Monkey Linux.

ML101: Installation and Configuration on a PC running DOS or Windows.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents *

2. Objective of this Document *

3. What is Monkey Linux? *

4. Assumptions *

5. Installation *

6. Customizing linux.bat *

7. Configuring Additional Packages *

8. Descriptions of Additional Packages *

9. Running Monkey Linux *

10. Uninstalling Monkey Linux *

11. What is the Volks-PC Initiative? *

12. Basic Troubleshooting *

13. Installation Checklist *

1. Summary

This document contains detailed instructions on how to install and configure a small Linux distribution, called "Monkey Linux" in a PC running DOS or any version of Microsoft Windows (3.x / 95 / NT 4.0) with a minimum of time wasted and with no risk whatsoever to your existing DOS or Windows configuration. You can also install Monkey Linux on a 386 / 486 PC with 04 MB RAM and a 100 MB HD.

Usually Linux distributions require you to repartition your hard disk in order to install Linux on its own partition. With Monkey Linux you can simply extract all the files to one directory on your existing DOS or Windows partition - FAT only. Monkey Linux will run on an MSDOS FAT, and possibly FAT32, but not NTFS partition. Monkey Linux allows you to experiment with Linux everywhere you want, on your desktop or on your laptop. You do not need to know anything about fdisk, ext2, bootdisk, rootdisk, etc.

Monkey Linux is not really a complete distribution - use Slackware, Red Hat, or OpenLinux for that. What makes Monkey so attractive is that it can be your first step into Linux with the least amount of effort.

2. Objective of this Document

This document is a compilation of my experience (and frustrations) installing, configuring and debugging Monkey Linux (from now on "Monkey"). I have found Monkey to be a very useful way to learn Linux with the least amount of pain. For all its merits, Monkey lacks severely on the documentation side. Newbies will find some areas of installing and configuring Monkey to be overly complicated and obscure.

Since I have invested so much time playing with Monkey, I decided to compile all my notes in a coherent fashion for the benefit of other users. "You shall give back to the Internet."

This document is freely distributable as long as you do not charge for its distribution (except for reproduction costs), and you must reproduce the text verbatim. Comments, questions, corrections and suggestions are encouraged. Send them to Jose C. Lacal at pepe@antequera.com

From now on I will use the generic term "Windows" to refer to all versions of Microsoft Windows (3.x / 95 / NT 4.0), unless specifically noted otherwise.

Important: "Monkey Linux" is an initiative of Milan Kerslager and he deserves credit for creating this distribution. More information about Milan is available at http://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/Linux/distributions/monkey/docs/english.htm

3. What is Monkey Linux?

Monkey is a Linux distribution (kernel version 2.0.30) that runs on the same partition as DOS or Windows (FAT only). This means that you can install Monkey on your existing PC without modifying the partition structure of your hard disk.

Monkey Linux’s Features:

• • minimal Linux ELF distribution (7.5MB total) that fits in 05 diskettes
  • Monkey is small, but is not only a toy
  • contains full X Window support (Xfree86) with SVGA servers for both Trident and Cirrus graphic chips
  • full network support for both TCP/IP and IPX/SPX
  • fairly recent Kernel with modules (2.0.30)
  • contains some ready-to-install packages with useful software (see section 7. Configuring Additional Packages below)
  • you may install and run other Linux applications

Software in Monkey

• • Fvwm95, xterm
  • editors: vi, joe (Wordstar compatible editor)
  • telnet, ssh, ftp, traceroute, nslookup
  • web browsers: Lynx, Netscape available in the installable additional package
  • bootpd, bootpgw, cron
  • many utilities for text processing (awk, sed, perl, etc.)
  • utilities for working with IPX/SPX
  • support for many filesystems: iso9660 (CD-ROM filesystem); NFS (Network File System from Sun Microsystems); ncpfs (Novell filesystem for shared volumes); smbfs (SMB Windows network filesystem but only over TCP/IP).

Minimum Hardware Requirements

• • 386SX
  • 4MB RAM
  • 20MB on an IDE hard disk plus 10MB of swap space on a non-compressed volume
  • VGA for X Windows

Supported Hardware

• • Microprocessor: 386SX or better (Intel, AMD, Cyrix, IBM)
  • IDE hard disks (Monkey does NOT support SCSI hard disk controllers)
  • ATAPI and Mitsumi CD-ROM
  • VGA to SVGA pro X Window (Cirrus, Trident, Oak, ...)
  • Supported Ethernet cards: 3C5x9, 3c59x, 3c90x, NE2000/NE1000, and WD80x3
  • Math coprocessor support, or software emulation if not present
  • ISA, VLB, PCI buses
  • APM (Advanced Power Management)
  • floppy drives: 3.5" and 5.25"
  • serial and PS/2 mouse
  • parallel and serial ports

Hardware Supported by Additional Packages

• • SVGA with accelerated S3 chipset
  • SVGA with accelerated Mach 64 chipset

• • See section 7. Configuring Additional Packages below.

4. Assumptions

In order to make this instructions as brief as possible, this document assumes the following:

• • Your PC complies with both the Minimum Hardware Requirements and with the Supported Hardware lists above.
  • Your PC has at least 30 MB of available UNCOMPRESSED hard disk space.
  • Your PC is properly configured and running DOS or Windows correctly.
  • You are familiar with the operation and configuration of a DOS- or Windows-based personal computer (PC).

5. Installation

These are the steps necessary for installing Monkey in your PC. You will need 08 blank, new 1.44 Mb floppy diskettes with labels, and about 45 minutes of time.

Note: For your added convenience, please refer to the attached section 13. Installation Checklist below. Make a copy of it and use it from now on as your roadmap to a successful Monkey installation and configuration.

(Windows) Since all of the installation activities listed herein can be performed under Windows, you can multitask while installing Monkey and perform other activities at the same time.

1. 1. Preparing floppy disks

• • Format 05 new 1.44 MB floppy disks and label them "Monkey Linux 1" to 5.
  • Format 02 new 1.44 MB floppy disk and label it "Monkey Linux: Packages 1" and 2.
  • (DOS) Issue the following command at the C: prompt: format a: and hit Enter.
  • (Windows 3.x) Go to the Main program group, open File Manager, select the A: drive, go to Disk / Format.
  • (Windows 95 / NT 4.0) To format a floppy disk: Go to My Computer. Highlight 3 ½ Floppy (A:) Right-click. Select Format. In Format Type choose Full.
  • Take 01 new 1.44 MB floppy disk and label it "Monkey Linux bootable."

1. 1. Create bootable diskette

In order to boot Monkey your PC needs to have a "clean" memory, meaning no excess drivers and utilities loaded in memory during the start-up process. You will create a bootable DOS diskette that will be customized to boot into Monkey Linux without any additional intervention.

Note: By booting up from the bootable diskette you will not have to modify any of your existing DOS or Windows configuration files. This way you completely eliminate any possible risk of affecting your existing DOS or Windows setup.

• • Insert the floppy labeled "Monkey Linux bootable" in your disk drive.
  • (DOS) Type format a: /s and hit Enter.
  • (Windows 3.x) Go to the Main program group, open File Manager, select the A: drive, go to Disk / Make System Disk.
  • (Windows 95 / NT 4.0) Go to My Computer. Highlight 3 ½ Floppy (A:) Right-click. Select Format. In Format Type choose Full. In Other Options choose Copy System Files. Click Start. Click Done when finished.
  • You will now copy some required files to the "Monkey Linux bootable" diskette:
  • (DOS and Windows 3.x) Copy the following files from the \DOS directory of your PC.
  • (Windows 95) Copy the following files from the \Command sub-directory of your Windows 95 directory.
  • (Windows NT 4.0) Copy the following files from the \Command sub-directory of your WinNT directory.
  • attrib.exe
    chkdsk.exe
    edit.com
    fdisk.exe
    format.com
    mem.com
    more.com
    mscdex.exe
    scandisk.exe

1. 1. Create boot-up files

You need to create two "clean" boot-up files in the floppy labeled "Monkey Linux bootable."
Use Windows Notepad / Wordpad to enter the following text into the files below, and save them in the floppy disk. Modify the drive letters and directory names as appropriate for your own PC.

Warning: Make extra sure you save both files with their appropriate extensions (.bat and .sys respectively) and NOT as .txt files.

• • Autoexec.bat
    @ECHO OFF
    VERIFY OFF
    C: <<<< Change as necessary in your own case. <<
    CD LINUX
    LINUX
  • Config.sys
    BREAK=OFF
    BUFFERS=15
    FILES=20
    FCBS=4,4
    LASTDRIVE=Z
  • Remove the floppy labeled "Monkey Linux bootable" from the disk drive.

1. 1. Download Monkey files

The fastest repository for the Monkey Linux files is ftp://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/Linux/distributions/monkey/

This list indicates the files you need to download, as well as which floppy disk each file should be copied to.

Important Note: The reason why you are asked to save the Monkey files to floppies is so that you can take them and install Monkey in your home / office / club / friends’ PC. Spread the word about Monkey and about Linux.

1. 1. Download the arj.exe un-compressing utility:
   2. You need to download the arj.exe utility in order to un-compress the .tgz files listed above. You can retrieve the file from ftp://ftp.std.com/pub/arj/arj250a.exe Copy it to the "Monkey Linux 4" floppy disk.
   3. Install compressed files
   4. Monkey must be installed under the \Linux directory of any hard disk you have on your PC (e.g. C:\Linux). You can install Monkey on a drive different than C: (refer to section 6. Customizing linux.bat below) but you MUST install it under \Linux.

      Create a \Linux directory in your PC’s hard disk. Copy all files from the diskettes labeled "Monkey Linux 1" to 5 to the \Linux directory.

   5. Uncompress Monkey files:

Perform the following steps in order to uncompress the Monkey files:

• • (Windows 3.x) Open a DOS command window: go to the Main program group; open the MS-DOS Prompt program.
  • (Windows 95 / NT 4.0) Open a DOS command window: go to Start / Run and type Command.
  • (DOS and all Windows) Go to the Monkey directory (e.g. cd c:\linux).
    Note: modify the drive letter as appropriate.
  • Type arj x -v -y mlinux06 c:\linux
    Note: modify the drive letter as appropriate.

Once the uncompression process stops, you will have a multitude of new files and subdirectories under \Linux.

6. Customizing linux.bat

If you installed Monkey Linux in your PC’s C: drive, and you only have one partition in that disk, please proceed to section 7. Configuring Additional Packages below.

You will need to customize the \Linux\linux.bat file if you installed Monkey on a different logical drive (D: E: or F:), or if your PC has more than one hard disk. Please see the instructions below.

How linux.bat Works

• • In order to load Monkey, the linux.bat file executes the following command line:
    loadlin 3mide.030 root=/dev/hda1 rw
    (For more technical info on loadlin please refer to its manual, located at ftp://ftp.eskimo.com/u/p/praxis/manual.txt
  • The meaning of the command line above is as follows:

Drive Definition

• • Before loading Monkey in your PC, you need to determine what is the drive number of the partition where you installed the \Linux directory. Refer to the following table.

Partition Number

• • Under DOS / Windows 95 each hard disk may only have one primary partition and only one extended partition. The extended partition itself can have multiple logical drives.
    
    Note: logical disks (D: E: F:) on the extended DOS partition have a partition number of 5 or higher. For example, if you have one hard disk and several logical drives:

Modify linux.bat

• • Now you need to modify linux.bat with the appropriate values in the loadlin entry as explained above.
    
    For example, if you installed \Linux in the E: drive on your first hard disk you must modify loadlin as follows:
    loadlin 3mide.030 root=/dev/hda6 rw
  • Save linux.bat and reboot your PC.
  • Once you are able to load Monkey, please proceed to section 7. Configuring Additional Packages below.

Using fdisk

If you can still not find the right partition number, your last resort is to use fdisk as indicated below.

Warning: careless use of fdisk will most certainly destroy your hard disk’s partition table, and therefore all your data in that disk drive. Backup all your critical data from your PC’s hard disk and then proceed at your own risk. You have been duly warned.

• • Insert the "Monkey Linux bootable" diskette in your floppy drive and boot up from it.
  • Type fdisk.
  • Choose 4 , Display Partition Information and hit Enter
  • Look for entries in the Type: (PRI-DOS or EXT-DOS) and System: (FAT-16) columns. Also look in the Partition column and make a note below of the partition number(s) and system types displayed by in fdisk. Enter everything you see in the screen in the table below.

• • Hit ESC to exit to the command line again without saving any changes to your partition table.
  • Now go back to Modify linux.bat above and enter the appropriate values in the root=/dev/hdxx command line.

7. Configuring Additional Packages

Monkey has several additional packages available in addition to the standard packages included in the minimum distribution you installed above.

In order to install any of the additional packages listed above, you need to:

• • Download the desired files from: ftp://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/Linux/distributions/monkey/packages/ directly into your PC’s hard disk. All these files are too large to fit in floppy disks.
  • Note: The Apache, DOSemu, manpages and sendmail packages are already included in the "Monkey Linux – packages 1" and 2 floppies you created. Remember to install those packages too.
  • Create an \Install sub-directory under \Linux. Copy all additional packages to the \Install sub-directory under the Monkey directory (e.g. C:\Linux\install\).
  • Boot Monkey and it will take care of installing the additional package(s) automatically.

8. Descriptions of Additional Packages

These are brief descriptions of the additional packages available with Monke.

Apache 1.1.3

Apache requires you to configure your PC’s network parameters (IP address, DNS, etc.).

In order to save time configuring your Ethernet adapter (NIC), you can use Apache only with the loopback device activated. To do that, you must:

• • set the name of your computer in /var/lib/httpd/conf/httpd.conf by uncommenting the ServerName entry. Choose any name you like (e.g. mypc.monkey.com).
  • Reboot Monkey and log in again.
  • Then type: lynx http://localhost/
  • If you want to create your own website, the root of your Web site is in directory /var/lib/httpd/htdocs.

You probably want to set these values in /var/lib/httpd/conf/srm.conf:

• • # UserDir: The name of the directory which is appended onto a user's home
    # directory if a ~user request is received.
    UserDir public_html
    # DirectoryIndex: Name of the file or files to use as a pre-written HTML
    # directory index. Separate multiple entries with spaces.
    DirectoryIndex index.html

DOSEmu 0.64.4

Monkey Linux’s author reports that xdos is not available yet. He also suggests that you better be sure you know what you are doing.

To install DOSemu proceed as follows:

• • Make a DOS boot diskette with SYS.COM and FDISK.EXE (probably with some editor or Volkov Commander too).
  • Install this package.
  • Login as root.
  • Check /etc/dosemu.conf (only if your diskette drive A: is not an 3.5").
  • Insert the system diskette into the floppy drive and type: dos -A
  • After DOS is up type (this will NOT affect your hard disk, only /lib/dosemu/hdimage):
    FDISK /MBR SYS C: C: EXITEMU
  • Create /etc/dosemu.users with the login names of your favorite users (one per line).
  • Read the enclosed manual or the DOSemu-HOWTO available at http://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/Linux/docs/HOWTO/DOSEMU-HOWTO
  • The next time you want to use DOSemu type dos
  • Hint: Try CTRL+^ h (CTRL+SHIFT+6 h) to learn about the special key-handling features of DOSemu.

GCC 2.7.2 for kernel compilation

This package is designed ONLY for the kernel compilation. Everything else is up to you to modify.

Kernel source 2.0.30

The author removed support for other platforms than i386. The source includes patches for FAT32 as well as older version of the driver for 3c59x NICs. The configuration file of the kernel in the Monkey Linux distribution is also included.

Manual pages

These are not all the manpages. This package has been reduced in size. The package contains manpages for some utilities specific to Monkey.

Netscape Navigator Gold 3.01

This package contains the original package from the Netscape FTP server. This is the old, copyrighted software, so please read the enclosed License agreement.

Sendmail 8.8.5 with Pine

In order to run Sendmail you must configure your PC’s network parameters (IP address, DNS, etc.).

9. Running Monkey Linux

Start

Just insert the "Monkey Linux bootable" floppy disk in the A: disk drive and boot your PC up. You will be presented with the monkey login: log-in screen. Type root and hit Enter.

Warning: You MUST boot your PC with the "Monkey Linux bootable" floppy disk in the A: disk drive every time you want to use Monkey Linux.

Stop / Reboot

To stop Monkey, do NOT, EVER just shut the PC off. Use one of the following methods:

• • Hit Ctrl + Alt + Delete to reboot,
  • Or type shutdown h now to stop the PC. You can turn the PC off when you see the message "The system is halted."
  • Remove the "Monkey Linux bootable" diskette.

Upon rebooting, you will be brought back to your standard DOS or Windows environment.

Please refer to a good Linux book for more information on running Linux. Remember, Monkey is Linux, so anything you learn with Monkey will be transferable to a full-blown Linux distribution in the future.

Additional sources of information are available at:

• • http://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/Linux/docs/HOWTO/INDEX.html
  • http://www.ssc.com/linux/LDP/index.html

10. Uninstalling Monkey Linux

If you ever need to un-install Monkey, just delete the \Linux directory from your hard disk. No more changes are necessary to your system.

11. What is the Volks-PC Initiative?

The Volks-PC Initiative is my personal campaign to create high-powered, very low-cost PC stations and servers for public school students and developing nations. I am using 386-class PCs running both Linux and Caldera DR-DOS http://www.caldera.com to accomplish this. For more details please visit my (under construction) site at http://home.antequera.com/~pepe/volks-pc.html

The bottom line motivator for this campaign is the realization that "old PCs" (such as a 386) have a lot of usable life left in them, in spite of Microsoft’s and Intel’s claims to the contrary. And, for people on a tight budget, those PCs, paired with efficient and free software (Linux and Caldera DR-DOS), can become very powerful learning and productive tools.

I intend to create commercial-quality documentation for all the software packages used as part of the initiative. That means clear, complete and easy-to-use installation and configuration guides.

The following document is currently available (04/13/98):

ML101 - Monkey Linux: Installation and Configuration on a PC running DOS or Windows.

The following documents will be available shortly:

ML102 - Monkey Linux: Installation and Configuration of Ethernet LAN adapters (NICs).

ML103 – Monkey Linux: Installation and Configuration of an Internet / Intranet Server.

ML104 – Monkey Linux: Using a PC to replace a Router.

DR101 – Caldera DR-DOS 7.02: Installation and Configuration.

DR102 – Caldera DR-DOS 7.02: Installation and Configuration of a Personal NetWare Network.

As you can tell, I invested a lot of time in creating this document, which you now receive for free. If you find this document useful please consider donating any surplus 386/486 PC(s) in working order you may have. Send me an e-mail at pepe@antequera.com and I will send you my shipping address in Florida, USA.

12. Basic Troubleshooting

Start-up problems

These are the most common problems when trying to boot Monkey:

• • Error: VFS: Mounted root (umsdos filesystem) Unable to open an initial console
    Cause: You installed Monkey in a directory other than \Linux.
    Solution: You MUST rename the directory to \Linux or else Monkey will not load.
  • Error: Kernel panic: VFS: Unable to mount root fs on __:__
    Cause: You have not configured Monkey to boot from the appropriate partition or disk.
    Solution: Modify the linux.bat file as indicated in Customizing linux.bat above.
    Alternate Solution: When you boot, there has to be a line that reads like this (from my own PC's display):
    Partition check:
    hda: Started kswapd v 1.4.2.2
    hda3 hda4 < hda5 >
    You must then try the values "hda3" "hda4" and "hda5" in the loadlin command
    line. In my case, as you must have guessed by now, hda5 is the right value. Why? Beats me, since I only have one partition in the hard disk.
    
  • Error: The keyboard locks-up when you try to load Monkey.
    Cause: You are either trying to load Monkey without a clean Autoexec.bat and Config.sys files, or you tried to run Monkey from Windows (which is NOT possible).
    Solution: Make sure that every time you want to use Monkey you boot your PC with the "Monkey Linux bootable" floppy disk in the A: disk drive. Refer to item 2) in section 5. Installation above to create such bootable diskette.
  • Error: You are unable to run loadlin. It complains about "Not enough free memory between 90000h and 9ffffh."
    Cause: Problems with the version of loadlin (1.5) included with Monkey.
    Solution: Download ftp://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/Linux/utils/dos/linux_load95.zip Unzip it, and copy the included loadlin executable (version 1.6) to your \Linux directory.
  • Error: You are unable to use a PS/2 mouse with Xfree86.
    Cause: Monkey does not detect the device when booting up.
    Solution: <Still working on this one>
  • Error: <fill in here>
    Cause: <you don’t know>
    Solution: Send e-mail to pepe@antequera.com for technical support.

Reporting a Problem

According to Monkey’s author, he does not provide technical support for Monkey. To the extent of whatever free time I have, I will try to answer any question related to installing and configuring Monkey.

Before you submit a problem report, please make sure you do the following:

• • Follow all instructions exactly as explained in this document.
  • Fill-out all sections of the attached Installation Checklist and submit it via e-mail to Jose C. Lacal at pepe@antequera.com I will get back to you as soon as possible (family- and work-obligations permitting).

Pending issues:

• create my own distribution of Monkey based on Red Hat 5.0 (using standard file location policies)
• version with PCMCIA support for laptops
• version with expanded NIC support
• version without Xfree86

13. Installation Checklist

Date: ___________ Your name: __________________________ City, Country: ________________

Your e-mail address: __________________________________ Join Volks-PC mailing list? _____

Computer name: ______________

CPU: ______ RAM: ______ MB HD _______ MB

• controller (IDE/ SCSI) _____
• number of hard disks _____
• size of hard disk where you installed Monkey _____
• compressed? _____
• With which utility? _____
• video card _____
• mouse type _____

Operating system:

• DOS version ____
• Windows 3.1 / 3.11
• Windows 95
• Windows NT 3.51 / 4.0 Server / WS
• Other: ____

Directory where you installed Monkey: ___________

If you need Technical Support, please answer all the questions above and below. Then send this entire section, via e-mail, to Jose C. Lacal at pepe@antequera.com

Describe the problem, in your own words:

Please write down the EXACT error messages you see:

Finally, what do YOU think is the problem?