I am looking to acquire a copy of Red Hat Linux. How can I do this? Is there more than one way to do this?
Red Hat Linux is available on CD directly from Red Hat Software or from various Red Hat Linux resellers; it is also available via FTP from many sites around the world. (See Sections E.4 and E.12.1.)
I have a problem with a package. I would like to see if an update to that package has been made available from Red Hat. Where can I look for this?
Keep your eye on the Red Hat Linux Errata. (See Section E.2)
Also check the contrib directory on our FTP mirrors for packages that users have contributed. We also make periodic announcements to the redhat-announce-list mailing list.
I am looking for other people who use Red Hat Linux so that I can discuss a problem I would like to use Red Hat Linux to fix. Or I am having problems with Red Hat Linux that are outside of the installation support that was provided. Where can I turn to for answers?
In general, mailing lists and newgroups are the best way of getting in touch with other Red Hat Linux users. Many of the applicable mailing lists and newsgroups are listed in Section E.4.
I need to make changes to a program that came with Red Hat Linux. Does Red Hat Linux include source code for this program?
Yes. We include the exact source code that was used to build the distribution. From release 2.0 on, Red Hat Linux has been built with the RPM packaging system; RPM only uses pristine source (the same as what you'd find at the author's site), possibly including a Red-Hat-supplied patch. The sources (along with any patches) are contained in a source RPM file.
To install a source RPM, use the following command:
rpm -iv packagename-n.nn-r.src.rpm
RPM installs sources under the redhat source tree, which is /usr/src/redhat by default (you can configure the directory using the topdir command in /etc/rpmrc). Spec files (packagename-n.nn.spec) are installed in /usr/src/redhat/SPECS, while source archives and patch files go in /usr/src/redhat/SOURCES.
To unpack the source once it's installed, change to /usr/src/redhat/SPECS and use the following command:
rpm -bp packagename-n.nn.spec
RPM unpacks the source into /usr/src/redhat/BUILD/packagename-n.nn and applies any patches listed in the spec file.
For more information, please read the RPM manual page and visit the RPM
website at:
http://www.rpm.org/.
I purchased the Red Hat Linux boxed set and have been having problems with the cd. It looks like it is scratched, or it just doesn't read. I even tried it on another system. What should I do?
If you are experiencing physical problems with the product you received (e.g., your manual is missing pages or your CD is scratched), please contact the Sales Office at Red Hat Software (Section E.3)
We'll make sure the problem is rectified promptly. Please do not report these problems on the redhat-list or to Red Hat Support, as it is likely an isolated problem, and your product simply needs to be replaced.
(Note: This is not a common problem, but it does happen from time to time.)