11.Starting from Stage1
 
Note: If you are not starting from a stage1 tarball, skip this section.
 
The stage1 tarball is for complete customization and optimization. If you have picked this tarball, you are most likely looking to have an uber-optimized and up-to-date system. Have fun, because optimization is what Gentoo Linux is all about! Installing from a stage1 takes a lot of time, but the result is a system that has been optimized from the ground up for your specific machine and needs.
 
Now, it is time to start the "bootstrap" process. This process takes about two hours on my 1200MHz AMD Athlon system. During this time, the GNU C library, compiler suite and other key system programs will be built. Start the bootstrap as follows:
 
Code listing 11.1: Bootstrapping
 
# cd /usr/portage
# scripts/bootstrap.sh
 
The "bootstrap" process will now begin.
 
Note: Portage by default uses /var/tmp during package building, often using several hundred megabytes of temporary storage. If you would like to change where Portage stores these temporary files, set a new PORTAGE_TMPDIR before starting the bootstrap process, as follows:
 
Code listing 11.2: Changing Portage's Storage Path
 
# export PORTAGE_TMPDIR="/otherdir/tmp"
 
bootstrap.sh will build binutils, gcc, gettext, and glibc, rebuilding binutils, gcc, and gettext after glibc. Needless to say, this process takes a while. Once this process completes, your system will be equivalent to a "stage2" system, which means you can now move on to the stage2 instructions.