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Gentoo Alpha Handbook
This is the Gentoo Handbook, an effort to centralize Gentoo Linux information. This Handbook contains the installation instructions for an Internet-based installation and basic instructions about working with Portage, Gentoo's package manager.
Installing Gentoo
In this part the reader learns how to install Gentoo on a system.
- About the Gentoo Linux installation
- This chapter introduces the installation approach documented in this handbook.
- Choosing the right installation medium
- It is possible to install Gentoo in many ways. This chapter explains how to install Gentoo using the minimal Installation CD.
- Configuring the network
- To be able to download the latest source code, networking will need to be configured.
- Preparing the disks
- To be able to install Gentoo, the necessary partitions need to be created. This chapter describes how to partition a disk for future usage.
- Installing the Gentoo installation files
- Gentoo installs work through a stage3 archive. In this chapter we describe how to extract the stage3 archive and configure Portage.
- Installing the Gentoo base system
- After installing and configuring a stage3, the base system is set up so that a minimal environment is available.
- Configuring the Linux kernel
- The Linux kernel is the core of every distribution. This chapter explains how to configure the kernel.
- Configuring the system
- Some important configuration files need to be edited. In this chapter an overview of these files is provided and an explanation on how to proceed.
- Installing system tools
- In this chapter some important tools are selected and installed.
- Configuring the bootloader
- In this chapter the right bootloader is installed and configured.
- Finalizing the installation
- The installation is now almost done. The last finishing touches are documented in this chapter.
Working with Gentoo
- A Portage introduction
- This chapter explains simple steps readers must understand to maintain the software on their system.
- USE flags
- USE flags are a very important aspect of Gentoo. In this chapter, readers learn to work with USE flags and understand how USE flags interact with their system.
- Portage features
- Discover the features Portage has, such as support for distributed compiling, ccache, and more.
- Init script system
- Gentoo uses a special initscript format which, amongst other features, allows dependency-driven decisions and virtual initscripts. This chapter explains all these aspects and explains how to deal with these scripts.
- Environment variables
- With Gentoo environment variables can be easily managed. This chapter explains how to do that, and also describes frequently used variables.
Working with Portage
- Files and directories
- To know Portage in-depth, first learn where it stores its files and data.
- Variables
- Portage is completely configurable through various variables that can be set in the configuration file or as environment variable.
- Mixing software branches
- Gentoo provides software separated in several branches, depending on stability and architectural support. "Mixing Software Branches" explains how these branches can be configured and how to override this separation individually.
- Additional tools
- Portage comes with a few extra tools that might make the Gentoo experience even better. Read on to discover how to use dispatch-conf and other tools.
- Custom package repository
- This chapter gives some tips and tricks on how to use a custom package repository, how to synchronize only the categories necessary, inject packages, and more.
- Advanced features
- As times goes by, Portage evolves and matures further and further. Additional features are continuously being put in - many of these are only of use by more advanced users. This chapter will go into more detail of these specific features.
Gentoo network configuration
- Getting started
- A guide to quickly get the network interface up and running in most common environments.
- Advanced configuration
- Here we learn about how the configuration works - this is prerequisite knowledge before continuing with modular networking.
- Modular networking
- Learn how to choose different DHCP clients, setting up bonding, bridging, VLANs, and more.
- Wireless
- Configuring Gentoo for wireless networks
- Adding functionality
- Adventurous users can add their own functions to the networking tools.
- Dynamic management
- For laptop users or people who move their computer around different networks.
This page is based on a document formerly found on our main website gentoo.org.
The following people contributed to the original document: Grant Goodyear, Roy Marples, Daniel Robbins, Chris Houser, Jerry Alexandratos, Seemant Kulleen, Tavis Ormandy, Jason Huebel, Guy Martin, Pieter Van den Abeele, Joe Kallar, John P. Davis, Pierre-Henri Jondot, Eric Stockbridge, Rajiv Mangliani, Jungmin Seo, Stoyan Zhekov, Jared Hudson, Colin Morey, Jorge Paolo, Carl Anderson, Jon Portnoy, Zack Gilburd, Jack Morgan, Benny Chuang, Erwin, Joshua Kinard, Tobias Scherbaum, Xavier Neys, Joshua Saddler, Gerald J. Normandin Jr., Donnie Berkholz, Ken Nowack, Lars Weiler
They are listed here because wiki history does not allow for any external attribution. If you edit the wiki article, please do not add yourself here; your contributions are recorded on each article's associated history page.
A handbook dedicated to installing and configuring the alpha architecture.