First, set the boot sequence in the BIOS to enable booting from the CD-ROM drive. Insert the DVD or CD 1 in the drive and reboot the machine. The start screen is displayed after a few seconds.

Use ↑ and ↓ to select ‘Manual Installation’ within ten seconds to prevent YaST from starting automatically. If your hardware requires special parameters, which is not usually the case, enter these in Boot Options. The parameter textmode=1 can be used to force YaST to run in text mode.

Use F2 (‘Video Mode’) to set the screen resolution for the installation. If you expect your graphics card to cause problems during the installation, select ‘Text Mode’. Then press Enter. A box appears with the progress display Loading Linux kernel. The kernel boots and linuxrc starts. Proceed with the installation using the menus of linuxrc.

Other boot problems can usually be circumvented with kernel parameters. If DMA causes difficulties, use the start option ‘Installation – Safe Settings’.

If your CD-ROM drive (ATAPI) crashes when booting the system, refer to Section 1.5. “ATAPI CD­-ROM Hangs While Reading”.

The following kernel parameters may be used if you experience problems with ACPI (Advanced Configuration and Power Interface).

Also refer to the SDB article http://portal.suse.com/sdb/en/2002/10/81_acpi.html.

If unexplainable errors occur when the kernel is loaded or during the installation, select ‘Memory Test’ in the boot menu to check the memory. Linux requires the hardware to meet high standards, which means the memory and its timing must be set correctly. More information is available at http://portal.suse.com/sdb/en/2001/05/thallma_memtest86.html. If possible, run the memory test overnight.

The linuxrc program can be used to specify settings for the installation and load needed drivers as kernel modules. Finally, linuxrc launches YaST, starting the actual installation of the system software and other applications.

Use ↑ or ↓ to choose menu items. Use ← or → to select a command, such as ‘Ok’ or ‘Cancel’. Execute the command by pressing Enter. A detailed description of linuxrc is provided in Section 12.4. “linuxrc”.

1.1.2.1. Settings

The linuxrc application automatically begins with the language and keyboard selection. Select the language for the installation (for example, ‘English’) and confirm with Enter. Next, select the keyboard layout.

Figure 1.1. Language Selection

If linuxrc does not offer the desired keyboard layout, select an alternative layout. Once the installation is completed, the layout can be changed with YaST.

1.1.2.2. Main Menu of linuxrc

The main menu of linuxrc opens, as shown in Figure 1.2. “The Main Menu of linuxrc”. The following options are offered here:

Figure 1.2. The Main Menu of linuxrc

‘Settings’

Select the language, screen, and keyboard.

‘System Information’

Shows information about the hardware as detected by the kernel or activated by loaded modules.

‘Kernel modules (hardware drivers)’

Here, load any modules needed for your hardware. Also use this to load modules for additional file systems, such as ReiserFS. Normally, you do not need to use this if both your hard disks and the CD drive (ATAPI) are connected to an (E)IDE controller, as (E)IDE support is integrated in the kernel. Details for module selection is presented later.

‘Start Installation or System’

Proceeds to the actual installation.

‘Exit or Reboot’

Cancels the installation.

‘Power off’

Halts the system and switches the power off.

1.1.2.3. Hardware Integration with Modules

Only load kernel modules by means of ‘Kernel modules’ if you need support for special system properties, such as SCSI, network cards, or PCMCIA, or if the CD-ROM drive used for the installation is not an ATAPI drive. Meanwhile, other components have been separated (e.g., IDE) or added (e.g., USB, FireWire, and file systems). Information about how modules are loaded is provided in Section 12.4. “linuxrc”. Select the modules to load in the following submenu:

SCSI Module

For SCSI hard disks or SCSI CD-ROM drives.

CD-ROM Module

This is required if your CD-ROM drive is not connected to the (E)IDE-Controller or the SCSI controller. This especially applies to older CD-ROM drives that are connected to the machine by way of a proprietary controller.

Network Module

For installing via NFS or FTP; see Section 1.3.2. “Installation from a Network Source”.

File Systems

For file systems such as ReiserFS or ext3.

	Tip
If your installation medium (proprietary CD-ROM drive, parallel port CD-ROM drive, network card, PCMCIA) is not listed among the standard modules, check the additional drivers on a module disk. See Section 1.4. “Tips and Tricks” for information about how to create such a floppy disk. When ready, select ‘More Modules’. linuxrc prompts you to insert the module disk.

1.1.2.4. Starting the Installation

Select ‘Start Installation or System’ then press Enter to proceed with the installation.

Figure 1.3. linuxrc Installation Menu

To begin the installation, select ‘Start Installation or Update’ then press Enter. Then select the source medium. Usually, the cursor can be left at the default selection: ‘CD-ROM’.

Figure 1.4. Selecting the Source Medium in linuxrc

Now press Enter. The installation environment will be loaded directly from CD 1. As soon as this procedure is completed, YaST starts in the text-based (ncurses) version. The installation then continues as described in User Guide, Chapter Installation.