Question regarding Knoppix 3.6 hard drive installation

[raystorm]

I have tried a few Linux distros (I am a complete newb but want to learn all about Linux) and I always had a hard time with my integrated LAN getting detected so I can go online. My motherboard is a nforce 2 board (asus a7n8x deluxe-e) and I am well aware of all the problems people have with the onboard lan.

This brings me to Knoppix 3.6. I decided to try it out since its a live cd...and lo and behold I am writing this thread in Knoppix!! Everything I have was detected nicely and didn't even have to configure the onboard LAN at all. Just saw it getting detected during bootup (whereas other distros gave me eth0 eth1 error messages) and immediately started the browser and boom.. I'm online!

The silly question I wanted to ask was since my onboard LAN works perfectly using the live cd would it also work perfectly if I installed it on the harddrive?? Yea yea.. dumb question, but I have one harddrive and would rather install Linux on its own drive. I want to order a harddrive (mainly for linux but also to have more storage and an emergency backup drive) and wont spend the money unless I am sure that Knoppix install (which is Debian right?) is identical to Knoppix on CD.

So there's my dumb newb question.. please tell me that all will be good cause I have the "order" button right in front of me and I want to learn linux! thanks in advanced for any replies.

 

[n0cmonkey]

I don't know for sure, but I imagine it would be the same. Knoppix probably uses the forcedeth module, so if it doesn't load you may be able to do it manually. I can't imagine them leaving that out though.

Extra hard drives are always handy.

 

[LiLithTecH]

This was posted by an ANANDTECH user previously.
My apologies to the user for not keeping the username in the message.

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Install KNOPPIX Linux to HD
It is VERY easy. Here are the simple steps:

1) Boot from the CD
2) At the prompt, you can choose a few boot options. Personally, I use
knoppix26 and the resolution switch set to 1280 x 1024. Hit F2 and F3 to
get an idea of what you can do. If you're not sure, just do the default.
3) Once the system boots, at the bottom left should be a little menu icon that
looks like a command prompt. Click it.
4) Type "sudo knoppix-installer".
5) Partition your hard drive using QTParted (it should automatically start when
the system doesn't detect the proper filesystems). You will need to setup
one larger partition of 2+ GB (the more, the better) and another partition
of around 500MB. The first you should format as either ext3, ReisferFS, or
XFS (go ahead and pick any one for now). The smaller partition should be
formatted as "linux swap".
6) Now an installation menu should appear. The first item will be "Configure
Installation," the second "Start Installation." Go through "Configure
Installation" first. That will take you through choosing where to install
Knoppix (pick the partition you just formatted), and it will set up a user
account and administrative password. BTW, you'll want to do a "Beginner"
installation type (the others just create more hassle unless you know what
you're doing).
7) After you configure the installation, choose "Start Installation." It'll
basically copy the files then, which will take 20-30 minutes. At the end it
will ask for a floppy. You can make one if you want, I just choose "No."
8) Restart your computer (without the Knoppix CD in the drive) and you'll see a
LILO boot menu. Pick "Linux" and it will boot into Knoppix (if you want help
changing that boot menu, read up on the lilo.conf file or ask again here).

Sometime during the configuration I think you'll have to choose where to write
the partition/boot information. Choose the mbr option. Also, if you choose the
beginner installation it will by default format in ext3. If you want to use
ReiserFS, then what you'll have to do is this:

1) Go through the configuration by choosing the Debian option. All of the
options will be the same as the Beginner option except you will be able to
choose which FS to use. Choose ReiserFS. Finish that up and it will take you
back to the installation menu.
2) Go through the configuration again by choosing Beginner this time, and use
the same options and whatnot as before.

Now when you install it will format using ReiserFS.