Prepack index

[danielibarnes]

Users need to the ability to:
1) Know they need a "prepack" to accomplish their particular goal, and
2) Know which one they need.

The tc-install prepack is documented in the readme, but a formal index file of some sort and a walk-through would be helpful for new users. For example, when someone visits the home page for the first time with the intent of installing Tiny Core, how can they determine they need this prepack and find out what to do with it?

[Guy]

Minor changes can be made to the installation guides in the wiki to explain how to use the tc-install prepack.

However, if a person goes to the home page, and clicks on Installation, they don't go to the wiki index. I think this link should be redirected so it goes to the wiki index. Now that the installer has been improved, using it is the easiest way to install Tiny Core.

If the team wants to use information from the wiki to update the official installation guide, that is another option.


As for nettools, again, have a well documented explanation of how to use it in the wiki.

[roberts]

OK. Good idea. Please post specific Wiki links here. I then will update webpage.
And many thanks for your contributions!

[Guy]

It is probably best to go to the wiki index, as there are many different pages on installation, and they are at the top of the index.

http://wiki.tinycorelinux.net/

or

http://wiki.tinycorelinux.net/wiki:start

If you think it should be done differently, let me know.

There is an Installation link on all of the pages of the main website. They should all be updated.

[roberts]

We already have a link to the Wiki on all web pages and forum.
What I would be looking for is detailed instructions on how to use the prepack as a recommended way to install Tiny Core for a new user.

Same would need to be done for configuring undetected net access devices, i.e., specifically using the prepack.

Probably best to post link here first. Get feedback and perform updates before official web pages link to them.

[beerstein]

sorry for asking this question - but I do not know what a "prepack" is?

Is it something  like an extension?

What is the difference between an extension and a prepack?

Is there an example for, when do I need a prepack?

Thank you so much for help.

[Guy]

What is the difference between an extension and a prepack?

In the past, to install Tiny Core, it was necessary to install a number of extensions. To make is simple these extensions have all been combined into one prepack, so you only need to download and install one thing. The prepack may also include the script used for installation.

The same thing with wireless internet. The extensions needed for wireless internet have been included into one prepack.

At the present time, you have two options, you can install all of the extensions, like you did in the past, or you can install just the prepack. It is up to you.

If you use the prepack, it goes in the tce directory, not /tce/optional.

To load a prepack, restart the computer.

[roberts]

One would only need a prepack if they are experiencing difficulty with inital network setup.
Because some users have such initial network issues they will be unable to perform an installation via the official Tiny Core installation program.

Therefore if you have difficulties in the initial network setup you will benefit from a prepack.
If you already have internet access then you can ignore prepacks.

Prepacks can be used with current releases of Tiny Core as stated in the announcement.
Starting with v3.7 additional options will be available.

Again, if you already have net access you will not need a prepack.

[Guy]

Please post specific Wiki links here. I then will update webpage.

There are a number of different pages about installation. I suggest putting a link to this page.

http://wiki.tinycorelinux.net/wiki:install

Where relevant, these pages have info about the prepacks. I have included both options - prepacks or extensions. Some pages don't have info about the prepacks.

It seems when 3.7 comes out, these pages will need updating again.

[tinypoodle]

The same thing with wireless internet. The extensions needed for wireless internet have been included into one prepack.

Same for wired ethernet (firmware).

[floppy]

from my small installing history (still not finish with ALSA..), I think following Prepacks would have helped few months ago:
- wired
- wireless (ndiswrapper, wicd..)
- communication and exchanges (opera, links, midhight commander for ftp)
- hardware audit and setup (lspci, lshw, hdparm, gparted,..)
- office tiny (flume, gnumeric, leafpad, epdfview)
After the knowledge is growing and most of things works, I would keep only the extensions I know and which are good to me..

[roberts]

Once net access is achieved it is much more efficient to use existing tczs.
Don't expect a plethora of permutations and combinations to be offered.
We have a specific goal.

[floppy]

Once net access is achieved it is much more efficient to use existing tczs.
Don't expect a plethora of permutations and combinations to be offered.
We have a specific goal.

yes.
I was just thinking how to make a bigger "HHHUURRAAHH" effect on consumers.
I can make fire with a fire-stone.. but making fire with a BIC-lighter is quicker.

[beerstein]

Thank yo for this - now I know more.

I remember that there is a c-language package also in the repo. Needed to compile source code.
Is this a "prepack" too?

So when I download a prepack it sits in my /tce on sda1 for instance. Can I just copy it over
to another TC system on another machine and use it there?

Will it automatically be installed during reboot?

Would it make sense to make a prepack for "php, mysql and lightpd" for instance?

Are there instructions some where on how to do something like this?

[curaga]

Thank yo for this - now I know more.

I remember that there is a c-language package also in the repo. Needed to compile source code.
Is this a "prepack" too?

compiletc is a meta-extension - it depends on all the necessary extensions. A prepack would be a combined extension instead, like compiletc was in the TC 1.x days.

So when I download a prepack it sits in my /tce on sda1 for instance. Can I just copy it over
to another TC system on another machine and use it there?

Will it automatically be installed during reboot?

Yes and yes.

Would it make sense to make a prepack for "php, mysql and lightpd" for instance?

Are there instructions some where on how to do something like this?

Not really, as Robert said, once you have initial internet access, you can just "tce-load -wi php mysql lighttpd" (untested command, extension names may differ).

For combining extensions, I think there is some info on the wiki and forum, but I don't think there has been a specific howto for that yet.