Fc3 (64-bit) - Comments Please???

LinuxBob · #1 4th October 2004, 08:14 PM

I am running an Abit AV8 which uses the Via KT800 chip set. Also an Nvidia card which no new distro recognizes (but does a good job of "faking" it)...at least to get a decent 2-D display....

Anyway, wonder if anyone with a similar system is running this test release OKAY?? What problems have you encountered?? Just trying to sort out if it is worth a try ???

Many Thanks --- LB ---

greenleaf · #2 4th October 2004, 10:29 PM

I have Nvidia GeForce 5200 + Opteron. Downloaded the FC3 and burnt my CDRs. But I have yet installed.
My schedule to install is this week. The whole reason I delayed installation is due to RAID considerations. Presently my FC2 is in non-RAID, feeling a little slow. I am preparing a backup of FC2 and then finding additional HDD to configure a Linux soft RAID.

I will come back to this thread for comments once I had these done.

My hopes with FC3 is to see rid of Nautilus / SAMBA mounting conflicts.

LinuxBob · #3 5th October 2004, 12:23 AM

HELLO ALL AGAIN ----

Well, I downloaded the DVD image (JUST the DVD image - about 5 GB) for AMD64 and burned the ISO image onto a DVD (using an image burner).

When I tried to install using the DVD image, first, when it started, I hit ENTER to bring up a graphical install interface...it just stayed in text mode, then after two more steps, it gave me an error saying it could not find the CORE in any of my CD drives ????

Now what?? The entire install package is SUPPOSED TO BE IN THE IMAGE THAT IT JUST STARTED BOOTING FROM, RIGHT??? ARRGGHH.

Has anyone used the DVD image to do an install of the 64 bit version of FC3T2 ???? OR AM I DOING SOMETHING WRONG ????

Thanks as usual --- LB ---

JLF_65 · #4 6th October 2004, 05:13 AM

The FC3t2 DVD image is too big for a single layer DVDR. If you burned it anyway, it's probably missing files. I used the CDs to install it. That works fine, but do a custom install and select all the packages you want at install time. There is a bug where the Add/Remove Program on the desktop uses the i386 CD names instead of the x86_64 CD names, so you cannot add packages later at the desktop.

There are some oversized single layer DVDRs being sold if you really want to try the DVD image. Your only other choice is a dual layer DVDR (about $15 each).

As to the first post, my system is an MSI Master2-FAR. It uses the K8T800 chipset. I have a single Opteron and an nVidia FX5600 in mine. So far so good...

Peanut-Butter · #5 6th October 2004, 08:37 PM

Hey LinuxBob, i too am using an Abit AV8. I just installed FC3 test 2, and can't get connected to my network. Did you have any trouble using the onboard nic?

LinuxBob · #6 7th October 2004, 04:20 AM

Hello PB ---

OK on the AV8. Nice to hear from someone that is running the same MOBO. Forget the onboard NIC port. I finally gave up and bought a little cheapie at COMP-USA and my package (SuSE 9.1) recognized it and all works just fine!!! Well it sounds like the FC3T2 release does work...guess I fell prey to the package size on the DVD issue....it was a strange situation when I tried it. I plan to try the CD approach next when I get time.

Yes there is a bug in the Fedora Core which causes problems with various forms of UPDATING. I had major problems with UP2DATE. I have never been able to get through an update session without it hanging up on me...I got quite frustrated, and am running SuSE 9.1-64 bit and it is running quite well on the AV8 system. I even taught myself how to install the Nvidia driver -- wow, I amazed myself, but figured it out and even though the Kernel does not recognize my model, I use a "close" model, and I at least get very nice 2D display running the Nvidia driver.

Won't it be nice when they finally catch up and you can not spend days/nights just trying to get a peripheral to work!!!!! AArrrrrgghhh!!!!!!

LinuxBob · #7 7th October 2004, 04:40 AM

Howdy JLF65 ---

Help me out here --- I downloaded the DVD image (just the one image) and it was about 550 MB in length. What am I missing? Is there more than one image to download beyond what is marked as the DVD image???

I am new to installs with large .iso images -- maybe there are parts I am not downloading???

I notice on the FTP site, there is the DVD image, then TWO GROUPS of other files, one of which is OBVIOUSLY the CD images...but what is the OTHER SET of images??? Are those part of the DVD??? and if so, how does that work??

Any help appreicated -- Tks --- LB

Peanut-Butter · #8 7th October 2004, 05:32 PM

Well i took your advice LinuxBob, and got myself a Linksys network card. I now have my network up and running thanks to you. Everything is working great. I did however have trouble getting 3d working with my 6800gt. But after a few hours of trial and error, i finaly got it working too.

BTW, i tried the DVD iso before downloading the four CD's. I never got the DVD iso to burn right

LinuxBob · #9 7th October 2004, 06:24 PM

Hi Again PB ---

Well that is all good news. I have found one of the best ways to learn how Linux works and how to manage it, is to just jump into the pool and swim!!! It is frustrating some times, but there are alot of practical factors that are just NOT DOCUMENTED at least clearly for newbies.

Have you noticed any major problems, with the FC3T2 package other than the known problems with the updating???

Thanks --- LB ----

avij · #10 12th October 2004, 08:00 PM

Hiya, I just downloaded and installed the new FC3T3 on a brand new Abit AV8 system yesterday. I'll just say that the onboard NIC is giving me a headache. FC detected the NIC alright, and looking at my switch LEDs it looks like it's running at full 1Gbit speed. It gets an IP address from the DHCP server and I'm able to SSH into the box, but that's almost it. Pinging another computer on the network gives me lost packets and even some duplicate packets (huh?). The last thing I did before I went to bed was to launch "yum update". yum downloaded some of the required data, but then stopped in the middle of one file. The network had died, I couldn't ping or do anything. I decided to leave it running to see if it gains sanity during night, but in the morning I saw an ugly kernel trap error message on the screen. I didn't have time to record the error message, but it looked like it was a network related issue. I'll do some more testing later this evening, perhaps it'd work if forced to 100Mbit. The box is going to be a web server some day, so it's a bit unfortunate that the NIC doesn't work. The option of buying a separate NIC card is unfortunately out for me because the card wouldn't fit in the rackmount case that I have for the motherboard.

LinuxBob · #11 12th October 2004, 08:20 PM

Howdy Avij----

I have always had problems with the Fedora update system...and I have NO problems with the SuSE updating system...it works fine. One of the reasons I stay with SuSE along with the fact it is a SUPPORTED SYSTEM...

I was hoping that the FC group would fix the updater so that it would run correctly --- I have tried several upload sessions on it, and it always hangs somewhere in the middle of the process....it NEVER COMPLETES PROPERLY!!!

So I am staying away from any more tests with FC3 until I see it working in 64 bit with OK updating performance.

I found I had to use a separate NIC...the onboard NIC would not detect correctly. Maybe that has been fixed in FC3T3...but I will be with SUSE for some time, it appears.

Tks!!!!

avij · #12 12th October 2004, 09:03 PM

For the record, "yum update" has worked perfectly for me, no mysterious hangs for me. I do use a local mirror for the updates, though, perhaps that's one of the reasons why I've been satisfied with it. I haven't used up2date that much.

As a followup to my previous post, looks like the NIC problems were resolved in the newest kernel. After upgrading my kernel from 2.6.8-1.541 (the stock FC3T3 kernel) to 2.6.8-1.603 I haven't seen a single hiccup with the NIC. Looks good

JLF_65 · #13 12th October 2004, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LinuxBob

Howdy JLF65 ---

Help me out here --- I downloaded the DVD image (just the one image) and it was about 550 MB in length. What am I missing? Is there more than one image to download beyond what is marked as the DVD image???

Sounds like you're missing everything.

The DVD image for FC3t2 is about 4.4G. I use the torrent files to get the disc images for guaranteed correct downloads. Downloading from ftp can be hit or miss as to whether you'll receive an error-free complete file.

Quote:

I am new to installs with large .iso images -- maybe there are parts I am not downloading???

I notice on the FTP site, there is the DVD image, then TWO GROUPS of other files, one of which is OBVIOUSLY the CD images...but what is the OTHER SET of images??? Are those part of the DVD??? and if so, how does that work??

You have binary CDs, source CDs, and the DVD. That is it. The DVD is a single huge file. Possibly the bad size you are getting is because you are trying to download to a FAT32 partition. FAT32 cannot handle >4G files, so you wind up with what's left over after it wraps around at 4G. On a Windows machine, download DVD images to NTFS partitions only unless you are sure they are less than 4G in size. On a Linux machine, download to a non-VFAT partition (ext2 or ext3 is fine).

umts4u2 · #14 17th October 2004, 08:11 AM

I just upgraded my old Linux Box to AMD 64. I have to thank you all for helping me put my mind to rest with the difficulties I'm having loading up FC 2.92. I have been using the iso images for the CD's and I've had nothing but repeated failure during install. Here's what I have experienced.

Core 2
I placed the first disk and began the install process. The Fedora core offers a utility that scans the media for problems before you actually begin the install process. I tested my discs and found that the iso for disk 2 was bad. Assuming that I got a bad download, I went directly to Fedora and endured the pain of the slow download just to ensure I had a solid image. Surely RedHat wouldn't release a bad image? During install, setting up my configurations and creating my partitions was flawless, just as I suspected. The install ran smooth and without error until the last 6 minutes of the install when I encountered missing font package for the X Windows session. I tried to re-install the package but that failed as well. Finally when I went to get around it, that failed too. FC2-x86_64-disc2.iso was a dud. I tried to re-install but it failed on another package. I gave up and headed straight for Core 2.92 (Core 3).

Core 3

Right out of the gate, FC3-test3-x86_64-disc1.iso failed it's media check utility. After my difficulties with Core 2, I'm not even going to try to force it.

Like many, I'm going to download a 32 bit version until someone can build a stable 64 bit O/S.

Hope this helped someone, somewhere.

JLF_65 · #15 18th October 2004, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by umts4u2

I just upgraded my old Linux Box to AMD 64. I have to thank you all for helping me put my mind to rest with the difficulties I'm having loading up FC 2.92. I have been using the iso images for the CD's and I've had nothing but repeated failure during install. Here's what I have experienced.

Core 2
I placed the first disk and began the install process. The Fedora core offers a utility that scans the media for problems before you actually begin the install process. I tested my discs and found that the iso for disk 2 was bad. Assuming that I got a bad download, I went directly to Fedora and endured the pain of the slow download just to ensure I had a solid image. Surely RedHat wouldn't release a bad image? During install, setting up my configurations and creating my partitions was flawless, just as I suspected. The install ran smooth and without error until the last 6 minutes of the install when I encountered missing font package for the X Windows session. I tried to re-install the package but that failed as well. Finally when I went to get around it, that failed too. FC2-x86_64-disc2.iso was a dud. I tried to re-install but it failed on another package. I gave up and headed straight for Core 2.92 (Core 3).

Core 3

Right out of the gate, FC3-test3-x86_64-disc1.iso failed it's media check utility. After my difficulties with Core 2, I'm not even going to try to force it.

Like many, I'm going to download a 32 bit version until someone can build a stable 64 bit O/S.

Hope this helped someone, somewhere.

That isn't a problem with FC2/3, it's a problem with your download. I have run into it before. Http or ftp downloads can be corrupted between the sender and you. There are no checksums performed by the download manager, so you never know if the download is good until you check it with the MD5 provided. I had to download the Mandrake 10 CDs a total of 5 times to get a good set, and Yellowdog 7 times. I only use bittorrent to get Linux distros now. Bittorrent will check the data as it's downloaded and retry corrupted data automatically. No more bad install discs. It's the ONLY way to go. Fedora has torrents for its releases, so I suggest you try it before writing off Fedora Core.