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CD-ROMs usually have directories under the root directory called bootdsks.144 and rootdsks.144 (for 3.5-inch 1.44MB floppies) and bootdsks.12 and rootdsks.12 (for 5.25-inch 1.2MB floppies) that contain the boot and root images, respectively. You should run DOS either from a floppy or a partition on your hard disk to examine the CD-ROM. If you are copying your files from an FTP site, you can select the boot and root images you need while connected to the remote FTP machine and transfer only the images you need to your local machine.
The types of boot kernels usually available are described in a file in the kernel image directories. The images are named to reflect the hardware for which they have drivers installed into the kernel. For example, the kernel image “scsi” has drivers in the kernel for SCSI-based systems, and if you are on a PC that has a SCSI controller, hard disk, and CD-ROM, this is the image you want to copy to your boot floppy.
The number of boot images available is quite wide. The primary images available from most CD-ROMs and FTP sites, and the hardware they are designed to handle, are as follows:
With some distributions, an extension is added to the kernel image name to indicate the floppy type. For example, if the kernel image is for a 1.44MB floppy, it will have the filetype “.144” as part of the name. Similarly, a filetype of “.12” indicates a 1.2MB image. You cannot interchange these images, or the disk will be useless (in other words you cannot load a .12 image onto a 1.44MB disk). Most distributions don’t bother with this convention because the files are in the appropriate directories for the disk size.
There are fewer choices for the root floppy image. Most distributions include four basic images, although a few more esoteric images also appear from time to time. The basic root floppy images are as follows:
Each of the root images has the disk size as part of its name (color144 and color12, for example).
If you obtained your boot and root images from an FTP or BBR site, the files may be compressed and archived. If they are, they will end with the filetype .gz. Before you can install the images to a floppy, they must be uncompressed with the gzip utility.
Tip:
The color root image is a lot more attractive than the tty image and can make the Linux installation a bit friendlier. However, the color image is intolerant of typing errors and doesn’t always proceed smoothly. It’s worth a try, in most cases, unless you know exactly how you want to install Linux. The color process tends to require much more user interaction, clicking on OK buttons at many stages.
After you have determined which of the boot and root images you want to use (if you are not sure, pick the boot image that most closely matches your hardware configuration and the color or tty root image), you can create the boot and root floppies. If you choose the boot and root images incorrectly, don’t worry. The most that can happen is that you won’t be able to install Linux, and you can start the process again.
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