I was wondering if you have to use Ubuntu to install and use EMC. I ask because I have Fedora Core 5 running already. Is it possible to use my Fedora?

Google Fedora Core and EMC2. My recollection is that someone else has been working on using Fedora Core with EMC2. The problem is that the closer to cutting edge that you run on the operating system the more work you will have to do to get it to run. EMC and EMC2 both use RTAI real time support modified kernels. So the newer your kernel the more likely that you are to have to do the kernel modification yourself. This is not an impossible task just extra work.

Mark Shaver and somebody else were working on getting EMC2 running on "puppy" linux.

Ubuntu is related to Debian and several people have used Debian.

Alan

if you google BDI EMC (brain dead install) there is a couple versions , depending on your computer there is a dumpster grade pc BDI EMC as well for slower systems

Puppy Linux with EMC2, Axis, and RTAI is called CoolCNC. Find the ISO here:

http://cooltool.he.fdread.org/cncforum/coolcnc/coolcncb05.iso
http://dotpups.de/isos/coolcncb05.iso

Manual here:

http://www.thecooltool.com/files/coolcnc-lin-engl-30-05-06.pdf

RipperSoftware

I'm running Fedora 5 on this computer, but I don't think I would try it for EMC. At work, we were using it on a robot, and it kept crashing. I don't know what the problem is, but it does seem like the Fedora philosophy is to never get to a stable release.

Well thanks for the replies folks. I will do a little more research, and probably just go Ubuntu. I just wanted to have everything under one setup.

http://dsplabs.utt.ro/~juve/emc/

these are bdi , with full operations systems , from what i understand is the ubuntu is a little heavier on resourses

'just wanted to let you guys know that I have
successfuly installed EMC2 on Slackware version.
I did it from scratch, did the patching the configuring
and learnt some linux in the process.
Not easy but it's kinda fun.

'just wanted to let you guys know that I have
successfuly installed EMC2 on Slackware version.
I did it from scratch, did the patching the configuring
and learnt some linux in the process.
Not easy but it's kinda fun.

That's good news...I am just trying to do the same but with no success...

slp_prlzys: did you patch with RTAI or RT? I got ker 2.6.15.1 patched with RTAI 3.3. on Slackware 10.2. but emc2 complaint about loading RTAI modules. Have you jotted down some notes for non expert (like me)? That would be great!

did you patch with RTAI or RT?

I'm using the RTAI3.3 with kernel 2.4.31, I tried RTL but couldn't make it work,
I think tho if try it again I could prob'ly make it work now( learning as I go).

I also tried kernel 2.6.13, I think the patch from rtai3.3 is not a match,
as it gives some kinda of error that I've yet to decipher :)

Sorry I can't help you much I'm a newbie to Linux.
If your using axis tho, you could put it in the emc2 /src folder so emc would
also compile it, for some reason I can't install axis separately it keeps asking me about "Plat" something. Also if you build axis inside emc and you install emc2 instead of run-in-place, you should copy 3 files from (source) emc2 bin folder to /usr/local/bin, if you compare both dir you'll know which ones to copy, and you need to copy a couple of folders from the same source to /usr/local/share or something I'll get back to you on that. If you build emc2 run-in-place you don't need to worry 'bout it.

I basically just followed the install doc. :0

EDIT-1: You need to copy this files if you did make install:
python folder from (src)emc2/lib/ directory > /usr/local/lib
axis and docs folder from (src)emc2/share > /usr/local/share
(there's another one, darnt it I should have written it :)

And make sure you don't include the parallel port in the kernel, you could make it as a module instead (maybe that's what gives you error). Don't forget
to enable adeos support when you do the configure thingy( I think that's the only way rtai would install).
And also you need a bewidget package to run Axis ( I suspect it's included in
axis folder, but I don't know how to install it, I just download the bewidget package and install it separately and it works.)
I forgot about the fuser thing, it got me the first time I launch emc2, you
have to make a symlink of fuser from /usr/bin dir to /bin dir.( I may have it backwards find fuser first)


EDIT:

BTW if you figure out how to properly configure a stepper setup pls.
let us know, I'm still working on it.

At last!!! EMC2 with Axis display properly working on a Slackware 10.2 Ker 2.6.15.1 RTAI 3.3 patched.
Pinout configured following EMC2 manual instruction (pag. 64).
I had to disable hotplug: chmor -x /etc/rc.d/rc.hotplug to avoid authomatic loading of parport_pc module. Once this one is loaded, it prevents Emc from working even though it is removed afterward.