========================== BrlZip Documentation ========================== BRLZIP 8.0-3 - Mini GNU/Linux distribution with Braille support Built by Osvaldo La Rosa - http://www.brlspeak.net - 06-01-2003 THIS PROGRAM IS FREE SOFTWARE. IT MAY BE REDISTRIBUTED UNDER THE CONDITIONS OF THE GNU/GPL General Public License see http://www.gnu.org for information or read the \linux\copying and \linux\copyrght.txt notes ============================================================================ What's new? ---------- In V. 8.0-3 we added the FreeDOS choice.exe + a reboot util. (For sources and copyright info, see \linux\brlspeak\packages\). Adding these FreeDOS apps was necessary to offer a correct working BrlZip installation to those who are using Win XP (FAT32), or Win2000&Co. We also added a BRLzip BOOT Floppy image (brlbootf.img) to help XP/W2k users with booting BrlZip under DOS, using the disk where Loadlin + their personalized run.bat is located. Finally, we provided a blindfriendly .lynxrc (see /root directory) and some blindfriendly websearch-util (called 2s, see /usr/local/bin). Note: this 2S DoubleSpeed Search-Engine util uses Lynx. In V. 8.0-2 we added a dhcp-client, and you can now preconfigure an ethernet connection before logging in for the first time. Use the CFG batch to preconfigure this. Do not configure any ethernet connection if you are using a PPP connection. In V. 8.0-1 we provided: a renewed cfg.bat (do not use the BrlSpeak one), brltty 2.99.8, the kernel (was 2.2.13 on BrlSpeak 7.0-1), and all packages provided with the ZipSlack 8.0 zip (cf. Slackware site). Note: for tech reasons, we added the kernel headers to be able to compile BrlTty. Quick intro ----------- BrlZip was based on ZipSlack 8.0. It's a UMSDOS mini-distribution, what means that you can put it on a FAT (16/32) partition with no danger for DOS, FreeDOS or Windows. But this is not a BrlSpeak (Braille .n Speak) pack: it provides support for braille only, using the built-in BrlTty version 2.99.8 (see http://www.mielke.cc/brltty for more informations regarding BrlTty, or visit http://brlstatx.brlspeak.net for obtaining some ready-to-use BrlTty binary). If you prefer a mini-distro with speech, look then at: http://www.linux-speakup.org/ or http://www.speechio.org/ If you'd like to add the SpeakUp package to it, read then the documentation on the Slack FTP and websites. How to run BrlZip? ----------------- - first, retrieve the zip-file: http://www.brlspeak.net/brlzip - unpack it with a tool such as Winzip (W$), Quickzip (W$) or Infozip's unzip.exe (DOS); or unzip it from a Linux box - enter the \linux dir after having rebooted under REAL DOS MODUS (not DOSbox) - type: CFG and press - read instructions, enter your choices, boot the system and enjoy! For XP FAT32 or Win2000 users: you may preconfigure it under a pseudo DOS box, but you should build a BRLzip BOOT Floppy (required to boot correctly). How does it works? ----------------- Step 1: CFG is runned to preconfigure the keyboard, the braille display, the harddisk/Zip-drive, the DHCP client, or the special bootflop Step 2: BrlZip is started and BrlTty is autocompiled Step 3: BrlTty is automatically activated, so that you have braille support at your first session Important --------- - unpacking BrlZip under DOS may take some time, depending on the PC you are using; don't worry, the prompt is back after that (long/heavy) job Prefer -if available- to unpack it from a Linux or Windows session, since this is very faster ... - BrlTty will be compiled during boot; listen to the PC, and if you hear a "beep" without a braille prompt after a few seconds, then: - enter root - no password - and type reboot to halt the system and reboot the PC - you may now restart cfg.bat and begin again the configuration - if you're running FreeDOS, you may verify if the path parameteers as provided in the \linux\cfg.bat are corresponding to those you need for your current path (unREMark what you need) - please don't remove the \linux\brlspeak directory - CFG.BAT is write-protected; you may change the "r" attribute before editing the file - recommended docs: brlzip.txt (this file), faq.txt, readme.1st and readme.ppa - please don't pass any doc, and/or the copying and copyright info - also do not configure any ethernet connection if you are using a PPP connection, this may cause unexpected problems - create a brlbootflop if you are running XP or Win2000 Contact ------- I only give support for braille questions, and/or for general purposes. I don't give support for ZipSlack or speech solutions (see speechio.org or linux-speakup.org). For recent info, patches, new releases, visit the BrlSpeak website: http://www.brlspeak.net/ For contacting me by E-mail: info AT brlspeak DOT net For a chat-session, see info available at www.brlspeak.net Any contribution is appreciated: see Braillespeak-Devel Mailinglist info at www.brlspeak.net Enjoy BrlZip! Osvaldo La Rosa:~# ============================ End Of Document =============================