CD Actual 13/CDA13.ISO/DOC/HOWTO/OTHER_FO/SGML/META_FAQ.GZ/META-FAQ.sgml

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<article>

<title>Linux Meta-FAQ
<author>Michael K. Johnson, [e-mail]
<date>v4.5, 16 July 1996
<abstract>
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
([e-mail]) wrote the first version of this document,
and it is now maintained by Michael K. Johnson ([e-mail]).
Mail me if you have any questions about this document.
</abstract>

<sect>Introduction
<p><descrip>
<tag/What is Linux?/
   Linux is an independent implementation of the POSIX operating system
   specification, with SYSV and BSD extensions, that has been written
   entirely from scratch (this means it looks and acts just like Unix).
   It has no proprietary code in it.  Linux is freely
   distributable under the GNU Public License.  It works on IBM PC
   compatibles with an ISA or EISA bus (including local bus variants VLB
   and PCI) and a 386 or higher processor.

   In addition, it also runs on some Amiga and Atari computers with
   MMU's.  This means 68020 with an external MMU, 68030, 68040, or 68060.
   An FPU is also required, and will be until someone writes an
   FPU emulator.  See the /pub/linux/680x0 directory at tsx-11.mit.edu.

   Support for the DEC Alpha is now in the current development
   kernels.
   Red Hat Commercial Linux is currently the only distribution
   available for the Alpha.

   Support for Sparc is rapidly progressing, and both Red Hat
   and Debian have announced forthcoming distributions for
   Sparc.

   Support for ARM, PowerPC, and MIPS is in various stages of
   completion, but don't hold your breath.
   Read comp.os.linux.announce instead.

   See the FAQ for more exact hardware requirements.  The Linux kernel
   is written by Linus Torvalds (Linus.Torvalds@.Helsinki.FI) from
   Finland, and by other volunteers.  Most of the programs running under
   Linux are generic Unix freeware, many of them from the GNU project.

<tag/The Linux FAQ/
   A collection of common problems and their solutions.  Answers many
   questions faster than the net.  Stored on many Linux ftp sites
   (including /pub/linux/docs on tsx-11.mit.edu) and rtfm.mit.edu,
   the general archive site for all FAQs.

<tag/The Linux HOWTO's/
   These are somewhat like FAQ's, but instead of answering common
   questions, they explain how to do common tasks, like ordering
   a release of Linux, setting up print services under Linux,
   setting up a basic UUCP feed, etc.  See sunsite.unc.edu,
   directory /pub/Linux/docs/HOWTO/ for the definitive versions
   of all the HOWTO's.  Other sites with up-to-date copies of
   the HOWTOs are ftp.cc.gatech.edu and tsx-11.mit.edu.

   In addition, there are many short, free-form documents called
   "mini-HOWTOs".  These documents cover very specific subjects,
   such as BogoMIPS or Color-ls.  These are available in the
   directory /pub/Linux/docs/HOWTO/mini/

<tag/Linux newsgroups/
   There are several Usenet newsgroups for Linux.
   It is a good idea to follow at least comp.os.linux.announce if you
   use Linux.  Comp.os.linux.announce is moderated by
   Lars Wirzenius.  To make submissions to the newsgroup, send mail to
   [e-mail].  You may direct questions about
   comp.os.linux.announce to Lars Wirzenius,
   [e-mail]

   The newsgroup comp.os.linux.announce is a moderated
   newsgroup for announcements about Linux (new programs, bug
   fixes, etc).

   The newsgroup comp.os.linux.answers is a moderated newsgroup
   to which the Linux FAQ, HOWTO documents, and other
   documentation postings are made.

   The newsgroup comp.os.linux.setup is an unmoderated newsgroup
   for discussion of issues and problems involved in setting up
   Linux systems.

   The newsgroup comp.os.linux.admin is an unmoderated
   newsgroup for discussion of administration of Linux systems.

   The newsgroup comp.os.linux.development.system is an
   unmoderated newsgroup specifically for discussion of Linux
   <bf/kernel/ development.  The only application development
   questions that should be discussed here are those that are
   intimately associated with the kernel.  All other
   development questions are probably generic Unix development
   questions and should be directed to a comp.unix group
   instead, unless they are very Linux-specific applications
   questions, in which case they should be directed at
   comp.os.linux.development.apps.

   The newsgroup comp.os.linux.development.apps is an
   unmoderated newsgroup specifically for discussion of
   Linux-related applications development.  It is not for
   discussion of where to get applications for Linux, nor a
   discussion forum for those who would like to see
   applications for Linux.

   The newsgroup comp.os.linux.hardware is for Linux-specific
   hardware questions.

   The newsgroup comp.os.linux.networking is for Linux-specific
   networking development and setup questions.

   The newsgroup comp.os.linux.x is for Linux-specific X
   Windows questions.

   The newsgroup comp.os.linux.misc is an unmoderated newsgroup for any
   Linux discussion that doesn't belong anywhere else.

   In general, <bf/do not/ crosspost between the Linux newsgroups.
   The <bf/only/ crossposting that is appropriate is an occasional
   posting between one unmoderated group and comp.os.linux.announce.  The
   whole point of splitting comp.os.linux into many groups is to reduce
   traffic in each.  Those that do not follow this rule will be flamed
   without mercy...

<tag/Other newsgroups/

   Do not assume that all your questions are appropriate for a Linux
   newsgroup just because you are running Linux.  Is your question
   really about shell programming under any unix or unix clone?  Then
   ask in comp.unix.shell.  Is it about GNU Emacs?  Then try asking in
   gnu.emacs.help.  Also, if you don't know another group to ask in, but
   think there might be, politely ask in your post if there is another
   group that would be more appropriate for your question.  At least
   the groups comp.unix.{questions,shell,programming,bsd,admin}, and
   comp.windows.x.i386unix should be useful for a Linux user.

<tag/The World-Wide Web/

   Greg Hankins, [e-mail], maintains the home WWW page for
   the Linux project.  The URL is http://sunsite.unc.edu/mdw/linux.html

<tag/Linux Journal/

   A magazine called <em/Linux Journal/ was launched over two
   years ago.  It includes articles intended for almost all
   skill levels, and is intended to be helpful to all Linux
   users.  Subscriptions are $22 in the U.S., $27
   in Canada and Mexico, and $32 elsewhere around the
   world, all payable in U.S. funds. Subscription inquiries can
   be sent via email to [e-mail] or faxed to (U.S.)
   1-206-782-7191 or mailed to Linux Journal, PO Box 85867,
   Seattle, WA 98145-1867 USA.  SSC has a PGP public key if
   you wish to send your credit card number via encrypted
   email: finger [e-mail]

<tag/The Maps/

   Information on free software available for Linux can be found in the
   Linux Software Map, which can be found on sunsite.unc.edu in
   /pub/Linux/docs/LSM.gz

   Information on non-commercial projects can be found in the Projects Map,
   which is posted occasionally to comp.os.linux.announce and is stored
   at sunsite.unc.edu in /pub/Linux/docs/Projects-Map/Projects-Map.gz.

   Information on commercial products can be found in the Linux Commercial
   Products Map, which is posted occasionally to comp.os.linux.announce

</descrip>

<sect>Getting Linux
<sect>Linux FTP sites
<p>
A more complete list of Linux FTP sites is in the Linux INFO-SHEET,
which can always be found at tsx-11.mit.edu in the directory
/pub/linux/docs/.  A DVI version is in INFO-SHEET.dvi, and a
PostScript version is in INFO-SHEET.ps.
The most important sites are listed here; please
see the INFO-SHEET for a site nearer to you (there are many mirrors).

<!--
\noindent\begin{tabular}{lll}
{\bf Textual name}        &  {\bf Numeric address} & {\bf Linux directory}
\\\hline
tsx-11.mit.edu                & 18.86.0.44      & /pub/linux \\
sunsite.unc.edu               & 152.2.22.81     & /pub/Linux \\
ftp.funet.fi                  & 128.214.248.6   & /pub/Linux \\
\end{tabular}
-->
<tscreen><verb>
textual name             numeric addr    Linux directory
=======================  ==============  ===============
tsx-11.mit.edu           18.86.0.44      /pub/linux
sunsite.unc.edu          152.2.22.81     /pub/Linux
ftp.funet.fi             128.214.248.6   /pub/Linux
</verb></tscreen>

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.

<sect1>Linux on BBS's
<p>
Occasionally, someone posts a list of BBS's that have Linux
available for download.  Try them if you can't FTP.  This list is
available by ftp from tsx-11.mit.edu as /pub/linux/docs/bbs.list.  You
may use ftpmail (described
elsewhere in this document) to get this list if you have mail access,
or ask a friend with internet access to get it for you.

<sect1>Linux on physical media
<p>
Linux is distributed on physical media, including floppies, CD-ROM,
and tape, by several commercial vendors.  Please read the distribution
HOWTO, posted regularily to comp.os.linux.announce, and available for
ftp at sunsite.unc.edu as /pub/Linux/docs/HOWTO/distribution-HOWTO.

<sect1>AFS
<p>
Linux is available over AFS by mounting the
volume project.linux from sipb.mit.edu

<sect1>Commercial networks
<p>
GEnie mirrors most of tsx-11.mit.edu and sunsite.unc.edu.
Compu$erve also has some Linux archives.

<sect1>Mailservers and such
<p>
Sunsite offers ftp-mail service --- mail [e-mail].

<sect>Linux distributions (aka ``releases'')
<p>
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.

There are several distributions of Linux, which are available at
various sites.  Sunsite mirrors almost all the distributions in
/pub/Linux/distributions.  The most commonly-recommended
freely-available distributions are
Red Hat, Debian, and Slackware.  These are all available for
free over the internet, and are also sold on floppies and CD-ROM's.

There are other distributions of Linux as well. Most commercial
distributors of Linux advertise in <em/Linux Journal/ as well.

<sect>Linux mailing-lists
<p>
Used mostly for discussion between developers of new features and testers
of pre-release versions.  See addresses in the FAQ.
Send mail to [e-mail] with the single word
<tt/help/ in the body of the message , and you will get
mail explaining how to subscribe to the many Linux mailing
lists there.
Save this mail, as it tells you how to unsubscribe from the lists,
and if you post annoying messages to the list complaining
about not being able to get off the list (because you didn't follow
instructions and save the mail telling you how to unsubscribe), you
will likely be flamed for wasting international bandwidth and money.

<sect>Documentation for various programs
<p>
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.

<sect>More Documentation
<p>
The Linux Documentation Project is working on a lot of
documentation.  Already, over 1600 pages of book-style documentation
has been released to the general public, and a large set of man pages
has also been released, with more to follow.  Check
sunsite.unc.edu:/pub/Linux/docs/LDP for documents written by the LDP.
The LDP also provides the HOWTO's, described above.

<sect>Keeping track of current releases
<p>
Important new releases, programs,
and ports are usually announced in comp.os.linux.announce.  <tt/finger
[e-mail]/ or
<tt/finger @linux.cs.helsinki.fi/ to get some information about the current
kernel.

<sect>This Document
<p>
The latest version of this document should always be available from
<url url="http://sunsite.unc.edu/mdw/linux.html">

<sect>Legalese
<p>
Trademarks are owned by their owners.  Satisfaction not guaranteed.
No warranties about this document. Void where prohibited.

The content of this document is placed in the public domain, but
if you quote it, please be polite and attribute your source.
</article>