HOWTO: Install Kanotix to a Hard Drive

Every person who writes about this topic states that installing Kanotix to a HD is not recommended. It’s not recommended because of kernel upgrading issues or hard ware issues or support issues. Well I say fooey to all that noise. If you want to install Kanotix to an HD then go for it and damn the consequences.
*Disclaimer: I cannot be held responsible if everything goes tits-up.

Prerequisites

• Kanotix 2005-4 CD
• Beer

Starting the Installer
Start by clicking on the ugly fish next the big “K” and select Kanotix-Installer.
This will launch the Kanotix Installation Application which will guide you on your way to having a Debian like system with out the need of a PHD in Computer Science.

The first screen on the installer gives you 3 options:

• Install Kanotix to HD
• Update an existing Kanotix HD-Installation
• Recover an existing Kanotix HD-Installation

At this point you haven’t installed Kanotix so Upgrading is out nor have you had a chance to really muck things up so Recovering an existing Kanotix HD-Installation is out as well. So choose Install Kanotix and move on.

Partition the HD
Inorder to install Kanotix you’ll need to have a partition to install the OS and another for the Linux-Swap partition. The rule of thumb on the swap part is double the ammount of RAM. For example if you have 512RAM then you should set the swap part size to 1GB but in this day and age ram is cheap and storage space is even cheaper.

The installer has a few options for setting up your HD. You can use QTParted and partition your drive by hand or you can accept the default by choosing the Root-Partition. The default options is for installing Kanotix on a system that already has and existing Linux OS with an existing swap part . Otherwise you’ll need to use QTParted and set up the partitions manually.

I am not going to go into detal about using QTParted but I will say that is is pretty easy. Here’s a link to the QTParted FAQ.

Boot Loader
Once you are done fuffing about with the HD the next step is to set up the Bootmanager. You have a choice of either LILO or Grub as the Bootmanager and an Installation place of either the Master Boot Record or the root-partition. I have had no luck with LILO so I’d stick with the status quo of Gurm on the MBR.

So pick one, click next and lets move on.

Configuring User Accounts
Now you’ll set up a root password and a user account (username/password) for yourself. You’ll need the root password when ever you are making changes to the system that require root privileges like setting up Samba, configuring a network card and general foo like that.

Network Settings
Now you’ll be asked to set a hostname (hostname == computer name like ‘bigboy’ or ‘fancypants’). This step should also include setting up a network card and maybe some other network type services IMHO.

At this point the configuration is complete and you’re ready to start the installation.

Finally the Installation Process
You are presented with 3 options:

• Save config and start
• Save config only
• Start Kanotix-Installer_Script and IGNORE your config

Don’t screw around just select Save Config and Start and click Begin Installation.

A message box will pop up stating the config has been saved and “Do you really want to start the installation now?” And your answer to this is YES. Another message box will pop with a summary of the configuration and again you’ll need to click YES.

A new progress box will pop telling you what it is doing and how far along it is.
I have found that this part of the installation takes about 17 minutes.

When it’s finally done a new Message Box will appear informing you that the installation is complete sonow log-out and reboot the system. As the system is coming back up right after the BIOS screen (I’m talking hardware level) you’ll see another screen that has 2 options for booting into Linux.

• Kernel 2.1.6 DEFAULT
• Kanotix 9.

If you choose Kanotix the system will boot into a Kanotix LiveCD mode but with out the CD or the need to login. I think this is a fail-safe measure just incase things go tit-up on you.
Any way select the default and hit enter or after 10 seconds it will boot into the default Debian mode.
Once the system comes back up you should see a nice login screen.

But Wait There’s More
At this point most HOWTO’s leave you sitting their with your d@!& in your hand but not this one.

Here’s where the fun begins.
To get your brand new Kanotix system running properly you’ll need to configure the network card. After all you lost all of that porn so the first thing you’ll want to do is go get more.

Click on the ugly fish and select “Network/Internet”. Click that and then select Network Configuration -> Network Interface. A box will pop with a list of any network devices it has found. Pick the lan0_Network_device_macaddress for your network card and click OK. A second box will pop up asking if you want to Use DHCP broadcast click yes to have the IP address assigned to you or no to configure it your self. After a few seconds of nothing a message box should pop-up on the task bar indicating that the network card has a connection. Then another box will ask if you want this interface auto enable at boot. Your damn right you do other wise you’ll need to repeat this process everytime you reboot the computer.

Now your system is ready to go on line and start downloading porn.