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- From: johnsonm@stolaf.edu
- Subject: Linux META-FAQ
- Message-ID: <1993Jun29.092313.19045@news.stolaf.edu>
- Followup-To: poster
- Summary: This is a quick summary of the information available about the
- Linux operating system, explaining where other information can
- be found. This should be read by anyone wishing to install
- Linux, and by anyone who wishes to find other sources for
- information on Linux.
- Originator: johnsonm@lars.acc.stolaf.edu
- Keywords: linux info faq
- Sender: news@news.stolaf.edu
- Reply-To: johnsonm@stolaf.edu
- Organization: St. Olaf College; Northfield, MN USA
- Date: Tue, 29 Jun 1993 09:23:13 GMT
- Approved: linux-announce@tc.cornell.edu (Matt Welsh)
- Lines: 232
- Xref: senator-bedfellow.mit.edu comp.os.linux.announce:841 comp.os.linux:48580 comp.answers:1146 news.answers:9807
-
- Archive-name: linux-faq/meta-faq
- Last-modified: 13 Apr 93
- Version: 3.01
-
- Linux Meta-FAQ
-
-
- This is the Meta-FAQ for Linux. It is mainly a list of valuable
- sources of information. Check these sources out if you want to
- learn more about Linux, or have problems and need help. Lars
- Wirzenius (wirzeniu@cc.helsinki.fi) wrote the first version of
- this document, and it is now maintained by Michael K. Johnson
- (johnsonm@stolaf.edu). Mail me if you have any questions about
- this document.
-
- NOTE: Filenames in this article are for the tsx-11.mit.edu ftp
- site (see below for names of more ftp sites). Files are usually
- located in similar places on other sites. The names are relative
- to the directory /pub/linux/ on tsx-11.
-
-
- What is Linux?
- Linux is a clone of the UNIX operating system that has been
- written entirely from scratch. It has no proprietary code in
- it. Linux is freely distributable under the GNU Public
- License. It only works on IBM PC compatibles with an ISA or
- EISA bus and a 386 or higher processor. See the FAQ for more
- exact hardware requirements. The Linux kernel is written by
- Linus Torvalds (torvalds@kruuna.helsinki.fi) from Finland.
- Most of the programs running under Linux are generic Unix
- freeware, many of them from the GNU project.
-
-
- The Linux FAQ
- A collection of common problems and their solutions. Answers
- many questions faster than the net. Stored on many Linux ftp
- sites (docs/FAQ/) and rtfm.mit.edu, the general archive site
- for all FAQs.
-
-
- Linux newsgroups
- There are two Usenet newsgroups for Linux: comp.os.linux and
- comp.os.linux.announce. The latter contains important stuff
- like announcements of new programs or versions, the former
- all the discussion. It is a good idea to follow at least
- c.o.l.a if you use Linux.
-
-
- 0.1 Getting Linux
-
-
- 0.1.1 Linux FTP sites
-
- A more complete list of Linux FTP sites is in the Linux
- INFO-SHEET (docs/INFO-SHEET). The most important sites are
- listed here; please see the INFO-SHEET for a site nearer to you
- (there are many mirrors).
-
- textual name numeric addr Linux directory
- ======================= ============== ===============
- tsx-11.mit.edu 18.172.1.2 /pub/linux
- sunsite.unc.edu 152.2.22.81 /pub/Linux
- nic.funet.fi 128.214.6.100 /pub/OS/Linux
-
- These sites are the main ``home'' sites for Linux where most
- uploads take place. There are many mirror sites; please use the
- closest (network-wise) site to you.
-
-
- 0.1.2 Linux on BBS's
-
- Zane Healy posts (around the beginning and middle of the month)
- a list of BBS's that have Linux available for download. Try them
- if you can't FTP. This list is available by ftp as docs/bbs.list
- at tsx-11.
-
-
- 0.1.3 Linux on physical media
-
- Linux is distributed on floppies by at least Softlanding
- Software (910 Lodge Ave, Victoria, B.C, Canada, V8X-3A8, (604)
- 360-0188) for USD 3.25/disk. This is mostly the same SLS
- distribution that is available via FTP (see below). The diskette
- distribution is mostly meant for people who can't FTP. SLS is
- also now producing a CD-ROM of the SLS release.
-
- Marco Scheibe (mykee@cs.tu-berlin.de), Klaus Weidner
- (klaus.weidner@physik.tu-muenchen.de) and Gert Doering
- (gert.doering@physik.tu-muechen.de) will copy Linux (the
- complete SLS distribution, including X, possibly other things as
- well) for you, if you send them diskettes and return postage.
- Contact them via e-mail first.
-
- Yggdrasil Computing is producing a CD-ROM with Linux. Currently
- a beta version is available (beta referring to the fact that the
- contents are still evolving) This is a completely new
- distribution, not SLS. A complete listing of files is available
- via FTP from netcom.com in directory pub/yggdrasil. There is
- also a manual and other information there. Contact
- yggdrasil@netcom.com or call (510)526-7531, 9am-5:30pm,
- California time.
-
- Also check advertisements/* at tsx-11 for advertisements of
- other ways to get linux, including a list of people that will
- make copies for you at low prices.
-
- If you know of other distributors, send me a note!
-
-
- 0.1.4 Commercial networks
-
- GEnie mirrors most of tsx-11 and sunsite (including SLS).
- CompuServe has only very limited very old Linux archives.
-
-
- 0.1.5 Mailservers and such
-
- The trickle server TRICKLE@AWIWUW11.BITNET, aka
- TRICKLE@AWIWUW11.EARN, aka TRICKLE@AWIWUW11.wu-wien.ac.at, send
- mail to one of these addresses with a body consisting of /HELP.
-
-
- 0.2 Linux distributions (aka ``releases'')
-
-
- Linux is distributed by its author only as a kernel. Other
- people have put together ``distributions'' that can be used.
- These distributions pair the kernel as released by the author
- with software, to make a complete working package. Most releases
- include application programs as well as system software,
- providing ``one stop shopping'' for Linux.
-
- Jim Winstead and H.J. Lu maintain the boot and root disks. These
- two form more or less the ``official'' release. It is fully
- functional, but only has the bare essentials. The filenames are:
- images/bootimage-xxx.Z and images/rootimage-xxx.Z (xxx stands
- for the version number). They're also hard to install for
- newcomers; I'd go for the SLS release (below) if you're new to
- Linux and want all of the goodies.
-
- The SLS (Softlanding Linux System) release is rather complete
- and has more or less all of the software you could possibly want
- for any Linux system. This release is what all new Linux users
- should install: it's easy to do and since most people have used
- the SLS Linux distribution, if you have any problems there are
- many people out there who can give you help. The SLS release is
- updated periodically, with ``full'' updates taking place every
- few weeks. You can find the SLS release on
- tsx-11.mit.edu:/pub/linux/packages/SLS/.
-
- H.J. Lu (the Linux GCC maintainer) also has another set of
- disks, including a combined boot and rootdisk, and some
- additional disks with more programs. This package assumes you
- are already familiar with Linux, and at least some of it may be
- incorporated to the work of Jim Winstead. See directories
- packages/GCC/rootdisk and packages/GCC/basedisk on tsx-11.
-
-
- 0.3 Linux mailing-lists
-
-
- Used mostly for discussion between developers of new features
- and testers of pre-release versions. See addresses in the FAQ.
-
-
- 0.4 Linux News --- summaries of annoucements
-
-
- A weekly summary of announcements of new programs and other
- interesting news. Edited by Denise Tree, posted to
- comp.os.linux.announce, comp.os.linux and the LINUXNEWS channel
- on the linux-activists mailing list (see the FAQ for info on
- joining mailing lists). It is also available via GEnie. Intended
- for people who don't have time or energy to sift through the
- high volume of comp.os.linux.
-
-
- 0.5 Other newsgroups are useful, too
-
-
- At least the groups comp.unix.{
- questions,shell,programming,bsd,admin}, and
- comp.windows.x.i386unix should be useful for a Linux user. If
- you have a problem that is not directly Linux-related, ask it in
- these groups, not in c.o.l (which is too big for some people as
- it is).
-
-
- 0.6 Documentation for various programs
-
-
- Many programs come with some sort of documentation, often in a
- file called README or something similar. It is a VERY good idea
- to read them with care. It is boring to see (and answer)
- questions that are answered in the documentation.
-
-
- 0.7 Keeping track of current releases
-
-
- New releases, programs, and ports are usually announced in
- comp.os.linux. finger torvalds@klaava.helsinki.fi to get some
- information about the current kernel (often long!). See also the
- next item.
-
-
- 0.8 The Linux Project Registry
-
-
- Maintained by James Callison, a list of ``who is doing what''.
- See the list itself for mail addresses. Posted every two weeks
- to comp.os.linux. Contains information about the current status
- for included projects.
-
-
- 0.9 The Linux Hardware Compatibility List
-
-
- Posted occasionally to comp.os.linux.announce, and found on the
- major Linux FTP sites (tsx-11:docs/bbs.list). This list lists
- some of the devices and hardware that Linux currently supports.
- It's useful for anyone wanting to purchase or upgrade their
- system. Be aware that it cannot be complete, as there is more
- hardware out there than Linux users can own.
-
-
- 0.10 Legalese
-
-
- Trademarks are owned by their owners. Satisfaction not
- guaranteed. No warranties about this document. Void where
- prohibited.
-