Subject: Linux META-FAQ Linux operating system, explaining where other information can be found. This should be read by anyone wishing to install Linux, and by anyone who wished to find ot
From: [email-masked]
Date: 23 Mar 93 10:23:21 GMT
Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.announce,comp.os.linux,comp.answers,news.answers

Archive-name: linux-faq/meta-faq
Last-modified: 20 Mar 93
Version: 3.00

                                 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 ([email-masked])  wrote the  first version of 
        this document,  and it is  now maintained by  Michael K. Johnson 
        ([email-masked]). 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  ([email-masked])  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   pit-manager.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. 

        Marco      Scheibe   ([email-masked]),    Klaus   Weidner 
        ([email-masked])           and       Gert      Doering 
        ([email-masked])  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 ftp/pub/yggdrasil. There is 
        also    a   manual   and   other   information   there.  Contact 
        [email-masked]    or   call   (510)526-7531,   9am-5:30pm, 
        California time. 

        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). Rumor 
        has   it  that  CompuServe  also   has  some  Linux  archives  [ 
        confirmation welcome ] . 

        0.1.5 Mailservers and such 

        The        trickle    server     [email-masked],    aka 
        [email-masked], aka  [email-masked], 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/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 
        GCC/rootdisk and 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 [email-masked]  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.  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.