Gentoo installed, now what... GRP???

[Bromian]

I have installed Gentoo 2005.1 (from cd's ordered from the internet) according to the Handbook (just installed not really working). I am just a semi-avid comupter user and all I want is a working system. So far as keeping up to date with the latest releases, I really dont care. As long as it works, it is fine with me. I have been using an old version of SuSE 7.3 (since around 2001) But, now it is time for new.

Now, I am a little bit lost. After the installation, for the GRP style installation, the Handbook basically says, " Ok you're done, now just 'emerge whatever' off of the package cd and you are on your own." I would really rather build the packages myself but, I don't have a high speed internet connection, just dial-up.

1. There are a number of programs in /usr/portage/distfiles that I would like to "emerge" and compile for my system, is it OK to go ahead and "emerge" them before I install the Package CD binaries?

2. Once I install the GRP packages, is there a manual as what to do then?

3. Is there a way to see the package description? 'emerge --pretend' just gives dependencies. And 'emerge --search whatever' will return descriptions, but way too many, ant it takes a while as well.

I'm sure this has already been answered before, if so please point me in the right direction.

Thanks.

[loki99]

To be honest, I do not know much about the grp install, since I never did one. All I know, is that your choices are quite limited with such an "old" install media.

I don't think that the package cd comes with the sources, but just with binaries. So you'd need to download the sources first. The GRP install is what it is: a binary install to get you up and running.

I would suggest, that you install all the packages you want from the cd and after you are done you could take a look if there are any sources that match your outdated portage tree. If they reside in "/usr/portage/distfiles" you can emerge them. But be very careful about any changes is your "/etc/make.conf" so you don't brake compatibility .

Thing is, that a lot of packages that your portage tree is aware of, are most likely not on any mirrors available.
So after you installed all the apps you want from the package cd you could do a....

[mdeininger]

that pretty much sums everything up
as an addition, I would suggest using