Installation - Nightmare ...

[Tcichowicz]

I'm really trying hard to keep going, as I would like to use this system.

I'm a very computer literate person. I've been playing around with PCs since 1979 - I've owned and operated allitte bit of everything.

As a hobby and things to pass the time I install different and new Linux Distros all the time, on a PC that I have a removable HDD bay/caddy. With this being said I have NEVER had so much trouble getting an OS installed. I normally burn the .ISO file to a USB using Rufus. That ALWAYS works. ( I really don't have a PC with a CD/DVD drive anymore)

So, I did the same, using the AMAHI Express CD image. Booted the USB stick - It booted fine displayed the prompts for language etc.. then hit continue.... Thats when I get an error about not being able to install to HDD because of more than one partiton or some such thing. I then formatted the drive (Windows 7) or I should say un-formatted - by using the disc management - and deleted all the partitions. Tried again, same error. I then placed the drive in another PC that is running Manjaro Linux. used Gparted - and created a primary partition (ONLY) ext4. Tried again same error.

( I tried this on 3 different computers - all with the same results)

I then tried installing the Fedora 19 FULL DVD --

manually installed the amahi apps using info I found online to do this - all installed perfectly -- installed my CODE - that worked as well. I even received an email stating:

Code: Select all

" Your Amahi HDA install appears to have gone well! As of a few minutes ago, your free Amahi Dynamic DNS is active. This means you can connect to your HDA from outside: around the block or around the world!"

I then followed the instructions to reboot my PC to have the installation take effect. When it came back up something VERY strange happened to the desktop/Display - I couldn't see any of the icons, and or text labels - within the dock, or other areas of the desktop. Something happened to the color pallet? some letters appeared others not. I was running blind. I was able to get Chrome installed, launched that and that's what I'm using as I type.

I tried to connect to my HDA from the outside as the email stated, yet it wouldn't connect. I'm assuming this is because the local IP address it not what I registered it to be with AMAHI when I setup my account. I've done on this on a PC at work, and my Network is not the same as my home network. I'm hoping when I get home - I can power it up and it should work?

The other issue I'll have to deal with is the DHCP / STATIC thing. I didn't make that change yet, I'll probably just provide an assigned IP from my router to match what I provided during my registration so that PC will match when it gets an address from my router.


This has been the most frustrating installation I've ever gone through. I'm far from done, and I'm hoping in the end it will be worth it.

I don't understand how an Express CD install - build can be so counter productive - couldn't there have been just a few simple - pick your HDD dialogs - instead of the totally automatic install that 'breaks' as soon as it doesn't find what it's expected to find?

I've tried this now on at least 4 different PCs none of which works using the Express CD image --- perhaps I need to burn a real CD/DVD and try again. But I think that will be the last straw for me... if it starts with the same errors - stick a fork in me - I'm DONE!

[bigfoot65]

Sorry to hear you have had so many issues. Your first problem is that the Express CD IS NOT supported as a USB install. It must be burned to CD to ensure it works properly.

Over time we have tested the USB install of the Express CD with different results varying from success to failure. Did you follow the guidance at http://docs.amahi.org?

If you prefer to have a desktop, the unsupported Fedora 19 USB install will give you that capability.

Please understand you must follow the guidance we provided for a successful install. I understand you are very experienced, but not all Linux distros and software behave the same. We have tried our best to document the processes to ensure success.

We hope you will please give Amahi another short. If not, we appreciate you sharing your experience.

[Tcichowicz]

You are correct ... I know I was suppose to burn to a DVD -- but didn't have one, nor a computer with a DVD drive. I'm afraid you MAY have to address this limitation sooner rather than later - as I'm more the norm (w/o a DVD drive) than the exception. It's actually getting pretty difficult to find a PC with A DVD drive - without paying for the option. I have the DVD drive hanging outside the case just for the install.(borrowed from work)

So - I was able to get a copy burned from a PC at work. I'm installing as I type this reply... it is past the point where I kept getting the error. However it crashed with another dialog error - something to do with the date when I was attempting to pick the country/region. I rebooted - and the second time got passed it successfully. It's now copying files to the HDD.

Hopefully, the previously successful install via the FULL DVD install will not cause a problem with this one. (Express CD) disc install.

time will tell...

[bigfoot65]

I'm more the norm (w/o a DVD drive) than the exception

I disagree. Most computers still come with DVD drives as do laptops. As we move more to tablets, this will obviously change. This might be an interesting research project to find out how many do/do not have the DVD buring capability.

We are hoping to have USB install officially supported in Amahi 8 though. The unofficial USB installation does work pretty well and it's a very small download compared to the Express DVD. I have tested it many times and never had a problem. I prefer the Live CD USB install myself as it saves time in my opinion.

Will be anxious to hear how things went this time.

[Tcichowicz]

Tah-Dhaaa!

it was a success! Thanks for your shoulder to bitch/whine/cry on.

If I do it again - it will be too soon,(maybe tomorrow) however I think I know where all (my) trapdoors are so I can easily avoid them ... I should have used a larger HDD -- now that I can test and see if it does what I hope, I may re-build it on a LARGE disc. (4-6TB) I have to look into it's ability to share to my Kodi clients - Right now I'm running a stand alone PC running Win7 / SABnzbd+. With a Synology NAS as storage.

Perhaps this can be a single device ...?

It's up and running, I believe the IPSec VPN is up and running - which was my main feature I was attracted to. I have yet to test it with realworld apps. But I can connect successfully to my home network.

So far I'm not crazy about the "recommended shutting down my router's DHCP server/service" haven't done it yet, wondering how it will effect things going forward. Will they compete dishing out addresses? who's got the pool of addresses to hand out, and how do I control that?

Thanks again.

[bigfoot65]

Thanks for your shoulder to bitch/whine/cry on.

Not a problem. I am always concerned with user satisfaction. Often this results from not following the recommended guidance or lack of knowledge on the processes. That's why I try to educate

Perhaps this can be a single device ...?

I would not recommend making the OS a single large drive. Use a small drive for the OS, then mount a larger drive as /var/hda/files which would hold the shares. As for apps, yes recommend using the HDA for SABnzbd Plus and any other apps that you would link to that app.

Will they compete dishing out addresses? who's got the pool of addresses to hand out, and how do I control that?

It's your choice to allow the HDA to server DHCP to your network or not. See the is DHCP server required FAQ for details. Personally I would recommend using the HDA for it. Don't run both as DHCP servers though as there will be a clash.

The HDA uses 100-254 for the normal lease range hand out. Anything 2-99 (minus your HDA IP address) can be assigned as fixed IP addresses for all your devices. That's what I do with mine and I have been using Amahi for 6+ years. It's reliable for a DHCP server and you can even add a PXE server (Netboot) capability to it if you use the HDA as the DHCP provider.

Amahi offers quite a wide variety of apps in the Amahi App Store, most are FREE but some do have a convenience fee.