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Re: Linux/Solaris/Windows on Notebook



> 2. I'm going to run X and Motif heavilly (I know that Motif is not
> included;
>  I'll build my version), together with Netscape and heavy
> compilations;
>  Are 16MB sufficient or should I have 20MB?

16MB is sufficient but you should have 20MB ;-) 20MB will probably make
performance much better, especially under X.

> 3. What version should I use?  Criterias (the order does not have any
> meaning):
>    a. the most up-to-date version.
>    b. the most popular (=standard ?) version.
>    c. the richest ($$) and the strongest version.

There are two "versions" to take into account. The first is the distribution
and the second is kernel. The latest distribution (also pretty stable) is
Slackware 3.0.0. You can also go for the various commercial ones (stable +
support, but costs and is not very cutting-edge). Latest REALLY stable kernel
version is 1.3.20 (although some later kernels are very table as well), while
the most up-to-date (1.3.89 and going up by the minute) might not compile...
Recommended: Slackware 3.0.0 + kernel 1.3.20

> 4. Some versions of Linux can be installed also under DOS file-system.
> What is
>  the "price"?  I heard that there is an overhead in performance, do
> you know exactly how much?  Is there other behavior that is damaged?
>  And, does this case (installing Linux under DOS file-system) allow me
> to switch between these OSs without rebooting the computer?

I wouldn't do that. UMSDOS is usually nice if you want to try Linux out
or can't repartition for some reason. For optimal and safest operating,
create an ext2fs partition (Linux native).

> 5. Many notebooks have removable disks as their standard disks. In the
> case I decide not to install Linux in the DOS file-system, what is the
> better:
>    a. using 1 disk for Solaris, 1 for Linux, and 1 for Windows '95.
>    b. using the same disk for all the OSs, by partitioning. In this case,
>       where can I obtain a "multi-boot" software? How should I install
>       the OSs (in what order?)

There shouldn't be any difference between using a disk per OS or dividing
one disk. You'll have to use a multi-boot software even if you choose option
a. A very efficient (And free) multibooter comes with Linux and is called
LILO (LInux LOader). Should work fine.

> 6. These OSs will have shared stuff (e.g. my sources, etc.). Where
> should I place this stuff, and how can I use it (mount, another device with
> special drivers for all the OSs, etc.)?

Linux can very easily mount a FAT/VFAT (Win95) partition, but this is not
so the other way around. So the easiest thing to do is to put your stuff
on the DOS partition. I'm not knowledgable about Solaris enough to advise
you there.

> 7. Devices & peripherals: Did anyone have an experience with Motorola's
>  Cellect Fax/Modem (MNP-10)?  Do I need a special driver?  Any other
>  recommended Fax/Modem (cellular - preferable)?  SCSI controller?
>  Ethernet?  Some of the notebooks have their 3.5" diskette drive
>  attached through the parallel, can they be used?

Support for PCMCIA is present and working. Besides that, nothing is needed
(as far as I know - I've NEVER installed Linux on a laptop/notebook) besides
the normal drivers. I don't know about a parallel disk drive, though.

> 8. How can Linux be connected (as a client!) to a PPP server?  Is it
> hard? Does it limit me to specific ISPs?

Yes, and very easily. Any ISP that provides PPP access for, say, Windows,
can also be accessed from Linux (PPP is OS-independant). It doesn't limit
you in any way. In fact, you can use a normal modem program, connect, invoke
PPP, exit the modem program, and fire up PPP. Or you can write your own
dialup script.

> 9. And finally, does anybody know something new about a dynamically
> linked version of Netscape Navigator for Linux (from Caldera)?

Wish I did. Check out Netscape and specifically Atlas (Netscape 3.0 alpha).
> I'll port all my stuff (including the Hebrew Support of X-Windows & 
> Motif!) to Linux, so I'm sure I'll have much to report and to tell when 
> everything will be ready.

Sounds great, but then again you already blew me away with that Hebrew
version of Netscape you showed me in the IPA kenes... ;-)

--
Shay Rojansky, roji@cs.huji.ac.il                 Finger for PGP public key