README.LRP.QuickStart
Ray Olszewski <ray@comarre.com>
July 30, 2000

These instructions cover the limited topic of taking an LRP 2.9.7
image file (the so-called "idiot-image") and turning it into a
minimally configured router using two Ethernet interfaces. The 
configuration it describes will work for simple routing/firewalling
situations. More important, though, it will give you a functioning
system to use to learn more about LRP, so you can become more expert
and better customize it to your needs.

It is written to accompany the image file "idiot-image_1440KB_2.9.7",
created on July 28, 2000, and using Linux kernel 2.0.36-pre15-1.

The basic steps are:
	
	Download the Needed Files
	Make a Bootable Floppy
	Add Modules
	Add Network Information

To keep this short, it does not cover any troubleshooting issues. If
something goes wrong, consult the more extensive LRP documentation
available elsewhere.


Dowload the Needed Files
-----------------------

The needed files are:

	./dists/2.9.7/idiot-image_1440KB_2.9.7
	./utils/rawrite2.exe  [to make the disk on a DOS/WinXX system]
	./dists/2.9.7/kernel/2.0.36pre15-1.tar.gz
			- OR -
	./dists/2.9.7/modules/*.lrp [if your NIC is here]


Make a Bootable Floppy
---------------------

If you are using a DOS or Windows system to make the floppy, first 
format a floppy, making sure it has NO BAD SECTORS [this is very important].
Then from the command line (or, in Windows, from a DOS Window), run the
program "rawrite". It will prompt you for the drive letter (usually A:) and
the name of the file. The file name needs to be entered in its DOS-style, 
8.3 form, possibly IDIOT-~1.7 (check your system, though).

If you are using a Linux system to make the floppy, first format a
floppy, using fdformat or superformat, making sure it has NO BAD
SECTORS [this is very important]. You need to be root to do the formatting.
Then, still as root, cd to the directory containing the image file and
run this command:

	dd if=idiot-image_1440KB_2_9.7 of=/dev/fd0

At this point you should have a bootable floppy. Boot it, and it should
load the linux kernel, load the base assortment of *.lrp packages, 
initialize the system, and give you a login: prompt. Log in as "root"
(no password required), and you will see a menu. Later, you will use
this menu to enter information specific to your network.


Add Modules
----------

The image file creates a disk that has a modules.lrp file, but that
file does not contain any actual modules. Modules are add-in pieces
to the Linux kernel that give it additional capabilities. For an LRP
router/firewall, you may need modules of three types:

	modules that let the kernel use your Ethernet card (NIC)
				-- almost always needed

	modules that let "problem" services work through a router/
		firewall that Masquerades its internal network
				-- usually needed

	modules that let the kernel mount additional types of 
		filesystems
				-- occasionally needed

To simplify getting started with LRP, you can get a pre-assembled 
modules.lrp file for several of the more common NICs used with LRP.
These files include everything you need to use 1 or 2 NICs of that 
type with LRP. They also include the module ip_masq_ftp.o, to handle
the "problem" service most widely used through LRP router/firewalls.

As of this writing, pre-assembled *.lrp files exist for:

	mod-ne.lrp -- for NE2000 (isa) NICs
	mod-509.lrp -- fot 3Com 3C509 (isa) NICs
	mod-tuli.lrp -- for DEC Tulip-chip (pci) NICs
	mod-59x.lrp -- for 3Com 3C905 (pci) NICS
	mod-rtl.lrp -- for RTL8139-chip (pci) NICs

Except for mod-ne.lrp, you should be able to use one of these packages
simply by replacing the modules.lrp file on the boot floppy with the
file appropriate to your NIC, renaming it "modules.lrp".

For mod-ne.lrp, after copying it and booting the floppy, you will need to 
edit the "ne" line in /etc/modules to contain the correct io= addresses
for your NICs, then uncomment that line (remove the # at the beginning).

If you have a system that uses two different types of NIC, or that needs
a NIC module other than the ones in the pre-assembled modules files,
you need to create your own modules.lrp file. You do this by downloading
the file 2.0.36pre15-1.tar.gz, un-tgz'ing it, and copying the needed
modules to your LRP floppy. Then, with the LRP system running, mount the
LRP floppy and cp the modules to /lib/modules . Edit /etc/modules so it
loads the modules you have added. Then return to the configuration menu
(enter "lrcfg" at the prompt) and back up modules.lrp .


Add Network Information
-----------------------

The LRP bootable image does not ship in operating form. You need to change
some settings in the file /etc/network.conf, both to turn on routing
features and to provide the information specific to your network.  

Do this by running the setup menu that appears when you first log in. (To
do this, you can either log out and log in again, or from the command line
run "lrcfg"). Select choice 1 ("Network settings"), then choice 1 ("Network 
configuration (auto)"). Edit the file that opens, save it, and back up the
etc.lrp package from the menu.


Now What?
--------

At this point, if nothing went wrong, you should have a bootable LRP
floppy that recognizes your Ethernet NICs and is configured to connect
your internal network to an external network. Of course, because I 
only covered the very basics here, it is possible that something went wrong
that this document does not cover. For more extended help in setting
up an LRP router/firewall, please turn to the resources listed at
thse sites:

	http://www.linuxrouter.org
	http://lrp.c0wz.com

Especially helpful (even though written for an earlier versions of LRP) 
is Brian Boonstra's LRP 2.9.4 HowTo, available at

	http://linuxrouter.sourceforge.net/documentation/LRP-2.9.4/

You can also join, and post to, the linux-router mailing list. Join it
at http://www.linuxrouter.org . Before posting requests for help, it will
be useful to read the LRP Troubleshooting Request HowTo, at 

	http://lrp.c0wz.com/dox/lrp-list-howtos/LRP-ts-req-HowTo.html	
