Linux Software Distributions

# 2 Linux Software Distributions

Contents of this section

This section describes complete distributions of Linux software, available either via anonymous FTP or from mail order.

In each of the following entries, my own comments are followed by the information from the distributors themselves. You may safely disregard anything I say. :)

An oft-recurring question in the Linux world is, ``What distribution should I choose?'' This is not an easy question to answer: It depends greatly on your needs and available resources.

The current de facto standard distribution is the Slackware release. Slackware is easy to install and fairly complete. It's also more or less up-to-date with current versions of Linux software. The Linux Installation HOWTO documents installation of Slackware. I personally recommend Slackware for most new Linux users.

However, if you have a CD-ROM drive, you have more distributions to choose from. I haven't personally reviewed most of them, and you're more likely to get help from people on the Net for distributions such as Slackware (which is available freely on the Net, as well as on CD-ROM). On the other hand, some CD-ROM distributions come with documentation and support of their own. All I can say is that a good number of people have had success installing and using the Slackware distribution.

The Debian distribution is currently under development. I have had a chance to play with the beta versions of Debian and it looks very promising. It is being developed and maintained in a semi-closed team of people (instead of by a single individual), so we hope that once Debian matures it will grow into the "standard" Linux distribution, and the matter will be closed.

The bottom line is that there's no easy way to pick a distribution out of the air. My own suggestion is to use Slackware. Other people will suggest MCC-Interim, TAMU, and others based on their own experience. By way of disclaimer, I don't use Slackware myself (in fact, I don't use any standard Linux distribution), but I have installed it for testing purposes.

## 2.1 Slackware Linux Distribution

Distributor:

  Patrick Volkerding, `volkerdi@mhd1.moorhead.msus.edu`.

Description:

  Slackware Linux is a full featured distribution of the Linux operating system designed for 386/486 computers with a 3.5" floppy. Slackware changes rapidly, but here's a current (partial) feature list:

  A series (14 disks):

    Base Linux 1.0 kernel OS and utilities. Networking, UUCP, gcc/g++ 2.5.8, libc 4.5.24, and more.

  E series (5 disks):

    Emacs 19.22.

  F series (1 disk):

    FAQs, HOWTOs, and other documentation.

  OI series (3 disks):

    ObjectBuilder 2.0 for X.

  X series (5 disks):

    Base XFree86 2.1 X windows system with fvwm.

  XAP series (2 disks):

    X windows applications such as seyon and ghostview.

  XD series (3 disks):

    X windows program/server development.

  XV series (2 disks):

    XView 3.2 release 5, Open Look Window Manager.

  Y series (1 disk):

    Games from BSD, such as "hunt".

Availability:

  The home site is `ftp.cdrom.com`, where the latest distribution can be found in `/pub/linux/slackware`. To make it easy to download, the disks can also be found pre-zooed in `/pub/linux/zooed_slackware`. (Zoo is just a compression utility for MS-DOS).

Ordering:

  FTP only, although various independent distributors provide it on disk, floppy, and CD.

Entry last modified:

  5 Nov 93.

## 2.2 MCC Interim Linux

The current MCC-Interim release is based on 0.99.pl10, which is quite robust. If you are one of those people who demands to be on top of the current release, you'll need to upgrade your kernel (easy to do) and possibly your version of GCC and libraries. However, I see no reason why 0.99.pl10 shouldn't be good enough, at least to get you started.

Distributor:

  Dr. A. V. Le Blanc, `LeBlanc@mcc.ac.uk`.

Description:

  Base Linux installation. Complete sources and patches for all included software are available. Full details vary from release to release; see `/pub/linux/mcc-interim/*/Acknowledgements` at `ftp.mcc.ac.uk`. Roughly: this includes the kernel (with source), C, C++, groff, man pages, basic utilities, networking. The binaries fit on 6 or 7 floppies. It is also possible to have them on a DOS or Linux partition on a hard drive (plus one floppy) or on an NFS-mountable partition (plus two floppies). New versions appear at 2-3 month intervals, depending on various factors.

Availability:

  By anonymous ftp from `ftp.mcc.ac.uk`; mirrored at `tsx-11.mit.edu`, `nic.funet.fi`, and elsewhere. At `ftp.mcc.ac.uk`, in `/pub/linux/mcc-interim`.

Miscellaneous:

  Suggestions and contributions are welcome.

Entry last modified:

  31 Oct 93.

## 2.3 TAMU Linux Distribution

Distributor:

  Dave Safford, Texas A&M University, `dave.safford@net.tamu.edu`.

Description:

  TAMU.99p12+ is the latest release in the TAMU linux series. Unlike previous releases, this one includes both integrated source and binary sets, with the entire binary set created from a single top level source make. This ensures that all programs are compiled and linked with the same current tools and libraries, and guarantees availability of working source for every program in the binary set. In addition, the new boot diskette fully automates the installation process, including partitioning, lilo bootstrapping, and network configuration. Installation requires no rebooting, and requires the user to know only the host's name and IP address. At every step of installation, the program provides intelligent defaults, making it a snap for novices, while allowing experts full flexibility in setting installation parameters. Reliability has been improved over past TAMU installation by the use of labels on all disk images, so that the program can detect and recover from bad or misordered diskettes.

  This release is a full featured package, including XFree86-1.3, emacs-19.18, net-2, bootutils, and sources for all installation programs (without any use restrictions :-).

Availability:

  The latest TAMU release is available by anonymous ftp `from net.tamu.edu:pub/linux`.

Entry last modified:

  31 Oct 93.

## 2.4 Linux Support Team Erlangen Distribution (LST)

Distributor:

  The Linux Support Team Erlangen, a small group of students at the University of Erlangen-Nuernberg. Contact Stefan Probst (`snprobst@cip.informatik.uni-erlangen.de`) or Ralf Flaxa (`rfflaxa@informatik.uni-erlangen.de`). Probably, there will be a collective address soon.

Description:

  The LST distribution's goal is to provide a solid, reliable, easy to install (even for beginners) and well-documented system. We are not hunting for the newest kernel or gcc versions. We do updates when they are necessary or provide really new functionality, are well tested, integrated in the system and working smoothly with the rest of the system. The distribution consists of a base system and additional packages. Currently the following packages are available: doku (doc), text, tex, develop, xdevelop, xbasis, xappl, xemacs, tinyx, network, grafik, src, misc.

  The complete system is 50 HD disks and 1500 pages printed documentation including the LDP guides (IGS,KHG,NAG), HOWTOs, FAQs, the german Linuxhandbuch, install-guide and many other useful documents we collected over the time.

  Our distribution is preconfigured for german users and comes with a 50 page step by step installation guide that leads you through the menu-driven installation scripts (both in german). We started this distribution to help newcomers with their first steps into Linux. Therefore our scripts are smart enough to handle all of the ``dirty work'' like setting up system configuraton (including LILO, modem, mouse, mounts, mtools, access to DOS, users, X11) and network configuration (TCP/IP, Routing, Mail, News, UUCP, SLIP).

  Historically (and of course easier for us) most of the documentation for this distribution is written in german, sorry, but we are planning to translate those documents in english, but at the moment we don't have time for this. Any volunteers are welcome!

  Our scripts also accept to install SLS and Slackware packages, but with no warranty if they work well together with the rest of the system.

Availability:

  Via anonymous ftp: `ftp.uni-erlangen.de` under `pub/Linux/LST.Distribution`, or on 3.5" disks (also on one QIC-80 tape).

Ordering:

  order at following adress: Stefan Probst, In der Reuth 200, 91056 Erlangen, Germany.

  - complete documentation (IGS, LHB, KHG, GDB, NAG, HOWTOs, FAQs, Installguide) together over 1500 pages for DM 139,-- (plus shipping).
  - complete documentation plus complete distribution on QIC-80 tape (about 65 MB) for DM 199,-- (including shipping in Germany).
  - complete documentation plus complete distribution on about 50 3.5" disks for DM 269,-- (including shipping in Germany).

Entry last modified:

  21 Dec 93.

## 2.5 S.u.S.E. GmbH German Linux CD-ROM

Distributor:

  > `S.u.S.E. GmbH
  > Gebhardtstr. 2
  > 90762 Fuerth
  > Germany`

Description:

  This is a CD especially for German users. It contains a german version of the Slackware Distribution and two additional german distributions based on Slackware and SLS. It contains additional software, such as the Postgres system, the pbm-Tools and lots of other tools and utilities (ctwm window manager, GREAT environment, andrew toolkit, the POV-ray raytracer and so on). The source code of the complete system is included, too, as is a live system to enable using software without the need to install everything to the harddrive. The current version of the CD contains version 1.2.0 of the Slackware distribution containing version 1.0 of the linux kernel, version 2.5.8 of the GNU-Compiler and XFree86tm 2.1.

  A german installation guide will help new users to successfully install the system.

  The CD ist updated every three months, so the next one will be released in July 1994.

Ordering:

  You can order by mail, by phone (49-911-74053-31), by Fax (49-911-7417755) or by sending email to `bestellung@suse.de`.

  Price: The price for a single CD is 89,-- DM for new customers. If you are already a S.u.S.E.-customer, you will get the CD for an update-price of 78,-- DM. There is also the posibility to subscribe for one year; then you will receive 4 CDs for the price of 230,-- DM.

  Disks: Of course, you can get the german version of the Slackware Distribution on 3,5" disks. You can get either a basis version of the distribution (about 28 disks) for 89,-- DM, the "standard" version (about 38 disks) for 119,-- DM or the "full" version (about 59 disks) for 159,-- DM. The update prices are 69,-- DM, 94,-- DM and 139,-- DM respectively.

  Documentation: S.u.S.E. is selling high-quality printed issues of the books from the Linux Documentation project (LDP) for people that would like to have a real book and not only printed loose papers. The prices are 24,-- DM for Matt Welsh's Linux Installation and Getting Started, 39,-- DM for Olaf Kirch's Network Administrators' Guide and 29,-- DM for Michael K. Johnson's Kernel Hackers' guide. Additionally, S.u.S.E. offers the complete O'Reilly series which is the best documentation available for Unix in general. Of course you can order the well known german Linux books: Deutsches Anwenderhandbuch for 49,-- DM and Linux - vom PC zur Workstation for 38,-- DM.

  Motif: Metrolink Motif for Linux is available for the price of 169,-- DM for the runtime system only and for the price of 288,-- DM you will get the runtime and development system.

Miscellaneous:

  Service and support for our customers by Email, Fax, snail mail and phone (hotline Monday and Thursday from 13:00h-17:00h.)

  Free info material and catalogues of CDROMs and books. (All Infomagic Unix CDs available).

  Selling commercial software for Linux.

  Development of individual software for Linux and other Unix systems.

  Almost anything concerning Linux - just ask!

Entry last modified:

  23 May 1994

## 2.6 Debian Linux Distribution

Distributor:

  Ian A. Murdock, `imurdock@gnu.ai.mit.edu`.

Description:

  For those of you who are not familiar with Debian, it is an effort to create a well thought-out, powerful, flexible yet complete Linux distribution. The motivations behind Debian are detailed in the Debian Manifesto, a copy of which can be acquired as described below.

  For up-to-date information, please look at the files in the directory `/pub/Linux/distributions/debian/info` at `sunsite.unc.edu`. If you do not have access to the Internet or FTP, you may obtain printed copies by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to:

      The Debian Linux Association
      Station 11
      P.O. Box 3121
      West Lafayette, IN  47906
      USA

  This information includes how Debian can be obtained (via FTP or mail-order), why Debian is being constructed (the Manifesto) and other general information (including how to join the Debian mailing lists).

Availability:

  Debian has not yet been "officially" released, but BETA releases are available to the general public at `sunsite.unc.edu` in the directory `/pub/Linux/distributions/debian`.

Entry last modified:

  21 Feb 94.

## 2.7 Yggdrasil Plug-and-Play Linux CD-ROM and the Linux Bible

Distributor:

  > `Yggdrasil Computing, Incorporated
  > 4880 Stevens Creek Blvd., Suite 205
  > San Jose, CA 95129-1034
  > toll free (800) 261-6630, (408) 261-6630, fax (408) 261-6631
  > `info@yggdrasil.com``

Description:

  Yggdrasil Plug-and-Play Linux is a complete CD-ROM distribution of the Linux operating system. It includes a great deal of software---nearly every package that you would expect to find on a complete UNIX system is available. A complete file list is available via FTP from `yggdrasil.com`.

  The Linux Bible is a compendium of Linux documentation, including 3 books from the Linux Documentation Project, The Yggdrasil installation manual, and the complete set of Linux HOWTO guides.

  At the top of the sophistication hierarchy, programmers who want to explore or add the occasional feature know that Yggdrasil is the Linux distribution with a fully buildable source tree and with the ability to automatically trace installed files back to their sources.

  Users who want maximum performance will appreciate that the major system components have been recompiled with `-O6` optimization, and the SCSI clustering which reduces the build time on the source tree from 28 to 22 hours (over 20%) on 486DX2-66. Using IDE? Activate the multisector IDE code!

  Everybody, especially new users, will appreciate the Plug-and-Play operation for which Yggdrasil's product is named. Put the media in a computer with supported hardware, turn the computer on, and it's running everything, straight from the CDROM.

  The login screen lists a number of preconfigured user names, including "install", which installs the system, giving paragraphs of explanation about every question that it asks the user. The install script even searches for a modem, and, upon finding it, configures mail and UUCP so that mail sent to an internet address is transparently delivered through a bulletin board system at Yggdrasil.

  X windows configuration is automated too, prompting the user for configuration information the first time `xinit` is run.

  From X windows, a graphical control panel allows simple ``fill in the blanks'' configuration of networking, SLIP, outgoing UUCP, the printer, NNTP, and many other features that previously required the knowledge of a system administrator to configure.

  For more information, send mail to `info@yggdrasil.com`, FTP to `yggdrasil.com`, or contact us by any convenient method.

Ordering:

  Plug-and-Play Linux costs $39.95 is and available directly from Yggdrasil or from your local computer, software or technical book store. If Plug-and-Play Linux is not available from your favorite reseller, help promote Linux by making it your mission to change that. Give your reseller our phone number and demand that they carry Plug-and-Play Linux.

  Yggdrasil offers a $10 discount for upgrades or crossgrades. Send us your old Yggdrasil release and a check for $29.95 + $5 shipping and handling to upgrade. Or do the same, but send us a competing distribution such any version of SCO, Esix, minix, or one of the CD's with the slackware floppy images, and tell us where you got it, so that we can make sure that your favorite reseller carries our products too.

Miscellaneous:

  Yggdrasil also sells OSF/Motif and The Linux Bible, a compilation of works from the Linux Documentation project. In addition to a copy of the Plug-and-Play Linux manual, The Linux Bible includes Linux Installation and Getting Started, Network Administrator's Guide, Kernel Hacker's Guide, and HOWTO guides on hardware compatibility, distributions, dos emulation, ethernet, floppy tape, installation, mail, networking version 2, MGR (an alternative to X windows), X windows, usenet news, printing, SCSI, serial communications, sound, and UUCP. The Linux Bible costs $39.95 and is printed on recycled paper. $1 from every copy sold is donated to the Linux Documentation Project. OSF/Motif costs $149.95, $5 of which is donated to the development of a free Motif clone.

Entry last modified:

  16 May 1994

## 2.8 Linux from Nascent CD-ROM

Distributor:

  Nascent Technology

Description:

  The Linux from Nascent CDROM is a new distribution of the Linux operating system which includes over 400 mbytes of source code, binaries, and documentation for Linux and applications. It features automated root, swap, package, network, and user account installation from CDROM. Linux can be can be run directly from the CDROM and floppy. The Nascent CDROM features Xwindows, Openlook, TeX, GNU compiler and utilities, Magic and Spice electronic design tools, and over 100 high resolution images translated from Kodak PhotoCD(TM). Each source archive is distributed with an associated notes file to allow you to browse and install applications using a consistent interface.

  A listing of the contents of the Nascent CDROM as well as a current copy of the CDROM announcement and order form may be obtained via anonymous ftp at `netcom.com:/pub/nascent`.

Ordering:

  The Linux from Nascent CDROM, Version 1.0, is only $39.95 plus shipping and handling. Nascent also offers the Linux from Nascent Plus package for only $89.95, which includes six months of email support and a 30\% discount off a future release of the CDROM with your CDROM purchase. Nascent accepts Mastercard, VISA, checks, and money orders as payment.

  To order your Linux from Nascent CDROM, mail, email or fax a completed order form to:

      Nascent Technology
      Linux from Nascent CDROM
      P.O. Box 60669
      Sunnyvale CA 94088-0669 USA
      Tel: (408) 737-9500
      Fax: (408) 241-9390
      Email: nascent@netcom.com

Entry last modified:

  28 Nov 93.

## 2.9 Unifix 1.02 CD-ROM

Distributor:

  Unifix Software GmbH, Braunschweig, Germany

Description:

  This is a Linux CD-ROM distribution with emphasis on easy and fast installation. Though it is possible to install everything on the harddisk, we do not recommend so, because it runs fast enough directly from CD. For example starting emacs the first time (in text mode) takes:

        From single speed Mitsumi: 24 s
        From double speed Mitsumi: 11 s
        From Toshiba 3401:          7 s

  The dynamic buffer cache of Linux takes care of the second and subsequent times a program is started, which needs less than one second.

  Our system requires about 5 MB on the hard disk for configuration files and system management tools. Additionally we recommend a 16 MB swap partition. The distribution contains most of the standard programs in current versions, e.g. Linux 0.99.15e, XFree 2.0, emacs 19.22 and gcc 2.5.7. Full preconfigured source for everything is included.

  Because Unifix is a european distribution it provides full support for iso8859-1 character sets. From the shells and emacs through ls, TeX and the print system everything supports 8-bit characters.

  Printing is supported through System V compatible printer drivers which can be controlled through lp's `-o` options. Printer drivers are included for dumb text mode printers, for postscript- or ghostscript- compatible printers and for networked printing. These drivers know how to guess the type of the files so e.g. compressed man pages or DVI files can be printed directly.

Ordering:

  Unifix is available only on CD. It comes in a Unifix/Linux binder with two boot floppies and about 70 pages of installation instructions in german. An english version will be available Apr 94. The price is 159 DM (about $100) and includes taxes and shipping; Eurocard/Mastercard/Visa are accepted.

      Telephone       +49 (0)531 515161
      Fax             +49 (0)531 515162
      Mail            Unifix Software GmbH
                      Postfach 4918
                      D-38039 Braunschweig
                      Germany

Entry last modified:

  18 Feb 94.

Next Chapter, Previous Chapter

Table of contents of this chapter, General table of contents

Top of the document, Beginning of this Chapter