Noob SUSE install question

[Psych]

This is my first real attempt at trying to install linux on my computer. I have chosen SUSE, and I have downloaded the boot file and burned it to a CD. I followed the instructions, but it asked for parameters when I had it load network card modules, and I entered in nothing. But then it says the load failed! I can't connect without loading it!

I have a Realtec RTL8139.

By the way, my computer came from the factory with all 80 gigs of my hard drive formatted into NTFS. Will the installation automatically repartition and resize the NTFS drive so I can install linux? I have heard that SUSE does this, but I'm not sure. Do any other distributions have this built in feature?

I just saw that Fedora Core 2 is available. Do any of you think it is worth it?

I have also tried to download debian using jigdo, but HALF of the files won't download. It says that the files can't be found.

 

[drag]

The realtec stuff should work fine, I am not sure of the problem.

With the realtech stuff there are 2 drivers/modules. rtl8139 and 8139too, if one doesn't work try the other one.


Go ahead and give Fedora Core2 a try if you want. The Suse FTP install can be kinda tricky, and CD-based install are just something that most people are familar with. The only problem right now seems like Fedora's sites are getting hit pretty hard... Just download the cdroms and then do a "install everything" and you should be set.

then check out how to use a package manager like Yum or Apt. These guys are nice because they keep track of packages for you that are stored on special ftp/http download sites called "repositories" (well at least I call them that) and this will allow you to keep your OS up to date and then even upgrade from one version to another (like going from fedora core 1 to fedora core 2 without requiring a reinstall, or even a reboot!) see here for fedora

Suse can do the same thing with Yast a bit and people have ported apt to work with it, but I think that Fedora's stuff is a bit better supported. Either OS is great though, I've used both in the past and was happy with both of them.

 

[Cannabis]

I also recommend FC2. Im very pleased with it other than the nvidia drivers dont function with it.

 

[Raincity]

SUSE network installs are a piece of cake. Its best to do them in early morning when plenty of bandwidth is availible. There is a partition and format utility that will walk you through it during the setup.
The RTL8139 is supported. Give SUSE a shot.

 

[Psych]

Regarding the network modules...

When I load them, a little prompt comes up asking for PARMAETERS. But I enter in nothing since I don't know what parameters would be valid. As a result, it says that the driver wasn't loaded and I can't go onto the internet. Could this have anything to do with my DSL modem?

What about my question about the NTFS partitions?

 

[n0cmonkey]

Re: NTFS
Make sure there is sufficient empty space at the end of the drive. Forget resizing partitions, they're just an excuse to try out your backup stratergy.

Re: RealTek
Did you check google? Did you check SuSE documentation? If something has to go there, you couldn't be the first person to run into the issue. My guess is you have an nForce board and are using the onboard NIC. But it's tough to tell.

 

[Raincity]

SUSE 9.0 and 9.1 support the Realtec 8139. I never had to add any parmanters to get the network module to load.

 

[sciencewhiz]

Are you connected to directly to the DSL modem, or do you have a router? If directly connected, you'll probably have to mess with PPPOE.

 

[drag]

Originally posted by: Psych
Regarding the network modules...

When I load them, a little prompt comes up asking for PARMAETERS. But I enter in nothing since I don't know what parameters would be valid. As a result, it says that the driver wasn't loaded and I can't go onto the internet. Could this have anything to do with my DSL modem?

What about my question about the NTFS partitions?

You shouldn't have to enter any parameters usually. That's mostly for legacy ISA stuff were you need to specify irq interrupts and that sort of thing.

You just hit enter thru it. The thing should load.

If it still doesn't load then go to a virtual terminal. Ctrl-Alt-F2 should do that, if not try some other f# keys and see how it gets you.

Then do a lsmod to show the listed modules. If it doesn't look like it's loading then go

ifconfig eth0 to see if your ethernet is active, it shouldn't come up with anything unless the drivers are already working.

then go:

modprobe rtl8139
if that doesn't work try
modprobe 8139too

Unless of course your using a Nvidia board whose onboard stuff is being mis-detected as a realtec chipset (Nvidia borrowed the design then modified the chip enough so that the normal drivers don't work.) then your screwed because Nvidia doesn't think that they should provide drivers in a sane way. Instead they insist (legally) that you have to download them from their website. Of course if you can't use the nic card you can't probably get on the internet, but it's nvidia who are the morons, not me.

Once you get the module loaded then (if you have DHCP on your network)

dhclient eth0
or
dhcpcd eth0

depending on what Suse uses. Some people use one others use the the other.

If you don't have dhcp or that doesn't work for some reason then you can do it manually:

ifconfig eth0 your.computers.ip.address up
route add default gw your.gateway.ip.address
ech0 "nameserver your.dns.server.address" >> /etc/resolv.conf
(don't forget the qoutes..)

And that will configure your ethernet setup manually.

Then you can ctrl-alt-f7 (could be ctrl-alt-f1, don't remember for sure) back into your installation dialog.

Maybe after you get the driver manually loaded you may not have to even do the manual or dhcp ethernet setup and have the installer do some of the work for you. If you have to do it manually and it doesn't get saved in the final install you can use Yast2 to help you configure the OS perminately.

 

[Southerner]

I just went through this and everything installed cleanly. Not with a Realtek driver though.

You shouldn't have to enter parameters at all, but you do need to choose the right driver. If you're not sure (and looking through your device manager under Windows doesn't make it clear), then download the live-cd, boot from it, and check /var/log/dmesg for details.

 

[imported_Onizuka]

I just installed the 9.1 Pro and it automatically detected my Realtek 8139 and just clicked OK on all the network setting. Didn't have to do hardly anything. I have to say that Suse has one of the easiest linux install that I've tried.

 

[LuckyTaxi]

I will never install RH. they're turning in microsoft