To run LinuxCNC on Ubuntu Precise 12.04 with RTAI
- Install Ubuntu Precise 12.04 x86 (32-bit). Any flavor should work (regular Ubuntu, Xubuntu, Lubuntu, etc). 64-bit (AMD64) is currently not supported. You can download the installer here: http://releases.ubuntu.com/precise/
- Run sudo apt-get update followed by sudo apt-get dist-upgrade to bring the machine up to date with the latest packages in Ubuntu Precise.
- Create a file called /etc/apt/sources.list.d/linuxcnc.list, containing the line: deb http://linuxcnc.org precise base
- Add the LinuxCNC Archive Signing Key to your apt keyring by running sudo apt-key adv --keyserver hkp://keys.gnupg.net --recv-key 8f374fef
- Run sudo apt-get update again to fetch the package list from linuxcnc.org.
- Install the RTAI kernel and modules by running: sudo apt-get install linux-image-3.4-9-rtai-686-pae rtai-modules-3.4-9-rtai-686-pae
- If you want to be able to build LinuxCNC from source using the git repo, also run sudo apt-get install linux-headers-3.4-9-rtai-686-pae
- Reboot, and make sure you boot into the rtai kernel. When you log in, verify that uname -r says 3.4-9-rtai-686-pae
- Create a file called /etc/apt/sources.list.d/linuxcnc-buildbot.list, containing one of these lines (depending on which version of linuxcnc you want):
- deb http://buildbot.linuxcnc.org precise 2.6-rt
- deb http://buildbot.linuxcnc.org precise master-rt
- deb http://buildbot.linuxcnc.org precise v2.5_branch-rt
- Run sudo apt-get update again to fetch the package list from the buildbot. This will complain as the buildbot does not sign its package archive. I know, I know, it's on my todo-list....
- Run sudo apt-get install linuxcnc
- Machine away!
We're interested in feedback on this new, experimental RTAI kernel. Let us know on the emc-users or emc-developers mailing lists if it works, or if it doesn't.