============================================================================ Vector-Linux Version v0.4 February-27th-2000 This version of 'Linux' is a direct decendant of the popular Vector-Linux. Although the install routine (which was originally found in Kent Robotti's Doslinux now looplynux) is essentially the same the character of distro has changed a bit. Vector-linux aims to be a user friendly desktop system with lots of nice apps games etc with all the latest libs and software. The aim of Vector-linux is to provide the user with a complete developement enviroment and still maintain a very usable X window desktop system that doesn't hog a huge amount of system or disk resources. With this in mind the author chose to install only one widget library GTK as many very functional apps have been written around this library. In this light a combination of GTK apps were used to make up the desktop system all being run by the very capable Icewm. The KDE and GNOME systems were avoided to save on ram and disk space. This system can be run as a dos loop program but I feel this is counter productive as those systems run very slow and there are enough 'Dos loop' linux's out there if you really think that is the way you want to go. Therefore there will be no instructions for setting this up on a Dos partition as this distro is intended to be run as a native linux system.Vector-Linux is a 100% Libc6 Glibc2.1.3 system. This Vector-Linux HOWTO gives a overview of the system and configurating your hardware with it. ============================================================================ About 62 mbytes compressed. ============================================================================ Vector-Linux home site ... http://metalab.unc.edu/vectorlinux ============================================================================ The complete system... veclinux.bz2 vmlinuz The kernel has math-coprocessor support for CPU'S 386sx and above, that don't have a built in coprocessor. You need at least a 386 CPU to run linux. [GCC Compiler] egcs ver 1.1.2 (was chosen over the newer 2.9.5.2 gcc and c++ for stability) you need to have at least 8mb of ram = memory to run Vector-Linux. Although a minimum of 16 mb's is suggested if you want to use the X window system. If you have less than 32mb of ram you should create a swap file, even if you have more than 32 it's not bad idea to create at least a 8mb swap file. The swap file will be used in place of ram when needed. For example if you have 24mb of ram and you create a 8mb swap file, if will be as if you had 32mb of ram etc. ============================================================================= Some common Console commands in Vector-Linux for for DOS/WIN9x Users. # XF86Setup <- setup X-Windows, xf86config <-Alternative to XF86Setup, startx ls, l, dir, d, mc, top, format, fdformat, cd /, cd .., mkdir, md, df, du, free, mem, copy, cp, mv, ping, rm, telnet, ftp, mount, umount, cdset, dhcpcd, e2fsck, dosfsck, fdisk, halt, shutdown, CTRL+ALT+DEL, pnpdump, isapnp, mkdosfs, mke2fs, liloconfig <- for ext2, pppsetup <- for ppp dialup, etherset <- for cable modems etc, find, finger, gpm <- for mouse, irc, lynx, minicom, passwd, password, play, w, whoami, adduser, deluser, ppp-off, pppd, pppstats. All commands are in the /bin, /sbin, /usr/bin, /usr/sbin, directory's. You'll know by there color GREEN*) The /etc/ directory and subs are equivelant to MS-DOS C:\autoexec.bat & Config.sys in an MS-DOS or Windows-9x type Operating System. ============================================================================= @echo off rem This file is ram.bat. rem ==========================================================================+ loadlin vmlinuz initrd=Vector.gz root=/dev/ram rw rem | rem Common Command after logging in if your not sure about Partitions, | rem type: fdisk -l You should see a list of all detected Partition(s).| rem Then you can type 'mc' for file manager (editing so on...) | rem | rem HOW TO MAKE A TWO 1.44 FLOPPY BOOT/ROOT/RESCUE DISK SET (recommended!) | rem Bootup with the Ram.bat and Login as 'root' and type the 2 lines below: | rem # mount -o user /dev/hda1 /DOS | rem # floppy | rem NOTE: if /dev/hda1 is not where your x:\veclinux directory is,supplement | rem for the real location eg. /dev/hda2, /dev/hdb1, /dev/hdc1 /dev/sda1 etc. | rem TIP: if -o user dont work, use '-t msdos' in place of '-o user' | rem To mount Vector.img for repairs etc. Boot the 'ram.bat'then login as root.| rem # mount -o user /dev/hda1 /DOS | rem # mount -t ext2 -o loop /DOS/veclinux/Vector.img /mnt/loop | rem Now you can access Vector.img through the /mnt/loop directory. | rem Then type >>> mc <<< for Midnight Commander & go nuts. | rem ==========================================================================+ rem @echo off rem This file is Linux.bat. Linux install. rem =====================================================================+ loadlin vmlinuz root=$dev ro rem | rem HOW TO MAKE A TWO 1.44 FLOPPY BOOT/ROOT/RESCUE DISK SET(recommended!)| rem Boot with the Ram.bat and Login as 'root' and type the 2 lines below | rem # mount -o user /dev/hda1 /DOS | rem # floppy | rem NOTE: if /dev/hda1 is not where your x:\veclinux directory is,supple| rem ment for the real location eg. /dev/hda2, /dev/hdb1, /dev/hdc1 etc. | rem TIP: if -o user dont work, use '-t msdos' in place of '-o user' | rem | rem If you have a SCSI hard disk than put /dev/sdxx in place of /hdxx.To | rem find out where your Linux Partition is, boot with the C:\veclinux > | rem Ram.bat and type after login: | rem # fdisk -l | rem You should see something similar to this below. | rem | rem VectorLinux:/# fdisk -l | rem | rem Disk /dev/hda: 64 heads, 63 sectors, 528 cylinders | rem Units = cylinders of 4032 * 512 bytes | rem | rem Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System | rem /dev/hda1 * 1 250 503968+ 83 Linux | rem /dev/hda2 251 528 560448 6 FAT16 | rem | rem Disk /dev/hdc: 15 heads, 22 sectors, 1011 cylinders | rem Units = cylinders of 330 * 512 bytes | rem | rem Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System | rem /dev/hdc1 * 1 1011 166804 6 FAT32 | rem Vector-Linux:/ | rem | rem To mount other ext2 Partitions in Vector-Linux type this below:. | rem | rem # mount /dev/hda2 /mnt | rem # mc <-- for Midnight Commander | rem =====================================================================+ rem This is a brief list of hardware that Vector-Linux supports, either in the kernel or as module. 1. ISA, EISA, PCI, motherboards... 2. IDE hard drives and IDE/ATAPI cdrom drives... 3. SCSI hard drives and cdrom drives... 4. MCA (M)icro (C)hannel Bus Support... 5. PS/2 ESDI hard drives Support... 6. Non Atapi/Scsi cdrom drive support... 7. Standard + LS-120 floppy drives... 8. Parallel port printers... 9. Serial, BUS, & PS/2 mice... 10. PNP support... 11. FULL PCMCIA support v2.1.121 pcmcia.tgz = v3.1.9 12. FULL SUPPORT FOR ETHERNET cards and dhcpd server for Automatic configuration upon bootup of Ethernet Cards attached to Cable modems that configure via dhcpcd or or maybe BOOTP if ISP supports it. 13. 2.2.14 Kernel supports all major Joysticks and all Soundcards that Kernel 2.2.14 currently can including all OSS drivers. The drivers are located in /lib/modules/2.2.14/misc/ directory, and are to be loaded/ initialized from /etc/rc.d/rc.soundcard <--edit for similar info below. Look in /usr/doc/soundcard for more info. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Tested with 2 $40 Soundblaster Pro Compatible Cards and worked excellent with the the settings below for (Acer MagicFX-3D & Opti 9810xx pnp cards). My friend suggest going into WinXX control panel and looking for your cards settings there, then come back to Linux and enter them below. If like me you don't have Windows then give this a try as it's only geared towards pnp cards. Type this below after login: # pnpdump -c > /etc/isapnp.conf #Goto /etc/isapnp.conf and look for your soundcards io, dma, irq settings than try a "isapnp /etc/isapnp.conf" OR if you know your cards settings either from looking in WinXX control panel prior than just enter the settings in place of the e.g below in /etc/rc.d/rc.souncard file. For Soundblaster Pro Compatible soundcards change the io, irq, dma for your card below or load the exact /2.2.14/misc/ sound module for your soundcard and remove the '#' from the line beneath this line for auto-detection/loading in /etc/rc.d/rc.soundcard. Settings vary with different soundcards. Examples below should give you a good start. # modprobe -k sb io=0x220 irq=5 dma=1 dma16=10 mpu_io=0x330 For Pro Audio Spectrum or Soundman 16 or Media Vision Pro Audio 16 below. # modprobe -k pas2 io=0x388 irq=7 dma=1 dma16=10 There are a ton more soundcards that Linux supports but i just list the above ones i have and have configured with above settings, so most soundcards should be about the same looking as configured above and this i hope might help you get yours setup. The 'sb' is for Soundblaster PRO type soundcards, and the 'pas2' is for Pro Audio Spectrum type soundcards. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= There's Firewall & IP masquerading support in the kernel. There's also Token Ring support in the kernel. Any IP masquerading modules are in the /lib/modules/2.2.14/ipv4 /ipv6 directory. If you have a CABLE modem there's a module that supports your Ethernet card, in the /lib/modules/2.2.14/net directory. If you want to use the DHCP server 'dhcpcd' you can do this after: # modprobe 3c509 Substitute the above '3c509' 3Com ehternet card module with your cards module. # dhcpcd eth0 Some cable modem service providers support DHCP. Remove the '#' from the 'dhcpcd' lines in the /etc/rc.d/rc.inet1 file to start /usr/sbin/dhcpcd server daemon at boot time. The /dev/modem link is set to /dev/ttyS1 = com2, the /dev/mouse link is set to /dev/psaux = ps2, these can be changed. For example if you have a serial mouse type this after you login as 'root' (User name is root): # ln -sf /dev/ttyS0 /dev/mouse Goto /etc/rc.d/rc.M <-- edit and change the line you'll see with: '-t ps2' to: '-t ms'> ttyS0 = com1 ttyS1 = com2 ttyS2 = com3 ttyS3 = com4 Gpm v.1.14 is a mouse driver, it allows you to cut and paste with a mouse in a console or editor. # man gpm To see if your getting any output from the mouse start gpm. ~# gpm -t help # gpm -t ms # gpm -t ps2 # gpm -k A lot of programs that use the modem and mouse look for /dev/modem and /dev/mouse, so run comset to create these links or create them by hand. ~# comset Comset will also create a /etc/rc.d/rc.serial file to configure your modem at boot time by setserial. If you have a PNP modem you may need to use pnpdump and isapnp to get it setup. # pnpdump -c > /etc/isapnp.conf # isapnp /etc/isapnp.conf Read the docs in /usr/doc/isapnptools. ========================================================================== If you have a PCMCIA modem or any PCMCIA device it should be detected during bootup from /ect/rc.d/rc.pcmcia. First remove the three '#'s below in /etc/rc.d/rc.S file. Than reboot. ---Start of /etc/rc.d/rc.s----------------------------- #if [ -x /etc/rc.d/rc.pcmcia ] && [ -s /lib/modules/`uname -r`/pcmcia/pcmcia_core.o ]; then #/etc/rc.d/rc.pcmcia start #fi --------- End of-/etc/rc.d/rc.S------------------------ The /etc/rc.d/rc.pcmcia script will be run at boot time, it should detect any pcmcia devices you have. READ: /usr/doc/pcmcia/PCMCIA-HOWTO =========================================================================== ~# pico Ctrl-K = Cut. Ctrl-U = Paste. ~# mcedit You can also cut & paste in 'mc' using these keys... [Shift]-[Down]-arrow-key to highlight text. [Shift]-[Delete] to cut highlighted text. [Shift]-[Insert] to paste. These are the file systems Vector-Linux supports in the kernel. 1. ext2 2. Ms-DOS 3. fat16 + FAT32 4. iso9660 5. devpts 6. minix 7. nfs 8. WinNT 9. few others These are some file systems Vector-Linux supports through modules. 10.UMSDOS 11.few others To start the 'nfs' server do this. # rpc.portmap Mount nfs_server directory under /mnt/nfs directory. # mount -t nfs nfs_server:/fooboo /mnt/nfs The link /dev/cdrom is set to device /dev/hdb, if your cdrom drive is detected on another device at bootup time e.g. hdc, hdd, scd0, etc. you can run 'cdset' to change the link. ~# cdset Or manually type: # ln -sf /dev/hdd /dev/cdrom Do this to mount your cdrom drive... ~# mount /mnt/cdrom # cd /mnt/cdrom /mnt/cdrom# ls # cd /root ~# umount /mnt/cdrom # eject Do this to mount a 1.44 formatted floppy in drive a. ~# mount /dev/fd0u1440 /mnt/floppy # mount /mnt/floppy # cd /mnt/floppy /mnt/floppy# ls # cp file /root # cp /root/file /dev/fd0u1440 # cd /root ~# umount /mnt/floppy Do this to format a floppy. ~# fdformat /dev/fd0u1440 # fdformat /dev/fd0u1722 Fdformat just formats a floppy, it doesn't put a file system on it. To put a DOS fat file system on a 1.44 floppy disk in drive a. ~# mkdosfs -v /dev/fd0u1440 # mkdosfs -v -F32 /dev/fd0u1440 # mkdosfs -v -F16 /dev/fd0u1440 # man mkdosfs ~# dmesg | less and the hardware that was detected> ============================================================================== Vector-Linux has SLIP/PPP networking support...PPP.v.2.3.8... ============================================================================== This is some of the console software Vector-Linux contains. # vim # bash # irc # lynx # mc # minicom # mutt # fetchmail # metamail # ncftp # procmail # sendmail # telnet rlogin finger nslookup ping host vrfy whois # tin # rtin # wget # zgv # wu-ftp # [X-Window Applications below] # X11R6 3.3.5 # Sound Players # Gftp # pppsetup # Netscape v4.7 # gtkicq v.60 # XV # Perl 5 # GTK v1.27 # Xchat v1.40 # Spruce v0.5.17 < excellent GTK based email client> # Arrow # Nedit < wonderful text editor with many options> # Gnotepad v1.20 < small windows like notepad clone > ============================================================================= You can use 'zmodem' over 'telnet' in minicom, for example. ~# mtelnet atdt"bbs.foo.com Connected... BBS zmodem ready to send... Zmodem will start automatically when called, zmodem can resume an interrupted download i.e. pick up where it left-off. To upload using X, Y, or Zmodem, press [ALT] S keys. Logoff BBS... NO CARRIER... Press Alt-Q to quit minicom. Leave Without Reset? = Yes ~# man minicom modemu rz sz If you connect to a BBS through 'telnet' while in or outside of 'lynx', you can use 'zmodem'. Connected to BBS... BBS zmodem ready to send... Press Ctrl ] ztelnet> set binary ztelnet> rz -v ztelnet> close Ztelnet also has a pipe command |, so you don't have to use the builtin zmodem, you can call a external zmodem program etc. ztelnet> set binary ztelnet> | rz -b -y ztelnet> close If you do 'settrans U' it will probably improve the ansi color when you're connecting to a BBS over telnet etc. ~# settrans U # ztelnet ztelnet> open bbs.foo.com ~# zgv /usr/temp/logo.gif If you want to use another keyboard key map other than the default one in the kernel = vmlinuz, you can load another one from the /usr/lib/kbd/keymaps/i386 directory. gr = greek it = italian se-lat1 = swedish de = german etc. ~# loadkeys fr ~# kmapset You can put the line below in the /etc/rc.d/rc.keymap file, to have your chosen keymap loaded at boot time. loadkeys fr Vector-Linux includes /lib/libvga.so.1.3.1, this is used to support various programs that require a graphics capable console e.g. screen savers, video games, jpeg-gif-mpeg viewers, etc. there are compiled elf versions of these programs that can be dropped into the system. Libvga.so.1.3.1 supports quite a few different graphic cards. Modutils.v.2.1.121 patch.v.2.5 diffutils.v.2.7.2 sysvinit.v.2.76 procps.v.2.0.2 gawk.v.3.0.3 sed.v.3.0.2 ============================================================================ Read the docs in /usr/doc, there's also man pages for most of the programs & commands installed... If you're new to Linux = UNIX you should read the 'DOS-to-Linux-HOWTO.gz' in the /usr/doc/HOWTO directory. Try the script 'pppsetup' to connect to your service provider and establish a PPP connection. ~# pppsetup # ppp-go -c # ppp-off The 'pppsetup' script above should be enough to get your ppp connected to your service provider. If your service provider is using 'PAP' or 'CHAP' for authentication, when you run 'pppsetup' you have to answer "PAP/CHAP" and give your user-name and password. Read the ppp docs in the /usr/doc/ppp directory. ~# ifconfig ppp0 Link encap:Point-to-Point Protocol inet addr:105.207.127.86 P-t-P:205.252.116.61 Mask:255.0.0.0 If you want to make a SLIP or CSLIP connection, you can use the program dip "v.3.3.7p" for this, read the dip scripts in /usr/doc/dip. ~# dipsetup ~# modprobe slip ~# dip-go # dip -k # man dip Use the script 'fetch-setup' to setup 'fetchmail', the pop2, pop3, etc. mail client, just answer the questions user-name, password, etc. ~# fetchsetup Instead of using 'fetchsetup' above, use 'mnsetup' to setup fetchmail, mutt, and tin. ~# mnsetup # fetchmail # mutt If you get this message from fetchmail "Another foreground fetchmail is running at ?" do this to kill it. ~# killall fetchmail # fetchmail If you want fetchmail to run in the background = daemon mode, put this in your $HOME/.fetchmailrc file. set daemon 300 # fetchmail -d 300 ~# fetchmail -q If fetchmail or any program just hangs after you start it, do this. ~# fetchmail Hanging... Press Ctrl C ~# fetchmail The mail that 'fetchmail' retrieves, will be processed = sorted by 'procmail', based on guidelines it finds in the $HOME/.procmailrc file. $HOME is whatever you login as, if you login as root then $HOME is /root. # echo $HOME /root Sendmail is configured in the /etc/mail/sendmail.cf file, to pass incoming mail to '/usr/bin/procmail' for local delivery. To learn about the program procmail, read the docs in the /usr/doc/procmail directory. ~# man procmail rm ls lynx fetchmail irc etc. The bash shell has command recall, so you don't have to type in a command again, just press the [Up] or [Down]-arrow-key to recall a command. If you have any 'zombie' processes, do this to remove them. ~# ps x koo ~# pstree -p foo(346)-+-boo(350)---koo(357) ~# kill -9 350 You don't have to go all the way back unless you want to, just kill the parent of the zombie process, not the parent of the parent. If the terminal gets messed up for whatever reason, do this to restore it. ~# reset Even if you can't see what you're typing in, you can still type in reset and press enter. You can change consoles by pressing left-[Alt] and [Up]-arrow-key, then left-[Alt] F1 - F12 to go back. There are 12 consoles on Vector-Linux, you can download something in one and do something else in another etc. ~# less file.txt # less file.gz # lynx file.html # mc (To get help> [F1] (Extract Menu: zip deb rpm slp tar.gz tar.bz2 lha rar arj> [F2] (To read a file> [F3] (The builtin editor "mcedit" will be used> (To edit a file> [F4] (To copy a file> [F5] (To move or rename a file> [F6] (To delete> [F8] (To quit mc> [F10] [Glibc2.1.3] You can install pre-compiled Debian.deb, Redhat.i386.rpm, Stampede.slp, Mandrake & S.u.S.E etc.. packages in Vector-Linux. You can't presently "6-17-99" run slackware tgz packages on Vector-Linux, because they're compiled for a libc5 system, when slackware becomes libc6 you'll be able to. Read the /usr/doc/mc.menu/README file. [F3] You can see the contents of these archives in 'mc' by pressing [ENTER] on them. ?.rpm ?.deb ?.slp ?.tar.gz ?.tgz ?.tar.Z ?.tar.bz2 ?.bz2 ?.gz ?.Z ?.zip ?.arj ?.lha ?.rar ~# free # top # df ~# tar xzvf package.tar.gz # tar xIvf package.tar.bz2 # tar xvf package.tar # unzip package.zip # unarj x package.arj # unrar x package.rar # lha x package.lha # gzip -d package.gz # rpm -uhf package.gz # undeb package.gz ~# file /bin/bash /bin/bash: ELF 32-bit LSB executable, Intel 80386, version 1, dynamically linked, stripped ~# ldd /bin/bash libncurses.so.4 => /lib/libncurses.so.4 (0x4000e000) libdl.so.2 => /lib/libdl.so.2 (0x40013000) libc.so.6 => /lib/libc.so.6 (0x40018000) /lib/ld-linux.so.2 => /lib/ld-linux.so.2 (0x40000000) Bash is linked with the above libraries, this means bash won't run without these libraries on the system. If you download a program and try to run it and it says "can't find lib.something?", this means you don't have a library required to run this program, you can forget about it or get that library and put it in /lib/lib.something?. After you put it in /lib, run 'ldconfig -v' to link it up. Most unix programs you download will include a man page. Man pages usually have a .1-9 extension, for example: fooboo.1 You can put any man pages in the /usr/man/man1 - man9 directories. If it has a .1 extension it would go in man1 etc. You can read man pages like this. # man fooboo To unpack x.rpm, x.deb, and x.slp packages. ~# mc "Start the mc file-manager" Go to the directory that has the package. Have the package you want to extract highlighted. Press the [F2] key. Chose one of these options from the menu. deb Extract (x.deb) package rpm Extract (x.rpm) package slp Extract (x.slp) package package.i386.rpm package.src.rpm package.deb package.slp You can also extract these archive formats. # uudeview file # unshar file.shar # gzip -dc file.shar.gz | unshar . ============================================================================== LILO Configuration. See /usr/doc/lilo. LiLo is a reliable good boot-loader that will bootup Win9x, OS2, Linux etc.. To use the lilo boot-loader, first edit '/etc/lilo.conf' and i have a few example settings there already to help you understand the way lilo reads the 'lilo.conf' file to boot various OS's. Just remove the '#'s from the partition you want lilo to know about. You can change the /dev/xxxx and the name to use eg. DOS to whatever you need and/or like. # liloconfig <-- Excellent script for setting up lilo the (Linux Loader). You can use Linux's "exec activate /dev/xxxx" to make the Linux Partition active. Of course put the Partition you want active in place of /dev/'xxxx' Running 'liloconfig' should make the partition(s) active automaticaly, but to make sure... e.g exec activate device [Partition] /dev/hda1 - /dev/hda2 - /dev/hdb1 - /dev/hdc1 - /dev/sda1 etc.. You can also use /dev/'hda' or /'hdb' if all you're gonna use is Linux with no DOS/WIN Partitions but if you ever wanna UN-install Linux I'd stick to just using the /dev/'hda1' or /dev/hdc1 as it will make life easier in the next transition back to Win-9x etc.. if there is one.?. WHY? If you use /dev/hda <-- writes to the MBR of your hardrive and DOS fdisk cannot remove the lilo image from there, which means just use a boot floppy and run Linux fdisk and remove with fdisk -U. If you use /dev/hda1 <--- writes to the master boot sector making it simpler to remove if you should ever need to. Plus you can use DOS's fdisk.exe and make what Partitions you want active for that week or so :o). If you're not sure, than i wouldn't recommend using lilo. Stick with the safe loadlin.exe or the linux floppy boot disk to get into Vector-Linux. IF you did use lilo and for some reason you cannot boot into Linux through the hard drive than use the Vector-Linux boot floppy and type at the 'boot' prompt: # linux root=/dev/hda1 ro Then correct what needs to be fixed and run '/sbin/lilo' again. If you have no clue to what's wrong it's probably just the /etc/lilo.conf file needs to be configured correctly. If you get a 'Sorry, cannot access device 0x0010' or similar to that, it means lilo cannot get the hard disks geometry settings. It's usually caused from large disks 10gb or more with DOS or Windows Partitions interphering with Linux. I'm still investigating this: ============================================================================== Agetty Consoles/Terminals How to open other consoles is with the left [ALT] and the [UP] Arrow keys. Were using nice new program called 'open' that performs these tasks. If you prefer the old way: edit /etc/inittab scroll to bottom of file and remove the '#'s from the 4 other agetty lines. ============================================================================== Boot into X without the text mode screen is possible if you wanna fool around with it. Edit /etc/inittab you'll see a line near the top like: # Default run level. id:3:initdefault: Change it to this: id:4:initdefault: This will give you a nice little graphical logon screen. ============================================================================= About /dev/xxxx and what they mean for former Windows Users & Alike's. +==================================================+ |(hd(a)= Device 1) Usually your C:\ Hard Disk | |(hd(b)= Device 2) Usually the CD-ROM Drive or is | |the next seperate Hard Disk. | |(hda(1)= Device 1)and is the very first Partition | |on the very first Hard Disk. e.g C:\ | |(hda(3)= Device 1)and is the third Partition on | |the very first Hard Disk. e.g E:\ | |(hdb(1)= Device 2)and is the first Partition on | |on the second Hard Disk.(Or might be CD-ROM drive)| |(hdb(2)= Device 2)and is the second Partition on | |the second seperate Hard Disk.(Or might be CD-ROM)| +==================================================+ ============================================================================== Thats all folks have fun.............