396 lines
18 KiB
Plaintext
396 lines
18 KiB
Plaintext
Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.announce,comp.os.linux,news.answers
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Subject: Linux INFO-SHEET
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Keywords: linux info
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Approved: linux-announce@tc.cornell.edu (Matt Welsh)
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Archive-name: linux-faq/info-sheet
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Last-modified: 7 Jan 93
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Version: 2.02
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LINUX INFORMATION SHEET
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by Lars Wirzenius (lars.wirzenius@helsinki.fi) and
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maintained by Matt Welsh (mdw@tc.cornell.edu).
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Earlier versions done by other people.
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0. About this INFO-SHEET
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This INFO-SHEET tries to be a concentrated distillation of the
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necessary information one needs to decide whether Linux is a
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suitable operating system for you. It is kind of an
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advertisment, although hopefully more truthful.
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This INFO-SHEET is posted every other week to the
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comp.os.linux and comp.os.linux.announce newsgroups.
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This document is now written/maintained by Matt Welsh, write him
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if you have changes, additions, or questions.
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1. What Is Linux?
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Linux is a freely distributable UNIX clone. It is mostly
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compatible with System V and POSIX specifications, but is
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quite compatible with BSD as well.
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The Linux kernel has been written from scratch, and therefore
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does not contain any proprietary code, either from AT&T,
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MINIX, or other places--not in the kernel, the compiler, the
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utilities, or the libraries. For this reason it can be made
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available with the complete source code via anonymous FTP.
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(The software that runs under Linux, on the other hand, is
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mostly already existing Unix freeware, with a lot of stuff
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coming from the GNU Project.)
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Linux runs only on 386/486 machines with an ISA or EISA bus;
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porting to other architectures is likely to be difficult, as
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the kernel makes extensive use of 386 memory management and
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task primitives (but there are people working on at least an
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Amiga port). MCA is not supported because there is little
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available documentation (especially for poor-hacker -friendly
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prices) about it. (See below for more information on
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hardware.)
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Linux is still in beta testing and therefore not really
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considered to be suitable for production work (although it is
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used for that anyway). There are still bugs in the system,
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and since it develops rapidly, new bugs creep up often.
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However, some releases are quite stable, and you can stay with
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those if you don't want to be on the bleeding edge. Some
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sites have been running Linux systems continuously doing real
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work for more than 50 days, without a single reboot, crash, or
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other lock-up!
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One thing to be aware of is that Linux is developed using an
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open and distributed model, instead of a closed and
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centralised model like much other software. This means that
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the current development version is always public (with up to a
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week or two's delay) so that anybody can use it. The result
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is that whenever a version with new functionality is released,
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it almost always contains bugs, but it also results in a very
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rapid development so that the bugs are found and corrected
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quickly, sometimes in hours.
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(The closed and centralised model means that there is only one
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person or team working on the project, and they only release
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software that they think is working well. Often this leads to
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long intervals between releases, long waiting for bug fixes, and
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slower development. Of course, the latest release of such
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software is often of higher quality.)
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As of January 21, 1993 the current version is 0.99 patchlevel 4.
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2. Linux Features
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* multitasking: several programs running at once
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* multiuser: several users on the same machine at once (and NO
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two-user licenses!)
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* memory protection between processes, so that one program can't
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bring the whole system down
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* core dumps for post-mortem analysis (using a debugger on a
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program after it has crashed)
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* demand loading of executables: only read in those parts of a
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program that are actually used
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* virtual memory using paging (not swapping whole processes) to
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disk, to a separate partition or a file in the filesystem, or
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both, and with a possibility to add more swapping areas at
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runtime (they're still called swapping areas)
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* shared pages among executables with copy-on-write
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* shared libraries (static too, of course)
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* a unified memory pool for user programs and disk cache (so
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that all free memory can be used for caching, and the cache
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can be reduced when running large programs)
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* mostly compatible with POSIX, System V, and BSD at the source
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level
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* all source code is available, including the whole kernel and
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all drivers, the development tools and all user programs;
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also, all of it is freely distributable
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* POSIX job control
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* pseudoterminals (pty's)
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* 387-emulation in the kernel so that programs don't need to
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include math emulation packages
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* support for many national or customized keyboards, and it's
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fairly easy to add new ones
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* runs in protected mode of the 386
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* multiple virtual consoles: several independent login sessions
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through the console, you switch by pressing a hot-key
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combination (not dependent on video hardware)
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* normal and extended Minix filesystems (the extended version
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supports up to 4 TB, filenames up to 255 chars)
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* transparent access to MS-DOS partitions (or OS/2 FAT
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partitions) via a special filesystem: you don't need any
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special commands to use the MS-DOS partition, it looks just
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like a normal Unix filesystem (except for funny restrictions
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on filenames, permissions, and so on)
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* CD-ROM filesystem
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* Xenix filesystem
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In addition the following are being worked on (in various states of
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usability):
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* networking (TCP/IP, including ftp, telnet, etc)
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* compressed file system
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* Xenix binary compatibility
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3. Hardware Issues
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Minimal configuration
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The following is probably the smallest possible configuration
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that Linux will work on: 386SX/16, 2 MB RAM, 1.44 MB or 1.2 MB
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floppy, any supported video card (+ keyboards, monitors, and
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so on of course). This should allow you to boot and test
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whether it works at all on the machine, but you won't be able
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to do anything useful.
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In order to do something, you will want some hard disk space
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as well, 5 to 10 MB should suffice for a very minimal setup
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(with only the most important commands and perhaps one or two
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small applications installed, like, say, a terminal program).
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This is still very, very limited, and very uncomfortable, as
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it doesn't leave enough room to do just about anything. (It's
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definitely not recommended for anything but testing if things
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work, and of course to be able to brag about small resource
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requirements. :-)
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Usable configuration
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If you are going to run computationally intensive programs,
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such as gcc, X, and TeX, you will probably want a faster
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processor than a 386SX/16, but even that should suffice if you
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are patient.
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In practice, you need at least 4 MB of RAM if you don't use X,
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and 8 MB if you do. Also, if you want to have several users
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at a time, or run several large programs (compilations for
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example) at a time, you may want more than 4 MB of memory. It
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will still work with a smaller amount of memory (should work
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even with 2 MB), but it will use virtual memory and that will
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be so slow it's unusable.
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The amount of hard disk you need depends on what software you
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want to install. The normal basic set of Unix utilities,
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shells, and administrative programs should be comfortable in
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less than 10 MB, with a bit of room to spare for user files.
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For a more complete system, the SLS documentation reports that
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a full base system without X fits into 20 MB, and with X into
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40 MB (this is only binaries). Add the whatever space you
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want to reserve for user files.
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Add more memory, more hard disk, a faster processor and other
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stuff depending on your needs, wishes and budget to go beyond
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the merely usable.
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Supported hardware
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Note: For a really complete list of Linux's hardware support,
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see the Linux Hardware Compatibilty list put together by Zane
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Healy (healyzh@holonet.net). It's posted every now and then to
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comp.os.linux.announce.
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CPU: Anything that runs 386 protected mode programs (all
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models of 386s and 486s should work; 286s don't work, and
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never will).
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Architecture: ISA or EISA bus (you still need an ISA-bus hard
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disk controller, though). MCA (aka PS/2) does not work.
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Local bus should work.
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RAM: Theoretically up to 1 GB (but more than 16 MB requires a
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kernel recompilation). (It will work with "too much" memory,
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but it won't use it.)
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Data storage: Generic AT drives (IDE, 16 bit HD controllers
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with MFM or RLL), generic XT controllers (8 bit controllers
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with MFM or RLL) need a special driver (not currently part of
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the standard kernel), SCSI hard disks and CD-ROM. Supported
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SCSI cards: Adaptec 1542 (but not 1522), the 1740 in extended
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(not 1542 compatible) mode, Seagate ST-01 and ST-02, Future
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Domain TMC-88x series (or any board based on the TMC950 chip)
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and TMC1660/1680, Ultrastor 14F, and Western Digital wd7000.
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SCSI and QIC-02 tapes.
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Video: VGA, EGA, CGA, or Hercules (and compatibles) work in
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text mode. For graphics and X, there is support for (at
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least) EGA, normal VGA, some super-VGA cards (most of the
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cards based on ET3000, ET4000, Paradise, and some Trident
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chipsets), some S3 cards (not Diamond Stealth, because the
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manufacturer won't tell how to program it) and 8514/A. (Linux
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uses the Xfree86 X server, so that determines what cards are
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supported.)
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Other hardware: SoundBlaster, AST Fourport cards (with 4 serial
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boards), several flavours of bus mice (Microsoft, Logitech,
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PS/2).
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4. An Incomplete List of Ported Programs and Other Software
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Most of the common Unix tools and programs have been ported to
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Linux, including almost all of the GNU stuff and many X
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clients from various sources. Actually, ported is often too
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strong a word, since many programs compile out of the box
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without modifications, or only small modifications (maybe
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being POSIXy and following standards isn't so bad :).
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Unfortunately, there are not very many end-user applications.
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Nevertheless, here is an incomplete list of software that is
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known to work under Linux.
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Basic Unix commands: ls, tr, sed, awk and so on (you name it,
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we've probably got it).
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Development tools: gcc, gdb, make, bison, flex, perl,
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rcs, cvs, gprof.
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Graphical environments: X11R5 (Xfree86), MGR.
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Editors: GNU Emacs, MicroEmacs, elvis, joe.
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Shells: Bash, zsh, tcsh, rc.
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Telecommunication: UUCP, kermit, szrz, minicom, pcomm, xcomm,
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term (runs multiple shells over one modem line), and Seyon.
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News and mail: C-news, trn, nn, tin, smail, elm.
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Textprocessing: TeX, groff.
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Games: Nethack, several Muds and X games.
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5. Getting Linux
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Anonymous FTP
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At least the following anonymous ftp sites carry Linux. This
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list is taken from the Meta-FAQ list, which is posted every
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week to the comp.os.linux newsgroup (the Meta-FAQ is updated
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more often than this information sheet, so the list below may
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not be the most current one).
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textual name numeric addr Linux directory
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tsx-11.mit.edu 18.172.1.2 /pub/linux
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sunsite.unc.edu 152.2.22.81 /pub/Linux
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nic.funet.fi 128.214.6.100 /pub/OS/Linux
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ftp.mcc.ac.uk 130.88.200.7 /pub/linux
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fgb1.fgb.mw.tu-muenchen.de 129.187.200.1 /pub/linux
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ftp.informatik.tu-muenchen.de 131.159.0.110 /pub/Linux
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ftp.dfv.rwth-aachen.de 137.226.4.105 /pub/linux
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ftp.informatik.rwth-aachen.de 137.226.112.172 /pub/Linux
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kirk.bu.oz.au 131.244.1.1 /pub/OS/Linux
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ftp.uu.net 137.39.1.9 /packages/linux
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wuarchive.wustl.edu 128.252.135.4 mirrors/linux
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ftp.win.tue.nl 131.155.70.100 /pub/linux
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ftp.stack.urc.tue.nl 131.155.2.71 /pub/linux
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srawgw.sra.co.jp /Linux
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ftp.ibr.cs.tu-bs.de 134.169.34.15 /pub/os/linux
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cair.kaist.ac.kr /pub/Linux
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ftp.denet.dk 129.142.6.74 /pub/OS/linux
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tsx-11 and fgb1 are the official sites for Linux' GCC. ftp.mcc is home of
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the MCC interim release. Some sites mirror other sites. Please use the
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site closest (network-wise) to you.
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Other methods of obtaining Linux
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There are several BBS's that have Linux files. A list of them
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is maintained by Zane Healy; he posts it to the comp.os.linux
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newsgroup around the beginning and middle of the month, please
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see that post for more information.
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There is also at least one organization that distributes Linux
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on floppies, for a fee. Contact
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Softlanding Software
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910 Lodge Ave.
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Victoria, B.C., Canada
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V8X-3A8
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(608) 360-0188
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The price is US$3.25 per disk ($4.00 Canadian) in 5.25" format
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(add $1/disk for 3.5"). Add GST (7%) and PST/SST as
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applicable, plus $10.00 for S&H (outside North America, add
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$10.00). (Prices may change without notice.) There are 13
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disk in a base system, 21 if you want X.
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Also, don't forget about friends and user's groups, who are
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usually glad to let you make a copy.
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Getting started
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As mentioned at the beginning, Linux is not centrally
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administered. Because of this, there is no "official" release
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that one could point at, and say "That's Linux". Instead,
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there are various "distributions", which are more or less
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complete collections of software configured and packaged so
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that they can be used to install a Linux system. The two most
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important ones are the SLS and MCC releases.
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SLS is put together by Peter MacDonald, and is the more
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full-featured one. It contains most of the available
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software, and includes X. MCC is maintained by Owen LeBlanc
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at the Manchester Computing Centre, and has a longer history
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than SLS, but it doesn't contain X, and some other goodies.
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Either one serves as a starter's package.
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I really recommend SLS to anyone who's serious about getting
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started with Linux. The MCC release at this point is VERY dated
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and you'll have to upgrade everything as it is. Other releases,
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such as the boot/root disks, are usually more recent, but only
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contain the essential system software and you generally have to
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install them by hand.
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The first thing you should do is to get and read the list of
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) from one of the FTP sites, or
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by using the normal Usenet FAQ archives (e.g.
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pit-manager.mit.edu). This document has plenty of
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instructions on what to do to get started, what files you
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need, and how to solve most of the common problems (during
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installation or otherwise).
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6. Legal Status of Linux
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Although Linux is supplied with the complete source code, it
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is copyrighted software, not public domain. However, it is
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available for free under the GNU Public License. See the GPL
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for more information. The programs that run under Linux have
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each their own copyright, although much of it uses the GPL as
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well. All of the software on the FTP site is freely
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distributable (or else it shouldn't be there).
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7. News About Linux
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There is a Usenet newsgroup, comp.os.linux, for Linux
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discussion, and also several mailing lists. See the Linux FAQ
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for more information about the mailing lists (you should be able
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to find the FAQ either in the newsgroup or on the FTP sites).
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The newsgroup comp.os.linux.announce is a moderated newsgroup
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for announcements about Linux (new programs, bug fixes, etc).
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For the current status of the Linux kernel, finger
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torvalds@kruuna.helsinki.fi.
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There is also a more or less weekly "newsletter", Linux News,
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which summarizes the most important announcements and uploads,
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and has occasional other articles as well. Look in
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comp.os.linux.announce for a sample issue.
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8. Future Plans
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Work is underway on Linux version 1.0, which will close some
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of the gaps in the present implementation. The major
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functionality shortcomings are advanced interprocess
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communication (semaphores, shared memory), closer
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compatibility with POSIX, and a lot of tweaking.
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Documentation is also sorely missing, but is being worked on
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by those on the "Linux Documentation Project" (the DOC channel
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of the linux-activists mailing list). By April 1993 there should
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be a complete installation and getting started manual for
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Linux.
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9. Legalese
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Trademarks are owned by their owners. There is no warranty
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about the information in this document.
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