How long would it take to install Gentoo over a modem? Would it even be worth it?

[Wallex]

Considering my pathetic internet connection speed (around 5kbps at best) and stability (an hour if lucky), would it be 'possible' to actually get a network installation of Gentoo? I know the original installation Cd is pretty light, and everything else should be downloaded from the net, but... given my circumstances, is it safe? I mean.. will I be able to resume my downloads when the connection fails? I wouldn't mind waiting a few weeks to get stuff downloaded and installed as long as I don't have to start all over from zero. Or I could wait until christmas when my brother comes back from the University with whatever I ask him to download. I normally get lost with the ftp directories offered at the distro sites, so I checked linux iso where they have a precompiled i686 installation cd. It isn't that heavy either... but just how much comes in that? Will I expect still heavy downloads after using it? I am also planning to install debian (but that one I will just ask my brother to download the seven cds.. I might not need them all, but you never know). So any feedback on how 'awful' would my installation experience go? I still have time to decide.. because I am not gonna even try while I still have a winmodem installed on my machine (I am trying to find a real one in the meantime).

I have to note that I normally don't have problems downloading stuff on my own since I can use resume-able software, so if there's a better way than letting the distro download stuff itself, I might try it... suggestions?

[Metalhead01]

I've got a 1.5 Mbps DSL connection and it took ~4 hours to get the basics installed and configured. If you can, ask to borrow a friend's broadband connection for a bit. Barring that, check the net for a site selling Gentoo CD's.

P.S. It'd be a good idea to type "emerge kde/gnome" right before you go to bed... it takes FOREVER!

[3m00]

pppd needs libcrypt, which the cd I used didn't have. Making dialup impossible. I would own a gentoo computer if I could install it.

[Wallex]

There should be a way around the pppd issue.... certainly people must have been able to install Gentoo from a dial-up. And as for the broadband.. dude, such kind of connection pretty much DOES NOT EXISTS in my country.. and even if it does, it's not for 'normal people'. Yeah I know it sucks to live in a thirdworld country. Anyway... if you say installation takes THAT long on a broadband it's mainly because of the compilation time, not the download time, am I correct? Hmm... after I get a real modem I am willing to go give it a try.. even if it takes forever to download.. 'forever' seems shorter than waiting until christmas anyway.

[fancypiper]

Originally posted by 3m00
pppd needs libcrypt, which the cd I used didn't have. Making dialup impossible. I would own a gentoo computer if I could install it. Did you read these instructions (http://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic.php?t=2022)?

I used a 56k external modem and installed OK.

With the stage 3 tarball, you have a working system and only need the ppp, wvdial and some thatI can't remember offhand pre-downloaded and you are ready to roll.

I emerged mc and links first after the basic install and browsed the web while I built my gui stuff and other programs I fixed.

I would do an emerge --fetchonly overnight to continually download the packages and do the actual emerges during the day. I took my time and pre-read all their doc pages and had a working fluxbox gui in 2 days.

I even posted here while still in chroot while building x. :cool:

Give it a whirl if you want to learn a little.

[johnno]

Over the last two weeks, I have installed Gentoo 1.2 and 1.4 rc1 over a 56k dial-up. I did 1.2 from a stage 1 and 1.4 from a stage 3.
As you have an unreliable connection, the stage 3 is definitely the way to go. I installed 1.2 from Mandrake 8.0 in a chrooted shell, and it went well.
I'd suggest when emerging you use
emerge -- fetchonly, as this'll mean you don't need to stay connected while compiling.
I'd also suggest that you emerge prozilla very early in the piece, as it will resume your download if you get disconnected.
Good luck, I reckon it's the most worth it thing I've done since I wiped Windows off my boxes.

[Wallex]

Very interesting... does this means I can use third-apps to download the source files I need? That would most definitely help, because I can rarely get anything downloaded without prozilla. I'll read a bit more into the installation process of Gentoo later on... afterall, I have to wait until I get a real modem for trying this all out.
I still kinda like Debian more than Gentoo (in terms of ideals and all that), but... when it comes down to it, Debian is oriented to i386 binaries, isn't it? Even if I were to recompile the kernel, wouldn't all 'apt-gotten' software be a .deb file that is actually a i386 binary? if this is the case, then Gentoo is my way to go, as I like compiling stuff from source (I just don't like wasting time tracking down and installing dependencies). Well, the first year I got into Linux is going to be a memorable one, no doubt about it.

[scanez]

Originally posted by Wallex
I still kinda like Debian more than Gentoo (in terms of ideals and all that), but... when it comes down to it, Debian is oriented to i386 binaries, isn't it? Even if I were to recompile the kernel, wouldn't all 'apt-gotten' software be a .deb file that is actually a i386 binary? if this is the case, then Gentoo is my way to go, as I like compiling stuff from source (I just don't like wasting time tracking down and installing dependencies). Well, the first year I got into Linux is going to be a memorable one, no doubt about it.
Yes, the debs in the Debian archives were compiled for i386 machines. Why? 1. For greater compatability- so everyone can use them, and 2. compiling for i686 or whatever shows very liittle performance increase if any (I've never seen any benefits to compiling from source on my Athlon XP 1600 system). Try gentoo and decide for yourself ;)

[nuvan]

I was using gentoo, then I switched to debian for a while, now I'm going back to Gentoo..

why??
1) emerge -s package-name <-- searching for packages is cool
2) BIG REASON: i am used to the gentoo naming conventions....

[z0mbix]

Originally posted by nuvan
1) emerge -s package-name <-- searching for packages is cool

apt-cache search keyword <-- yes, searching for packages is cool!

2) BIG REASON: i am used to the gentoo naming conventions.... [/B][/QUOTE]

there really isn't much difference, but hey, enjoy! :D