[comp.os.minix] installing MacMinix

fdeming@lappi.uucp (Frank Deming {x6088}) (04/09/91)

  I have had a little problem installing MacMinix last night.

  I load and login as root. I then entered:

  maccreate 10240 'Direct Drive:Minix:system'
  maccreate 2048 'Direct Drive:Minix:user'
  hdopen 'Direct Drive:Minix:system' /dev/hd2
  mkfs /dev/hd2 10240
  hdopen 'Direct Drive:Minix:user' /dev/hd3
  mkfs /dev/hd3 2048

  The other two partitions are of course already setup:

  /dev/hd0   with  775 blocks
  ram disk   with  160

  My problem comes in trying to execute /etc/setup_root. I have tried to
  look at the script but 'cat' is the only command at this point to view
  a file. setup_root runs off the screen with cat, so I can not look at
  the top of the script where the problem lies.
  Also the documentation for running /etc/setup_root is not clear. The
  format of the command and the example are contradictary.
  /etc/setup_root root_file ram hd1 hd2 hd3 hd4

  The example does'nt seem to refer to the ram size.

  Well anyways, I enter:

  /etc/setup_root 'Direct Drive:Minix:system' 160 10240 2048 0 0

  getting back:

  Usage: mount special name [-r] unable to mount 'Direct Drive:Minix:system'
  Cannot make root system(something to that effect

  Now I understand that the imbedded space in the Hard disk drive name is
  a problem, nothing I can do to change it. Thus I have been quoting the
  entire file name. I will try \ the space tonight. 

  Does anyone know about this? Can you send me a copy of this script so
  I can view it at this time?
  Also does anyone have better suggestions about the size of the partitions
  and where to put things. The manual tells you to sit and think about, but
  until one has setup the system once, it is hard to tell what it all contains.

  Thanks 

  Frank Deming

  fdeming@aecmail.prime.com

KENC@vaxb.acs.unt.edu (Ken Corey, CSCI Major...) (04/09/91)

>  My problem comes in trying to execute /etc/setup_root. I have tried to
>  look at the script but 'cat' is the only command at this point to view
>  a file. setup_root runs off the screen with cat, so I can not look at
>  the top of the script where the problem lies.

When 'cat'ting the file, option-s will stop it, and option-q will restart.
option acts as the controlling key here...

>  Also the documentation for running /etc/setup_root is not clear. The
>  format of the command and the example are contradictary.
>  /etc/setup_root root_file ram hd1 hd2 hd3 hd4
> 
   [stuff deleted...]
>  /etc/setup_root 'Direct Drive:Minix:system' 160 10240 2048 0 0

The manual doesn't go into a lot of detail about this until later on...so
here's a brief description:

When Minix asks for a special name, it's looking for /dev/?d?, not the actual
filename.

  /etc/setup_root /dev/hd2 160 10240 2048 0 0

>  Now I understand that the imbedded space in the Hard disk drive name is
>  a problem, nothing I can do to change it. Thus I have been quoting the
>  entire file name. I will try \ the space tonight.

Why can't you do anything about it?

>  Does anyone know about this? Can you send me a copy of this script so
>  I can view it at this time?

Using the option-s/q trick above, you should be able to look at the script on
your machine now...

>  Also does anyone have better suggestions about the size of the partitions
>  and where to put things. The manual tells you to sit and think about, but
>  until one has setup the system once, it is hard to tell what it all contains.

One thing that wasn't mentioned early enough, and that made me go back and
completely re-install the whole shebang, was that the root partition's size is
used to determine how large your ramdisk will be.  (No matter WHAT you typed
above.  Since your first partition is indicated to be 10240 blocks, (if you try
to make that your root partition), Minix will try to allocate a 10240K ramdisk. 
Obviously, (for 99% of all macs), this will not work, and will end in a memory
PANIC, and the machine will lock.  Very frustrating.  I have 4MB of ram, so I
made my root partition have 512k.  If you've got a one-meg mac, stick with
160-200K...;)

Hope this helps.


| Ken Corey  kenc@vaxb.acs.unt.edu  ken@isect.lonestar.org           |
| "Ladies strewn, those made to witness his charm, never daring or   |
|  allowed to touch the man behind the machine."  -Leah              |