notes on RedHat installation

[richard at aoi.ultranet.com (Richard Royston)]

>From glenn Thu Jan  9 17:37:58 1997
Date: Thu, 9 Jan 97 17:37:57 EST
From: glenn (Glenn Burkhardt)
Message-Id: <9701092237.AA00790 at aoi.ultranet.com>
To: richard
Subject: notes on RedHat installation
Status: RO

I'm having trouble using the MetroX server.  I have a Dell Dimension P-75,
which has an S3 Trio64 graphics chip.  I can X windows running with XFree86,
but not with Metro X.  The Xerrors file contained:

===========================================================================
Metro-X Version 3.1.2

Copyright (c) 1990-1996 by Metro Link Inc.
Copyright (c) 1989-1994 by M.I.T.
Copyright (c) 1994-1996 by X Consortium, Inc.
All Rights Reserved.
Read mouse Bus_PS2 from Xconfig
Keyboard Description File is none
Loading /usr/lib/X11/Metro/modules/libibm8514.a
Opened /dev/tty7
vgaMapVGASpace( 131072 )
Screen 0: IBM8514, Chipset TRIO 64 [211e1] (64), 1024K RAM, DAC S3_TRIO, PCI
Video mode "800x600", dot clock =  50.0 MHz
Video mode "1024x768", dot clock =  78.8 MHz
Mode 800x600 invalid: Not enough memory for resolution. Deleting.
Mode 1024x768 invalid: Not enough memory for resolution. Deleting.

Fatal server error:
No Valid Modes in Xconfig

===========================================================================

The Xconfig file is

===========================================================================
LogFile /var/log/Xerrors
MouseDesc "PS/2 Compatible"
Mouse Bus_PS2 /dev/mouse
Buttons 2
Emulate3Buttons
KbdDesc "Default:             / Use default console mapping"
KbdDescFile none
FontPath /usr/lib/X11/fonts/misc,/usr/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi,/usr/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi,/usr/lib/X11/fonts/Speedo,/usr/lib/X11/fonts/Type1
HotKeyExit


Driver IBM8514
Card "S3 Trio64"
Virtual 1280 1024
Depth 8
Monitor "DELL V15X"
Dimensions 305 230
XscreenSaverDelay 300
DPMSstandbyDelay 600
DPMSsuspendDelay 900
DPMSoffDelay 3600
Chipset S3
Dac S3_TRIO

Modes 
"800x600" 50.0 800 856 976 1040 600 637 643 666 PHsync PVsync 
"1024x768" 78.8 1024 1040 1136 1312 768 769 772 800 PHsync PVsync 


===========================================================================
and the X86config file that works is
===========================================================================
# File generated by xf86config.

#
# Copyright (c) 1994 by The XFree86 Project, Inc.
#
# Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a
# copy of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"),
# to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation
# the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense,
# and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the
# Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
# 
# The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in
# all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
# 
# THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
# IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
# FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT.  IN NO EVENT SHALL
# THE XFREE86 PROJECT BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY,
# WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF
# OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
# SOFTWARE.
# 
# Except as contained in this notice, the name of the XFree86 Project shall
# not be used in advertising or otherwise to promote the sale, use or other
# dealings in this Software without prior written authorization from the
# XFree86 Project.
#

# **********************************************************************
# Refer to the XF86Config(4/5) man page for details about the format of 
# this file.
# **********************************************************************

# **********************************************************************
# Files section.  This allows default font and rgb paths to be set
# **********************************************************************

Section "Files"

# The location of the RGB database.  Note, this is the name of the
# file minus the extension (like ".txt" or ".db").  There is normally
# no need to change the default.

    RgbPath	"/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/rgb"

# Multiple FontPath entries are allowed (which are concatenated together),
# as well as specifying multiple comma-separated entries in one FontPath
# command (or a combination of both methods)
# 
# If you don't have a floating point coprocessor and emacs, Mosaic or other
# programs take long to start up, try moving the Type1 and Speedo directory
# to the end of this list (or comment them out).
# 

    FontPath	"/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/misc/"
    FontPath	"/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/Type1/"
    FontPath	"/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/Speedo/"
    FontPath	"/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi/"
    FontPath	"/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi/"

EndSection

# **********************************************************************
# Server flags section.
# **********************************************************************

Section "ServerFlags"

# Uncomment this to cause a core dump at the spot where a signal is 
# received.  This may leave the console in an unusable state, but may
# provide a better stack trace in the core dump to aid in debugging

#    NoTrapSignals

# Uncomment this to disable the <Crtl><Alt><BS> server abort sequence
# This allows clients to receive this key event.

#    DontZap

# Uncomment this to disable the <Crtl><Alt><KP_+>/<KP_-> mode switching
# sequences.  This allows clients to receive these key events.

#    DontZoom

EndSection

# **********************************************************************
# Input devices
# **********************************************************************

# **********************************************************************
# Keyboard section
# **********************************************************************

Section "Keyboard"

    Protocol	"Standard"

# when using XQUEUE, comment out the above line, and uncomment the
# following line

#    Protocol	"Xqueue"

    AutoRepeat	500 5
# Let the server do the NumLock processing.  This should only be required
# when using pre-R6 clients
#    ServerNumLock

# Specifiy which keyboard LEDs can be user-controlled (eg, with xset(1))
#    Xleds      1 2 3

# To set the LeftAlt to Meta, RightAlt key to ModeShift, 
# RightCtl key to Compose, and ScrollLock key to ModeLock:

#    LeftAlt     Meta
#    RightAlt    ModeShift
#    RightCtl    Compose
#    ScrollLock  ModeLock

EndSection


# **********************************************************************
# Pointer section
# **********************************************************************

Section "Pointer"
    Protocol    "PS/2"
    Device      "/dev/mouse"

# When using XQUEUE, comment out the above two lines, and uncomment
# the following line.

#    Protocol	"Xqueue"

# Baudrate and SampleRate are only for some Logitech mice

#    BaudRate	9600
#    SampleRate	150

# Emulate3Buttons is an option for 2-button Microsoft mice
# Emulate3Timeout is the timeout in milliseconds (default is 50ms)

    Emulate3Buttons
    Emulate3Timeout    50

# ChordMiddle is an option for some 3-button Logitech mice

#    ChordMiddle

EndSection


# **********************************************************************
# Monitor section
# **********************************************************************

# Any number of monitor sections may be present

Section "Monitor"

    Identifier  "My Monitor"
    VendorName  "Unknown"
    ModelName   "Unknown"

# HorizSync is in kHz unless units are specified.
# HorizSync may be a comma separated list of discrete values, or a
# comma separated list of ranges of values.
# NOTE: THE VALUES HERE ARE EXAMPLES ONLY.  REFER TO YOUR MONITOR'S
# USER MANUAL FOR THE CORRECT NUMBERS.

    HorizSync   31.5 - 64.3

#    HorizSync	30-64         # multisync
#    HorizSync	31.5, 35.2    # multiple fixed sync frequencies
#    HorizSync	15-25, 30-50  # multiple ranges of sync frequencies

# VertRefresh is in Hz unless units are specified.
# VertRefresh may be a comma separated list of discrete values, or a
# comma separated list of ranges of values.
# NOTE: THE VALUES HERE ARE EXAMPLES ONLY.  REFER TO YOUR MONITOR'S
# USER MANUAL FOR THE CORRECT NUMBERS.

    VertRefresh 50-90

# Modes can be specified in two formats.  A compact one-line format, or
# a multi-line format.

# These two are equivalent

#    ModeLine "1024x768i" 45 1024 1048 1208 1264 768 776 784 817 Interlace

#    Mode "1024x768i"
#        DotClock	45
#        HTimings	1024 1048 1208 1264
#        VTimings	768 776 784 817
#        Flags		"Interlace"
#    EndMode

# This is a set of standard mode timings. Modes that are out of monitor spec
# are automatically deleted by the server (provided the HorizSync and
# VertRefresh lines are correct), so there's no immediate need to
# delete mode timings (unless particular mode timings don't work on your
# monitor). With these modes, the best standard mode that your monitor
# and video card can support for a given resolution is automatically
# used.

# 640x400 @ 70 Hz, 31.5 kHz hsync
Modeline "640x400"     25.175 640  664  760  800   400  409  411  450
# 640x480 @ 60 Hz, 31.5 kHz hsync
Modeline "640x480"     25.175 640  664  760  800   480  491  493  525
# 800x600 @ 56 Hz, 35.15 kHz hsync
ModeLine "800x600"     36     800  824  896 1024   600  601  603  625
# 1024x768 @ 87 Hz interlaced, 35.5 kHz hsync
Modeline "1024x768"    44.9  1024 1048 1208 1264   768  776  784  817 Interlace

# 640x480 @ 72 Hz, 36.5 kHz hsync
Modeline "640x480"     31.5   640  680  720  864   480  488  491  521
# 800x600 @ 60 Hz, 37.8 kHz hsync
Modeline "800x600"     40     800  840  968 1056   600  601  605  628 +hsync +vsync

# 800x600 @ 72 Hz, 48.0 kHz hsync
Modeline "800x600"     50     800  856  976 1040   600  637  643  666 +hsync +vsync
# 1024x768 @ 60 Hz, 48.4 kHz hsync
Modeline "1024x768"    65    1024 1032 1176 1344   768  771  777  806 -hsync -vsync

# 1024x768 @ 70 Hz, 56.5 kHz hsync
Modeline "1024x768"    75    1024 1048 1184 1328   768  771  777  806 -hsync -vsync
# 1280x1024 @ 87 Hz interlaced, 51 kHz hsync
Modeline "1280x1024"   80    1280 1296 1512 1568  1024 1025 1037 1165 Interlace

# 1024x768 @ 76 Hz, 62.5 kHz hsync
Modeline "1024x768"    85    1024 1032 1152 1360   768  784  787  823
# 1280x1024 @ 61 Hz, 64.2 kHz hsync
Modeline "1280x1024"  110    1280 1328 1512 1712  1024 1025 1028 1054

# 1280x1024 @ 74 Hz, 78.85 kHz hsync
Modeline "1280x1024"  135    1280 1312 1456 1712  1024 1027 1030 1064

# 1280x1024 @ 76 Hz, 81.13 kHz hsync
Modeline "1280x1024"  135    1280 1312 1416 1664  1024 1027 1030 1064

# Low-res Doublescan modes
# If your chipset does not support doublescan, you get a 'squashed'
# resolution like 320x400.

# 320x200 @ 70 Hz, 31.5 kHz hsync, 8:5 aspect ratio
Modeline "320x200"     12.588 320  336  384  400   200  204  205  225 Doublescan
# 320x240 @ 60 Hz, 31.5 kHz hsync, 4:3 aspect ratio
Modeline "320x240"     12.588 320  336  384  400   240  245  246  262 Doublescan
# 320x240 @ 72 Hz, 36.5 kHz hsync
Modeline "320x240"     15.750 320  336  384  400   240  244  246  262 Doublescan
# 400x300 @ 56 Hz, 35.2 kHz hsync, 4:3 aspect ratio
ModeLine "400x300"     18     400  416  448  512   300  301  602  312 Doublescan
# 400x300 @ 60 Hz, 37.8 kHz hsync
Modeline "400x300"     20     400  416  480  528   300  301  303  314 Doublescan
# 400x300 @ 72 Hz, 48.0 kHz hsync
Modeline "400x300"     25     400  424  488  520   300  319  322  333 Doublescan
# 480x300 @ 56 Hz, 35.2 kHz hsync, 8:5 aspect ratio
ModeLine "480x300"     21.656 480  496  536  616   300  301  302  312 Doublescan
# 480x300 @ 60 Hz, 37.8 kHz hsync
Modeline "480x300"     23.890 480  496  576  632   300  301  303  314 Doublescan
# 480x300 @ 63 Hz, 39.6 kHz hsync
Modeline "480x300"     25     480  496  576  632   300  301  303  314 Doublescan
# 480x300 @ 72 Hz, 48.0 kHz hsync
Modeline "480x300"     29.952 480  504  584  624   300  319  322  333 Doublescan

EndSection


# **********************************************************************
# Graphics device section
# **********************************************************************

# Any number of graphics device sections may be present

# Standard VGA Device:

Section "Device"
    Identifier	"Generic VGA"
    VendorName	"Unknown"
    BoardName	"Unknown"
    Chipset	"generic"

#    VideoRam	256

#    Clocks	25.2 28.3

EndSection

# Sample Device for accelerated server:

# Section "Device"
#    Identifier	"Actix GE32+ 2MB"
#    VendorName	"Actix"
#    BoardName	"GE32+"
#    Ramdac	"ATT20C490"
#    Dacspeed	110
#    Option	"dac_8_bit"
#    Clocks	 25.0  28.0  40.0   0.0  50.0  77.0  36.0  45.0
#    Clocks	130.0 120.0  80.0  31.0 110.0  65.0  75.0  94.0
# EndSection

# Device configured by xf86config:

Section "Device"
    Identifier  "My Video Card"
    VendorName  "Unknown"
    BoardName   "Unknown"
    #VideoRam    1024
# Use Option "nolinear" if the server doesn't start up correctly
# (this avoids the linear framebuffer probe). If that fails try
# option "nomemaccess".
#
# Refer to /usr/X11R6/lib/doc/README.S3, and the XF86_S3 man page.
    # Insert Clocks lines here if appropriate
EndSection


# **********************************************************************
# Screen sections
# **********************************************************************

# The Colour SVGA server

Section "Screen"
    Driver      "svga"
    Device      "Generic VGA"
    #Device      "My Video Card"
    Monitor     "My Monitor"
    Subsection "Display"
        Depth       8
        #Modes       "640x480" "800x600" "1024x768"
        ViewPort    0 0
        Virtual     320 200
        #Virtual     1024 768
    EndSubsection
EndSection

# The 16-color VGA server

Section "Screen"
    Driver      "vga16"
    Device      "Generic VGA"
    Monitor     "My Monitor"
    Subsection "Display"
        Modes       "640x480" "800x600"
        ViewPort    0 0
        Virtual     800 600
    EndSubsection
EndSection

# The Mono server

Section "Screen"
    Driver      "vga2"
    Device      "Generic VGA"
    Monitor     "My Monitor"
    Subsection "Display"
        Modes       "640x480" "800x600"
        ViewPort    0 0
        Virtual     800 600
    EndSubsection
EndSection

# The accelerated servers (S3, Mach32, Mach8, 8514, P9000, AGX, W32, Mach64)
Section "Screen"
    Driver      "accel"
    Device      "My Video Card"
    Monitor     "My Monitor"
    Subsection "Display"
        Depth       8
        Modes       "800x600" "1024x768" "640x480" 
        ViewPort    0 0
        Virtual     1024 768
    EndSubsection
EndSection

===========================================================================
Also, it would seem that the Metro X config files for monitors and graphics
chips are quite out of date.  My system is well over a year old, but my 
monitor is not listed.  Where can obtain current monitor and chip info files?

I also have these observations about the installation:

1.  There was no entry made in the /etc/fstab file for a cdrom.  I needed to
add it by hand.  There also was no reference in the User's Guide on how to
make such an entry.

2.  Although during the installation I specified that I wanted the DOS
partition mounted, no mount point for the file (e.g., /mnt/dos) was created.
An entry was made in the /etc/fstab file, however.

3.  When configuring my dialup PPP connection, my initial attempt failed
because I hadn't configured my modem.  When I tried to activate the connection,
the system just sat there and said nothing.  It should have displayed an
error message saying that the device "/dev/modem" didn't exist.  Again, there
was no help from the User's Guide.  I strongly suggest that some access be
given to a log of the activation, and that when the interface is manually
activated (as opposed to activation at boot), that the chat log or any other
available information be automatically displayed to the user.

4.  You can get rid of fwm-95, as far as I'm concerned.  If I wanted Win95, 
I would have bought it.
I've been installing some of the bug fixes, picking up RPM packages off your
ftp site.  I have a couple of questions.

1.  After pointing the package manager at the directory with all the new 
RPM files, there was no icon for the kernel update "kernel-2.0.18-6.i386.rpm".
How do I install it?

2.  I installed the sendmail package "sendmail-8.8.4-1.i386.rpm".  However, 
my system still pauses during startup.  I applied the fix in the errata to 
change the /etc/sysconfig/network file so the hostname includes a local
domain name.  Is this correct?  I haven't configured a domain name; the 
response from the domainname command is:

[glenn at DepotRd glenn]$ domainname
(none)

I don't need a domain name, and rather not bother with it.  Is the pause that
occurs due to an error in the sendmail.cf file, or what?  I've used the same
network configuration that I had with the Aug 95 "Mother's Day" edition,
which did not have a pause due to sendmail during boot.

===============================

A couple of comments:

The icon based design of the latest package manager is 
not an improvement, in my opinion.  There's just not as much information 
available on the screen as there was with the text oriented edition from 
a year ago.  The pretty icons waste space (although it's very Win95 modish).
I would like to see an option for a text only oriented display.  Thanks.

You don't supply the latest edition of rz/sz (viz., lrzsz-0.12b).  The 
latest edition has several improvements in error reporting, and includes
a recover option to resume a file transfer where it left off should the 
line drop.