en/preparing/needed-info.xml

<!-- retain these comments for translator revision tracking -->
<!-- $Id$ -->

 <sect1 id="needed-info">
 <title>Information You Will Need</title>

  <sect2>
  <title>Documentation</title>

   <sect3>
   <title>Installation Manual</title>

<para>

This file you are now reading, in plain ASCII, HTML or PDF format.

</para>

<itemizedlist>
<listitem><para>

<ulink url="install.en.txt"></ulink>

</para></listitem>
<listitem><para>

<ulink url="install.en.html"></ulink>

</para></listitem>
<listitem><para>

<ulink url="install.en.pdf"></ulink>

</para></listitem>
</itemizedlist>
</sect3>


   <sect3><title>Hardware documentation</title>
<para>

Often contains useful information on configuring or using your hardware.

</para>

 <itemizedlist>
<listitem arch="i386"><para> 

<ulink url="&url-hardware-howto;">Linux Hardware Compatibility HOWTO</ulink>

</para></listitem>

<listitem arch="m68k"><para> 

<ulink url="&url-m68k-faq;">Linux/m68k FAQ</ulink>

</para></listitem>

<listitem arch="alpha"><para> 

<ulink url="&url-alpha-faq;">Linux/Alpha FAQ</ulink>

</para></listitem>

<listitem arch="sparc"><para>

<ulink url="&url-sparc-linux-faq;">Linux for SPARC Processors FAQ</ulink>

</para></listitem>

<listitem arch="mips;mipsel"><para>

<ulink url="&url-mips-howto;">Linux/Mips Howto</ulink>

</para></listitem>

</itemizedlist>
   </sect3>


   <sect3 arch="s390">
   <title>&arch-title; Hardware References</title>
<para>

      
Installation instructions and device drivers (DASD, XPRAM, Console,
      tape, z90 crypto, chandev, network) for Linux on &arch-title; using
      kernel 2.4

</para>

<itemizedlist>
<listitem><para>

<ulink url="http://oss.software.ibm.com/developerworks/opensource/linux390/docu/l390dd08.pdf">Device Drivers and Installation Commands</ulink>

</para></listitem>
</itemizedlist>

<para>

IBM Redbook describing how Linux can be combined with z/VM on
zSeries and &arch-title; hardware.

</para>

<itemizedlist>
<listitem><para>

<ulink url="http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/pubs/pdfs/redbooks/sg244987.pdf">
Linux for &arch-title;</ulink>

</para></listitem>
</itemizedlist>

<para>

IBM Redbook describing the Linux distributions available for the
mainframe. It has no chapter about Debian but the basic installation
concepts are the same across all &arch-title; distributions.

</para>

<itemizedlist>
<listitem><para>

<ulink url="http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/pubs/pdfs/redbooks/sg246264.pdf">
Linux for IBM eServer zSeries and &arch-title;: Distributions</ulink>

</para></listitem>
</itemizedlist>
   </sect3>

  </sect2>

  <sect2 id="fsohi">
  <title>Finding Sources of Hardware Information</title>
<para>

In many cases, the installer will be able to automatically detect your
hardware. But to be prepared, we do recommend familiarizing
yourself with your hardware before the install.

</para><para>

Hardware information can be gathered from:

</para>

<itemizedlist>
<listitem><para>

The manuals that come with each piece of hardware.

</para></listitem>
<listitem><para>

The BIOS setup screens of your computer. You can view these screens
when you start your computer by pressing a combination of keys. Check
your manual for the combination. Often, it is the <keycap>Delete</keycap> key.

</para></listitem>
<listitem><para>

The cases and boxes for each piece of hardware.

</para></listitem>

<listitem arch="i386"><para>

The System window in the Windows Control Panel.
  

</para></listitem>
<listitem><para>

System commands or tools in another operating system, including file
manager displays. This source is especially useful for information
about RAM and hard drive memory.

</para></listitem>
<listitem><para>

Your system administrator or Internet Service Provider. These
sources can tell you the settings you need to set up your
networking and e-mail.

</para></listitem>
</itemizedlist>

<para>

<table>
<title>Hardware Information Needed for an Install</title>
<tgroup cols="2">
<thead>
<row>
  <entry>Hardware</entry><entry>Information You Might Need</entry>
</row>
</thead>

<tbody>
<row arch="not-s390">
  <entry morerows="5">Hard Drives</entry>
  <entry>How many you have.</entry>
</row>
<row arch="not-s390"><entry>Their order on the system.</entry></row>
<row arch="not-s390">
  <entry>Whether IDE or SCSI (most computers are IDE).</entry>
</row>
<row arch="not-s390"><entry>Available free space.</entry></row>
<row arch="not-s390"><entry>Partitions.</entry></row>
<row arch="not-s390">
  <entry>Partitions where other operating systems are installed.</entry>
</row>

<row arch="not-s390">
  <entry morerows="5">Monitor</entry>
  <entry>Model and manufacturer.</entry>
</row>
<row arch="not-s390"><entry>Resolutions supported.</entry></row>
<row arch="not-s390"><entry>Horizontal refresh rate.</entry></row>
<row arch="not-s390"><entry>Vertical refresh rate.</entry></row>
<row arch="not-s390">
  <entry>Color depth (number of colors) supported.</entry>
</row>
<row arch="not-s390"><entry>Screen size.</entry></row>

<row arch="not-s390">
  <entry morerows="3">Mouse</entry>
  <entry>Type: serial, PS, or USB.</entry>
</row>
<row arch="not-s390"><entry>Port.</entry></row>
<row arch="not-s390"><entry>Manufacturer.</entry></row>
<row arch="not-s390"><entry>Number of buttons.</entry></row>

<row arch="not-s390">
  <entry morerows="1">Network</entry>
  <entry>Model and manufacturer.</entry>
</row>
<row arch="not-s390"><entry>Type of adapter.</entry></row>

<row arch="not-s390">
  <entry morerows="1">Printer</entry>
  <entry>Model and manufacturer.</entry>
</row>
<row arch="not-s390"><entry>Printing resolutions supported.</entry></row>

<row arch="not-s390">
  <entry morerows="2">Video Card</entry>
  <entry>Model and manufacturer.</entry>
</row>
<row arch="not-s390"><entry>Video RAM available.</entry></row>
<row arch="not-s390">
  <entry>Resolutions and color depths supported (these should be
  checked against your monitor's capabilities).</entry> 
</row>

<row arch="s390">
  <entry morerows="1">DASD</entry>
  <entry>Device number(s).</entry>
</row>
<row arch="s390"><entry>Available free space.</entry></row>

<row arch="s390">
  <entry morerows="2">Network</entry>
  <entry>Type of adapter.</entry>
</row>
<row arch="s390"><entry>Device numbers.</entry></row>
<row arch="s390"><entry>Relative adapter number for OSA cards.</entry></row>

</tbody></tgroup></table>

</para>
  </sect2>

  <sect2>
  <title>Hardware Compatibility</title>

<para>

Many brand name products work without trouble on Linux. Moreover,
hardware for Linux is improving daily. However, Linux still does not
run as many different types of hardware as some operating systems.

</para><para arch="i386"> 

In particular, Linux usually cannot run hardware that requires a
running version of Windows to work.

</para><para arch="i386">

Although some Windows-specific hardware can be made to run on Linux,
doing so usually requires extra effort. In addition, Linux drivers
for Windows-specific hardware are usually specific to one Linux
kernel. Therefore, they can quickly become obsolete.

</para><para arch="i386">

So called win-modems are the most common type of this hardware.
However, printers and other equipment may also be Windows-specific.

</para><para>

You can check hardware compatibility by:

<itemizedlist>
<listitem><para>

Checking manufacturers' web sites for new drivers.

</para></listitem>
<listitem><para>

Looking at web sites or manuals for information about emulation.
Lesser known brands can sometimes use the drivers or settings for
better-known ones.

</para></listitem>
<listitem><para>

Checking hardware compatibility lists for Linux on web sites
dedicated to your architecture.

</para></listitem>
<listitem><para>

Searching the Internet for other users' experiences.

</para></listitem>
</itemizedlist>

</para>
  </sect2>

  <sect2>
  <title>Network Settings</title>

<para>

If your computer is connected to a network 24 hours a day (i.e., an
Ethernet or equivalent connection &mdash; not a PPP connection), you
should ask your network's system administrator for this information.

<itemizedlist>
<listitem><para>

Your host name (you may be able to decide this on your own).

</para></listitem>
<listitem><para>

Your domain name. 

</para></listitem>
<listitem><para>

Your computer's IP address. 

</para></listitem>
<listitem><para>

The netmask to use with your network. 

</para></listitem>
<listitem><para>

The IP address of the default gateway system you should route to, if
your network <emphasis>has</emphasis> a gateway.

</para></listitem>
<listitem><para>

The system on your network that you should use as a DNS (Domain Name
Service) server.

</para></listitem>
</itemizedlist>

</para><para condition="supports-dhcp">

On the other hand, if your administrator tells you that a DHCP server
is available and is recommended, then you don't need this information
because the DHCP server will provide it directly to your computer
during the installation process.

</para><para>

If you use a wireless network, you should also find out:

<itemizedlist>
<listitem><para>

ESSID of your wireless network.

</para></listitem>
<listitem><para>

WEP security key (if applicable).

</para></listitem>
</itemizedlist>

</para>
  </sect2>

 </sect1>
1	toff	3220	<!-- retain these comments for translator revision tracking -->
2	joeyh	11648	<!-- $Id$ -->
3	toff	3220
4			<sect1 id="needed-info">
5			<title>Information You Will Need</title>
6
7			<sect2>
8			<title>Documentation</title>
9
10			<sect3>
11			<title>Installation Manual</title>
12
13	toff	3273	<para>
14
15			This file you are now reading, in plain ASCII, HTML or PDF format.
16
17	toff	3220	</para>
18
19			<itemizedlist>
20			<listitem><para>
21	toff	3273
22	toff	3220	<ulink url="install.en.txt"></ulink>
23	toff	3273
24	toff	3220	</para></listitem>
25			<listitem><para>
26	toff	3273
27	toff	3220	<ulink url="install.en.html"></ulink>
28	toff	3273
29	toff	3220	</para></listitem>
30			<listitem><para>
31	toff	3273
32	toff	3220	<ulink url="install.en.pdf"></ulink>
33	toff	3273
34	toff	3220	</para></listitem>
35			</itemizedlist>
36			</sect3>
37
38
39	joeyh	18616	<sect3><title>Hardware documentation</title>
40	toff	3220	<para>
41	toff	3273
42	joeyh	18616	Often contains useful information on configuring or using your hardware.
43	toff	3273
44	toff	3220	</para>
45
46			<itemizedlist>
47	toff	4098	<listitem arch="i386"><para>
48	toff	3273
49	toff	3220	<ulink url="&url-hardware-howto;">Linux Hardware Compatibility HOWTO</ulink>
50	toff	3273
51	toff	3220	</para></listitem>
52
53	toff	4098	<listitem arch="m68k"><para>
54	toff	3273
55	toff	3220	<ulink url="&url-m68k-faq;">Linux/m68k FAQ</ulink>
56	toff	3273
57	toff	3220	</para></listitem>
58
59	toff	4098	<listitem arch="alpha"><para>
60	toff	3273
61	toff	3220	<ulink url="&url-alpha-faq;">Linux/Alpha FAQ</ulink>
62	toff	3273
63	toff	3220	</para></listitem>
64
65	toff	4098	<listitem arch="sparc"><para>
66	toff	3273
67	toff	4672	<ulink url="&url-sparc-linux-faq;">Linux for SPARC Processors FAQ</ulink>
68	toff	3273
69	toff	3220	</para></listitem>
70
71	mck	6297	<listitem arch="mips;mipsel"><para>
72	toff	3273
73	toff	3220	<ulink url="&url-mips-howto;">Linux/Mips Howto</ulink>
74	toff	3273
75	toff	3220	</para></listitem>
76
77			</itemizedlist>
78			</sect3>
79
80
81	toff	4098	<sect3 arch="s390">
82	toff	3220	<title>&arch-title; Hardware References</title>
83	toff	3273	<para>
84
85
86	toff	3220	Installation instructions and device drivers (DASD, XPRAM, Console,
87			tape, z90 crypto, chandev, network) for Linux on &arch-title; using
88			kernel 2.4
89	toff	3273
90	toff	3220	</para>
91
92			<itemizedlist>
93			<listitem><para>
94	toff	3273
95	toff	3220	<ulink url="http://oss.software.ibm.com/developerworks/opensource/linux390/docu/l390dd08.pdf">Device Drivers and Installation Commands</ulink>
96	toff	3273
97	toff	3220	</para></listitem>
98			</itemizedlist>
99
100	toff	3273	<para>
101
102			IBM Redbook describing how Linux can be combined with z/VM on
103			zSeries and &arch-title; hardware.
104
105	toff	3220	</para>
106
107			<itemizedlist>
108			<listitem><para>
109	toff	3273
110	toff	3220	<ulink url="http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/pubs/pdfs/redbooks/sg244987.pdf">
111			Linux for &arch-title;</ulink>
112	toff	3273
113	toff	3220	</para></listitem>
114			</itemizedlist>
115
116	toff	3273	<para>
117
118			IBM Redbook describing the Linux distributions available for the
119			mainframe. It has no chapter about Debian but the basic installation
120			concepts are the same across all &arch-title; distributions.
121
122	toff	3220	</para>
123
124			<itemizedlist>
125			<listitem><para>
126	toff	3273
127			<ulink url="http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/pubs/pdfs/redbooks/sg246264.pdf">
128			Linux for IBM eServer zSeries and &arch-title;: Distributions</ulink>
129
130	toff	3220	</para></listitem>
131			</itemizedlist>
132			</sect3>
133
134			</sect2>
135
136			<sect2 id="fsohi">
137			<title>Finding Sources of Hardware Information</title>
138			<para>
139	toff	3273
140	joeyh	18616	In many cases, the installer will be able to automatically detect your
141	fjpop-guest	22935	hardware. But to be prepared, we do recommend familiarizing
142	joeyh	18616	yourself with your hardware before the install.
143
144	joeyh	18621	</para><para>
145	joeyh	18616
146	toff	3220	Hardware information can be gathered from:
147	toff	3273
148	toff	3220	</para>
149
150			<itemizedlist>
151			<listitem><para>
152	toff	3273
153	toff	3220	The manuals that come with each piece of hardware.
154	toff	3273
155	toff	3220	</para></listitem>
156			<listitem><para>
157	toff	3273
158			The BIOS setup screens of your computer. You can view these screens
159			when you start your computer by pressing a combination of keys. Check
160	toff	4370	your manual for the combination. Often, it is the <keycap>Delete</keycap> key.
161	toff	3273
162	toff	3220	</para></listitem>
163			<listitem><para>
164	toff	3273
165	toff	3220	The cases and boxes for each piece of hardware.
166	toff	3273
167	toff	3220	</para></listitem>
168
169	toff	4098	<listitem arch="i386"><para>
170	toff	3273
171			The System window in the Windows Control Panel.
172
173
174			</para></listitem>
175	toff	3220	<listitem><para>
176	toff	3273
177			System commands or tools in another operating system, including file
178			manager displays. This source is especially useful for information
179			about RAM and hard drive memory.
180
181	toff	3220	</para></listitem>
182			<listitem><para>
183	toff	3273
184	toff	3220	Your system administrator or Internet Service Provider. These
185	toff	3273	sources can tell you the settings you need to set up your
186			networking and e-mail.
187
188	toff	3220	</para></listitem>
189			</itemizedlist>
190
191			<para>
192	toff	3273
193	toff	4672	<table>
194			<title>Hardware Information Needed for an Install</title>
195			<tgroup cols="2">
196			<thead>
197			<row>
198			<entry>Hardware</entry><entry>Information You Might Need</entry>
199			</row>
200			</thead>
201	toff	3273
202	toff	4672	<tbody>
203			<row arch="not-s390">
204			<entry morerows="5">Hard Drives</entry>
205			<entry>How many you have.</entry>
206			</row>
207			<row arch="not-s390"><entry>Their order on the system.</entry></row>
208			<row arch="not-s390">
209			<entry>Whether IDE or SCSI (most computers are IDE).</entry>
210			</row>
211			<row arch="not-s390"><entry>Available free space.</entry></row>
212			<row arch="not-s390"><entry>Partitions.</entry></row>
213			<row arch="not-s390">
214			<entry>Partitions where other operating systems are installed.</entry>
215			</row>
216	toff	3273
217	toff	4672	<row arch="not-s390">
218			<entry morerows="5">Monitor</entry>
219			<entry>Model and manufacturer.</entry>
220			</row>
221			<row arch="not-s390"><entry>Resolutions supported.</entry></row>
222			<row arch="not-s390"><entry>Horizontal refresh rate.</entry></row>
223			<row arch="not-s390"><entry>Vertical refresh rate.</entry></row>
224			<row arch="not-s390">
225			<entry>Color depth (number of colors) supported.</entry>
226			</row>
227			<row arch="not-s390"><entry>Screen size.</entry></row>
228
229			<row arch="not-s390">
230			<entry morerows="3">Mouse</entry>
231			<entry>Type: serial, PS, or USB.</entry>
232			</row>
233			<row arch="not-s390"><entry>Port.</entry></row>
234			<row arch="not-s390"><entry>Manufacturer.</entry></row>
235			<row arch="not-s390"><entry>Number of buttons.</entry></row>
236
237			<row arch="not-s390">
238			<entry morerows="1">Network</entry>
239			<entry>Model and manufacturer.</entry>
240			</row>
241			<row arch="not-s390"><entry>Type of adapter.</entry></row>
242
243			<row arch="not-s390">
244			<entry morerows="1">Printer</entry>
245			<entry>Model and manufacturer.</entry>
246			</row>
247			<row arch="not-s390"><entry>Printing resolutions supported.</entry></row>
248
249			<row arch="not-s390">
250			<entry morerows="2">Video Card</entry>
251			<entry>Model and manufacturer.</entry>
252			</row>
253			<row arch="not-s390"><entry>Video RAM available.</entry></row>
254			<row arch="not-s390">
255			<entry>Resolutions and color depths supported (these should be
256			checked against your monitor's capabilities).</entry>
257			</row>
258
259			<row arch="s390">
260			<entry morerows="1">DASD</entry>
261			<entry>Device number(s).</entry>
262			</row>
263			<row arch="s390"><entry>Available free space.</entry></row>
264
265			<row arch="s390">
266			<entry morerows="2">Network</entry>
267			<entry>Type of adapter.</entry>
268			</row>
269			<row arch="s390"><entry>Device numbers.</entry></row>
270			<row arch="s390"><entry>Relative adapter number for OSA cards.</entry></row>
271
272			</tbody></tgroup></table>
273
274	toff	3220	</para>
275			</sect2>
276
277			<sect2>
278			<title>Hardware Compatibility</title>
279
280	toff	3273	<para>
281
282			Many brand name products work without trouble on Linux. Moreover,
283	toff	3220	hardware for Linux is improving daily. However, Linux still does not
284			run as many different types of hardware as some operating systems.
285	toff	3273
286	toff	4098	</para><para arch="i386">
287	toff	3220
288			In particular, Linux usually cannot run hardware that requires a
289			running version of Windows to work.
290
291	toff	4157	</para><para arch="i386">
292	toff	3273
293	toff	3220	Although some Windows-specific hardware can be made to run on Linux,
294			doing so usually requires extra effort. In addition, Linux drivers
295			for Windows-specific hardware are usually specific to one Linux
296			kernel. Therefore, they can quickly become obsolete.
297
298	toff	4157	</para><para arch="i386">
299	toff	3273
300	toff	3220	So called win-modems are the most common type of this hardware.
301			However, printers and other equipment may also be Windows-specific.
302	toff	3273
303	toff	4098	</para><para>
304	toff	3220
305	toff	3273	You can check hardware compatibility by:
306
307	toff	3220	<itemizedlist>
308			<listitem><para>
309	toff	3273
310	toff	3220	Checking manufacturers' web sites for new drivers.
311	toff	3273
312	toff	3220	</para></listitem>
313			<listitem><para>
314	toff	3273
315	toff	3220	Looking at web sites or manuals for information about emulation.
316	toff	3273	Lesser known brands can sometimes use the drivers or settings for
317			better-known ones.
318
319	toff	3220	</para></listitem>
320			<listitem><para>
321	toff	3273
322	toff	3220	Checking hardware compatibility lists for Linux on web sites
323	toff	3273	dedicated to your architecture.
324
325	toff	3220	</para></listitem>
326			<listitem><para>
327	toff	3273
328	toff	3220	Searching the Internet for other users' experiences.
329	toff	3273
330	toff	3220	</para></listitem>
331			</itemizedlist>
332	toff	3273
333	toff	3220	</para>
334			</sect2>
335
336			<sect2>
337			<title>Network Settings</title>
338
339	toff	3273	<para>
340
341			If your computer is connected to a network 24 hours a day (i.e., an
342	mck-guest	9599	Ethernet or equivalent connection — not a PPP connection), you
343			should ask your network's system administrator for this information.
344	toff	3273
345	mck-guest	9599	<itemizedlist>
346			<listitem><para>
347
348			Your host name (you may be able to decide this on your own).
349
350			</para></listitem>
351			<listitem><para>
352
353			Your domain name.
354
355			</para></listitem>
356			<listitem><para>
357
358			Your computer's IP address.
359
360			</para></listitem>
361			<listitem><para>
362
363			The netmask to use with your network.
364
365			</para></listitem>
366			<listitem><para>
367
368			The IP address of the default gateway system you should route to, if
369			your network <emphasis>has</emphasis> a gateway.
370
371			</para></listitem>
372			<listitem><para>
373
374			The system on your network that you should use as a DNS (Domain Name
375			Service) server.
376
377			</para></listitem>
378			</itemizedlist>
379
380			</para><para condition="supports-dhcp">
381
382			On the other hand, if your administrator tells you that a DHCP server
383			is available and is recommended, then you don't need this information
384			because the DHCP server will provide it directly to your computer
385			during the installation process.
386
387			</para><para>
388
389			If you use a wireless network, you should also find out:
390
391			<itemizedlist>
392			<listitem><para>
393
394			ESSID of your wireless network.
395
396			</para></listitem>
397			<listitem><para>
398
399			WEP security key (if applicable).
400
401			</para></listitem>
402			</itemizedlist>
403
404	toff	3220	</para>
405			</sect2>
406
407			</sect1>