command 'xf86config'. This program will ask you numerous questions such as location of your mouse and the type of keyboard you own.
It will also ask you the refresh/sync rates of your monitor. It is very important that you enter these correctly or it could damage your monitor. These rates should be in your monitor's manual. If not check your vendor's website or phone your manufacturer.
Once you have completed the configuration start X by using the command 'startx'.
To start X in 16 bpp use the command 'startx -- -bpp 16'.
More information on configuring X-Windows can be found here.
RPM is a package format created by RedHat Software. RPM's are very popular because of their ease of use, and also because of the easy management they provide.
There is a graphical RPM Manager in KDE which comes with Phat. You can use this in conjunction with the RPMS's on the Phat Linux CD.
You can also install, query and upgrade RPM's from the command line with the command 'rpm'. More information on switches and such can be found here.
4.4 Connecting to the internet through ppp
Phat Linux comes with an application called Kppp which makes connecting to the internet though a dial up account a breeze.
Firstly, you need to make sure you do not own a Win Modem. Win Modem's are known as 'software modem's' which require a great deal of cpu power and special software for them to run. Linux does not support Win Modem's and probably never will.
Second you need to know which 'COM Port' your modem is on. You can check this in windows by going /start/settings/control panel/system then double click on 'modems'.
If your modem is COM1 is DOS it is /dev/ttyS0 (zero) in Linux. If it is COM2 then it is /dev/ttyS1 in Linux and so on. You need to link your modem to /dev/modem. Do this by 'ln -s /dev/ttyS# (replace with the correct number) /dev/modem'. This will create a 'symlink' between the devices.
Now, start X and run Kppp, fill in your provider's information and you are ready to connect!
You can also connect to the internet through the command line interface. This includes manually editing files. A list of what you need to do can be found here.
Phat Linux ships pretty secure. However, the first thing you should do to secure your machine is set a different root password with the 'passwd' command.
If you are connecting to the internet, it would be wise to close up some ports that are open. You can do this with the built in firewall, 'ipchains'. The correct syntax and such for ipchains can be found at the IPCHAINS-HOWTO.
4.6 Configuring your sound card
Configuring your sound card in Linux is a tedious task. If you have the correct drivers compiled into your kernel your sound card should be recognized automatically.
Try using the 'sndconfig' utility to set up your card.
If not, you may have some work to do. There are numerous documents written about configuring sound cards in Linux such as this one, the SOUND-HOWTO. It contains all steps needed to get sound and all sorts of trouble-shooting.
Phat Linux V. 3.0 (Igloo) Manual
Version 1.01 July 1999