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 condition="for_cd">

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

</para>

<itemizedlist condition="for_cd">

&list-install-manual-files;

</itemizedlist>

<para condition="for_wdo">

The document you are now reading, which is the official version of the
Installation Guide for the &releasename; release of Debian; available
in <ulink url="&url-release-area;/installmanual">various formats and
translations</ulink>.

</para>

<para condition="for_alioth">

The document you are now reading, which is a development version of the
Installation Guide for the next release of Debian; available in
<ulink url="&url-d-i-alioth-manual;">various formats and
translations</ulink>.

</para>

</sect3>


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

Often contains useful information on configuring or using your hardware.

</para>

 <!-- We need the arch dependence for the whole list to ensure proper xml
      as long as not architectures have a paragraph -->
 <itemizedlist arch="i386;m68k;alpha;sparc;mips;mipsel">
<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-linux-mips;">Linux/Mips website</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/2, 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	fjp	31136	<para condition="for_cd">
14	toff	3273
15	fjp	31136	This document you are now reading, in plain ASCII, HTML or PDF format.
16	toff	3273
17	toff	3220	</para>
18
19	fjp	31136	<itemizedlist condition="for_cd">
20	toff	3273
21	pronik-guest	24812	&list-install-manual-files;
22	toff	3273
23	toff	3220	</itemizedlist>
24	fjp	31136
25			<para condition="for_wdo">
26
27			The document you are now reading, which is the official version of the
28			Installation Guide for the &releasename; release of Debian; available
29			in <ulink url="&url-release-area;/installmanual">various formats and
30			translations</ulink>.
31
32			</para>
33
34			<para condition="for_alioth">
35
36			The document you are now reading, which is a development version of the
37			Installation Guide for the next release of Debian; available in
38			<ulink url="&url-d-i-alioth-manual;">various formats and
39			translations</ulink>.
40
41			</para>
42
43	toff	3220	</sect3>
44
45
46	joeyh	18616	<sect3><title>Hardware documentation</title>
47	toff	3220	<para>
48	toff	3273
49	joeyh	18616	Often contains useful information on configuring or using your hardware.
50	toff	3273
51	toff	3220	</para>
52
53	fjpop-guest	24321	<!-- We need the arch dependence for the whole list to ensure proper xml
54			as long as not architectures have a paragraph -->
55			<itemizedlist arch="i386;m68k;alpha;sparc;mips;mipsel">
56	fjp	28672	<listitem arch="i386"><para>
57	toff	3273
58	toff	3220	<ulink url="&url-hardware-howto;">Linux Hardware Compatibility HOWTO</ulink>
59	toff	3273
60	toff	3220	</para></listitem>
61
62	fjp	28672	<listitem arch="m68k"><para>
63	toff	3273
64	toff	3220	<ulink url="&url-m68k-faq;">Linux/m68k FAQ</ulink>
65	toff	3273
66	toff	3220	</para></listitem>
67
68	fjp	28672	<listitem arch="alpha"><para>
69	toff	3273
70	toff	3220	<ulink url="&url-alpha-faq;">Linux/Alpha FAQ</ulink>
71	toff	3273
72	toff	3220	</para></listitem>
73
74	toff	4098	<listitem arch="sparc"><para>
75	toff	3273
76	toff	4672	<ulink url="&url-sparc-linux-faq;">Linux for SPARC Processors FAQ</ulink>
77	toff	3273
78	toff	3220	</para></listitem>
79
80	mck	6297	<listitem arch="mips;mipsel"><para>
81	toff	3273
82	fjp	31136	<ulink url="&url-linux-mips;">Linux/Mips website</ulink>
83	toff	3273
84	toff	3220	</para></listitem>
85
86			</itemizedlist>
87			</sect3>
88
89
90	toff	4098	<sect3 arch="s390">
91	toff	3220	<title>&arch-title; Hardware References</title>
92	toff	3273	<para>
93
94	fjp	28672
95	toff	3220	Installation instructions and device drivers (DASD, XPRAM, Console,
96			tape, z90 crypto, chandev, network) for Linux on &arch-title; using
97			kernel 2.4
98	toff	3273
99	toff	3220	</para>
100
101			<itemizedlist>
102			<listitem><para>
103	toff	3273
104	toff	3220	<ulink url="http://oss.software.ibm.com/developerworks/opensource/linux390/docu/l390dd08.pdf">Device Drivers and Installation Commands</ulink>
105	toff	3273
106	toff	3220	</para></listitem>
107			</itemizedlist>
108
109	toff	3273	<para>
110
111			IBM Redbook describing how Linux can be combined with z/VM on
112			zSeries and &arch-title; hardware.
113
114	toff	3220	</para>
115
116			<itemizedlist>
117			<listitem><para>
118	toff	3273
119	toff	3220	<ulink url="http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/pubs/pdfs/redbooks/sg244987.pdf">
120			Linux for &arch-title;</ulink>
121	toff	3273
122	toff	3220	</para></listitem>
123			</itemizedlist>
124
125	toff	3273	<para>
126
127			IBM Redbook describing the Linux distributions available for the
128			mainframe. It has no chapter about Debian but the basic installation
129			concepts are the same across all &arch-title; distributions.
130
131	toff	3220	</para>
132
133			<itemizedlist>
134			<listitem><para>
135	toff	3273
136			<ulink url="http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/pubs/pdfs/redbooks/sg246264.pdf">
137			Linux for IBM eServer zSeries and &arch-title;: Distributions</ulink>
138
139	toff	3220	</para></listitem>
140			</itemizedlist>
141			</sect3>
142
143			</sect2>
144
145			<sect2 id="fsohi">
146			<title>Finding Sources of Hardware Information</title>
147			<para>
148	toff	3273
149	joeyh	18616	In many cases, the installer will be able to automatically detect your
150	fjpop-guest	22935	hardware. But to be prepared, we do recommend familiarizing
151	joeyh	18616	yourself with your hardware before the install.
152
153	joeyh	18621	</para><para>
154	joeyh	18616
155	toff	3220	Hardware information can be gathered from:
156	toff	3273
157	toff	3220	</para>
158
159			<itemizedlist>
160			<listitem><para>
161	toff	3273
162	toff	3220	The manuals that come with each piece of hardware.
163	toff	3273
164	toff	3220	</para></listitem>
165			<listitem><para>
166	toff	3273
167			The BIOS setup screens of your computer. You can view these screens
168			when you start your computer by pressing a combination of keys. Check
169	toff	4370	your manual for the combination. Often, it is the <keycap>Delete</keycap> key.
170	toff	3273
171	toff	3220	</para></listitem>
172			<listitem><para>
173	toff	3273
174	toff	3220	The cases and boxes for each piece of hardware.
175	toff	3273
176	toff	3220	</para></listitem>
177
178	toff	4098	<listitem arch="i386"><para>
179	toff	3273
180			The System window in the Windows Control Panel.
181
182	fjp	28672
183	toff	3273	</para></listitem>
184	toff	3220	<listitem><para>
185	toff	3273
186			System commands or tools in another operating system, including file
187			manager displays. This source is especially useful for information
188			about RAM and hard drive memory.
189
190	toff	3220	</para></listitem>
191			<listitem><para>
192	toff	3273
193	toff	3220	Your system administrator or Internet Service Provider. These
194	toff	3273	sources can tell you the settings you need to set up your
195			networking and e-mail.
196
197	toff	3220	</para></listitem>
198			</itemizedlist>
199
200			<para>
201	toff	3273
202	toff	4672	<table>
203			<title>Hardware Information Needed for an Install</title>
204			<tgroup cols="2">
205			<thead>
206			<row>
207			<entry>Hardware</entry><entry>Information You Might Need</entry>
208			</row>
209			</thead>
210	fjpop-guest	24840
211	toff	4672	<tbody>
212			<row arch="not-s390">
213			<entry morerows="5">Hard Drives</entry>
214			<entry>How many you have.</entry>
215			</row>
216			<row arch="not-s390"><entry>Their order on the system.</entry></row>
217			<row arch="not-s390">
218			<entry>Whether IDE or SCSI (most computers are IDE).</entry>
219			</row>
220			<row arch="not-s390"><entry>Available free space.</entry></row>
221			<row arch="not-s390"><entry>Partitions.</entry></row>
222			<row arch="not-s390">
223			<entry>Partitions where other operating systems are installed.</entry>
224			</row>
225	toff	3273
226	toff	4672	<row arch="not-s390">
227			<entry morerows="5">Monitor</entry>
228			<entry>Model and manufacturer.</entry>
229			</row>
230			<row arch="not-s390"><entry>Resolutions supported.</entry></row>
231			<row arch="not-s390"><entry>Horizontal refresh rate.</entry></row>
232			<row arch="not-s390"><entry>Vertical refresh rate.</entry></row>
233			<row arch="not-s390">
234			<entry>Color depth (number of colors) supported.</entry>
235			</row>
236			<row arch="not-s390"><entry>Screen size.</entry></row>
237
238			<row arch="not-s390">
239			<entry morerows="3">Mouse</entry>
240	fjpop-guest	25496	<entry>Type: serial, PS/2, or USB.</entry>
241	toff	4672	</row>
242			<row arch="not-s390"><entry>Port.</entry></row>
243			<row arch="not-s390"><entry>Manufacturer.</entry></row>
244			<row arch="not-s390"><entry>Number of buttons.</entry></row>
245
246			<row arch="not-s390">
247			<entry morerows="1">Network</entry>
248			<entry>Model and manufacturer.</entry>
249			</row>
250			<row arch="not-s390"><entry>Type of adapter.</entry></row>
251
252			<row arch="not-s390">
253			<entry morerows="1">Printer</entry>
254			<entry>Model and manufacturer.</entry>
255			</row>
256			<row arch="not-s390"><entry>Printing resolutions supported.</entry></row>
257
258			<row arch="not-s390">
259			<entry morerows="2">Video Card</entry>
260			<entry>Model and manufacturer.</entry>
261			</row>
262			<row arch="not-s390"><entry>Video RAM available.</entry></row>
263			<row arch="not-s390">
264			<entry>Resolutions and color depths supported (these should be
265	fjp	28672	checked against your monitor's capabilities).</entry>
266	toff	4672	</row>
267
268			<row arch="s390">
269			<entry morerows="1">DASD</entry>
270			<entry>Device number(s).</entry>
271			</row>
272			<row arch="s390"><entry>Available free space.</entry></row>
273
274			<row arch="s390">
275			<entry morerows="2">Network</entry>
276			<entry>Type of adapter.</entry>
277			</row>
278			<row arch="s390"><entry>Device numbers.</entry></row>
279			<row arch="s390"><entry>Relative adapter number for OSA cards.</entry></row>
280
281			</tbody></tgroup></table>
282
283	toff	3220	</para>
284			</sect2>
285
286			<sect2>
287			<title>Hardware Compatibility</title>
288
289	toff	3273	<para>
290
291			Many brand name products work without trouble on Linux. Moreover,
292	toff	3220	hardware for Linux is improving daily. However, Linux still does not
293			run as many different types of hardware as some operating systems.
294	toff	3273
295	fjp	28672	</para><para arch="i386">
296	toff	3220
297			In particular, Linux usually cannot run hardware that requires a
298			running version of Windows to work.
299
300	toff	4157	</para><para arch="i386">
301	toff	3273
302	toff	3220	Although some Windows-specific hardware can be made to run on Linux,
303			doing so usually requires extra effort. In addition, Linux drivers
304			for Windows-specific hardware are usually specific to one Linux
305			kernel. Therefore, they can quickly become obsolete.
306
307	toff	4157	</para><para arch="i386">
308	toff	3273
309	toff	3220	So called win-modems are the most common type of this hardware.
310			However, printers and other equipment may also be Windows-specific.
311	toff	3273
312	toff	4098	</para><para>
313	toff	3220
314	toff	3273	You can check hardware compatibility by:
315
316	toff	3220	<itemizedlist>
317			<listitem><para>
318	toff	3273
319	toff	3220	Checking manufacturers' web sites for new drivers.
320	toff	3273
321	toff	3220	</para></listitem>
322			<listitem><para>
323	toff	3273
324	toff	3220	Looking at web sites or manuals for information about emulation.
325	toff	3273	Lesser known brands can sometimes use the drivers or settings for
326			better-known ones.
327
328	toff	3220	</para></listitem>
329			<listitem><para>
330	toff	3273
331	toff	3220	Checking hardware compatibility lists for Linux on web sites
332	toff	3273	dedicated to your architecture.
333
334	toff	3220	</para></listitem>
335			<listitem><para>
336	toff	3273
337	toff	3220	Searching the Internet for other users' experiences.
338	toff	3273
339	toff	3220	</para></listitem>
340			</itemizedlist>
341	toff	3273
342	toff	3220	</para>
343			</sect2>
344
345			<sect2>
346			<title>Network Settings</title>
347
348	toff	3273	<para>
349
350			If your computer is connected to a network 24 hours a day (i.e., an
351	mck-guest	9599	Ethernet or equivalent connection — not a PPP connection), you
352			should ask your network's system administrator for this information.
353	toff	3273
354	mck-guest	9599	<itemizedlist>
355			<listitem><para>
356
357			Your host name (you may be able to decide this on your own).
358
359			</para></listitem>
360			<listitem><para>
361
362	fjp	28672	Your domain name.
363	mck-guest	9599
364			</para></listitem>
365			<listitem><para>
366
367	fjp	28672	Your computer's IP address.
368	mck-guest	9599
369			</para></listitem>
370			<listitem><para>
371
372	fjp	28672	The netmask to use with your network.
373	mck-guest	9599
374			</para></listitem>
375			<listitem><para>
376
377			The IP address of the default gateway system you should route to, if
378			your network <emphasis>has</emphasis> a gateway.
379
380			</para></listitem>
381			<listitem><para>
382
383			The system on your network that you should use as a DNS (Domain Name
384			Service) server.
385
386			</para></listitem>
387			</itemizedlist>
388
389			</para><para condition="supports-dhcp">
390
391			On the other hand, if your administrator tells you that a DHCP server
392			is available and is recommended, then you don't need this information
393			because the DHCP server will provide it directly to your computer
394			during the installation process.
395
396			</para><para>
397
398			If you use a wireless network, you should also find out:
399
400			<itemizedlist>
401			<listitem><para>
402
403			ESSID of your wireless network.
404
405			</para></listitem>
406			<listitem><para>
407
408			WEP security key (if applicable).
409
410			</para></listitem>
411			</itemizedlist>
412
413	toff	3220	</para>
414			</sect2>
415
416			</sect1>