.TLInstalling the Plan 9 Distribution.SHThe software.PPThe distribution is packaged on four 1.44MB floppy diskettes and one CD-ROM.Many software packages for PCs can install either from CD-ROM or diskette,but Plan 9 is different.The diskettes and the CD-ROMhave.I differentsoftware on them.The first diskette is used to install the other versions of the system; it occupiesabout 1.4 megabytes of the DOS partition on your hard drive.The other three diskettes contain a small version of Plan 9for PCs, intended to let you familiarize yourself with the system; it occupiesa separate 20 megabyte partition at the end of a hard disk, or on an entirely non-DOS disk.The CD-ROM has the full system, including all the programs and sourcesfor all the architectures supported by Plan 9.You will need a 500 megabyte partition or disk to unpack the CD-ROM,although you may choose to remove pieces of the distribution, such as binariesfor machines you don't have, after installation.The CD-ROM does not install itself; you must use the first diskette to install it..SHThe hardware.PPAn accompanying document, ``The Various Ports'',discusses the hardware requirements for the system; you should readall the sections that describe hardware on which you are planning to run Plan 9.Throughout this document, we will be talking only about PCs unless other machinesare explicitly mentioned..PP.INote: Although Plan 9 runs on a number of different machine architectures,the installation package is designed to be run on a PC, even when installingthe system for other architectures..R.PP.INote: If you have a copy of the 1993 distribution of the system,its 9P protocol is incompatiblewith this version.You must install this distribution without using any old Plan 9 systems..R.PPPlan 9 runs in 32-bit protected mode on i386 or later processors.It does not use the BIOS, so not all hardware is automatically supported,only that for which Plan 9 drivers exist.A summary of the hardware requirements:An IBM PC clone with an i386, i486, or Pentium processor,eight megabytes of memory,ISA or EISA bus,IDE or SCSI disks,VGA, and a3-button serial or PS/2 mouse.The disk.CW A:must be a 3½" floppy drive.Even within these parameters, though, there are a number of restrictions..PP.IMake sure you read the section of ``The Various Ports'' describing ``The IBM PCoperating system''before you try installing the system..R.SHWays to install Plan 9.PPThis section gives an overview of how the installation procedure is arranged;make sure you read it before proceeding..PP.IBefore installing Plan 9, you must first use diskette 1 toestablish a special installation setup as a set of DOS files in thedirectory.CW C:\eplan9 .You will then use that software to install the real Plan 9 system..R.PPUsing the installation software,you have several choices about what sort of Plan 9 environment to build.Throughout this document, these setups are referred to by number:.IP 1.Install the three diskettes (numbered 2, 3, and 4) onto a separate partition onyour hard disk.  This requires 20 megabytes of disk space..IP 2.Install the CD-ROM onto a separate partition onyour hard disk.  This requires 500 megabytes of disk space..IP 3.Use the networkto install a separate stand-alone file server and use it to supply files to other Plan 9systems (of any type) on the network..IP 4.In a network setup, convert the PC into a CPU server and authentication server, withits files stored on the remote file server..LPThe best way to start is to use step 1 to build a system to use for learningabout the system, even if you plan to do something more ambitious later.With that system, you can access the CD-ROM for anything else that mightinterest you.Once you're comfortable with that, if you have the disk spaceyou can use step 2 to build a full Plan 9 system on your PC.If you have a networked environment or machines other than PCs, you wouldprobably choose to skip step 2 and use steps 3 and 4 to establisha full-blown Plan 9 environment..PPThe most important thing the small installationsystem does is record a description of your hardwarein a form that Plan 9 can read it.This information is kept in a text file called.CW plan9.inistored on the DOS file system, in the directory.CW C:\eplan9 .Familiarize yourself with your hardware configuration before you begin,so you'll be ready to answer questions about your disks, VGA, and so on..SHDisks.PPAll four Plan 9 diskettes are in DOS format.The first is a boot diskette containinginstallation software toconfigure your system and installthe other three diskettes and/or the CD-ROM..PPYour PC must have DOS installed on the hard disk.You will also need a separate disk.I partitionfor storing the Plan 9 file system.DOS has a partition table at the beginning of thedisk and normally uses the whole disk area.To coexist with DOS, Plan 9 puts its partition tableat the.I highend of the disk.You can avoid repartitioning the disk by installing Plan 9 on a separate disk,so if you have a spare disk we recommend you use it..SHFinding some disk space for Plan 9.PPThe first thing you need to do is establish a disk partition to hold the Plan 9 file system.It must holdeither 20 megabytes (or more) for installation step 1, or 500 megabytes(or more) for step 2.Unless you already have a suitable spare partition, which could be all of a spare disk,you will need to repartition your hard disk.This must be done carefully because changing the size of an existing partition willdestroy its contents.If you already know how to repartition, use the method that you are comfortable with.Otherwise, this section is a thorough explanation of a simple-minded wayto repartition; use this procedure if you're the least bit unsure how DOSuses its disks.Even if you already know how to repartition your disk, though,you should read thissection so you know how Plan 9 is going to use the disk..PPThroughout this section,the explanation is structured as a description of what's about to happen,followed by the DOS commands to use and their output.In other words, don't do any step until you've read the words and theoutput of the commands presented here..PPThe first step is to back up the DOS system to floppy disks.Then you will repartition the disk.Finally, you will restore DOS into its new, smaller partition..PPOur procedure backs up DOS to floppy disks.The backup will take approximately one floppy for every 1.4 megabytes in use.If you have a well-loaded system, start with lots of blank floppies..PPLabel one diskette.I PC.I system.I disk ,format it, and copy some useful stuff onto it:.P1C:\e> format a: /sC:\e> cd dosC:\e> copy format.* a:C:\e> copy backup.* a:C:\e> copy restore.* a:C:\e> copy fdisk.* a:.P2.LPNext, use the.CW backupprogram to copy the DOS system to the floppies.You'll end up inserting empty floppies one afteranother as it asks for them.As each diskette is finished, add to its label.I DOS.I backup.I nwhere.I nis the number of the diskette in the series:.P1C:\e> backup c: a: /s.P2.LPNow reboot the system with the.I PC.I system.I diskin drive.CW A: .When booting, the PC may ask you to enter date and time;just press.CW Enter ..PPYou are about to repartitionthe hard disk by first removing the currentpartition and then creating a new smaller one.Run.CW FDISK .It is menu-driven; we present one step per menu:.P1A:\e> FDISK.P2.LPChoose.CW FDISKoption 3, ``Delete DOS Partition'':.P1		FDISK Options 1. Create DOS partition or Logical DOS Drive2. Set active partition3. Delete DOS partition4. ... Enter choice [3].P2.LPSelect the primary partition:.P1		Delete DOS Partition or ... 1. Delete Primary DOS Partition2. Delete Extended DOS Partition3. ...4. ... Enter choice [1].P2.LPConfirm that you really want to do it,choose partition 1, and don't enter a label:.P1 .2i		Delete Primary DOS Partition WARNING! Data in the Deleted Primary DOS Partition will be lostWhat primary partition do you want to delete..? [1]Enter Volume Label..............................? [          ]Are you sure (Y/N)..............................? [Y].P2.LPPress.CW Escto get back to the top level menu..LPCreate a new DOS partition by choosing option 1on the next menu:.P1		FDISK Options 1. Create DOS partition or Logical DOS Drive2. Set active partition3. Delete DOS partition4. ... Enter choice [1].P2.LPCreate a primary partition by choosing option 1:.P1		Create DOS Partition or ... 1. Create Primary DOS Partition2. Create Extended DOS Partition3. ...4. ... Enter choice [1].P2.PPNow you need to pick a size for the primary DOS partition.Since you will restore DOS back into it and will need some free disk space,you must use a larger size than what you saved on the floppies.If you just want to install using Plan 9 installation setep 1,give DOS all but 20 megabytes.(The 20 megabytes for Plan 9 provides 8 megabytes for files unpacked from the diskettesand 12 megabytes for new files.)For setup 2, you'll need 500 megabytes to hold the contents of the CD-ROM..PPTo make things concrete, we'll assume you're leaving 39 megabytes for DOS,but be sure to use the number you've decided for your system:.P1		Create Primary DOS Partition Do you wish to use the maximum available size for a PrimaryDOS Partition and make the partition active(Y/N).....?[N] Enter partition size in Mbytes or percent of disk space (%) tocreate a Primary DOS Partition...............[39].P2.LPPress.CW Escto get back to the top level menu.Set the partition youjust created to be ``active'':.P1		FDISK Options 1. Create DOS partition or Logical DOS Drive2. Set active partition3. Delete DOS partition4. ... Enter choice [2].P2.LPthen:.P1 2m		Set Active Partition Enter the number of the partition you want to make active...[1].P2.LPPress.CW Esctwice to get out of.CW FDISK .The machine will now reboot automatically..LPNow you must format the resized DOS partition tobe a DOS bootable partition; there's no need to label it:.P1A:\e> format c: /s WARNING, ALL DATA ON THE NON-REMOVABLE DISKDRIVE C: WILL BE LOST!Proceed with format(Y/N)?y Volume label (11 characters, ENTER for none)?.P2.LPNow restore your DOS system from the backup floppies.You will be asked to insert the backup floppies in the sameorder as you made them.This is as exciting as making the backup:.P1A> restore a: c: /s.P2.SHInstalling diskette 1 on your DOS hard drive.PPWith disk space established, you're now ready to start installing Plan 9.The first step is to use diskette 1 to build a special installation-only versionof Plan 9 on the DOS file system on your hard disk.Insert diskette 1 in the floppy drive.CW A:and boot the machine.If you have problems doing this, now or later, you can also bring DOS up normallyand then switch to the.CW A:drive and run.CW B ,that is:.P1C:\e> A:A:\e> B.P2The program.CW B ,also known as.CW b.com ,is documented in the manual section.I b.com (8);it is the Plan 9 bootstrap program that loads the kernel into memory..PPIf your PC has.I onlySCSI disks, you will need to configure diskette 1for the system to recognize what kind of SCSI controller you have.The installer will then write that information.I "on the diskette,whereupon you can reboot the system and it should behave like a regular PC.Because the install program must write on the diskette,you will first need to make a writable copy of it:the original diskette is write-protected.The easiest way to do this is with the DOS command:.P1DISKCOPY A: A: /V.P2.PPNote: if you have trouble doing any of these steps, you should read the section called``Read this section if you have trouble installing on the PC'' and follow itsinstructions to make a clean DOS boot diskette..PPOnce you've booted from diskette 1, the system will automatically loadthe install program.  Eventually it will display a line across the top of the screen that reads.P1System Installation & Configuration.P2It will then put up a menu.Use the arrow keys to navigate thevarious menus as you run this program;for those without arrow keys,.CW Tabalso cycles through the menu items.The.CW Enterkey selects from the menu..PPIf you boot from this disk more than once,you may be asked if you want toremove the Plan 9 installation already on the hard disk.It is always safe to remove that installation and let the install processinstall it again.Another option at this stage is to reconfigure the system,which is also safe; it just writes a new Plan 9 configuration file.Later in the installation process, you may return to this stage and usethe reconfiguration option to rewrite the configuration.The final option, after you have brought up Plan 9 on your hard disk,is to boot from diskette 1 again and choose the ``File System Installation'' option.This is necessary to install a network-based Plan 9 setup, as will bediscussed below..PPThe install program will tell you what it's doing each step of the way.First it will ask you to approve copying 1.44 megabytes onto.CW C: ,and then put up a scrolling window of the files it's copying.Once the files are installed, it will ask you to define the configurationof the devices on your PC.Use the menu to define which VGA controller and monitor,mouse port,Ethernet card if any,and so on down the list.For now, ignore the entry that says.P1File system console.P2If you make a mistake in the definition, you can go back and change anythingfrom the main configuration menu (the one that starts with.CW VGA.CW setup )..PPOnce you choose the.CW Save.CW configurationoption, the install program will show you the format of the fileit is going to create as the DOS file.CW C:\eplan9\eplan9.ini .This file tells Plan 9 what the hardware configuration is.Inspect it carefully, and if it looks right,.CW Saveit; if not,use the.CW Redooption on the submenu to return to the configuration menu.If you try to use an incorrect.CW plan9.inifile, the system will not work properly, but you canreturn to the ``Reconfigure system'' option on the first screenof the installation program and create a new.CW plan9.iniany time.If you're confused about what the file should look like orwhat hardware parameters there are, look at the manual page.I plan9.ini (8)in Volume 1 of the manual and also the ``Various Ports'' document.If you're unsure of the specifications of your hardware,you should find most of the information you need in the manualssupplied by the manufacturers of the devices..PPOnce you use the.CW Saveoption to write the.CW plan9.inifile to the hard disk, remove the floppy from drive.CW A:and follow the directions to reboot DOS.When you get back to the .CW C:\e>\|\|DOS prompt, type.P1PLAN9\eB.P2and press.CW Enter .If all goes well, the system will bring up a new install program that reads, acrossthe top of the screen,.P1File System Installation.P2You are now ready to use the little version of Plan 9 on your.CW C:drive to install a real Plan 9 from diskettes 2, 3, and 4 and/or the CD-ROM.

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