Hi All...

Well, on 26 Jun 2001 23:46 PST, Gentoo Linux 1.0_rc5 was finally released!
Here are preliminary install instructions for developers only; right now, we
want developers to test the 1.0_rc5 install process.  Once everything's looking
OK, we'll announce on freshmeat.net, etc... but only after I've updated the Web
site and docs.  OK, here are the install instructions:

First, head over to:
http://www.ibiblio.org/gentoo/releases/1.0_rc5/isos/

You will see two bootable iso images.  One is 42Mb, and contains a ix86 build
image only.  You can use this system to build a specially-optimized Gentoo
Linux system from scratch.  The second is 618Mb, and contains a huge amount of
i686-specific binaries.  To use this CD, you'll need a system with a P6 or
P6-compatible core, such as a Pentium Pro/II/III/4 or Athlon.  Also, a note for
SCSI users: this new boot CD will boot from nearly any modern IDE CD-ROM, and
nearly any modern SCSI CD-ROM, and includes support for all Adaptec, Buslogic,
Initio, NCR, Symbios, Tekram controllers (and more!).

OK, here's how to install the gentoo-i686-exclusive-bin-1.0_rc5.iso.

1. Download and burn the ISO image.

2. boot your system with the CD in the drive :)

3. at the login: prompt, type "root" and hit enter.

4. at this point, you should create your partitions, LVM logical volumes or
   software RAID volumes, as desired.  LVM is supported, and we will have 
   instructions on how to create an LVM initrd soon.  Until then, the LVM 
   option is only for the Sistina guys and those who are really LVM-saavy :)
   fdisk and cfdisk are at your disposal.

5. mount your root partition to /mnt/gentoo and your boot partition to 
   /mnt/gentoo/boot (create this dir first).  If you are setting up Gentoo
   Linux with a separate /usr or /var, these would get mounted to
   /mnt/gentoo/usr and /mnt/gentoo/var, respectively.

   IMPORTANT NOTE: if your *boot* partition is reiserfs, be sure to mount it
   with the "-o notail" option so GRUB gets properly installed.  Make sure 
   that "notail" ends up in your new /etc/fstab boot partition entry, too.

6. Type:
   # export ROOT=/mnt/gentoo
   (This tells Portage where to install all the files)

7. Type:
   # ln -s /usr/portage/profiles/default /etc/make.profile
   (This tells Portage that we want to install the "default" system profile)

8. Type:
   # emerge --usepkg system
   (This tells Portage to install a basic system to ${ROOT})

9. OK; even if you'd like to custom-compile your own kernel from the bootcd
   (yes, this is possible!) you need to emerge our default kernel package.
   Everyone should do this:
   
   # emerge /usr/portage/distfiles/linux-2.4.4.9.tbz2

   If you want to compile your own kernel, I'll show you how in a bit.

10. If you need network connectivity for any reason, you should load the
   appropriate NIC module now:
   # modprobe 3c59x

11. Type:
   # mount --bind /mnt/cdrom/gentoo/packages /mnt/gentoo/usr/portage/packages
   # mount --bind /proc /mnt/gentoo/proc
   (This gives you access to /proc and the packages even after the chroot)

12: Now, it's time to chroot:
   # chroot /mnt/gentoo

13. Now, do some basic initialization:
   # unset ROOT
   # env-update
   # source /etc/profile
   # /etc/rc.d/init.d/initscripts-install

14. You can now emerge any packages in /usr/portage/packages/All that you'd
    like to install:
	# emerge --usepkg /usr/portage/packages/All/xfree-4.1.0.tbz2
	(the --usepkg option is important)
   
15. If you want to compile your own kernel, do this:
	*First*, edit /etc/make.conf (with vim; if you don't like vim, emerge
	your favorite editor .tbz2 in /usr/portage/packages first)
	
	*** set your USE variables appropriately (uncommenting the default USE ***
	*** variable lines is the recommended approach                         ***
	
	# emerge /usr/portage/packages/All/linux-sources-2.4.4.9.tbz2 (2.4.4-ac9)
	# cd /usr/src/linux
	# make menuconfig
	# make dep; make clean; make bzImage; make modules; make modules_install
	# depmod -a
	# cd /boot/boot
	# mv bzImage bzImage.orig
	# cp /usr/src/linux/arch/i386/boot/bzImage .
	ta da!

16. At this point, your Gentoo Linux system should be equivalent to a bare-bones
    system image.  A number of things still need to be set up, including:

	/etc/fstab
	/etc/localtime
	/etc/make.conf (if you haven't already)
	/etc/rc.d/config/basic (for keymap, etc)
	/etc/rc.d/config/inet.eth0 (for ethernet)
	/etc/hostname
	/etc/resolv.conf
	/etc/hosts

	(For further instructions, see the "Gentoo Linux CD Installation Guide" at
	http://www.gentoo.org, read from the "/etc/fstab" section onwards)

17.  One last step -- configure GRUB to boot your system.  Again, for further
    detailed instructions on this, see the "Gentoo Linux CD Installation Guide"
	at http://www.gentoo.org/doc/install.html -- GRUB configuration is covered
	near the end of the document.

You're done!  Reboot and enjoy Gentoo Linux 1.0_rc5!  We'll be updating the Web
site with new documentation in a couple of days, and will be posting instructions
for the ix86 build iso soon. 

Best Regards,
	
-- 
Daniel Robbins					<drobbins@g.o>
President/CEO					http://www.gentoo.org 
Gentoo Technologies, Inc.