Finally, Haiku coming to life!

Well, a lot of positive changes today.
First, I downloaded a newer version of Haiku's daily build (from 18/02/08) and found that I got an Internet (wired) connection immediately on boot. So, a huge step forward.
Then I tried to install Links (text browser) from this link (bottom of comment posted on 15-02-08) and this worked fine although Links takes a bit of getting used to for anybody accustomed to GUI browsers.
However, in the same link as above I saw that there is available a weekly-updated Haiku super-pack that is expandable to 1 GB HDD size and has quite a lot of apps and other stuff included in the package. Get this from here.
Now I did this and installed but couldn't get an Internet connection with the latest super-pack.
So I downloaded an earlier version (Feb 9) and same result--no Internet.
I noticed also that those Haiku's that gave an Internet connection (actually only one up to this point) gave a broadcast address of 255.255.255.255 while all the others gave something like 192.168.1.255.
Then I made a dramatic discovery: trying out one of the super-packs, I noticed that the network was set as Nat while the only one version that gave a connection was set at Bridged.
So, I changed from Nat to Bridged (goto Dell page, edit settings,set on Ethernet and change from Nat to bridged).
Internet connection was immediate and the broadcast address changed to 255.255.255.255

Before I discovered that the super-packs could have Internet too, I downloaded Opera (for BeOS) 3.62 in the Haikuware site (on the Mac). Then, as the file was only 2.05 MB in size, I transferred it to the Dell using cl1p.net (which is supposed to take a max file size of 2 MB but took this slightly larger one without complaint.
This was a .bin file and the way to install these is:

1) Go to directory where the .bin file is
2) chmod +x filename.bin #make the file executable
3) ./filename.bin #now it will install

So, all-in-all, a very successful day although the Opera version and that of Firefox in the super-packs are very clunky and difficult to use. What's more, you just can't get to your personal iGoogle in either browser.

Still struggling with internet connection to Haiku

What I have found is that:
1) I can ping to the local host (127.0.0.1)
2) I can ping to the OS IP (right now it's set at 192.168.1.0)
3) Cannot ping to anything else

Another thing I found is that the Network Preferences box seems to go back to Static from DHCP when I shut it down. I thought that perhaps, as my router is not set up to accept static IPs, it was getting confused with this and this was the reason for me not being able to get an Internet connection.
Still asking questions in the forums but getting few answers and , up to now, no valuable answers.

A little progress on Haiku

Actually, not a lot of progress as I still don't have an Internet connection. Nevertheless, I saw a blog where the guy seemed to have no problem getting Internet although he complained about no browser being available. I posted to him asking him how he did it.
I think it may come down to me compiling the driver for the Marvell NIC but I'm really not at all sure how to do this.
A major problem here is that you're basically on your own as the Haiku forum seems almost dead.
Anyway, I did get the Deskbar back (not sure how but it just came back) and changed the resolution to 1280x1024 and it really does look good in VMware.
But, I need to get Internet otherwise there really will be little point in sticking to this. Might move on the FreeBSD.

Haiku now running on my Dell 4550

Aparently there are Haiku VM images all ready to be started in VMware Server here. So, I downloaded the latest one, unzipped it (using unzip) and loaded the .vmdk and .vmx files into a folder called Haiku. Then i opened VMware Server and started up Haiku. Worked well.
Haiku, from what I've seen so far seems very limited. Up to now, I can't even get an internet connection and no significant apps seem to be available.
Note that the .vmdk file is only 100MB so it's not surpreising it's limited.
The latest BeOS .vmdk is over 300MB which, although still very small, shuld be a little more interesting.

First look at Haiku

Today I tried to get Haiku running in VMware server on the Dell 4550 but ran into a kernel panic, probably because the guide I was using was not well written.
Haiku is an OS in development and is not Linux-based.
I'm interested to get involved in something like this from the very (well, almost) beginning as this might be exciting.
Also, something other than Linux looks highly interesting too.
I had a problem while trying to install Haiku which I posted in the Haiku forum.