Fedora 7 released

[2ndAmendment]

http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/FedoraMain

Name change; they dropped the word Core.

If it is as good as Fedora Core 6, it should be great.

 

[Severa]

http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/FedoraMain

Name change; they dropped the word Core.

If it is as good as Fedora Core 6, it should be great.

I've not tried Fedora before. Got rid of WinXP and have been using Linux since Christmas break. So far I've tried Ubuntu, Mepis, and now on Linux Mint. Might have to give Fedora a whirl.

 

[FastCarsSpeed]

Fedora is nice. Only issue I have had so far is my wireless card doesnt want to work with it and the printer drivers suck balls but thats not Fedora's fault. I might go to feisty fawn here soon as it seems ubuntu is getting a little better support.

 

[2ndAmendment]

I started with Fedora Core 4 and have moved up with each release.

FastCarsSpeed, which printer drivers are you using? I use gutenprint which are better than the foomatic in my opinion.

 

[Chain729]

I burned up another PSU for my main box, so I started the project box up and installed FC5. I can't online and can't figure out how to A) get the driver onto a CD FC can mount and B) I have no idea how to use the CD to install the driver.

I also tried to add/remove software, and the f***er keeps saying it can't find the information.

Feeling like an amputee without internet, I seriously considering scrapping it all- for now- and just installing Win 2K.

FC6 or 7 any better?

 

[2ndAmendment]

I burned up another PSU for my main box, so I started the project box up and installed FC5. I can't online and can't figure out how to A) get the driver onto a CD FC can mount and B) I have no idea how to use the CD to install the driver.

I also tried to add/remove software, and the f***er keeps saying it can't find the information.

Feeling like an amputee without internet, I seriously considering scrapping it all- for now- and just installing Win 2K.

FC6 or 7 any better?

So you burned up a power supply on your main box.

How did you install FC5? What profile?

What driver are you trying to install? FC5 reads any of the standard CD and DVD formats. It will not read CDs or DVDs that have been closed and re-opened. It will only see the first session.

What software are you trying to add/remove? What tool are you using? I recommend using yum.

I found FC5 and FC6 to be very stable and was able to get on the Internet immediately on installation. Matter of fact, the system updates to the latest release packages from the Internet as part of the installation if you configured your network properly on installation.

On install, did you use DHCP or did you configure your network interface? If you used DHCP, was your DHCP server configured correctly?

Hard to give help with the info so sketchy.

 

[Chain729]

So you burned up a power supply on your main box.

Go through about one a year- this is No. 4. Antec TP2 series. 550W. It's more than enough power, so I have no idea how. Usually, it's the +5V rail, this time it's the -5V rail.

How did you install FC5? What profile?

I'm new to linux, I have no idea what you mean by "profile." I downloaded the .iso files, burned them to CD's and went through the install program.

What driver are you trying to install? FC5 reads any of the standard CD and DVD formats. It will not read CDs or DVDs that have been closed and re-opened. It will only see the first session.

VIA technologies NIC card (6183 I believe.) The driver appears to install fine, the DSL modem is green across the board, I-net no workie. Some error message about how eth0 doesn't seem to be there.

It wasn't re-opened. And I still have no idea what to do with the damn thing. I read the text file that I downloaded with it and it tells me to do stuff like "compile" but doesn't tell me how to do that. IMO, it couldn't be more worthless. I tried looking that up, no find info.

For something with a cult following, trying to find the information I'm looking for shouldn't be this much of a PITA. I'm seriously considering ranting on one of my blogs and calling it a done deal.

What software are you trying to add/remove? What tool are you using? I recommend using yum.

Not trying to change anything in particular. I was looking around to familiarize myself with the GNOME stuff. It's all new to me. I saw "add/remove XXX" and it gave that error message.

I found FC5 and FC6 to be very stable and was able to get on the Internet immediately on installation. Matter of fact, the system updates to the latest release packages from the Internet as part of the installation if you configured your network properly on installation.

At one point, I had FC1 on a previous machine. It worked fine and I liked it, but it wasn't compatable with the current box.

I can't get updates without internet access. It's kinda hard to configure things right, when the packaged driver that should work for your NIC apparently doesn't and you can't figure out how to do it manually. There was a driver listed for "VIA Rhine series" NIC's, but it doesn't seem to be working.

On install, did you use DHCP or did you configure your network interface? If you used DHCP, was your DHCP server configured correctly?

DHCP. Get all my info from them, just like it should be. No workie. When trying to hook to "XDSL" it says there's a problem with Line XXX and shuts down. When trying to hook to "ethernet" it tells me "eth0" doesn't seem to exist.

Ehhh... It's my computer, hooked to a DSL modem. What server? Verizon?

Hard to give help with the info so sketchy.

Hopefully, that's gives you the info you're looking for. Might try FC6 and see what happens. Or, try another NIC that's listed in driver pull-down menu.

 

[Chain729]

BTW, the "NIC" isn't a card. It's built in. I did some research and that's what ASUS used for the network adapter.

 

[2ndAmendment]

Go through about one a year- this is No. 4. Antec TP2 series. 550W. It's more than enough power, so I have no idea how. Usually, it's the +5V rail, this time it's the -5V rail.

You deffinately have a HW problem that needs solved. Either that or you are drawing slightly more than 550W. Have you calculated the power budget for the box?

I'm new to linux, I have no idea what you mean by "profile." I downloaded the .iso files, burned them to CD's and went through the install program.

There is a selection of profiles, Workstation, Server, etc. that automatically selects a basic set of packages to install. You can modify the package selection.

VIA technologies NIC card (6183 I believe.) The driver appears to install fine, the DSL modem is green across the board, I-net no workie. Some error message about how eth0 doesn't seem to be there.

If the NIC installs and the DSL modem is OK, then it is a configuration problem in all likelihood.

It wasn't re-opened. And I still have no idea what to do with the damn thing. I read the text file that I downloaded with it and it tells me to do stuff like "compile" but doesn't tell me how to do that. IMO, it couldn't be more worthless. I tried looking that up, no find info.

Compile means to do just that. Compile using gcc or other appropriate compiler. It is for programmers.

For something with a cult following, trying to find the information I'm looking for shouldn't be this much of a PITA. I'm seriously considering ranting on one of my blogs and calling it a done deal.

Ranting on one of your blogs will only make you feel good to yourself and make you look foolish to those that understand LINUX. Suit yourself, but LINUX people are unlikely to help someone who is a newbee that is ranting rather than trying to learn. There are many HOWTOs and there are lots of forums with lots of people that will try to help if you are patient and polite. The fedora wiki is a great place to start.

Not trying to change anything in particular. I was looking around to familiarize myself with the GNOME stuff. It's all new to me. I saw "add/remove XXX" and it gave that error message.

I use KDE and not GNOME although GNOME is the default. When you use add/remove you have to specify the program package you want to add or remove. If you don't or do it incorrectly, it will give you an error message. Computers are stupid; they do exactly what we tell them.

At one point, I had FC1 on a previous machine. It worked fine and I liked it, but it wasn't compatable with the current box.

Never used FC1.

I can't get updates without internet access. It's kinda hard to configure things right, when the packaged driver that should work for your NIC apparently doesn't and you can't figure out how to do it manually. There was a driver listed for "VIA Rhine series" NIC's, but it doesn't seem to be working.

Not familiar with your NIC.

DHCP. Get all my info from them, just like it should be. No workie. When trying to hook to "XDSL" it says there's a problem with Line XXX and shuts down. When trying to hook to "ethernet" it tells me "eth0" doesn't seem to exist.

That says to me that either the driver is not loaded or is incorrectly configured.

Ehhh... It's my computer, hooked to a DSL modem. What server? Verizon?

The DHCP server cannot be your computer. It is impossible to get host configuration from yourself. The DHCP must come from your ISP or another DHCP server.

I use a router that connects to my cable modem. It gets the DHCP info from my ISP and configures the WAN (Internet side) and I use static, non-routable IPs on the LAN side. I also have a few DHCP addresses set up in the router DHCP server.

Hopefully, that's gives you the info you're looking for. Might try FC6 and see what happens. Or, try another NIC that's listed in driver pull-down menu.

FC6 has more NICs available and is very stable at this point so that is probably a good choice.

 

[Chain729]

You deffinately have a HW problem that needs solved. Either that or you are drawing slightly more than 550W. Have you calculated the power budget for the box?

Yep. I do electrical design for a living. Actually, series 2 was better than series 1. I choose the Antec, because it had the most power on the +5V rail of any other name-brand ATX PSU.

The guys at Antec asked what I was running, and so have several others, no one has any insight.

There is a selection of profiles, Workstation, Server, etc. that automatically selects a basic set of packages to install. You can modify the package selection.

That makes sense. Server. I suppose I could try workstation and see if the planet's align.

If the NIC installs and the DSL modem is OK, then it is a configuration problem in all likelihood.

Anaconda didn't install the NIC. I did it with the network tool. I've been through the re-install several times and I have yet to see it even look for it. And that part in the release notes about using a driver disk is FOS.

Compile means to do just that. Compile using gcc or other appropriate compiler. It is for programmers.

That's what I figured. If it was written for programmers, that explains why they didn't tell you how to do it. I'm F'ed.

Ranting on one of your blogs will only make you feel good to yourself and make you look foolish to those that understand LINUX. Suit yourself, but LINUX people are unlikely to help someone who is a newbee that is ranting rather than trying to learn. There are many HOWTOs and there are lots of forums with lots of people that will try to help if you are patient and polite. The fedora wiki is a great place to start.

F 'em. It's not like I spent 5 minutes and gave up. I've spent days with my buddy google and haven't come up with s***. The install directions for the driver are worthless and the "enhanced hardware" section of the FC install instructions is garbage. No matter how I went about the install, no matter how many re-boots, etc. Not one command prompt I've seen has responded to "linux dd" as they say the boot prompt should. After the first few intuitive walk-throughs, I decided to be thorough and try every one I came across for S&G's.

I think it's a little understanable that at this point, I'm a bit frustrated.

I use KDE and not GNOME although GNOME is the default. When you use add/remove you have to specify the program package you want to add or remove. If you don't or do it incorrectly, it will give you an error message. Computers are stupid; they do exactly what we tell them.

Kinda hard to do anything wrong when you open the tool, it automatically searches for installed packages and crashes because it can't find anything. If you can't even get to the window to input anything, you screw anything up.

That says to me that either the driver is not loaded or is incorrectly configured.

This isn't the first time I've played with networking/set things up. Just the first time with Linux. And over lunch I double checked the driver in the list. It's the same series, but for an ealier version- not for the whole "family" like I thought- so I'm thinking that's the culprit. Or at least the first thing to go after.

The DHCP server cannot be your computer. It is impossible to get host configuration from yourself. The DHCP must come from your ISP or another DHCP server.

I use a router that connects to my cable modem. It gets the DHCP info from my ISP and configures the WAN (Internet side) and I use static, non-routable IPs on the LAN side. I also have a few DHCP addresses set up in the router DHCP server.

I know how it all works. I'm still trying to figure what you were asking. Guess I'm still not reading the question right.

FC6 has more NICs available and is very stable at this point so that is probably a good choice.

Hopefully. I'd try 7, but right now, I don't have access to a DVD burner and I can't find the .iso files broken down into "CD size" chunks. So... CD's are cheap and it doesn't work, it's not working now, so I haven't lost anything but more time (that I don't have).

 

[2ndAmendment]

Yep. I do electrical design for a living. Actually, series 2 was better than series 1. I choose the Antec, because it had the most power on the +5V rail of any other name-brand ATX PSU.

The guys at Antec asked what I was running, and so have several others, no one has any insight.

Then I would say you have a component with a short which may be intermittent. Something drawing way more than it should.

That makes sense. Server. I suppose I could try workstation and see if the planet's align.

I wouldn't bother with FC5 again.

Anaconda didn't install the NIC. I did it with the network tool. I've been through the re-install several times and I have yet to see it even look for it. And that part in the release notes about using a driver disk is FOS.

Anaconda uses system-config-network just with a different interface as I understand it, so you were using the same tool. If one didn't work, it is reasonable to think the other wouldn't either.

That's what I figured. If it was written for programmers, that explains why they didn't tell you how to do it. I'm F'ed.

If you have to compile it, then you need a working development system, development is also one of the profiles.

F 'em. It's not like I spent 5 minutes and gave up. I've spent days with my buddy google and haven't come up with s***. The install directions for the driver are worthless and the "enhanced hardware" section of the FC install instructions is garbage. No matter how I went about the install, no matter how many re-boots, etc. Not one command prompt I've seen has responded to "linux dd" as they say the boot prompt should. After the first few intuitive walk-throughs, I decided to be thorough and try every one I came across for S&G's.

I think it's a little understanable that at this point, I'm a bit frustrated.

Remember, these people should not be the brunt of your frustration. I understand you are frustrated. Just know that I have always been able to find an answer to even the most esoteric of questions. Forming the query for Google is not always the easiest. There are two dd directives. One is a boot option which is entered as an option to the boot prompt when you interrupt the normal boot process. The other is a command line command the stands for data dump (dd) which takes options of the devices or files (devices are special files in Linux and UNIX) that it will read from and write to as well as block size and some other options. Sounds like you want the first form.

Boot options for Red Hat 9 are here. http://www.redhat.com/docs/manuals/linux/RHL-9-Manual/install-guide/ch-bootopts.html
They are similar to FC 5.

This is the help for the command line dd

dd --help
Usage: dd [OPERAND]...
or: dd OPTION
Copy a file, converting and formatting according to the operands.

bs=BYTES force ibs=BYTES and obs=BYTES
cbs=BYTES convert BYTES bytes at a time
conv=CONVS convert the file as per the comma separated symbol list
count=BLOCKS copy only BLOCKS input blocks
ibs=BYTES read BYTES bytes at a time
if=FILE read from FILE instead of stdin
iflag=FLAGS read as per the comma separated symbol list
obs=BYTES write BYTES bytes at a time
of=FILE write to FILE instead of stdout
oflag=FLAGS write as per the comma separated symbol list
seek=BLOCKS skip BLOCKS obs-sized blocks at start of output
skip=BLOCKS skip BLOCKS ibs-sized blocks at start of input
status=noxfer suppress transfer statistics

BLOCKS and BYTES may be followed by the following multiplicative suffixes:
xM M, c 1, w 2, b 512, kB 1000, K 1024, MB 1000*1000, M 1024*1024,
GB 1000*1000*1000, G 1024*1024*1024, and so on for T, P, E, Z, Y.

Each CONV symbol may be:

ascii from EBCDIC to ASCII
ebcdic from ASCII to EBCDIC
ibm from ASCII to alternate EBCDIC
block pad newline-terminated records with spaces to cbs-size
unblock replace trailing spaces in cbs-size records with newline
lcase change upper case to lower case
nocreat do not create the output file
excl fail if the output file already exists
notrunc do not truncate the output file
ucase change lower case to upper case
swab swap every pair of input bytes
noerror continue after read errors
sync pad every input block with NULs to ibs-size; when used
with block or unblock, pad with spaces rather than NULs
fdatasync physically write output file data before finishing
fsync likewise, but also write metadata

Each FLAG symbol may be:

append append mode (makes sense only for output)
direct use direct I/O for data
dsync use synchronized I/O for data
sync likewise, but also for metadata
nonblock use non-blocking I/O
nofollow do not follow symlinks
noctty do not assign controlling terminal from file

Sending a USR1 signal to a running `dd' process makes it
print I/O statistics to standard error and then resume copying.

$ dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/null& pid=$!
$ kill -USR1 $pid; sleep 1; kill $pid
18335302+0 records in
18335302+0 records out
9387674624 bytes (9.4 GB) copied, 34.6279 seconds, 271 MB/s

Options are:

--help display this help and exit
--version output version information and exit

Report bugs to <bug-coreutils@gnu.org>.

Kinda hard to do anything wrong when you open the tool, it automatically searches for installed packages and crashes because it can't find anything. If you can't even get to the window to input anything, you screw anything up.

Linux is not Windows. I like it much better, but it is not for everyone.

This isn't the first time I've played with networking/set things up. Just the first time with Linux. And over lunch I double checked the driver in the list. It's the same series, but for an ealier version- not for the whole "family" like I thought- so I'm thinking that's the culprit. Or at least the first thing to go after.

Windows makes a lot of assumptions that work for most people but are wrong many times for others. Linux expects you to know what you want and makes very few assumptions.

I know how it all works. I'm still trying to figure what you were asking. Guess I'm still not reading the question right.

If you are using the Linux box as the DHCP server, you cannot have it ask itself for a DHCP configuration for itself. It can't. The Linux box must get its DHCP configuration data from an external source which must be supplied if it cannot find it through a probe.

Hopefully. I'd try 7, but right now, I don't have access to a DVD burner and I can't find the .iso files broken down into "CD size" chunks. So... CD's are cheap and it doesn't work, it's not working now, so I haven't lost anything but more time (that I don't have).

I think 7 might be a little "raw" for your taste right now. Let it age a month or so. FC 6 would be a good place if you want to start right now.

 

[Severa]

Hopefully. I'd try 7, but right now, I don't have access to a DVD burner and I can't find the .iso files broken down into "CD size" chunks. So... CD's are cheap and it doesn't work, it's not working now, so I haven't lost anything but more time (that I don't have).

Here ya go:

Virginia Tech MIRROR
It's the VT mirror site for Fedora 7, has i386 LiveCD ISOs for GNOME or KDE, whichever you prefer. I went with GNOME and so far so good *knock on computer desk*

 

[Chain729]

Then I would say you have a component with a short which may be intermittent. Something drawing way more than it should.
I wouldn't bother with FC5 again.

I would go with that, but it's odd that it burned up two seperate types of power rails. If it was the same rail this time, as the last few, I'd definately agree. Also, with version 2, I know the 550 watts is distrubted differently than version 1. The +5V is higher, I don't believe the -5V went down though. :shrug:

Anaconda uses system-config-network just with a different interface as I understand it, so you were using the same tool. If one didn't work, it is reasonable to think the other wouldn't either.

Didn't know that. Definately makes sense.

Remember, these people should not be the brunt of your frustration. I understand you are frustrated. Just know that I have always been able to find an answer to even the most esoteric of questions. Forming the query for Google is not always the easiest. There are two dd directives. One is a boot option which is entered as an option to the boot prompt when you interrupt the normal boot process. The other is a command line command the stands for data dump (dd) which takes options of the devices or files (devices are special files in Linux and UNIX) that it will read from and write to as well as block size and some other options. Sounds like you want the first form.

You don't write installation instructions for someone that knows what they're doing. So, if you're going to write them, be thorough. Obviously, the guy reading them doesn't know WTF is what, or he wouldn't be cracking the file open. If you can't grasp that, don't write them. Even with that said, the writers and programmers aren't bearing the brunt of my frustration, the situation is.

I went off the installation notes. I did interrupt the boot sequence and they're must be another step that isn't in there that I missed. But, like I said, I can't find the info I'm looking for. If I could, I wouldn't be ranting about it.

Boot options for Red Hat 9 are here. http://www.redhat.com/docs/manuals/linux/RHL-9-Manual/install-guide/ch-bootopts.html
They are similar to FC 5.

I'll have to check that out. Thanks.

Linux is not Windows. I like it much better, but it is not for everyone.
Windows makes a lot of assumptions that work for most people but are wrong many times for others. Linux expects you to know what you want and makes very few assumptions.

XP does all the work for you. 2K doesn't. Neither did 98 or 95. All of which I've been neck deep in. Personally, I'd rather go back to DOS, but then I can't run half the programs I'd like.

If you are using the Linux box as the DHCP server, you cannot have it ask itself for a DHCP configuration for itself. It can't. The Linux box must get its DHCP configuration data from an external source which must be supplied if it cannot find it through a probe.

I'll take your word for it. Maybe I'm thinking too much and so I'll leave it at that.

I do have a book that I bought way back for FC1, but it didn't really explain that part too well. I'll re-install FC5 tonight, as a workstation and see what happens.

I think 7 might be a little "raw" for your taste right now. Let it age a month or so. FC 6 would be a good place if you want to start right now.

downloading FC6 now. I'll try 5 again as a work station, and then we'll see what happens.

 

[2ndAmendment]

I would go with that, but it's odd that it burned up two seperate types of power rails. If it was the same rail this time, as the last few, I'd definately agree. Also, with version 2, I know the 550 watts is distrubted differently than version 1. The +5V is higher, I don't believe the -5V went down though. :shrug:


I'll re-install FC5 tonight, as a workstation and see what happens.



downloading FC6 now. I'll try 5 again as a work station, and then we'll see what happens.

Same device using both rails shorting; takes positive out sometimes and negative out others depending on robustness of the power supply. That would limit the device, too. Not all use both rails.

I'd leave FC5 in the dust and go with FC 6 and save the frustration. I think FC 6 may have your NIC "in the box."

 

[FastCarsSpeed]

I started with Fedora Core 4 and have moved up with each release.

FastCarsSpeed, which printer drivers are you using? I use gutenprint which are better than the foomatic in my opinion.

I will have to check when I get home. The box is fast and its soo much cleaner than windows in alot of areas. I even have my old FAT32 file drive mounted and all.

 

[2ndAmendment]

I will have to check when I get home. The box is fast and its soo much cleaner than windows in alot of areas. I even have my old FAT32 file drive mounted and all.

FC6 even mounts the NT file systems. I have one set up for dual boot, but I have only booted into Windoze a couple of times and that was when I first set up the box.

 

[Chain729]

forgot about this thread...

2A,

Thanks for trying to help me out and being patient with me- I'm a bit of an ass on occassion.

I did get online, but not with the onboard network interface. Originally, I thought that the NIC from my other computer wouldn't work because the driver wasn't in the list. Than, I remembered that I had that same NIC in the computer that was running FC1 and it worked fine. So, I cannabalized it, popped it in and it works fine.

I did change the MTU setting to get a slightly faster connection which seems to be working.

Another question, is there a reason that FC6 runs slow? I don't expect the same performance out of this that I do my SMP machine, but it should running faster than what it is.

 

[FastCarsSpeed]

My son is playing Lilo and Stitch Tiki Bowl now on Disney channel online using Firefox and FC 6 hahaha. 6 years old he is set.

BTW Im using NDIS Wrapper and still cannot get the broadcom drivers to work with my wireless card.

 

[2ndAmendment]

forgot about this thread...

2A,

Thanks for trying to help me out and being patient with me- I'm a bit of an ass on occassion.

I did get online, but not with the onboard network interface. Originally, I thought that the NIC from my other computer wouldn't work because the driver wasn't in the list. Than, I remembered that I had that same NIC in the computer that was running FC1 and it worked fine. So, I cannabalized it, popped it in and it works fine.

I did change the MTU setting to get a slightly faster connection which seems to be working.

Another question, is there a reason that FC6 runs slow? I don't expect the same performance out of this that I do my SMP machine, but it should running faster than what it is.

In the release notes you will find that due to a bug in FC6 anaconda, it installs the i386 kernel even if you have a i686 chip. The instruction tell how to download the i686 kernel and install it. After that, yum will keep the kernel in the i686 branch.

The other thing that can cause slow performance is not enough memory or not enough swap space. Swap should be at least 2 times the amount of RAM and bigger if you have a lack of RAM.

 

[Chain729]

Thanks 2A. I'll look into it.