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- Linux Meta-FAQ
- Michael K. Johnson, johnsonm@nigel.vnet.net
- Version 4.0, November 12, 1994
-
- 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 (john-
- sonm@nigel.vnet.net). Mail me if you have any questions about this
- document.
-
- 1. Introduction
-
-
- 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. 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 (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, or 68040.
- 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 Alpha/AXP, PowerPC, and MIPS is in the works, 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
- (torvalds@kruuna.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.
-
-
- 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.
-
-
- 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.
-
-
- 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 Matt Welsh and Lars
- Wirzenius. To make submissions to the newsgroup, send mail to
- linux-announce@tc.cornell.edu. You may direct questions about
- comp.os.linux.announce to Matt Welsh, mdw@sunsite.unc.edu
-
- The newsgroup comp.os.linux.admin is an unmoderated newsgroup
- for discussion of administration of Linux systems.
-
- The newsgroup comp.os.linux.development is an unmoderated
- newsgroup specifically for discussion of Linux kernel
- development. The only application development questions that
- should be discussed here are those that are intimately
- associated with the kernel.
-
- The newsgroup comp.os.linux.help is an unmoderated newsgroup for
- any Linux questions that don't belong anywhere else.
-
- The newsgroup comp.os.linux.misc is the replacement for
- comp.os.linux, and is meant for any discussion that doesn't
- belong elsewhere.
-
- In general, do not crosspost between the Linux newsgroups. The
- 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...
-
-
- 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. 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.
-
-
- The World-Wide Web
- Matt Welsh, mdw@sunsite.unc.edu, maintains the home WWW page for
- the Linux project. The URL is
- http://sunsite.unc.edu/mdw/linux.html
-
-
- Linux Journal
- A new magazine called Linux Journal was recently launched. It
- includes articles intended for almost all skill levels, and is
- intended to be helpful to all Linux users. Subscriptions are
- $19 in the U.S., $24 in Canada and Mexico, and $29 elsewhere
- around the world, all payable in U.S. funds. Subscription
- inquiries can be sent via email to subs@ssc.com or faxed to
- (U.S.) 1-206-527-2806 or mailed to Linux Journal, PO Box 85867,
- Seattle, WA 98145-1867 USA. Please do not send credit card
- numbers via email; the internet is not secure, and it is
- entirely possible that a technologically adept thief may steal
- your credit card number and cost you a large sum of money if you
- do.
-
-
- 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
-
-
-
- 2. Getting Linux
-
- 3. Linux FTP sites
-
- 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).
-
-
-
- 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.
-
-
- 3.1. Linux on BBS's
-
- 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.
-
-
- 3.2. Linux on physical media
-
- 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.
-
- Also check advertisements/* at tsx-11.mit.edu for advertisements of
- other ways to get linux, including a list of people that will make
- copies for you at low prices. Also available there are advertisements
- for other commercial services related to Linux.
-
-
- 3.3. AFS
-
- Linux is available over AFS by mounting the volume project.linux from
- sipb.mit.edu
-
-
- 3.4. Commercial networks
-
- GEnie mirrors most of tsx-11.mit.edu and sunsite.unc.edu. Compu$erve
- has only very limited very old Linux archives.
-
- 3.5. Mailservers and such
-
- Sunsite offers ftp-mail service --- mail ftpmail@sunsite.unc.edu.
-
-
- 4. 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.
-
- There are several distributions of Linux, which are available at
- various sites. Sunsite mirrors almost all the distributions in
- /pub/Linux/distributions. The recommended distributions are
- Slackware, MCC, and soon, Debian. These are all available for free
- over the internet, and some are also sold on floppies and CD-ROM's.
-
-
- 5. Linux mailing-lists
-
- Used mostly for discussion between developers of new features and
- testers of pre-release versions. See addresses in the FAQ. Many
- lists are based in the Mail-net system at Helsinki University of
- Technology. Send mail to linux-activists-request@niksula.hut.fi, and
- you will get mail explaining how to get any of the many ``channels''
- available. Save this mail, as it tells you how to unsubscribe to the
- channels, and if you post annoying messages to the rest of 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.
-
-
- 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.
-
-
- 7. More Documentation
-
- The Linux Documentation Project is working on a lot of documentation.
- Already, over 800 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.
-
-
- 8. Keeping track of current releases
-
- New releases, programs, and ports are usually announced in
- comp.os.linux.announce. finger torvalds@klaava.helsinki.fi to get
- some information about the current kernel.
-
-
- 9. This Document
-
- The latest version of this document should always be available from
- tsx-11.mit.edu in /pub/linux/docs in the file META-FAQ. A DVI version
- should be available in the same directory as META-FAQ.dvi, and a
- PostScript version as META-FAQ.ps.
-
-
- 10. Legalese
-
- 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.
-