[LONG] Linux Install = Nightmare

Hi every body
Please help me to stop this nightmare.
I am starting my 2nd wek of trying to install Familiar on my iPAQ H3660 and
still without success.

I am stuck after the first boot.
I have done every thing and I am stuck at the network setting after the
first boot.

1) I have done At the "boot>" prompt, type: boot
2) I see Linux startup, and numerous daemons execute. If all goes well, you
should be presented with a "login:" prompt.
3) At the login prompt, login in as root using rootme as the password.
4) I have run ipkg install_pending
5) I have executed rm /usr/lib/ipkg/pending/* to remove the leftover pending
packages files.

Now I have to configure the iPAQ for the network before being able to do a
ipkg update.
How can I do that ???

My PC is now a Linux Redhat 7.1 PC with a serial input. I can logg as root.
The PC has a static IP address and I have been given one for the iPAQ. I
don't
have any PCMCIA extention.

The network parameters are :
Host IP: 136.206.35.99
IPAQ IP: 136.206.35.241
Subnet: 255.255.255.0
Gateway: 136.206.35.254
DNS: 136.206.35.10
Proxy : www.eend.dcu.ie : 80 (for all services)

I want to do a PPP and I went to the wikki page
<http://www.handhelds.org/z/wiki/PPPHowto>
and the IPMasq
<http://www.handhelds.org/z/wiki/IPMasqHowto>

I tied but I don't understand a lot. I am a complete newbie in Linux and
iPAQ.

So here are my questions steps by steps.

****PPPHowto IPAQ Side<http://www.handhelds.org/z/wiki/PPPHowto>
Q1: At this stage my ipaq was booting using windows hyperterminal.
Should I stop doing that and make it boot on Linux ?

Q2: How should I setup minicom ? (Detailled informations or links welcomed)

Q3: Supposing that I am using a teminal, for adding a new pp user (the root
user), the following command should be enter in the terminal windows isn't
it ?
a) echo "ppp::101:101:PPP root:/home/ppp:/sbin/pppd" >> /etc/passwd
b) Create an /etc/ppp/options file as follows::
  mkdir /etc/ppp
  echo "-detach
  defaultroute
  noauth
  nocrtscts
  lock
  lcp-echo-interval 5
  lcp-echo-failure 3
  /dev/ttySA0
  115200" > /etc/ppp/options

c) Add the ppp modules to /etc/modules so they will be loaded at boot time::
  echo "slhc
  ppp_generic
  ppp_async" >> /etc/modules

Q4: This could be done under windows or Linux without difference isn't it ?

Q5: To make these changes permanent, apply them to the /etc directory in the
cramfs image on the host and then flash the new cramfs image to your iPAQ.
How can I do that. Can somebody give me a detailled procedure to follow?
Wich OS should I use Linux or Windows ?

Q6: (ColinMarquardt adds: I got reminded that having no ppp compression is
probably a good idea with ssh connections. Add a "nodeflate" and a
"nobsdcomp" to the options file for that. I didn't try yet to see if it
makes a difference.) Has it been try by anybody ? Do I need to do that ?

****PPPHowto PC Side<http://www.handhelds.org/z/wiki/PPPHowto>
Q7: Create a file /etc/ppp/peers/ipaq with the following contents, (this
requires root access)::
    -detach
    noauth
    nocrtscts
    lock
    user ppp
    connect '/usr/sbin/chat -v -t3 ogin--ogin: ppp'
    /dev/ttyS0
    115200
    192.168.1.100:192.168.1.101
What is the host IP? the iPAQ IP ???

Q8: Note: if your console is full of LCP EchoRep messages, your pppd is in
debug mode. Check the /etc/ppp/options file on your desktop computer to
remove the debug line.
How ?

Q9: (I like to add the IP addresses to my /etc/hosts file so I can simply
type ipaq rather than 192.168.1.101). Where should I do that on the PC isn't
it ???

****IPMasqHowto PC Side<http://www.handhelds.org/z/wiki/IPMasqHowto>
Yes, I have a spare valid IP address for my handheld
Q10: On the host, add the proxyarp option to the configuration file for the
ppp connection for your handheld. My file /etc/ppp/peers/ipaq is now :
    proxyarp
    -detach
    noauth
    nocrtscts
    lock
    user ppp
    connect '/usr/sbin/chat -v -t3 ogin--ogin: ppp'
    /dev/ttyS0
    115200
    192.168.1.100:192.168.1.101
Is it right ???

Q11: On the handheld, you will also have to configure the network to route
all traffic throught the ppp connection. This should do the trick: route add
default ppp0, (a better solution might be to add the defaultroute option to
/etc/ppp/options.
HOW can I add the defaultroute to /etc/ppp/options ?

Q12: If everything is working a this stage, should I reboot the host and the
iPAQ ?

Q13: At this stage may I go back to the install instructions
http://familiar.handhelds.org/familiar/releases/v0.4/install/H3600/install.h
tml
and create /etc/resolv.conf and add one nameserver entry? What sshould I do
for creating /etc/resolv.conf and add one nameserver entry? Wich nameserver
?

Q14: Can I do now ipkg update ???

Q15: I have a SanDisk compactFlash 64 MB memory module. What should I do to
have familiar take this extension into account ???

Q16: I have Stowaway keyboard for the Compaq iPAQ. I went to the Wikki
Hardware Project page < http://www.handhelds.org/z/wiki/HardwareProjects/ >
to see how to have it work with the iPAQ but I don't understand what I have
to do.

Q17: This is not a question. I just want to thank you for reading me until
that stage.
I want as well to thanks in advance all people who are going to spend a bit
of their time to help me to have this stuff done.
I am sorry for my DUMMIES QUESTIONS BUT THAT'S WHAT I AM.
I am a complete NEWBIE but I am craving to become a new member of your
user/developer community.

Thanks again

Regards

---
Latyr Jean-Luc FAYE
http://faye.cjb.net