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Redhat 6.1 partition and setup

Hi all,

Just got RH 6.1 and have a few questions before I start.... I installed a much older Redhat version on another system several years ago so not a complete newbie but have forgotten much. First, here's my system setup as it is:

Homebuilt PC
Abit Bx6R2 mobo
Celeron 300a @ 464 mhz
256 MB Mushkin PC100 RAM
IBM 12.9 GB HD 7200 RPM (one partition, contains Win98 SE, 7 GB free space
Leadtek S320 II video (TNT2)
Kenwood True 52 cd
RWD RW2224 cd writer (support not really needed in Linux
Onstream DI 30 tape drive
USR 56k Sportster internal modem
KF 230TX Fast ethernet card (network support not really needed in Linux)
SB AWE 64 value sound card

Anyone see any hardware problems?

Next, partitioning. I have Partition Magic 5.0 and plan to use it to set up my partitions. I also plan to use Boot Magic as loader (so I know LILO must be installed in /root). How do you recommend I set up my partitions? I had planned on using about 3 GB total for Linux.

Thoughts? Lots of points for detailed answer!
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capttom

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Also concerned about the 1024 cyl "limit". If I were to simply resize my FAT32 partition down, leaving 3 GB free, then create a new partition, this partion would be beyond the 1024 point. Will it work? I have the latest BIOS revision installed.
Not really a problem. BUT the TNT2 is only PARTLY supported. (www.nvidia.com they only recommend that Xserver for developers) also the modem is most likely unsupported, since i suspect it is a winmodem. If it is a "real" ISA modem, RH6.1 will pick it up.

As for the 1024 cyl thing. aslong as the _kernel_ and lilo related files is belov cyl 1023 it should work fine. Part from that, everything should work just fine. The tape and cdrw might take some coaxing, but should be able to work.
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Hi,

I rejected your answer because you didn't suggest partioning schemes, how much space for/, how much for /usr, etc.

Thanks for the info on the TNT2, I'll check it out. As for the modem, it's a real modem. I learned the lesson about cheap win-modems long ago.

Still not sure on the 1024 thing. Is that an absolute MUST? If so, I'll have to do much more advanced partitioning than I had planned/hoped. I was under the impression that some BIOSs might support other scenarios. Are you certain mine won't?
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as a side note, redhat puts almost everything in /usr here is what a "stock" redhat looks like, justabout everything installed.

/bin 5M
/boot 5M
/dev 2M
/lib 20M
/opt 1M (dont think thats a RH standard btw)
/sbin 5M
/var 45M
/usr 779M

So yo can see RH puts "everything and its mother in /usr" ;)
oh, forgot

/etc 15M
So, lets say you create a partition of about 200Mbyte holding everything except /usr.. then that partition would easily fit within the 1023 cylinder ( i assume) then make a huge partition for /usr and /home /which DOESNT need to be below 1023 cyls. Then round it of with one or two 128Mbyte swap partitions. It should work just dandy. If you cant make / and /boot fit below 1023 cylinders, then you have to move your current partitions around to cater for this. Not much you can do about that. But if it makes you feel better, NT, 95, 98, Novell(?), Solaris and FreeBSD also must have their 'core' files within the 1023 cyl boundry.

Sorry for the multiple comments, but my cellular modem is flaky, so i decided to chop the answer up.
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Thanks