% ~ftp/pub/OS/Linux/README % arl@hut.fi ed. % Created: Tue Jul 16 03:36:31 1991 % Last modified: Wed Jan 15 02:15:51 1992 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Linux -- The free Minix like Un*x clone is here. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- This file is updated constantly. NOT to be published ... contains unreleased information. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- For hackers only Linux version 0.12 code and sources available here. nic.funet.fi will also be site for Linux binaries, Directory structure: INSTALL contains everything you should have to get Linux up and running. bin binaries for /bin, /usr/bin and /usr/contrib/bin doc documents and man pages images boot and root images etc. kernel kernel and driver sources lib lib sources tools tools for hackers, not for common use xtra community contributed diffs and utilities. incoming you can FTP 'put' your stuff here, see next section for putting. Check file 'ls-laR', which contains "ls -laR" listing. Eh ... for people having question 'but my site doesn't have FTP' ... Just mail to 'mailserver@nic.funet.fi' and put command "help" to mail _body_ (body is the part where you write your messages/text and is not related to mail header, which contains lines like 'To: foobar'). Mailserver is not official .. it's under testing, to it might work or not, but don't flame me about it ... I take only 'thanks' mails (nice to get them for work you didn't do ;-) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Putting Linux stuff to nic.funet.fi ... Please use directory /pub/OS/Linux/incoming Please use FTP command "binary" for binary i.e. stuff like *.tar, *.tar.Z, or runable binaries etc. Our FTP is _hacked_, so you or anybody won't see the stuff in there, until I enable it. I try to check directories constantly, but you might also want to throw me a mail ?-) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- If you are willing to support Linux development, please "mail arl@hut.fi" .. and tell what goodies you are willing to do - I try to organize. Or you might use mailing list ... Or you might want to send mail directly to 'torvalds@cs.helsinki.fi' ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Linux mailing list (is _MANUALLY_ kept) addresses: For subscribing and unsubscribing: linux-activists-request@niksula.hut.fi For mailing real articles: linux-activists@niksula.hut.fi Please, do NOT send subscribe/unsubscribe mails to linus-activist@niksula.hut.fi, or I and other people will *flame* you, and you'll notice, how your mailbox filled up ;-). You even might get dozens of copies of netiquette from net users ... How to find out, who's on the list ? Just "telnet joker.cs.hut.fi 25" ('25' or 'smtp') tell our smtp, you want to "vrfy linux-activists", then you have the list of users. Say "quit" to quit. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- current status can be asked with "finger torvalds@kruuna.helsinki.fi" here's sample entry: Free UNIX for the 386 - coming 4QR 91 or 1QR 92. Most system calls are now implemented (including mount/umount), and they are almost POSIX, so porting programs to it is relatively easy. The official version has still no floppy support, but that will be out next week (and there is a update already, though not official). It still needs minix to be installed (stand-alone boot-floppy coming this month). Linux can now be gotten by anonymous ftp from 'nic.funet.fi' in the directory '/pub/OS/Linux'. The same directory also contains some binary files to run under Linux. Currently gcc, bash, update, uemacs, tar, make and fileutils. Several people with minix have gotten a running system, but it's still a hackers kernel. There is also a mailing list set up 'Linux-activists@niksula.hut.fi'. To join, mail a request to 'Linux-activists-request@niksula.hut.fi'. Mail for more info. Linus (torvalds@kruuna.helsinki.FI) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- At HUT (Helsinki University of Technology) I try to use students for programming work to make Linux better. So could you, if you are teacher. Linux might be even more suitable for teaching purposes than Minix. My experiencies with Minix are not promising, I got about 1/3 of given projects back i.e. 2/3 were unfinished. Projects were like 'create symlinks to Minix' or 'do a device driver for XX adapter'. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Some of the features I'd like to have (maybe I'll also code them): o adding some features from my own OS. - STREAMS I/O, now only subset - Kernel development environment Should be like configuring BSD kernel. o Socket stuff from BSD. o BSD net stuff or Xkernel. o Mach. I try to check what's usable in Mach. I took keyboard stuff from Mach to my own OS, but floppy stuff was too complicated (spaghetti-code), so I coded it again. Maybe some parts of kernel is also usable. o Portability o Modularity Like device drivers should have multiple levels; high/medium for abstraction and low level for specific card/chip support. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- More info from: torvalds@kruuna.helsinki.fi arl