I suggest you make a copy of the checklist for each system that you install. You can fill in each entry and include it in a notebook. You will notice that there are some very basic questions concerning keyboard language and time zone. It may seem almost too basic to include this type of information in a checklist. However, I can speak from experience that the more you have written down, the less prone you are to making mistakes. Even if the information is “basic”
Note also that the mimimum space mentioned most documentation is just enough to get installed. You need to consider future growth of the system, as well. Also note that many of the details listed here may not apply to your specific distribution.
Action |
Assigned Value1 |
Notes |
Boot-time loadable drivers |
Yes No |
module names: |
Installation media |
From CD From DVD via FTP
|
What is the hardware configuration on the install device? |
|
|
|
Keyboard language |
|
|
License Information |
|
|
License Number |
|
If Applicable |
Installation Type |
Fresh Upgrade |
Upgrade only valid for existing systems |
|
|
|
System name |
|
Must be unique within your network |
Domain name |
|
Must be unique if you ever plan to connect to the Internet |
|
|
|
Timezone |
|
|
Geographic area |
|
|
Time zone name |
|
|
Daylight savings time |
Yes No |
|
|
|
|
Hard Disk Config. |
|
|
Type 2 |
|
For example: Wide-SCSI, PCI |
SCSI |
Yes No |
|
Host Adapter |
|
|
Bus Number |
|
|
SCSI ID |
|
|
LUN |
|
|
|
|
|
EIDE /IDE Controller |
|
|
Make |
|
|
Model |
|
|
Base Address |
|
|
Interrupt Vector (IRQ) |
|
|
DMA Channel |
|
|
Master/Slave |
|
|
LBA Enabled |
|
EDIE only |
|
|
|
SCSI Host Adapter |
|
|
Make |
|
|
Model |
|
|
Base Address |
|
|
Interrupt Vector (IRQ) |
|
|
DMA Channel |
|
|
Termination |
|
Where is the termination? Which device? Draw out the SCSI bus and lable everything, including termination |
|
|
|
Hard Disk Setup |
|
|
Type |
Preserve Use whole disk Customized |
|
|
|
|
Hard Disk Layout |
|
Customized or Interactive only |
Linux Partition size (MB) |
|
|
DOS Partition size (MB) |
|
|
Other Partition size (MB) |
|
|
boot filesystem size (MB) |
|
|
swap space size (MB) |
|
|
root filesystem size (MB) |
|
|
Other filesystems size (MB) |
|
|
|
|
|
Bad Track |
|
|
Type |
None Thorough/destructive Thorough/non-destructive Quick/destructive Quick/non-destructive |
See the text for a description of what each of these means. |
Software |
Operating System Graphic Environment Connectivity/Networking Development System Connectivity Online Doc Source Files |
You need to know how much space it will take to install all the software. |
|
|
|
Network Information |
|
|
Network Card |
|
|
Vendor |
|
|
Model |
|
|
Type |
|
For example: Ethernet, twisted pair, Combo |
IRQ |
|
|
Base Address |
|
If applicable |
ROM address |
|
If applicable |
DMA |
|
If applicable |
Base RAM Address |
|
If applicable |
RAM size |
|
If applicable |
Local Ring Broadcast |
|
Token-ring only |
Slot Number |
|
If applicable |
|
|
|
IP Address |
|
Must be unique within your network and within Internet if you ever plan to connect to the Internet |
Netmask |
|
Based on the network class you choose. The system should calculate this value for you. |
Broadcast address |
|
|
|
|
|
Video Card |
|
|
Make |
|
Not all are listed. You may need to simply choose something like VGA or find the chipset that your card uses. |
Model |
|
|
RAM |
|
|
Base Address |
|
Normally not needed |
Interrupt Vector (IRQ) |
|
Normally not needed |
Max resolution |
|
|
Max colors |
|
|
Frequencies supported |
|
|
Selected mode |
|
resolution and colors |
|
|
|
Monitor |
|
|
Make |
|
Not all are listed. You may need to simply choose something like "other 15" |
Model |
|
|
RAM |
|
|
Max. resolution |
|
|
Max. colors |
|
|
Frequencies supported |
|
|
|
|
|
Graphical Login |
On Off |
If on your system will start-up by giving you the graphical login. Otherwise, you must run startx, to start up X. |
Mouse |
|
|
Make |
|
|
Model |
|
|
Type |
|
Serial, bus, PS/2 |
Base Address |
|
Bus mice only |
Interrupt Vector (IRQ) |
|
Bus mice only |
Serial port |
|
Serial, mice only |
Bus Mouse IRQ |
IRQ2 IRQ3 IRQ5 |
|
Keyboard Mouse |
High resolution low resolution |
|
|
|
|
Email System |
procmail sendmail other |
|
|
|
|
Hard disk: |
|
|
Make |
|
|
Model |
|
|
Master/Slave |
|
Only for non-SCSI devices |
SCSI ID |
|
Only for SCSI devices |
Termination |
|
Only for SCSI devices |
|
|
|
Hard disk controller |
|
|
Make |
|
|
Model |
|
|
Base Address |
|
|
Interrupt Vector (IRQ) |
|
|
DMA Channel |
|
|
1 Not always applicable. Depends on the kind of device.
2 You can’t put down too much information when describing the hardware.