I need to Install Gentoo ..Complete Noob

[bigbrovar]

I started using LInux last year when i installed ubuntu .. now .. i want to start learning it .. and i decided its time to leave my comfort zone and seek Gentoo .. but i need some guidance.. what do i need .. how do i start .. am not afraid to get my hands dirty .. but i just dont want to take the plunge without first knowing what is involved .. yeah i know i could always google but that cant be like a asking here ..

some info about myself
i have access to internet but its very slow 50kb/s tops and its behind a proxy
i intend on installing it on a desktop
the only freedom hating hardware i have is an ATI Card
prinicpal mode of connection is Lan
yeah i have little understanding of Linux but am open to learn ..

thanks in advance
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Glad to be Alive

[Clad in Sky]

Wrong Forum, but never mind.

A good thing if you want to install Gentoo successfully and want to learn something about Linux is to take the
Gentoo Handbook and follow the instructions step by step.
Presumably you would choose the x86 Handbook if you have a 32 Bit Intel or AMD processor. If you have a 64 Bit Intel or AMD you CAN choose AMD64 but you need not to. I have a Phenom running 32 Bit.

50kb/s is Kilobyte or Kilobit? Kilobit would be a bit slow since you'll need some packages loaded from the internet. 50 Kilobyte, however, are just a minor nuisance and nothing to be worried about.

Then I'd recommend using the Gentoo minimal CD to boot your system or indeed any LiveCD you have.
There's a Installer-GUI that's been reported to be somewhat independable. But you might give that one a try as well. If it worksn't you can always start all over and install it manually.
The manual install offers more opportunity to learn IMO, and since you want to learn you might be better off with that.

So... that's about it. There's a lot of stuff in the fora if you need more info. Gentoo Wiki is a valuable resource of information as well.

And now I wish you quite a lot of fun installing Gentoo. It takes a while but I for one found it exciting and fun.
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Kali Ma
Now it's autumn of the aeons
Dance with your sword
Now it's time for the harvest

[bigbrovar]

oh thanks .. and pls am sorry about posting in the wrong forum and i wold appreciate if someone moves this to the right place .... i would go thru the Gentoo handbook .. and am really looking for ward to having gentoo on my system .. i think i would go with the minimal install .. cus i have all the GUI that would last me a life time in Ubuntu .. thanks
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Glad to be Alive

[MalleRIM]

When using the Handbook, the Gentoo installation is always the same, no matter which installation media you are using. The difference between the media is just what they habe included themselves and what you have to download. You will always have to do a command line manual install without any wizard. That means you will always start with a minimal install and adding stuff on later yourself. The minimal install CD just has the minimum requirements to do an installation. The Live CD will boot up a GUI, so you can use a graphical web browser to read the Handbook online while you are installing.
But If you have been using Ubuntu by now, you probably have an Ubuntu CD at home. You can use that one too. The installation will still be the same.

[d2_racing]

Yeah, use the minimal Gentoo 2008 CD and also use the handbook.

If you need help, just post

[nixnut]

Moved from Gentoo Chat to Installing Gentoo.
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[Raptor85]

your internet is a bit faster than mine (128 kilobit), so yes, it's annoying but it won't be a problem. You may want to, after you have the base system running, figure out which packages you want and get familiar with the "emerge --fetchonly" command. Leave the computer downloading overnight, then when it's done begin installing the packages. It's nice because it makes it so you don't have to wait 3 hours between setting things up

[d2_racing]

In fact and when you want to update your post, can you use this command :

[defenderBG]

why not just setting parralel download and letting the computer to emerge stuff while he sleeps? it will be warmer at least...!

to enable parralel download add the following line to /etc/make.conf
FEATURES="parallel-ftech"

and a somehting nice - emerge mirrorselect and run mirrorselect -i. It lets you choose servers near you, so that you can get some more download speed .

[genblood]

I would read the install docs a few times and if possible do a
install from a remote system. Basically setup the target so
you can use putty and telnet to it. Then you can cut & paste
the commands to config the system.

Also, remember ... your first try might not work. So, you might
need to start it over again. During the install process you will
learn how Gentoo works.

Good luck ...
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General Blood ..

Gentoo 2008.0 AMD Phemon X4 9850+ 8GB DDR2 1066
MSI K9A2 Platium Mother Board ATI 4830 PCI-e 512MB
1 Blu-Ray Drive
4 sata WD 500 GB drive

[Uncle_Psychosis]

Good luck!

The first time I installed gentoo I found it very frustrating. However---I learnt more about linux installing Gentoo than I did in about a year of using other distros.

My advice would be to print out a hard copy of the handbook. The trickiest bit, in my experience, is partitioning your file system. I suggest you think carefully about this in advance, and then check and double check on what you decide.

Also, triple read every command before you hit enter. It will save you from going crazy like I almost did!

Anyway, I hope this hasn't put you off---it really is worthwhile!

Sam

[d2_racing]

And use the forum just to be sure that you fully understand what you are doing.