Choosing Disk Images

Previous versions of Red Hat Linux/Alpha used different boot images. Now, however, all Alpha installations use the same kernel, so only one boot image is needed (images/generic.img). You no longer need to insert the kernel boot disk after an installation to copy over the kernel to the installed system.

Alpha machines are divided into classes. The classes reflect the many Alpha machine designs that have been produced over the years, and differentiate between the several boxes du jour produced by Digital. If you're using MILO to load Red Hat Linux, you'll need the MILO image that corresponds to the class of Alpha system that you have.

Search the Machine Class column in Table 3-1 for your system. If you know your system's code name or alias, you can search the Alias column. The appropriate MILO image (if applicable) is listed on the right. All of the MILO image files are located in the milo/images directory. The table will also show you whether your machine is SRM and/or MILO capable. Note that if your machine is both SRM and MILO capable, using SRM is preferred.

If you're doing an NFS, FTP or hard drive installation, you'll also need a RAM disk diskette made from images/ramdisk.img on CD 1.

Creating a Boot Disk

The boot disk image is images/generic.img on Red Hat Linux/Alpha CD 1. Refer to Appendix A for instructions on writing the image file to a disk. Label the disk "Boot Disk."

Creating a MILO Disk

If you need a MILO image, you will find it in the milo/images directory on the Red Hat Linux/Alpha CD 1. See Table 3-1 to find the appropriate MILO image file for your system.

Please Note

If you have trouble with MILO, the first thing to try is a newer MILO image. If updated MILO versions are available, they can be found at:

ftp://ftp.digital.com/pub/DEC/Linux-Alpha/Kernels/

MILO file names begin with milo-, which is followed by the system type and date.

Refer to Appendix A for instructions on how to make disks from disk images. Label the disk you make from the MILO image "MILO Disk."

Creating a RAM Disk Diskette

If you're doing an NFS, FTP or hard drive installation, you'll need to create a RAM disk diskette. All Red Hat Linux/Alpha installations use the same RAM disk image: images/ramdisk.img on Red Hat Linux/Alpha CD 1. Refer to Appendix A for instructions on writing the image file to a disk. Label the disk "RAM Disk Image."