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January 8, 2008 at 09:32:34

The Linux Project: Gentoo revisited

by Pappy Page 3 of 4 page(s)

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Oh, not because of Gentoo, or the time it takes to set it up. As far as setting up an operating system goes, getting Gentoo from the point where it was a functional, stand alone system, didn't take any longer than doing a full on proper, ready to rock Windows install. It also took far less time than the GUI install I did on the fossil.

No, that particular nightmare was brought into being because Gen-tosh's DVD ROM drive is removable. It also has a floppy that installs in the same bay. Some time long ago in the life of Gen-tosh, someone drooled on, pissed on, sweated on, or in some other fashion, got the quick drive bay's connector just a bit on the corroded side. That means the DVD ROM drive was...well, let's just say a source of some serious consternation.

Had I not made a mistake during the install, it wouldn't have mattered. However, somehow, one of the files I manually created got damaged. I am pretty sure I simply made a mistake and didn't save it after I finished editing it. Suffice it to say, because that one file got a bit whopper-jawed, I had to reboot with the DVD to be able to access the hard drive because of that flubbed fstab file.

While correcting that mistake was a simple matter of typing out a new fstab using one from another machine as a pattern, the fact that the DVD ROM was being persnickety added a new dimension of hell to the process...and three plus hours.

But, I pulled every stop out of the "Pappy can fix anything" organ: I played Tocatta and Fuege in D minor ala Dr. Phibes, did a voodoo dance, threw rune stones shook chicken bones, and threw just about everything I could at Gen-tosh. And, at long last, now it sits, running under its own Gentoo powered-steam, happily compiling all its system software. NICE! It sits here next to this machine, having achieved the state I wanted for it: functional.

Was it worth it? Well, let me say this about that, YES, it was SOOO worth it! Even now, the feeling of giddiness is unparalleled. I finally came to the summit of my own personal Everest...ok, maybe not, but my geeky tecno-woody tells me I did something really freakin' awesome...twice. And I am getting the feeling that number three's conversion is drawing nigh.

So, to sum it all up, I was right about Gentoo. It isn't the distro for the average Linux n00b. It has an incredibly steep learning curve. it can be maddening and frustrating setting it up and getting it out of the chute. Even for those who have some amount of experience with computers, Gentoo presents a real challenge. I know that it is only a matter of time before this machine gets the same treatment. From the itch in my fingers, I think the time is growing nigh.

And I was wrong. There is more to Linux than the software. Without the commuity, it's just a program. Gentoo definitely has a strong community behind it. Because of that reason, Gentoo might actually be good for the n00b, especially the one that wants to get a crash course in alternative operating systems.

And it bears repeating that their documentation is truly second to none. From how-to's, to wikis, to other resources, no one compares to Gentoo for sheer volume of documentation. And for the most part, it's well written, very detailed, and easy to use. It truly is the counterbalance to the complexity of Gentoo.

I never thought that anything would diminish my love for Slackware. However, some of the irritations in Slackware, and in its forums became too much to deal with. And although I know I could have gone down the Debian path, I knew that I had to try Gentoo. I had to give it a fair hearing. I knew there was something more to it than meets the eye.

So, on my ratings scale, I give it a five. Manual installation is the way to the cross. It takes a while, and misspellings mean mistakes. However, if you know how to read, know a bit about computers, and don't need to have your hand held by a "pretty" installer, installing Gentoo is workable.

LiveCD GUI installers are available, buggy, and are a fairly big source of irritation for many. It seems that the best installer to use is the 2006.1 LiveCD, Its GUI installer can get the job done. However, if you use the GUI installer and let the screen go black one time, you miss watching your computer's progress. your system will install, however, the progress screen simply won't refresh. I'm sure when it's done, you'll know. Still haven't had the patience to truly find out.

As far as basic system operation, it's a bit better than what I expected, so I give it a five. While there are a lot more bugs to iron out with Gentoo, fixing them will be very interesting, and educational. If you take your time, read the plentiful documentation, you will wind up with a strong, stable system. I know I did, twice.

The networking setup was incredibly simple, even though I told Gentoo I wanted a static IP address. I was expecting to type in a lot of data telling the computer all kinds of information encoded with numbers and periods. Instead, all I had to do was enter the IP address and a simple statement in one file, and the networking was done. Had I chosen to use a dynamic IP address (the kind most people have by default) I'd have had to do nothing. Frankly, I was amazed! Of all the things I never expected from a distro as complex as Gentoo, simple networking setup is on top of the list.

As far as device support, it supports all the hardware on both systems I currently have running it. Therefore, it gets another solid five. While most device support is a function of the kernel, the install CD's found every piece of hardware, and set up the initial kernel such that it worked with everything the system has installed.

As far as the fourth criterion, look and feel, it's on par with every other distro I have tested. However, I do note that the initial boot screen is very clean. It doesn't overload you with superfluous information...unless you tell it to. I like the clean look, so it stays! Therefore, I'll give it a five

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Harpist, unemployed blue collar worker, and Bush basher living deep in the heart of Texas.

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Harpist, unemployed blue collar worker, and Bush basher living deep in the heart of Texas.
PappyHarpist, unemployed blue collar worker, and Bush basher living deep in the heart of Texas.

UPDATE:

The inevitable has finally occurred. I signed off on the Slackware forum at linuxquestions.com and I unsubscribed from all the threads which I had been following. More importantly, I converted my last computer, my new Compaq laptop. Now all of my machines have Gentoo installed.

What I really love about Gentoo is how configurable it is, especially the networking. As I mentioned in the article, Gentoo has the simplest network setup I have ever tried. Editing one small file can give you an infinite number of networking possibilities.

For instance, on Gen-tosh, the networking automatically configures itself at boot time depending on whether the wired or wireless adapter is installed into the PCMCIA slot. If there is no adapter installed, then it automatically configures for no network. It's an awesomely sweet setup!

On this machine, the network automatically sets up for wired or wireless networking depending on whether or not the net cable is plugged into the on board network card. If it is, like now, then the network sets up to run with the wired adapter, ignoring the status of the wireless adapter completely. If the net cable is unplugged, then wireless sets up automatically. NICE NICE NICE!

Now, getting the networking to set itself up this way doesn't happen by magic. Through reading the forums, and doing some reading on other general Linux topics (like script writing), and about five hours of experimentation, I got it to work. Considering what's happening when the computer makes the networking adapter decision, I really didn't work all that hard to make the "miracle" happen.

When I tried to get that to happen with Windows, it was next to impossible. I know, because once I figured out that Gentoo could do this, then I switched over to the Windows side, and tried to get the same thing to happen. Windows fought me every step of the way, even though it was all point and click. I did get it to go, supposedly, but I have yet to really give it a serious acid test.

Doing the same thing with this machine would be impossible under Windows. As far as I know, there isn't an automated Windows networking solution. Please, anyone who knows differently, please let me know. Windows would force both net adapters to be active simultaneously...and that would be all kinds of hell. I don't even have the balls to try. Of course, I'd have to pay for the software to make it happen. Yeah...whatever!

With Slackware, I might have been able to accomplish the deed, but it would have been a lot more difficult. It would have required editing a lot more files. And it would have required documentation...which Slackware lacks, in abundance. I am sure I could have figured it out, but it would have taken a lot longer to get the job done. And it would have required me to fly a little more blindly, owing to the lack of documentation.

But with Gentoo, not only is the networking setup simple, it's also well documented. There are also programs available that will allow you to dynamically set your networking options on the fly with Gentoo. Fortunately, there are also folks who have documented doing what I did, but in a different fashion. Using their ideas as a starting point, I was able to figure out how best to detect the network card, and how best to switch configurations.

The long and the short of it is I have machines that now do things I never thought I'd get them to do. It's all because of Gentoo. For all its faults, and know that there are some, such as a lower aggregate stability as compared to Slackware, Gentoo shines like the lonely beam from a lighthouse scanning the sea on a foggy, moonless night. It has a je ne sais quoi that no other distro I have tried has. It is all that, a bag of chips, the factory that made the chips, and the farm that grew the potatoes.

I can't begin to tell y'all just how happy switching to Gentoo has made me and my systems. I feel like I have truly accomplished something. I have computers that do what I want them to do...at long last. I have learned a lot more in the past few weeks than I did in all the time I worked with Slackware.

This can't be helped. When someone decides to take on Gentoo, it's more than just putting an operating system on your computer. It's making a commitment to know your computer, and Linux, as never before. My brain has come close to exploding a few times, and I must admit that there are times I have to stop and take a break from it. Working with Gentoo can get very, very I-N-T-E-N-S-E!

But, I have something to show for the work in two ways: tangibly and intangibly. Tangibly speaking, I have three computers that work the way I have wanted my computers to work together for some time. Intangibly speaking, not only do I have the knowledge garnered, I also have the feeling of pride and accomplishment. I have the sense that the risk of trying Gentoo was so worth it when looking at the rewards.

So, I really haven't lost a thing by getting rid of Slackware, but dealing with a couple total assholes, and the frustration of poor documentation. Had I known what was going to transpire, I'd have knuckled down and allowed Gentoo to finish in the first place. I'd be a lot farther ahead, and I wouldn't have had to deal with some of the assholes at the Slackware forum.

So, once again, thank you Gentoo, and I am sorry for thinking you were anything less than the most awesome operating system I have ever installed on my machine. I was so wrong.

And while Gentoo is still really not for the n00b, my hat is off to anyone who can bite into Gentoo, and hang on for the ride of their lives.

Blessed be!
Pappy

by Pappy (61 articles, 0 quicklinks, 11 diaries, 860 comments) on Wednesday, January 16, 2008 at 4:57:04 AM