94 lines
5.8 KiB
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94 lines
5.8 KiB
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<!Converted with LaTeX2HTML 95.1 (Fri Jan 20 1995) by Nikos Drakos (nikos@cbl.leeds.ac.uk), CBLU, University of Leeds >
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<TITLE>2.1 Distributions of Linux</TITLE>
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<BR> <HR><A NAME=tex2html2334 HREF="node52.html"><IMG ALIGN=BOTTOM ALT="next" SRC="next_motif.gif"></A> <A NAME=tex2html2332 HREF="node50.html"><IMG ALIGN=BOTTOM ALT="up" SRC="up_motif.gif"></A> <A NAME=tex2html2326 HREF="node50.html"><IMG ALIGN=BOTTOM ALT="previous" SRC="previous_motif.gif"></A> <A NAME=tex2html2336 HREF="node1.html"><IMG ALIGN=BOTTOM ALT="contents" SRC="contents_motif.gif"></A> <A NAME=tex2html2337 HREF="node250.html"><IMG ALIGN=BOTTOM ALT="index" SRC="index_motif.gif"></A> <BR>
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<B> Next:</B> <A NAME=tex2html2335 HREF="node52.html">2.1.1 Getting Linux from </A>
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<B>Up:</B> <A NAME=tex2html2333 HREF="node50.html">2 Obtaining and Installing </A>
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<B> Previous:</B> <A NAME=tex2html2327 HREF="node50.html">2 Obtaining and Installing </A>
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<BR> <HR> <P>
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<H1><A NAME=SECTION00410000000000000000>2.1 Distributions of Linux</A></H1>
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<P>
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<A NAME=secinstalldistributions> </A>
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<A NAME=secinstalldistrib> </A>
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<P>
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<A NAME=686> </A>
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<P>
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Because Linux is free software, no single organization or entity is
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responsible for releasing and distributing the software. Therefore,
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anyone is free to put together and distribute the Linux software,
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as long as the restrictions in the GPL are observed. The upshot of this
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is that there are many distributions of Linux, available via anonymous
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FTP or via mail order.
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<P>
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You are now faced with the task of deciding upon a particular distribution
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of Linux which suits your needs. Not all distributions are alike. Many
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of them come with just about all of the software you'd need to run a complete
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system---and then some. Other Linux distributions are ``small'' distributions
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intended for users without copious amounts of diskspace. Many
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distributions contain only the core Linux software, and you are expected to
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install larger software packages, such as the X Window System, yourself.
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(In Chapter <A HREF="node155.html#chapsysadmnum">4</A> we'll show you
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how.)
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<P>
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The Linux <em>Distribution HOWTO</em> (see Appendix <A HREF="node225.html#appsourcesnum">A</A>)
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contains a list of Linux distributions available via the Internet
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as well as mail order. Appendix <A HREF="node234.html#appvendornum">B</A> also lists contact
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addresses for a number of Linux mail-order vendors. If you purchased this
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book in printed the form, the publisher should also be able to provide
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you with a Linux distribution or tell you who can.
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<P>
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How can you decide among all of these distributions? If you
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have access to USENET news, or another computer conferencing
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system, you might want to ask there for personal opinions from people who
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have installed Linux. Even better, if you know someone who has installed
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Linux, ask them for help and advice. There are many factors to consider
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when choosing a distribution, however, everyone's needs and opinions are
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different. In actuality, most of the popular Linux distributions contain
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roughly the same set of software, so the distribution that you select is
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more or less arbitrary.
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<P>
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This book contains information on installing the popular Slackware and
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Slackware Pro distributions of Linux.
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<P>
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<BR> <HR>
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<UL>
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<LI> <A NAME=tex2html2338 HREF="node52.html#SECTION00411000000000000000">2.1.1 Getting Linux from the Internet</A>
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<LI> <A NAME=tex2html2339 HREF="node53.html#SECTION00412000000000000000">2.1.2 Getting Linux from other online sources</A>
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<LI> <A NAME=tex2html2340 HREF="node54.html#SECTION00413000000000000000">2.1.3 Getting Linux via mail order</A>
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<LI> <A NAME=tex2html2341 HREF="node55.html#SECTION00414000000000000000">2.1.4 Getting Slackware</A>
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<UL>
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<LI> <A NAME=tex2html2342 HREF="node56.html#SECTION00414100000000000000">2.1.4.1 Slackware disk sets</A>
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<LI> <A NAME=tex2html2343 HREF="node57.html#SECTION00414200000000000000">2.1.4.2 Getting Slackware from the Internet</A>
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<UL>
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<LI> <A NAME=tex2html2344 HREF="node58.html#SECTION00414210000000000000">2.1.4.2.1 Downloading the files</A>
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</UL>
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<LI> <A NAME=tex2html2345 HREF="node59.html#SECTION00414300000000000000">2.1.4.3 Getting Slackware on CD-ROM</A>
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<LI> <A NAME=tex2html2346 HREF="node60.html#SECTION00414400000000000000">2.1.4.4 Installation methods</A>
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<UL>
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<LI> <A NAME=tex2html2347 HREF="node61.html#SECTION00414410000000000000">2.1.4.4.1 Creating the boot and root floppies</A>
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<LI> <A NAME=tex2html2348 HREF="node62.html#SECTION00414420000000000000">2.1.4.4.2 Preparing for installation from hard drive</A>
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<LI> <A NAME=tex2html2349 HREF="node63.html#SECTION00414430000000000000">2.1.4.4.3 Preparing for floppy installation</A>
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<LI> <A NAME=tex2html2350 HREF="node64.html#SECTION00414440000000000000">2.1.4.4.4 Preparing for CD-ROM installation</A>
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</UL>
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</UL>
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</UL>
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<BR> <HR><A NAME=tex2html2334 HREF="node52.html"><IMG ALIGN=BOTTOM ALT="next" SRC="next_motif.gif"></A> <A NAME=tex2html2332 HREF="node50.html"><IMG ALIGN=BOTTOM ALT="up" SRC="up_motif.gif"></A> <A NAME=tex2html2326 HREF="node50.html"><IMG ALIGN=BOTTOM ALT="previous" SRC="previous_motif.gif"></A> <A NAME=tex2html2336 HREF="node1.html"><IMG ALIGN=BOTTOM ALT="contents" SRC="contents_motif.gif"></A> <A NAME=tex2html2337 HREF="node250.html"><IMG ALIGN=BOTTOM ALT="index" SRC="index_motif.gif"></A> <BR>
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<B> Next:</B> <A NAME=tex2html2335 HREF="node52.html">2.1.1 Getting Linux from </A>
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<B>Up:</B> <A NAME=tex2html2333 HREF="node50.html">2 Obtaining and Installing </A>
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<B> Previous:</B> <A NAME=tex2html2327 HREF="node50.html">2 Obtaining and Installing </A>
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<BR> <HR> <P>
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<BR> <HR>
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<P><ADDRESS>
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<I>Matt Welsh <BR>
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mdw@sunsite.unc.edu</I>
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