Step 2: Specifying the Source

Step 2: Specifying the Source

Perform this step only if you need to change the distribution source from which software will be installed. By default, Inst uses the distribution that was previously specified as the source of installable software for a live installation. For miniroot installations, Inst expects to use the distribution from which you loaded the miniroot. The default source is posted in a message above the Main menu when Inst is started. You can either accept the default source or change it using the from command.

Using the from Command

Use the from command to change from one distribution source to another. You can enter the from command to change distributions as many times as you need to during an installation session. Your entry can take one of the forms of from listed below (also see "Alternative Ways to Specify a Distribution"):

from

Enter the from command with no arguments to display a selection of former distributions from which to choose; type the number of a selection to specify it as the distribution. If the distribution that you want is not posted, enter an alternate form of the from command to specify the distribution.

from pathname

Add a pathname argument to from to specify a distribution that is local to the target system (usually a CD-ROM drive). Do not use the tilde (~) in your specification.

These examples illustrate how to specify distributions that are on a local CD-ROM drive and on a local disk directory:

from /CDROM/dist

from /d1/IRIX_6.2/dist

This form of from also applies to directories and CD-ROM drives that are NFS mounted on the target system.

from server:pathname

Add the server name and pathname arguments, separated by a colon, to specify a distribution that is located on a remote system. These examples illustrate how to specify a distribution that is located on a remote directory and remote CD-ROM drive:

from easyboy:/d1/IRIX_6.2/dist

from easyboy:/CDROM/dist

from none

Specify none to display the list of software installed on the target; no distribution is selected in this case. This form of the from command is useful for browsing and removing software from the target system.

Automatic Initialization Functions

Before Inst takes any installation actions, it reads information about the distribution and target. During initialization, Inst obtains historical data about previous installations and reads the product descriptions on the distribution. It also checks for software dependencies among subsystems, makes preliminary installation selections and calculates their sizes, and checks disk availability on the target. As this initialization occurs, you see messages similar to these:

Reading installation history .. 100% Done.
Reading distribution .. 100% Done.
Checking dependencies .. 100% Done.
Calculating sizes .. 100% Done.

When the automatic functions are finished, the Inst> prompt appears, and you can continue with the installation session.

Note: If you do not enter the from command in this step, Inst performs initialization before executing the next command that you enter.