Re: new sysinstall

[leimy2k@xxxxxxx]

On Saturday, August 23, 2003, at 1:45 PM, Matthew Dillon wrote:

> :I'm seeing this as a four stage system.
> :
> :1. Disk Editor (creates slices, and partitions)
> :2. Distribution Selection
> :3. Glorified FTP client
> :4. Configuration Management System
> :
> :Basically we would take a bootable cd, with a fully operable dragonfly
> :installation on it. fire off the disk editor, to create swap, and
> :other partitions and slices. Figure out what we are supposed to 
> install.
> :Then either contact a ftp site with a distro on it, or fire up a local
> :ftpd server, and download the distribution on to our new slices.
> :The configuration Management system is the key to the whole thing.
> :I will try to get my thoughts on it written down in a understandable
> :fashion later this week.
> :
> :Robert Garrett
>
>     I would like a two-stage process, where everything you list is in 
> the
>     second stage.  The biggest problem with any install occurs when 
> you go
>     through all the work of installing the system onto your disks, 
> reboot,
>     and... nothing happens.  The system doesn't boot or doesn't mount,
>     which means you have to go through the entire process all over 
> again.
>
>     So the first thing I think an install should do is create a basic
>     slice and partition for /, swap, and /usr, copy the CD into it, and
>     reboot.  And the very first option should be, with appropriate 
> sanity
>     checks, a 'just do it and reboot' option.
>
> 	1. Shell prompt
>
> 	2. Reformat HD, install basic templates, and reboot before completing
> 	   the procedure.
>
> 	3. Scan network for templates, install or query for selection,
> 	   and reboot before completing the procedure.
>
>     Once rebooted into the HD we can then proceed to do all the 
> time-consuming
>     installation without worrying about having to start over from 
> scratch.


That is an interesting point but don't we already kind of have a 
running system when
we first boot a CD?  Doesn't the kernel on the CD already "work" if we 
make it to the
installer?  If so... what is the purpose of installing a really small 
installation to install
the full installation?

I think I am not 100% sold on this idea; not that I have to be or that 
my opinion is that
important but I would like to understand this situation better and how 
the proposed
solution actually helps solve the problem.  It seems I can still make a 
pretty bad
installation even if I install a smaller good one first.

Dave

> 					-Matt
> 					Matthew Dillon
> 					<dillon@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>