Installing PCQLinux 2004

Now that you have the distro in your hands, we understand that you are in hurry to get going. But wait a minute. It is important that you read this article before proceeding to install PCQLinux 2004, as this contains many pointers regarding the new features and packages we've included.

PCQLinux 2004 can be installed in many different ways: by booting off a CD/DVD drive, making a boot floppy, over the network from a file share and now even over VNC. You can also choose to install in text or graphical mode (which is the default). This article describes the process using the graphical install method, however the text install is similar enough so that you can follow the same route.

The easiest method to install PCQLinux 2004 is by booting off CD 1. Make sure that the CD drive is first in the boot order in the BIOS. Now pop in the PCQLinux 2004 CD 1 in the drive and restart your computer. You'll get the PCQLinux splash screen and option prompt. Press here to go into graphical mode install or type linux text and press to continue in text mode.

The CD will then boot and reach a point where it will ask you to do a media check on the CDs. We highly recommend that you do a media check on all three CDs, as a failed installation is mostly caused due to faulty or scratched media. Make sure you get a “PASS” result for all three CDs. 

Once the test is over, the installation process continues. The rest of the installation process is explained step by step below.



If you have a machine running Windows on an NTFS partition, you need a free partition to install PCQLinux 2004. If one is not available, you need to shrink your NTFS partition suing a partition management tool like
BootitNG.

1. The mouse install screen lets you select the mouse type you are using. You may also be prompted for the monitor type in case the installer was unable to detect it. If that happens, choose a monitor type that allows at least 800x600 mode. In case an older version of PCQLinux was found, you'll be prompted whether to upgrade the installation or install a fresh copy. For performing an upgrade, please read the article on Upgrading to PCQLinux 2004. To install a fresh copy, select “Install” and proceed.	2. Select the install type here. Choosing a particular type does not forbid you from choosing any other package as well. There is a custom install screen for that. Select the type that is closest to what you wish and make changes later.
3. Select the automatically partition option on this screen. If you are installing on a new drive (that is, one that does not have any OS on it) you'll get a message asking to initialize the drive (inset).	4. This screen asks you whether you wish to install PCQLinux by removing older Linux partitions, all other partitions or use any existing free space. Choose carefully here and proceed.
5. You will be prompted to confirm your action if you choose to remove partitions. Removing partitions means that you loose all data in them. If you want to retain your data, you can stop the install, copy out the data and restart.	6,7. These screens allow you to configure your network settings, such as IP address, hostname and firewall configuration. If you need help here, check out the archives at www.pcquest.com.
7. The basic firewall. By default it is set to deny all incoming packets. If you are changing it, we asssume that you know what you are doing, and have ensured the security of your machine.	8. Your timezone can be set here. We've done the hard work for you and set the default to IST.
9. The root user's password must now be set. Make a complex password over six characters in length and enter it twice in the space provided. And remember to remember it.	10. The custom install screen lets you add more packages and customize the installation as per your needs. Select the group, such as 'Personal' to choose packages within that group.
10.1. Click the details button next to a selected group to choose the packages within that group.	11. Once all dependencies amongst the packages are checked, the install process is ready to continue.
12. This can take a while depending on the number and size of the packages.	13. Once complete, you will be asked to create a boot floppy. It is recommended you do so, so that it can be used as a rescue disk if required. The main install is now complete. If you have selected Kernel 2.6.2, openMosix, JDK or NTFS support, the installation will continue beyond the first bootup to install these packages.

VNC install

Sometimes PCQLinux may not be able to start in GUI mode. The option to start install in text mode, of course, always exists. However, this version of PCQLinux lets you do a remote graphical install over the network using VNC. Put the install CD into the target machine and start as usual. Type linux vnc at the install boot prompt and select English layouts when prompted.

Finally, select whether the target machine should get an IP from DHCP or a static one. 

Once this is done, the install process gives you the client name and display port to connect to. You can use any standard VNC client running on another machine, to connect to this and do a remote graphical installation on the target system. The entire installation screen will now be available in graphical mode on the VNC client. On Windows, we highly recommend using

TinyVNC.

Indian languages

The most popular Indian Linux version now has lots of localization for Indian users. In PCQLinux 2004 you can use your Gnome in four different Indian languages. These are Hindi, Marathi, Tamil and Telugu. To set these up just click on "Language" in the login screen. A drop down menu will open. Now select the language you want to use and click on OK. Now log in to your Gnome desktop and you will find Gnome speaking your mother tongue. 

Not only this, PCQLinux 2004 supports eight different keymaps, which means you can enter text in these languages. To set up these keymaps, right-click on the Gnome panel and select Add to panel>Utility> Keyboard Layout Switcher. Now an icon will get added to your Gnome panel. Right-click on the icon and select preferences. A new window will open, select the language which you want (namely: Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Malayalam, Oriya, Punjabi, Tamil and Telugu). You can also set the default language for your machine from this applet. From now onwards, clicking on the icon will change the keymap setting of Gnome according to the list which you have added.

As yet, this localization is only with Gnome and not with KDE.

Anindya Roy