REDHAT on FAT/VFAT/FAT32, lemmi rack your brains people...

[Fortis]

hey there linux lovers--
k


now... i am still trying to recompile the kernal to get my usb webcam working but its not working and i came across support for FAT/VFat/FAT32 - it said u'd need to compile these options if u'd like support for the relevant fs' types...

but i was thinking
mmm..

if i enable these optionsss.. would i be able to install RH9 on my WINDOWS system?!
like on the same hd???


i'd still install GRUB/LILO but it'd boot of C:

imagine //

c:¬
Windows/
Program Files/
Root/
Home/
Temp/
Usr/



can it be done?!
i'd have to install the kernel and kernel deval modules aloneee in VMWARE or CONNECTIX or something... and compile the kernal with the fs' support..
then copy that back too c: and install lilo.. i guess i'd need maybe a seperate EXT2/3 boot partition with lilo/grub installed but then it could chainload to DOS if it required..

my knowaldge of the stuff isnt soooo great
i'm a hands on linux user of 7 years and i would love some assitance

anyone can me help?


*anyone can help me...

[homey]

I've never had a urge to try it myself :) Check out this article from redhat....

http://www.redhat.com/docs/manuals/linux/RHL-7.1-Manual/install-guide/s1-part-less-installation.html

[lhm0155]

word to the wise, just remember that if you frag the partition you lose everything.... ain't risk great

[Fortis]

how do u mean frag? and lose everything?

[slapNUT]

I'm sure RedHat already has support for fat/vfat, you shouldn't need to compile a new kernel. Look in /lib/modules/<kernel version>/kernel/drivers/fs for the modules.

As for what you are wanting to do with VMWARE, I dont know, but I would guess it's possible.

[bwkaz]

No.

vfat/FAT32/FAT16 have zero support for permissions, for one.

The semantics of certain operations are also completely different.

You can't install Linux directly on a Microsoft filesystem.

You can, however, enable the UMSDOS filesystem, which does something similar. I think it's like a loopback mount -- I think it's a Unix filesystem inside a VFAT file.

[DMR]

Originally posted by bwkaz
No.

vfat/FAT32/FAT16 have zero support for permissions, for one.

The semantics of certain operations are also completely different.Right. Although I'm sure it's already enabled in your kernel, FAT/FAT32 support only means that Linux can recognize, mount, and manipulate files on (read, write, copy, delete, etc.) a FAT32 volume. However, it doesn't mean that Linux can use a FAT32 volume as a "system" volume due to the underlying structural differences between Win and UNIX filesystems.

[saithan]

Many of the webcam drivers were made a good while back and most don't need a full recompile of the kernel.
the better way would be to link the make file INCLUDE libs to the kernel source code and then only compile the driver module against the kernel. then place the new module in the proper directory and run : depmod -ae as root. done... webcam works and no full kernel recompile.

here is an example of how i got an older intel webcam running on redhat 7.1, 7.3, and 9.

step 1. download spca50x driver source from sourceforge.
step 2. open the make file in a text editor and look for the line that says KINCLUDE=/BLAH/BLAH
edit this to point to your present kernel source code include directory
i.e.: in my redhat install this would look like: KINCLUDE = /usr/src/linux-2.3.18-24.7.x/include

step 3. compile the source using "make"

step 4 su to root and copy the file to your kernel module usb driver directory
ie: (redhat)cp spca50x.o /lib/modules/2.4.18-24.7.x/kernel/driver/usb
then as root type: /sbin/depmod -ae

step 5 plug the cam in and run usbview if you have it installed.
have fun,
hope this helps

redhat by default has vfat enabled in the kernel.

[DMR]

Fortis-

Please do not post the same question in multiple forums. We don't allow cross posting/double posting here, as it just generates redundant responses and generally makes it more difficult for us to follow your progress.

Thanks.

(I've merged the responses of both threads into this one, and deleted the other.)

[DMR]

Originally posted by Fortis
how do u mean frag? and lose everything? Defrag, to be more specific.

The advice applies to creating a new partition on your drive: if you need to shrink your Windows partition in order to free up space to make the Linux partition, you should run Windows disk defragmenting utililty before you do so. Doing so will move your Win data to the beginning of the Win partition, leaving more contiguous free space to use for the new partition. Regardless of how much total free space you might have on a partition, disk-resizing utilities can't move files on the partition, so they'll only allow you to shrink the partition to the point where the last of your existing data lives. "Contiguous" space is the key factor; if you have free space somewhere in the middle of the partition, but have some files living out toward the end of the partition, the utility will only be able to use the free space between the last of your files and the end of the partition regardless of what available space you have elsewhere.


In terms of "lose everything"; no program which manipulates partitions is perfect. If you (or the program) make an error, you could easily corrupt your partition table to the point where your data is permanently lost. The #1 rule is back up any critical data first.

[dmd3x]

I don't reccomend using FAT for Linux, you loose performance somewhat.

[DMR]

Originally posted by dmd3x
I don't reccomend using FAT for Linux, you loose performance somewhat. Agreed. There actually are a couple of special distros which can be installed on a FAT32 partition, but as bwkaz indicated they use a umsdos implementation, which probably accounts for any degradation in performance.

If you really want to learn Linux I'd suggest going with a fullblown, stand-alone installation. You can always get a cheap second hard drive to install it on if you don't want to risk messing up your Win drive.