119 lines
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119 lines
3.9 KiB
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<HTML>
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<TITLE>The Linux Bootdisk HOWTO: Introduction</TITLE>
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<BODY bgcolor="#ffffff">
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<IMG SRC="prev.gif" ALT="Previous">
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<A HREF="Bootdisk-HOWTO-2.html"><IMG SRC="next.gif" ALT="Next"></A>
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<A HREF="Bootdisk-HOWTO.html#toc1"><IMG SRC="toc.gif" ALT="Contents"></A>
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<HR>
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<H2><A NAME="s1">1. Introduction</A></H2>
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<H2><A NAME="ss1.1">1.1 Why Build Boot Disks?</A></H2>
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<P>Linux boot disks are useful in a number of situations, such as:
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<UL>
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<LI>Testing a new kernel.</LI>
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<LI>Recovering from disk or system failure. Such a failure could be
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anything from a lost boot sector to a disk head crash.</LI>
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</UL>
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</P>
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<P>There are several ways of producing boot disks:
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<UL>
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<LI>Use one from a distribution such as Slackware. This will at
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least allow you to boot.</LI>
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<LI>Use a rescue package to set up disks designed to be used
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as rescue disks.</LI>
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<LI>Learn what is required for each of the various types of disk
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to operate, then build your own.</LI>
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</UL>
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</P>
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<P>I originally chose the last option - learn how it works so that you
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can do it yourself. That way, if something breaks, you can work out
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what to do to fix it. Plus you learn a lot about how Linux works along
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the way. Once I understood how it all worked, then I changed to using
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the Bootkit rescue package to maintain my boot disks.</P>
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<P>Experienced Linux users may find little of use in this
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document. However users new to Linux system administration who
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wish to protect against root disk loss and other mishaps may find
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it useful.</P>
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<P>A note on versions - this document has been updated to support the
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following packages and versions:
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<UL>
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<LI>Linux 1.99.9</LI>
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<LI>LILO 0.19</LI>
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</UL>
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</P>
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<P>Copyright (c) Tom Fawcett and Graham Chapman 1996.</P>
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<P>Permission is granted for this material to be freely
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used and distributed, provided the source is acknowledged.
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The copyright conditions are intended to be no
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more restrictive than version 2 of the GNU General Public License
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as published by the Free Software Foundation.</P>
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<P>No warranty of any kind is provided. You use this material
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at your own risk.</P>
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<H2><A NAME="ss1.2">1.2 Feedback and Credits</A></H2>
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<P>The technical content of this HOWTO is now provided by Tom Fawcett
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<CODE>fawcett@nynexst.com</CODE>. Graham Chapman <CODE>grahamc@zeta.org.au</CODE>
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is the original author and current editor.</P>
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<P>We welcome any feedback, good or bad, on the content of this document.
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Please let us know if you find any errors or omissions. Send comments,
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corrections and questions to Tom at <CODE>fawcett@nynexst.com</CODE>.</P>
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<P>I thank the following people for correcting errors and providing
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useful suggestions for improvement:</P>
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<P>
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<BLOCKQUOTE><CODE>
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<PRE>
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Randolph Bentson
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Grant R. Bowman
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Scott Burkett
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Bruce Elliot
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HARIGUCHI Youichi
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Bjxrn-Helge Mevik
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Dwight Spencer
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Cameron Spitzer
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Johannes Stille
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</PRE>
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</CODE></BLOCKQUOTE>
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</P>
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<H2><A NAME="ss1.3">1.3 Change History</A></H2>
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<P>v2.0, 12 June 1996. Changes in this version:
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<UL>
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<LI>Add: additional author and maintainer, Tom Fawcett.</LI>
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<LI>Add: section 6.3, Ramdisk Usage.</LI>
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<LI>Add: section titled Advanced Bootdisk Creation, which describes how
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to take advantage of ramdisk changes in kernels 1.3.48+</LI>
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<LI>Chg: rewrite section on /lib directory.</LI>
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<LI>Chg: various minor tips on changed ramdisk usage.</LI>
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</UL>
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</P>
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<P>Version history:
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<UL>
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<LI>v1.02, 25 June 1995 - minor changes.</LI>
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<LI>v1.01, 6 February 1995 - minor changes.</LI>
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<LI>v1.0, 2 January 1995 - first release in standard HOWTO layout.</LI>
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<LI>v0.10, 1 Novemer 1994 - original version, labelled "Draft".</LI>
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</UL>
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</P>
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Space for these documents provided by
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<A href="http://www.spade.com/">Ben Spade</A>
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in support of the Linux community.
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