Instructions for installing RedHat 5.0 for use with bochs
Author: Kevin Lawton

NOTE: This has not been updated in a long long time. Please don't think that newer versions of linux or other distributions cannot be done just because these old instructions talk about redhat 5.0. If you want to write updated install instructions, please go ahead.

# Instructions for installing RedHat 5.0 for use with bochs.

    First, you need to have the RedHat 5.0 installation CD
    and the boot & supplementary floppy disks.  Installing
    Linux from other vendors is also possible, but I assume
    you have RedHat 5.0 for the script file, and for these
    instructions.

    Second, you need a real Linux system to create the
    disk image file, for use with bochs.  This can be
    later transfered to another platform.

    Third, you should have already configured/compiled
    bochs on your target platform.

    ##########################################
    # This section done on your Linux system #
    ##########################################

    Copy both boot & supplementary floppy disks to image files.

      # stick in Boot disk
      linux-> cp /dev/fd0 1.44_redhat_boot
      # stick in Supplementary disk
      linux-> cp /dev/fd0 1.44_redhat_sup

    Mount your RedHat 5.0 CD.  The mountpoint and instructions
    may be different for your system.

      linux-root> mount /mnt/cdrom

    Now edit the install script in bochs-YYMMDD/misc, called
    'install_redhat50'.  It has a small section of configurable
    parameters you can edit.  Then run it as root.  Make sure
    you are in the directory.

      linux-root> cd bochs-YYMMDD/misc
      linux-root> ./install_redhat50

    If this went well, then you're hard disk image file
    is prepared for you, and has a small set of packages
    from the RedHat 5.0 CD on it.  You may add more later,
    using the script file as an example.

    #############################################
    # This section done on your target platform #
    #############################################

    If you have a target system, different from you
    original Linux system, transfer over the 2 floppy
    image files, and the hard disk image file now.

    Copy the boot floppy image to your working file

      unix-> cp 1.44_redhat_boot 1.44

    Point your floppya directive to this working file

      [edit .bochsrc]

    Boot bochs from the floppy

      unix-> bochs boot:a

    The Welcom To Red Hat Linux screen appears.  At the
    boot: prompt, enter 'rescue' and [Return]

      boot:  rescue [Return]

    The Color Choices menu appears
    press [Return] to take the default

    The Keyboard Type menu appears
    press [Return] to take the default

    The Second Floppy menu appears
    Copy the Supplementary floppy image to your working file

      unix-> cp 1.44_redhat_sup 1.44

    Type [Return] to let the install program know you inserted
    the new floppy.

    The SCSI Configuration menu appears
    Type [Return] to accept No.

    You will now be at the Linux root prompt '#'.
    Make an empty directory to mount the hard drive over.
    Then mount the hard drive.  I didn't use any partitions
    for this example, so use 'hda', not 'hda1'.

      # mkdir /mnt
      # mount -t ext2 /dev/hda /mnt

    Run lilo, so you can boot from the hard disk.  Then
    unmount the hard drive.

      # /mnt/sbin/lilo -r /mnt
      # umount /mnt

    Bomb out of bochs, by clicking on the Power button.  Now
    fire up bochs again, booting from the hard drive.

      unix-> bochs boot:c

    You can type [Return] at the LILO prompt:

      LILO boot: [Return]

    At the login prompt, login as root.  For kicks, try
    compiling the sample "hello.cc" program I included.
    It should already be in your /root directory, ready
    to be compiled.

      [root@bochs /root]# gcc -c hello.cc
      [root@bochs /root]# ./a.out

    When you're ready to shutdown Linux, you can
    shutdown as normal:

      [root@bochs /root]# shutdown -h now

    Enjoy,
    -Kevin