1411 lines
59 KiB
Plaintext
1411 lines
59 KiB
Plaintext
From: ijackson@nyx.cs.du.edu (Ian Jackson)
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Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.announce,comp.os.linux.help,comp.answers,news.answers
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Subject: Linux Frequently Asked Questions with Answers
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Keywords: FAQ, new, Linux
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Summary: Please read this before posting to comp.os.linux.help.
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Followup-To: poster
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Approved: Jonathan I. Kamens <news-answers-request@mit.edu>,
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Matt Welsh <linux-announce-request@tc.cornell.edu>
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Expires: 25 Nov 1993 09:21:37 GMT
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Date: 21 Oct 1993 09:21:37 GMT
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Message-ID: <ijackson-linux-faq2-9-1993@nyx.cs.du.edu>
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Supersedes: <ijackson-linux-faq2-8-1993@nyx.cs.du.edu>
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Archive-Name: linux/faq
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Last-Modified: 21 Oct 1993
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This is the list of Frequently Asked Questions about Linux, the free Unix
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for 386/486 [see Q1.1 `What is Linux ?' for more details]. It should be
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read in conjunction with the HOWTO documents, which are available in
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nic.funet.fi (128.214.6.100) /pub/OS/Linux/doc/HOWTO
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tsx-11.mit.edu (18.172.1.2) /pub/linux/docs/HOWTO
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sunsite.unc.edu (152.2.22.81) /pub/Linux/docs/HOWTO
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and mirror sites thereof -- see Q2.4 `Where can I get Linux material by
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FTP ?'. See Q2.1 `Where can I get the HOWTOs and other documentation ?'
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for a list of the HOWTOs and more information. The INFO-SHEET and
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META-FAQ, found in the same place, also list other sources of Linux
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information.
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The Linux Documentation Project documentation is available on
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sunsite.unc.edu in /pub/Linux/docs/LDP. These documents (more are in
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preparation) are invaluable to the newcomer or for use as a reference
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work.
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Please check out these documents and this FAQ, especially Q9.1 `You still
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haven't answered my question !', before posting your question to the
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newsgroup comp.os.linux.help.
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You can skip to a particular question by searching for `Question n.n'.
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See Q10.2 `Formats in which this FAQ is available' for details of where to
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get the PostScript and Emacs Info versions of this document.
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===============================================================================
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Index
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Section 1. Introduction and General Information
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Q1.1 What is Linux ?
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Q1.2 What software does it support ?
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Q1.3 Does it run on my computer ? What hardware is supported ?
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Q1.4 How much hard disk space does Linux need ?
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Q1.5 Is Linux PD ? Copyrighted ?
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Q1.6 How should I pronounce Linux ?
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Section 2. Network sources and resources
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Q2.1 Where can I get the HOWTOs and other documentation ?
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Q2.2 What newsgroups are there for Linux ?
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Q2.3 How do I install Linux ?
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Q2.4 Where can I get Linux material by FTP ?
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Q2.5 I don't have FTP access. Where do I get Linux ?
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Q2.6 I don't have Usenet access. Where do I get information ?
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Q2.7 What's this mailing list thing at niksula.hut.fi ?
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Q2.8 Are the newsgroups archived anywhere ?
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Section 3. Compatibility with other operating systems
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Q3.1 Can Linux coexist with DOS ? OS/2 ? 386BSD ? Minix ?
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Q3.2 How do I access files on my DOS partition or floppy ?
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Q3.3 Can I use my Stacked/DBLSPC/etc. DOS drive ?
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Q3.4 Can I access OS/2 HPFS, BSD FFS, Mac, Amiga, etc filesystems ?
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Section 4. Linux's handling of filesystems, disks and drives
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Q4.1 How do I format and create a filesystem on a floppy ?
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Q4.2 I get nasty messages about inodes, blocks, and the suchlike
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Q4.3 My swap area isn't working.
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Q4.4 How can I have more than 16Mb of swap ?
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Q4.5 How do I remove LILO so my system boots DOS again ?
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Q4.6 Why can't I use fdformat except as root ?
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Q4.7 Is there something like Stacker or Doublespace for Linux ?
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Section 5. Porting, compiling and obtaining programs
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Q5.1 Has anyone ported / compiled / written XXX for Linux ?
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Q5.2 How do I port XXX to Linux ?
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Q5.3 Can I use code or a compiler compiled for a 486 on my 386 ?
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Q5.4 GCC sometimes uses huge amounts of virtual memory and thrashes
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Q5.5 What does gcc -O6 do ?
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Q5.6 Where are <linux/*.h> and <asm/*.h> ?
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Q5.7 I get errors when I try to compile the kernel.
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Section 6. Miscellaneous questions and problems
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Q6.1 Free memory as reported by free keeps shrinking.
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Q6.2 What is a BogoMip ?
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Q6.3 How do I set the timezone ?
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Q6.4 What version of Linux and what machine name am I using ?
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Q6.5 When I add more memory it slows to a crawl.
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Q6.6 Some programs (e.g. xdm) won't let me log in.
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Q6.7 Some programs let me log in with no password.
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Q6.8 My machine runs very slowly when I run GCC / X / ...
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Q6.9 I can only log in as root.
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Q6.10 How do I stop producing core files ?
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Q6.11 My screen is all full of weird characters instead of letters.
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Q6.12 What is a .gz file ? And a .tgz ? And ... ?
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Q6.13 I have screwed up my system and can't log in to fix it.
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Q6.14 How do I upgrade my kernel ?
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Q6.15 Can I have more than 3 serial ports by sharing interrupts ?
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Q6.16 Emacs just dumps core.
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Q6.17 How do I make a bootable floppy ?
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Q6.18 How do I remap my keyboard to UK, French, etc. ?
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Section 7. Frequently Encountered Error messages
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Q7.1 INET: Warning: old style ioctl(IP_SET_DEV) called!
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Q7.2 ld: unrecognized option '-m486'
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Q7.3 GCC says Internal compiler error
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Q7.4 make says Error 139
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Q7.5 df says Cannot read table of mounted filesystems
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Q7.6 shell-init: permission denied when I log in.
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Q7.7 No utmp entry. You must exec ... when I log in.
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Q7.8 EXT2-fs: warning: mounting unchecked filesystem
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Q7.9 fdisk says cannot use nnn sectors of this partition
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Q7.10 fdisk says partition n has an odd number of sectors
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Section 8. X Windows
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Q8.1 Does Linux support X Windows ?
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Q8.2 Where can I get an XConfig for my video card and monitor ?
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Q8.3 I can't get my mouse to work with X Windows.
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Section 9. How to get further assistance
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Q9.1 You still haven't answered my question !
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Q9.2 What to put in a posting to comp.os.linux.help
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Section 10. Administrative information and acknowledgements
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Q10.1 Feedback is invited
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Q10.2 Formats in which this FAQ is available
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Q10.3 Authorship and acknowledgements
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===============================================================================
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Section 1. Introduction and General Information
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Q1.1 What is Linux ?
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Q1.2 What software does it support ?
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Q1.3 Does it run on my computer ? What hardware is supported ?
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Q1.4 How much hard disk space does Linux need ?
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Q1.5 Is Linux PD ? Copyrighted ?
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Q1.6 How should I pronounce Linux ?
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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Question 1.1. What is Linux ?
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Linux is a Unix clone for 386/486-based PCs written from scratch by Linus
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Torvalds with assistance from a loosely-knit team of hackers across the
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Net. It aims towards POSIX compliance.
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It has all the features you would expect in a modern fully-fledged Unix,
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including true multitasking, virtual memory, shared libraries, demand
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loading, shared copy-on-write executables, proper memory management and
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TCP/IP networking.
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It uses the hardware features of the 386 processor family (TSS segments et
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al) to implement these features.
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Linux is still considered to be in beta testing; due to the rapid pace of
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development new bugs are often introduced. Despite this, Linux is very
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stable if you don't always immediately use the latest alpha-release kernel
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software.
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See the Linux INFO-SHEET [Q2.1 `Where can I get the HOWTOs and other
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documentation ?'] for more details.
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It is distributed under the GNU General Public License - see Q1.5 `Is
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Linux PD ? Copyrighted ?' for more details.
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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Question 1.2. What software does it support ?
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Linux has GCC, Emacs, X-Windows, TCP/IP, all the standard Unix utilities
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and all the hundreds of programs that people have compiled or ported for
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it.
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There is a DOS emulator and work is progressing on a facilities to allow
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SVR4 ELF, SVR3.2 COFF and Microsoft Windows binaries to be run under Linux
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and X Windows.
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For more information see the INFO-SHEET, which is one of the the HOWTOs
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--- see above, or Q2.1 `Where can I get the HOWTOs and other documentation
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?'. See also Q5.2 `How do I port XXX to Linux ?'.
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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Question 1.3. Does it run on my computer ? What hardware is supported ?
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You need a 386 or 486, with at least 2Mb of RAM and a single floppy, to
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try it out. To do anything useful more RAM and a hard disk are required.
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Linux doesn't currently work on machines using MCA (IBM's proprietary
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bus), because of lack of available documentation. You may be able to it
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to work if you your hard disk is on certain kinds of controller (some SCSI
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controllers work, I understand), but you're on your own.
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It should work with VESA local bus machines, provided that the local bus
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cards really are equivalent to the equivalent ISA ones. Linux is reported
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to run on 386/486-based laptops, with X on most of them.
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For details of exactly which PC's, video cards, disk controllers, etc.
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work see the INFO-SHEET and the Hardware Compatibility List [Q2.1 `Where
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can I get the HOWTOs and other documentation ?'].
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Linux will never run on a 286, because it uses task-switching and memory
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management facilities only found on 386/486 processors.
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A project is underway to port Linux to suitable 68000-series based
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systems, but this is still at a very early stage of development. Don't
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post asking about it unless you think you can contribute to it, and don't
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hold your breath.
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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Question 1.4. How much hard disk space does Linux need ?
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10Mb for a very minimal installation, suitable for trying it out and not
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much else.
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You can squeeze a more complete installation including X Windows into
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80Mb. The SLS 1.03 distribution (which I would recommend you stay well
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clear of - it has a number of serious and annoying bugs) takes around
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100Mb.
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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Question 1.5. Is Linux PD ? Copyrighted ?
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The Linux kernel is copyrighted by Linus Torvalds. He has placed it under
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the GNU General Public Licence, which basically means that you may freely
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copy, change and distribute it, but that you may not impose any
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restrictions on further distribution.
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Full details are in the file COPYING in the Linux kernel sources (probably
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in /usr/src/linux on your system).
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The copyright of the utilities and programs which come with the
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installations vary; much of the code is from the GNU Project at the Free
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Software Foundation, and is also under the GPL.
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Note that discussion about the merits or otherwise of the GPL should be
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posted to gnu.misc.discuss and not to the comp.os.linux groups.
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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Question 1.6. How should I pronounce Linux ?
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Linus says: `li' is pronounced with a short (ee) sound: compare prInt,
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mInImal etc. `nux' is also short, non-diphtong, like in pUt. It's partly
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due to Minix: Linux was just my working name for the thing, and as I wrote
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it to replace Minix on my system, the result is what it is... Linus'
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minix became Linux.
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I originally intended it to be called freax (although buggix was one
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contender after I got fed up with some of the more persistent bugs :) and
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I think the kernel makefiles up to version 0.11 had something to that
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effect (`Makefile for the freax kernel' in a comment). But arl called the
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linux directory at nic.funet.fi pub/OS/Linux, and the name stuck. Maybe
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just as well: freax doesn't sound too good either (freax is obviosly free
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+ freak + the obligatory -x).
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(Rik Faith's note for English speakers: Linux --- `LIH-nuhks'.)
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===============================================================================
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Section 2. Network sources and resources
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Q2.1 Where can I get the HOWTOs and other documentation ?
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Q2.2 What newsgroups are there for Linux ?
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Q2.3 How do I install Linux ?
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Q2.4 Where can I get Linux material by FTP ?
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Q2.5 I don't have FTP access. Where do I get Linux ?
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Q2.6 I don't have Usenet access. Where do I get information ?
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Q2.7 What's this mailing list thing at niksula.hut.fi ?
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Q2.8 Are the newsgroups archived anywhere ?
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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Question 2.1. Where can I get the HOWTOs and other documentation ?
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Look in the following places, and on sites that mirror them.
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nic.funet.fi (128.214.6.100) /pub/OS/Linux/doc/HOWTO
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tsx-11.mit.edu (18.172.1.2) /pub/linux/docs/HOWTO
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sunsite.unc.edu (152.2.22.81) /pub/Linux/docs/HOWTO
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For a complete list of Linux FTP sites see Q2.3 `How do I install Linux
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?'.
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If you don't have access to FTP try using one of the FTP-by-mail servers,
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such as mail-server@rtfm.mit.edu or ftpmail@decwrl.dec.com.
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A complete list of HOWTO's is available in the file HOWTO.INDEX in the
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docs/HOWTO directory at the FTP sites, but here is an incomplete and
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somewhat provisional list:
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Installation HOWTO Mail HOWTO
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Linux INFO-SHEET UUCP HOWTO
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Linux META-FAQ SCSI HOWTO
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NET-2 HOWTO Printing HOWTO
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Ethernet HOWTO Hardware Comaptibility List
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News HOWTO
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More of these documents are in preparation; many of them are being updated
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from existing documents containing very similar information. You should
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check for one of those documents in nearby directories on the FTP sites as
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well as looking for one of the new-style HOWTOs.
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The HOWTO.INDEX also contains information on how to write a new HOWTO.
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The HOWTOs are managed by Matt Welsh, <mdw@sunsite.unc.edu>.
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The `books' produced by the Linux Documentation Project are available in
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/pub/Linux/docs/LDP on sunsite.unc.edu. Please read them if you are new
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to Unix and Linux, especially the Installation and Getting Started Guide.
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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Question 2.2. What newsgroups are there for Linux ?
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There are five Usenet newsgroups devoted to Linux.
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comp.os.linux.announce is the moderated announcements group; you should
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read this if you intend to use Linux. Submissions for that group should
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be emailed to linux-announce@tc.cornell.edu.
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comp.os.linux.help, comp.os.linux.development, comp.os.linux.admin and
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comp.os.linux.misc are also worth reading -- you will find that many
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common problems are too recent to find in this FAQ but are answered in the
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newsgroups.
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Since Linux is a Unix clone, many of the comp.unix.* and comp.windows.x.*
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groups will also contain relevant material.
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Please read Q9.1 `You still haven't answered my question !' before
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posting, and make sure you post to the right newsgroup. Crossposting is
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rarely a good idea.
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See also Q2.6 `I don't have Usenet access. Where do I get information ?'.
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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Question 2.3. How do I install Linux ?
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There are several pre-packaged releases of Linux available, including the
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MCC-Interim release, the TAMU release and the SLS release. Each contains
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the software you need to run linux, ready to install and use. The exact
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details of which software is included and how to install them vary from
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release to release.
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You should read the Installation HOWTO for more details on how to go about
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installing Linux. Note, though, that despite its heavy emphasis on the
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SLS release I would not recommend using SLS for any new Linux
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installation; you should consider using MCC-Interim, TAMU or Slackware
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instead.
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All of these releases are available via anonymous FTP from the Linux
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archive sites [Q2.4 `Where can I get Linux material by FTP ?'].
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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Question 2.4. Where can I get Linux material by FTP ?
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There are three main archive sites for Linux:
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nic.funet.fi (128.214.6.100) /pub/OS/Linux
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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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The MCC-Interim release is available from:
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ftp.mcc.ac.uk (130.88.200.7) /pub/linux
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The contents of these sites is mirrored (copied, usually approximately
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daily) by a number of other sites. Please use one close to you -- that
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will be faster for you and easier on the network.
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src.doc.ic.ac.uk wuarchive.wustl.edu
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ftp.eecs.umich.edu
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ftp.informatik.tu-muenchen.de
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ftp.ibr.cs.tu-bs.de monu1.cc.monash.edu.au
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ftp.dfv.rwth-aachen.de kuis.kyoto-u.ac.jp
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ftp.informatik.rwth-aachen.de cair.kaist.ac.kr
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Not all of these mirror all of the other `source' sites.
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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Question 2.5. I don't have FTP access. Where do I get Linux ?
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The easiest thing is probably to find a friend with FTP access. If there
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is a Linux users group near you they may be able to help.
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If you have a reasonably good email connection you could try the
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FTP-by-mail servers at mail-server@rtfm.mit.edu or ftpmail@decwrl.dec.com,
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or, if you're in Europe, ftp-mailer@informatik.tu-muenchen.de.
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Linux is also available via traditional mail on diskette, CD-ROM and tape.
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The Installation HOWTO, and the file /pub/Linux/docs/distributions on
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sunsite.unc.edu, contains information on these distributions.
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You could also try Zane Healy <healyzh@holonet.net>'s list of Linux BBS's,
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which is posted regularly (1st and 15th of each month) to
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comp.os.linux.announce and occasionally to the Fidonet and RIME UNIX
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echoes.
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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Question 2.6. I don't have Usenet access. Where do I get information ?
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Digests of postings to the comp.os.linux.* groups are available by
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subscribing to the bidirectional gateway at
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linux-*-request@news-digests.mit.edu, where * is one of announce,
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development, help, misc or admin.
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You are strongly advised to subscribe to at least
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linux-announce-request@news-digests.mit.edu, as this carries important
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information and documentation about Linux.
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Please remember to use the -request addresses for your subscription and
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unsubscription messages; mail to the other address is posted to the
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newsgroup !
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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Question 2.7. What's this mailing list thing at niksula.hut.fi ?
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It's a multi-channel mailing list, mainly used by the developers of Linux
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to talk about technical issues and future developments. Most of the
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channels are not intended for new users to ask their questions on.
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The ANNOUNCE channel is a digest of postings to comp.os.linux.announce,
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for the benefit of those without Usenet access. However since
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niksula.hut.fi is slow and overloaded I'd recommend subscribing to the MIT
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digestifier instead [Q2.6 `I don't have Usenet access. Where do I get
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information ?'].
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There is also a NEWBIE channel where `no question is too stupid';
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unfortunately it seems that few of the experienced users read that
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channel, probably because of all the `stupid' questions !
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If you want to subscribe to one or more of the channels at the
|
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multi-channel list, send an empty mail message to
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linux-activists-request@niksula.hut.fi and you'll receive the instructions
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for operating the list subscription software.
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If you want to unsubscribe send a mail message like this
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From: you@domain.org
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To: linux-activists-request@niksula.hut.fi
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Subject: irrelevant
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X-Mn-Admin: leave CHANNEL
|
|
to leave a channel called CHANNEL. Do *not* put an X-Mn-Key line in your
|
|
message - that will cause it to be posted to the list.
|
|
|
|
Note that you *must* remember to unsubscribe *before* you change your
|
|
email address, as due to a design flaw in the list server it is virtually
|
|
impossible to get yourself unsubscribed after such a change.
|
|
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Question 2.8. Are the newsgroups archived anywhere ?
|
|
|
|
Yes. nic.funet.fi and tsx-11.mit.edu contain archives of both
|
|
comp.os.linux and comp.os.linux.announce, in their Linux areas. The
|
|
comp.os.linux.announce archives are mirrored from /usenet on
|
|
src.doc.ic.ac.uk (which also contains an archive of comp.os.linux).
|
|
|
|
===============================================================================
|
|
|
|
Section 3. Compatibility with other operating systems
|
|
|
|
Q3.1 Can Linux coexist with DOS ? OS/2 ? 386BSD ? Minix ?
|
|
Q3.2 How do I access files on my DOS partition or floppy ?
|
|
Q3.3 Can I use my Stacked/DBLSPC/etc. DOS drive ?
|
|
Q3.4 Can I access OS/2 HPFS, BSD FFS, Mac, Amiga, etc filesystems ?
|
|
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Question 3.1. Can Linux coexist with DOS ? OS/2 ? 386BSD ? Minix ?
|
|
|
|
Yes. Linux uses the standard PC partitioning scheme, so it can share your
|
|
disk with other operating systems. NB, though, if you use OS/2 you have
|
|
to use OS/2's fdisk to create Linux partitions if you don't want OS/2's
|
|
fdisk to mess them up later. Then you can use Linux's fdisk to change the
|
|
type to Linux. See the Installation HOWTO for more details.
|
|
|
|
Linux can read and write the files on your DOS and OS/2 FAT partitions and
|
|
floppies using either the DOS filesystem type built into the kernel or
|
|
mtools. There is a DOS emulator which can run DOS itself and some (but
|
|
not all) DOS applications.
|
|
|
|
Linux can also access Minix filesystems.
|
|
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Question 3.2. How do I access files on my DOS partition or floppy ?
|
|
|
|
Use the DOS filesystem, i.e. type, for example:
|
|
mkdir /dos
|
|
mount -t msdos -o conv=text,umask=022,uid=100,gid=100 /dev/hda3 /dos
|
|
|
|
You can use the conv=text/binary/auto, umask=nnn, uid=nnn and gid=nnn
|
|
options to control the automatic line-ending conversion, permissions and
|
|
ownerships of the files in the DOS filesystem as they appear under Linux.
|
|
|
|
Alternatively you can use `mtools', available in both binary and source
|
|
form on the FTP sites -- see Q2.3 `How do I install Linux ?'.
|
|
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Question 3.3. Can I use my Stacked/DBLSPC/etc. DOS drive ?
|
|
|
|
Not easily. You can access them from within the DOS emulator, but not as
|
|
a normal filesystem under Linux or using mtools.
|
|
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Question 3.4. Can I access OS/2 HPFS, BSD FFS, Mac, Amiga, etc filesystems ?
|
|
|
|
There is no support for those yet.
|
|
|
|
===============================================================================
|
|
|
|
Section 4. Linux's handling of filesystems, disks and drives
|
|
|
|
Q4.1 How do I format and create a filesystem on a floppy ?
|
|
Q4.2 I get nasty messages about inodes, blocks, and the suchlike
|
|
Q4.3 My swap area isn't working.
|
|
Q4.4 How can I have more than 16Mb of swap ?
|
|
Q4.5 How do I remove LILO so my system boots DOS again ?
|
|
Q4.6 Why can't I use fdformat except as root ?
|
|
Q4.7 Is there something like Stacker or Doublespace for Linux ?
|
|
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Question 4.1. How do I format and create a filesystem on a floppy ?
|
|
|
|
For a 3.5 inch high density floppy:
|
|
fdformat /dev/fd0H1440
|
|
mke2fs /dev/fd0H1440 1440
|
|
For a 5.25 floppy inch use fd0h1200 and 1200 as appropriate. For the `B'
|
|
drive use fd1 instead of fd0. Full details of which floppy devices do
|
|
what can be found in the Linux Device List [Q2.1 `Where can I get the
|
|
HOWTOs and other documentation ?'].
|
|
|
|
The first command low-level formats the floppy; the second creates an
|
|
empty filesystem on it. After doing this you can mount the floppy like a
|
|
hard disk partition and simply cp and mv files, etc.
|
|
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Question 4.2. I get nasty messages about inodes, blocks, and the suchlike
|
|
|
|
You probably have a corrupted filesystem, probably caused by not shutting
|
|
Linux down properly before turning off the power or resetting.
|
|
|
|
If you're lucky the program fsck (or e2fsck or xfsck as appropriate if you
|
|
don't have the fsutils package) will be able to repair your filesystem; if
|
|
you're unlucky the filesystem is trashed and you'll have to reinitialise
|
|
it with mkfs (or mke2fs, mkxfs etc.) it and restore from a backup.
|
|
|
|
NB don't try to check a filesystem that's mounted read-write - this
|
|
includes the root partition if you don't see
|
|
VFS: mounted root ... read-only
|
|
at boot time.
|
|
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Question 4.3. My swap area isn't working.
|
|
|
|
When you boot (or enable swapping manually) you should see
|
|
Adding Swap: NNNNk swap-space
|
|
|
|
If you don't see any messages at all you are probably missing swapon -av
|
|
(the command to enable swapping) in your /etc/rc or /etc/rc.local (the
|
|
system startup scripts), or have forgotten to make the right entry in
|
|
/etc/fstab:
|
|
/dev/hda2 none swap sw
|
|
for example.
|
|
|
|
If you see
|
|
Unable to find swap-space signature
|
|
you have forgotten to run mkswap. See the manpage for details; it works
|
|
much like mkfs.
|
|
|
|
Check the Installation HOWTO for detailed instructions of how to set up a
|
|
swap area.
|
|
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Question 4.4. How can I have more than 16Mb of swap ?
|
|
|
|
You have to set up more than one swap partition or swapfile. Linux only
|
|
supports swap area sizes up to 16Mb, but you can set up and configure
|
|
several swap areas and Linux will use them all.
|
|
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Question 4.5. How do I remove LILO so my system boots DOS again ?
|
|
|
|
Using DOS (MS-DOS 5.0 or later, or OS/2), type FDISK /MBR. This will
|
|
restore a standard MS-DOS Master Boot Record. If you have DR-DOS 6.0, go
|
|
into FDISK in the normal way and then select the `Re-write Master Boot
|
|
Record' option.
|
|
|
|
If you don't have DOS 5 or DR-DOS you need to have the boot sector that
|
|
LILO saved when you first installed it. You did keep that file, didn't
|
|
you ? It's probably called boot.0301 or some such. Type
|
|
dd if=boot.0301 of=/dev/hda
|
|
(or sda if you're using a SCSI disk). This will also wipe out your
|
|
partition table, so beware !
|
|
|
|
Note that the DOS MBR boots whichever (single!) partition is flagged as
|
|
`active'; you may need to use fdisk to set and clear the active flags on
|
|
partitions appropriately.
|
|
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Question 4.6. Why can't I use fdformat except as root ?
|
|
|
|
The system call to format a floppy may only be done as root, regardless of
|
|
the permissions of /dev/fd0*. If you want any user to be able to format a
|
|
floppy try getting the fdformat2 program; this works around this by being
|
|
setuid to root.
|
|
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Question 4.7. Is there something like Stacker or Doublespace for Linux ?
|
|
|
|
No, none of the Linux filesystems currently support any (transparent)
|
|
compression.
|
|
|
|
Unless you're a wizard and want to try writing it yourself you're best bet
|
|
is probably to simply compress the file using a program like GNU gzip and
|
|
uncompress it again when you want to use it.
|
|
|
|
There is a package available called tcx (Transparently Compressed
|
|
Executables) which allows you to keep infrequently used executables
|
|
compressed and only uncompress them temporarily while you use them.
|
|
You'll find it on the Linux FTP sites [Q2.4 `Where can I get Linux
|
|
material by FTP ?']; it was also announced in comp.os.linux.announce.
|
|
|
|
===============================================================================
|
|
|
|
Section 5. Porting, compiling and obtaining programs
|
|
|
|
Q5.1 Has anyone ported / compiled / written XXX for Linux ?
|
|
Q5.2 How do I port XXX to Linux ?
|
|
Q5.3 Can I use code or a compiler compiled for a 486 on my 386 ?
|
|
Q5.4 GCC sometimes uses huge amounts of virtual memory and thrashes
|
|
Q5.5 What does gcc -O6 do ?
|
|
Q5.6 Where are <linux/*.h> and <asm/*.h> ?
|
|
Q5.7 I get errors when I try to compile the kernel.
|
|
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Question 5.1. Has anyone ported / compiled / written XXX for Linux ?
|
|
|
|
First, look in the Linux Software Map --- it's in the docs directory on
|
|
sunsite.unc.edu, and on the other FTP sties.
|
|
|
|
Check the FTP sites (see Q2.1 `Where can I get the HOWTOs and other
|
|
documentation ?') first --- search the find-ls or INDEX files for
|
|
appropriate strings.
|
|
|
|
If you don't find anything, you could either download the sources to the
|
|
program yourself and compile them -- see Q5.2 `How do I port XXX to Linux
|
|
?' -- or, if it's a large package which may require some porting, post a
|
|
message to the newsgroup.
|
|
|
|
If you compile a largeish program please upload it to one or more of the
|
|
FTP sites and post a message to comp.os.linux.announce (submit your
|
|
posting to linux-announce@tc.cornell.edu).
|
|
|
|
If you're looking for an application-type program the chances are someone
|
|
has already written a free verson. Try reading the FAQ in
|
|
comp.sources.wanted for instructions on how to find sources.
|
|
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Question 5.2. How do I port XXX to Linux ?
|
|
|
|
In general Unix programs need very little porting. Simply follow the
|
|
installation instructions. If you don't know and don't know how to find
|
|
out the answers to some of the questions asked during or by the
|
|
installation procedure you can guess, but this tends to produce buggy
|
|
programs. In this case you're probably better off asking someone else to
|
|
do the port.
|
|
|
|
If you have a BSD-ish program you should try using -I/usr/include/bsd and
|
|
-lbsd on the appropriate parts of the compilation lines.
|
|
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Question 5.3. Can I use code or a compiler compiled for a 486 on my 386 ?
|
|
|
|
Yes.
|
|
|
|
The -m486 option to GCC, which is used to compile binaries for 486
|
|
machines, merely makes GCC change certain optimisations. This makes for
|
|
slightly larger binaries which run somewhat faster on a 486. They still
|
|
work fine on a 386, though, with little performance hit.
|
|
|
|
This applies to GCC, as well. GCC can be configured for a 386 or 486; the
|
|
only difference is that configuring it for a 386 makes -m386 the default
|
|
and configuring for a 486 makes -m486 the default; in either case these
|
|
can be overriden on a per-compilation basis or by editing
|
|
/usr/lib/gcc-lib/i*-linux/n.n.n/specs.
|
|
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Question 5.4. GCC sometimes uses huge amounts of virtual memory and thrashes
|
|
|
|
GCC has a bug which makes it use lots of memory if you try to compile a
|
|
program which has a large static data table in it. Add more swap if
|
|
necessary and just grin and bear it; it'll work in the end.
|
|
|
|
This bug will be fixed when GCC 2.5 comes out.
|
|
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Question 5.5. What does gcc -O6 do ?
|
|
|
|
The same as -O2; any number greater than 2 works just like 2. It's put
|
|
there for luck, I think.
|
|
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Question 5.6. Where are <linux/*.h> and <asm/*.h> ?
|
|
|
|
These are in the directories /usr/include/linux and /usr/include/asm.
|
|
|
|
However they should be symbolic links to your kernel sources in
|
|
/usr/src/linux and not real directories.
|
|
|
|
If you don't have the kernel sources download them --- see Q6.14 `How do I
|
|
upgrade my kernel ?'.
|
|
|
|
Then use ln to create the links:
|
|
ln -sf /usr/src/linux/include/linux /usr/include/linux
|
|
ln -sf /usr/src/linux/include/asm /usr/include/asm
|
|
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Question 5.7. I get errors when I try to compile the kernel.
|
|
|
|
Make sure that /usr/include/linux and /usr/include/asm aren't actual
|
|
directories but instead symbolic links to /usr/src/linux/include/linux and
|
|
/usr/src/linux/include/asm respectively.
|
|
|
|
If necessary, delete them using rm and then use ln -s to make the links as
|
|
in Q5.6 `Where are <linux/*.h> and <asm/*.h> ?'.
|
|
|
|
===============================================================================
|
|
|
|
Section 6. Miscellaneous questions and problems
|
|
|
|
Q6.1 Free memory as reported by free keeps shrinking.
|
|
Q6.2 What is a BogoMip ?
|
|
Q6.3 How do I set the timezone ?
|
|
Q6.4 What version of Linux and what machine name am I using ?
|
|
Q6.5 When I add more memory it slows to a crawl.
|
|
Q6.6 Some programs (e.g. xdm) won't let me log in.
|
|
Q6.7 Some programs let me log in with no password.
|
|
Q6.8 My machine runs very slowly when I run GCC / X / ...
|
|
Q6.9 I can only log in as root.
|
|
Q6.10 How do I stop producing core files ?
|
|
Q6.11 My screen is all full of weird characters instead of letters.
|
|
Q6.12 What is a .gz file ? And a .tgz ? And ... ?
|
|
Q6.13 I have screwed up my system and can't log in to fix it.
|
|
Q6.14 How do I upgrade my kernel ?
|
|
Q6.15 Can I have more than 3 serial ports by sharing interrupts ?
|
|
Q6.16 Emacs just dumps core.
|
|
Q6.17 How do I make a bootable floppy ?
|
|
Q6.18 How do I remap my keyboard to UK, French, etc. ?
|
|
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Question 6.1. Free memory as reported by free keeps shrinking.
|
|
|
|
The `free' figure printed by free doesn't include memory used as a disk
|
|
buffer cache - shown in the `buffers' column. If you want to know how
|
|
much memory is really free add the `buffers' amount to `free'.
|
|
|
|
The disk buffer cache tends to grow soon after starting Linux up, as you
|
|
load more programs and use more files and the contents get cached. It
|
|
will stabilise after a while.
|
|
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Question 6.2. What is a BogoMip ?
|
|
|
|
`BogoMips' is a contraction of `Bogus MIPS'. MIPS stands for (depending
|
|
who you listen to) Millions of Instructions per Second, or Meaningless
|
|
Indication of Processor Speed.
|
|
|
|
The number printed at boot-time is the result of a kernel timing
|
|
calibration, used for delay loops by some device drivers.
|
|
|
|
As a very approximate guide for a 486DX (not clock doubled), the BogoMips
|
|
will be approximately the clock rate * 0.5; for a 386DX (no coprocessor)
|
|
it will be more like the clock rate * 0.24 - 1.9.
|
|
|
|
If the number you're seeing is wildly lower than this you may have the
|
|
Turbo button or CPU speed set incorrectly, or have some kind of caching
|
|
problem [as described in Q6.5 `When I add more memory it slows to a
|
|
crawl.'.]
|
|
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Question 6.3. How do I set the timezone ?
|
|
|
|
Change directory to /usr/local/zoneinfo (get the timezone package if you
|
|
don't have this directory).
|
|
|
|
Then make a symbolic link named localtime pointing to one of the files in
|
|
this directory (or a subdirectory), and one called posixrules pointing to
|
|
localtime. For example:
|
|
ln -sf US/Mountain localtime
|
|
ln -sf localtime posixrules
|
|
This change will take effect immediately - try date.
|
|
|
|
Don't try to use the TZ variable - leave it unset.
|
|
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Question 6.4. What version of Linux and what machine name am I using ?
|
|
|
|
Type:
|
|
uname -a
|
|
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Question 6.5. When I add more memory it slows to a crawl.
|
|
|
|
This is quite a common symptom of a failure to cache the additional
|
|
memory. The exact problem depends on your motherboard.
|
|
|
|
Sometimes you have to enable caching of certain regions in your BIOS
|
|
setup. Look in the CMOS setup and see if there is an option to cache the
|
|
new memory area which is currently switched off. This is apparently most
|
|
common on a 486.
|
|
|
|
Sometimes the RAMs have to be in certain sockets to be cached.
|
|
|
|
Sometimes you have to set jumpers to enable the caching.
|
|
|
|
Some motherboards don't cache all the RAM if you have more RAM per amount
|
|
of cache than they expect. Usually a full 256K cache will solve this
|
|
problem.
|
|
|
|
If in doubt, check your motherboard manual. If you still can't fix it
|
|
because the documentation is inadequate you might like to post a message
|
|
giving *all* the details - make, model number, date code, etc. so that
|
|
other Linux users can avoid it.
|
|
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Question 6.6. Some programs (e.g. xdm) won't let me log in.
|
|
|
|
You are probably using non-shadow-password programs but are using shadow
|
|
passwords.
|
|
|
|
If so, you have to get or compile a shadow password version of the
|
|
program(s) in question. The shadow password suite can be found in
|
|
(amongst other places):
|
|
tsx-11.mit.edu:/pub/linux/sources/usr.bin/shadow-*
|
|
This is the source code; you will probably find the binaries in
|
|
.../linux/binaries/usr.bin.
|
|
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Question 6.7. Some programs let me log in with no password.
|
|
|
|
You probably have the same problem as in Q6.6 `Some programs (e.g. xdm)
|
|
won't let me log in.', with an added wrinkle:
|
|
|
|
If you are using shadow passords you should put an asterisk in the
|
|
password field of /etc/passwd for each account, so that if a program
|
|
doesn't know about the shadow passwords it won't think it's a passwordless
|
|
account and let anyone in.
|
|
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Question 6.8. My machine runs very slowly when I run GCC / X / ...
|
|
|
|
You probably don't have any swap enabled. You need to enable swapping to
|
|
allow Linux to page out bits of data programs aren't using at the moment
|
|
to disk to make more room for other programs and data. If you don't Linux
|
|
has to keep data in memory and throw away in-memory copies of programs
|
|
(which are paged straight from the filesystem) and so less and less
|
|
program is in memory and everything runs very slowly.
|
|
|
|
See the Installation HOWTO and the Installation and Getting Started Guide
|
|
[Q2.1 `Where can I get the HOWTOs and other documentation ?'] for details
|
|
of how to set up a swap area; see also Q4.3 `My swap area isn't working.'.
|
|
|
|
Alternatively you may have too little real memory. If you have less RAM
|
|
than all the programs you're running at once use Linux will use your hard
|
|
disk instead and thrash horribly. The solution in this case is to not run
|
|
so many things at once or to buy more memory. You can also reclaim some
|
|
memory by compiling and using a kernel with less options configured. See
|
|
Q6.14 `How do I upgrade my kernel ?'.
|
|
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Question 6.9. I can only log in as root.
|
|
|
|
You probably have some permission problems, or you have a file
|
|
/etc/nologin.
|
|
|
|
If the latter put rm -f /etc/nologin in your /etc/rc or /etc/rc.local.
|
|
|
|
Otherwise check the permissions on your shell, and any filenames which
|
|
appear in error messages, and also the directories containing these files
|
|
all the way back up the tree to the root directory.
|
|
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Question 6.10. How do I stop producing core files ?
|
|
|
|
If you use bash put
|
|
ulimit -c 0
|
|
in your .shrc or .bashrc; if you use tcsh put
|
|
limit coredumpsize 0
|
|
in your .cshrc. For other shells check the shell's manpage.
|
|
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Question 6.11. My screen is all full of weird characters instead of letters.
|
|
|
|
You probably sent some binary data to your screen by mistake. Type echo
|
|
^V^O (that's E C H O space control-V control-O return) to fix it.
|
|
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Question 6.12. What is a .gz file ? And a .tgz ? And ... ?
|
|
|
|
.gz (and .z) files have been compressed using GNU gzip. You have to get a
|
|
copy of gunzip (included in the gzip distribution and with most Linux
|
|
installations) to unpack the file.
|
|
|
|
.taz and .tz are tarfiles (made with Unix tar) compressed using standard
|
|
Unix compress.
|
|
|
|
.tgz (or .tpz) is a tarfile compressed with gzip.
|
|
|
|
The file command can often tell you what a file is.
|
|
|
|
If you find that gzip complains when you try to uncompress a gzipped file
|
|
you probably downloaded it in ASCII mode by mistake. You must download
|
|
things in binary mode - remember to type binary as a command in FTP before
|
|
using get to get the file.
|
|
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Question 6.13. I have screwed up my system and can't log in to fix it.
|
|
|
|
Reboot from an emergency floppy, for example the SLS a1 disk or the MCC
|
|
installation boot floppy. Get to a shell prompt and mount your hard disk
|
|
with something like
|
|
mount -t ext2 /dev/hda1 /mnt
|
|
|
|
Then your filesystem is available under the directory /mnt and you can fix
|
|
the problem. Remember to unmount your hard disk before rebooting (cd back
|
|
down to / first or it will say it's busy).
|
|
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Question 6.14. How do I upgrade my kernel ?
|
|
|
|
See the README which comes with the kernel release, in
|
|
nic.funet.fi:/pub/OS/Linux/PEOPLE/Linus
|
|
and mirrors thereof. Try to get it from a closer site if possible;
|
|
nic.funet.fi is a very busy site and therefore slow -- see Q2.3 `How do I
|
|
install Linux ?'.
|
|
|
|
Remember that to make the new kernel boot you must run LILO after copying
|
|
the kernel into your root partition.
|
|
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Question 6.15. Can I have more than 3 serial ports by sharing interrupts ?
|
|
|
|
Not without some trickery. This is a limitation of the ISA bus
|
|
architecture.
|
|
|
|
See the Serial HOWTO for information about how to work around this
|
|
problem.
|
|
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Question 6.16. Emacs just dumps core.
|
|
|
|
You probably have the X version of Emacs that comes with SLS. It doesn't
|
|
work without the X libraries. The solution is to install X Windows or get
|
|
a newer Emacs binary without any X Windows support.
|
|
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Question 6.17. How do I make a bootable floppy ?
|
|
|
|
Make a filesystem on it with bin, etc and lib directories -- everything
|
|
you need. Install a kernel on it and arrange to have LILO boot it from
|
|
the floppy (see the LILO documentation, in lilo.u.*.ps).
|
|
|
|
If you build the kernel (or tell LILO to tell the kernel) to have a
|
|
ramdisk the same size as the floppy the ramdisk will be loaded at
|
|
boot-time and mounted as root in place of the floppy.
|
|
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Question 6.18. How do I remap my keyboard to UK, French, etc. ?
|
|
|
|
For recent kernels, get kbd*.tar.gz from the same place as you got the
|
|
kernel source. Make sure you get the appropriate version; you have to use
|
|
the right keyboard-mapping package to go with your kernel version. The
|
|
latest at the time of writing is kbd-0.81.tar.gz, for kernel version
|
|
0.99pl12.
|
|
|
|
For older kernels you have to edit the top-level kernel Makefile, in
|
|
/usr/src/linux.
|
|
|
|
===============================================================================
|
|
|
|
Section 7. Frequently Encountered Error messages
|
|
|
|
Q7.1 INET: Warning: old style ioctl(IP_SET_DEV) called!
|
|
Q7.2 ld: unrecognized option '-m486'
|
|
Q7.3 GCC says Internal compiler error
|
|
Q7.4 make says Error 139
|
|
Q7.5 df says Cannot read table of mounted filesystems
|
|
Q7.6 shell-init: permission denied when I log in.
|
|
Q7.7 No utmp entry. You must exec ... when I log in.
|
|
Q7.8 EXT2-fs: warning: mounting unchecked filesystem
|
|
Q7.9 fdisk says cannot use nnn sectors of this partition
|
|
Q7.10 fdisk says partition n has an odd number of sectors
|
|
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Question 7.1. INET: Warning: old style ioctl(IP_SET_DEV) called!
|
|
|
|
You are trying to use the old network configuration utilities; the new
|
|
ones can be found on tsx-11.mit.edu in
|
|
/pub/linux/packages/net/net-2/binaries.
|
|
|
|
Note that they cannot be used just like the old-style programs; see the
|
|
NET-2 HOWTO for instructions on how to set up networking correctly.
|
|
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Question 7.2. ld: unrecognized option '-m486'
|
|
|
|
You have an old version of ld. Install a newer binutils package -- this
|
|
will contain an updated ld:
|
|
tsx-11.mit.edu:/pub/linux/packages/GCC/binutils.tar.z
|
|
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Question 7.3. GCC says Internal compiler error
|
|
|
|
If the fault is repeatable (ie, it always happens at the same place in the
|
|
same file) you have discovered a bug in GCC. See the GCC Info
|
|
documentation (type Control-h i in Emacs, and select GCC from the menu)
|
|
for details on how to report this.
|
|
|
|
Note that this is probably not a Linux-specific problem; unless you were
|
|
compiling a program many other Linux users also compile you should not
|
|
post your bug report to any of the comp.os.linux groups.
|
|
|
|
If the problem is not repeatable you are very probably experiencing memory
|
|
corruption --- see Q7.4 `make says Error 139'.
|
|
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Question 7.4. make says Error 139
|
|
|
|
Your compiler driver (gcc) dumped core. You probably have a buggy or old
|
|
version of GCC --- get the latest release.
|
|
|
|
If this doesn't fix the problem you are probably having problems with
|
|
memory corruption. Check that the clock rate, wait states and refresh
|
|
timing for your SIMMs are correct. If so you may have some dodgy SIMMs.
|
|
Linux, like any Unix, is a very good memory tester.
|
|
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Question 7.5. df says Cannot read table of mounted filesystems
|
|
|
|
There is probably something wrong with your /etc/mtab or /etc/fstab files.
|
|
If you have a reasonably new version of mount, /etc/mtab should be emptied
|
|
or deleted at boot time (in /etc/rc or /etc/rc.local), using something
|
|
like
|
|
rm -f /etc/mtab*
|
|
|
|
Some versions of SLS have an entry for the root partition in /etc/mtab
|
|
made in /etc/rc by using rdev. This is incorrect -- the newer versions of
|
|
mount do this automatically.
|
|
|
|
Other versions of SLS have a line in /etc/fstab that looks like:
|
|
/dev/sdb1 /root ext2 defaults
|
|
This is wrong. /root should read simply /.
|
|
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Question 7.6. shell-init: permission denied when I log in.
|
|
|
|
Your root directory and all the directories up to your home directory must
|
|
be readable and executable by everybody. See the manpage for chmod or a
|
|
book on Unix for how to fix the problem.
|
|
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Question 7.7. No utmp entry. You must exec ... when I log in.
|
|
|
|
Your /etc/utmp is screwed up. You should have
|
|
> /etc/utmp
|
|
in your /etc/rc or /etc/rc.local. See Q6.13 `I have screwed up my system
|
|
and can't log in to fix it.' for how to be able to do this.
|
|
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Question 7.8. EXT2-fs: warning: mounting unchecked filesystem
|
|
|
|
You need to run e2fsck (or fsck -t ext2 if you have the fsutils package)
|
|
with the -a option to get it to clear the `dirty' flag, and then cleanly
|
|
unmount the partition during each shutdown.
|
|
|
|
The easiest way to do this is to get the bootutils package, available on
|
|
sunsite and tsx-11.
|
|
|
|
NB don't try to check a filesystem that's mounted read-write - this
|
|
includes the root partition if you don't see
|
|
VFS: mounted root ... read-only
|
|
at boot time.
|
|
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Question 7.9. fdisk says cannot use nnn sectors of this partition
|
|
|
|
Originally Linux only supported the Minix filesystem, which cannot use
|
|
more than 64Mb per parition. This limitation is not present in the more
|
|
advanced filesystems now available, such as ext2fs (the 2nd version of the
|
|
Extended Filesystem) and xiafs (Qi Xia's filesystem).
|
|
|
|
If you intend to use ext2fs or xiafs you can ignore the message.
|
|
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Question 7.10. fdisk says partition n has an odd number of sectors
|
|
|
|
The PC disk partitioning scheme works in 512-byte sectors, but Linux uses
|
|
1K blocks. If you have a partition with an odd number of sectors the last
|
|
sector is wasted. Ignore the message.
|
|
|
|
===============================================================================
|
|
|
|
Section 8. X Windows
|
|
|
|
Q8.1 Does Linux support X Windows ?
|
|
Q8.2 Where can I get an XConfig for my video card and monitor ?
|
|
Q8.3 I can't get my mouse to work with X Windows.
|
|
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Question 8.1. Does Linux support X Windows ?
|
|
|
|
Yes. You need to have a video card which is supported by XFree86 (or XS3
|
|
for S3-based cards). See the FAQs referred to below for more details.
|
|
|
|
Some of the Linux releases -- MCC, for example -- don't come with X
|
|
Windows already included; however you can easily download and install it
|
|
from /pub/Linux/X11/Xfree86-1.3 on sunsite.unc.edu and its mirror sites.
|
|
There is a README file there with more information. Other releases --
|
|
TAMU, Slackware and SLS, for example -- come with X Windows already
|
|
included
|
|
|
|
Once you have unpacked it onto your system (either as part of the
|
|
installation of a release or after downloading it separately as above)
|
|
some documentation can be found in /usr/X386/lib/X11/etc.
|
|
|
|
You should also check the Frequently Asked Questions list for
|
|
comp.windows.x.i386unix, which is available on rtfm.mit.edu in
|
|
/pub/usenet/news.answers/Intel-Unix-X-Faq, and the more general FAQ on X
|
|
in x-faq in the same directory.
|
|
|
|
Please don't post X Windows related questions to comp.os.linux.help.
|
|
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Question 8.2. Where can I get an XConfig for my video card and monitor ?
|
|
|
|
It's not that hard to roll your own.
|
|
|
|
Read the instructions that came with XFree86-1.3, in
|
|
/usr/X386/lib/X11/etc. The files you probably need to look at are the
|
|
README, and ModeDB.txt which contains sample XConfig extracts for various
|
|
monitors and cards.
|
|
|
|
If your monitor isn't listed try the VESA standard timings.
|
|
|
|
Near the end of VideoModes.doc there is a section on moving and resizing
|
|
the image, in case that's all that needs fixing; this file also gives
|
|
complete details of how to calculate the timings from scratch.
|
|
|
|
If none of this helps try reading comp.windows.x.i386unix -- specifically
|
|
the FAQ for that group (see Q8.1 `Does Linux support X Windows ?').
|
|
Please don't post your X Windows related question to comp.os.linux.help.
|
|
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Question 8.3. I can't get my mouse to work with X Windows.
|
|
|
|
You probably have the wrong mouse type in the XConfig, or are using the
|
|
wrong device in /dev.
|
|
|
|
You can check that you have the right device in /dev by using cat. Type
|
|
cat /dev/whatever (while X isn't running !) and you should see characters
|
|
come out, either continuously or when you move the mouse. If none of the
|
|
plausible devices work and you have a busmouse, make sure that your kernel
|
|
was compiled with busmouse support enabled and that it detected the
|
|
busmouse at boot-time (it prints a message when it does).
|
|
|
|
Note that the protocol used (which is what you specify in the XConfig
|
|
file) is not necessarily named after the manufacturer of the mouse. For
|
|
example, many Logitech mice use Microsoft or Mouse Systems protocols.
|
|
|
|
Also, there is not really any such thing as a 3-button
|
|
Microsoft-compatible mouse. If you have a 3 button mouse which claims to
|
|
be Microsoft compatible there will probably be a way to switch it into 3
|
|
button mode, which may well use the Mouse Systems protocol or an extension
|
|
to the Microsoft protocol. Check your mouse manual and experiment.
|
|
|
|
Please don't post X Windows related questions to comp.os.linux.help.
|
|
|
|
===============================================================================
|
|
|
|
Section 9. How to get further assistance
|
|
|
|
Q9.1 You still haven't answered my question !
|
|
Q9.2 What to put in a posting to comp.os.linux.help
|
|
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Question 9.1. You still haven't answered my question !
|
|
|
|
Please read all of this answer before posting. I know it's a bit long,
|
|
but you may be about to make a fool of yourself in front of 50000 people
|
|
and waste hundreds of hours of their time. Don't you think it's worth it
|
|
to spend some of your time reading and following these instructions ?
|
|
|
|
If you think an answer is incomplete or inaccurate, please mail Ian
|
|
Jackson at <ijackson@nyx.cs.du.edu>.
|
|
|
|
Read the Installation and Getting Started Guide [Q2.1 `Where can I get the
|
|
HOWTOs and other documentation ?'].
|
|
|
|
If you're a Unix newbie read the FAQ for comp.unix.questions, and those
|
|
for any of the other comp.unix.* groups that may be relevant.
|
|
|
|
Linux is a Unix clone, so almost everything you read there will apply to
|
|
Linux. Those FAQs can, like all FAQs, be found on rtfm.mit.edu in
|
|
/pub/usenet/news.answers.
|
|
|
|
Check the relevant HOWTO for the subject in question, if there is one, or
|
|
an appropriate old-style sub-FAQ document. Check the FTP sites.
|
|
|
|
Try experimenting --- that's the best way to get to know Unix and Linux.
|
|
|
|
Read the documentation. Check the manpages (type man man if you don't
|
|
know about manpages) and the Info documentation (type C-h i, i.e. Control
|
|
H followed by I in Emacs) --- NB this isn't just for Emacs; for example
|
|
the GCC documentation lives here as well. There will also often be a
|
|
README file with a package giving installation and/or usage instructions.
|
|
|
|
Make sure that you don't have a corrupted or out-of-date copy of the
|
|
program in question. If possible, download it again and reinstall it ---
|
|
perhaps you made a mistake the first time.
|
|
|
|
Read comp.os.linux.announce --- this sometimes contains very important
|
|
information for all Linux users.
|
|
|
|
X-Windows questions belong in comp.windows.x.i386unix, not in
|
|
comp.os.linux.help. But read the group first (including the FAQ), before
|
|
you post !
|
|
|
|
Only if you have done all of these things and are still stuck should you
|
|
post to comp.os.linux.help; alternatively you could send email to
|
|
linux-support@sunsite.unc.edu. Make sure you read the next question, Q9.2
|
|
`What to put in a posting to comp.os.linux.help', first.
|
|
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Question 9.2. What to put in a posting to comp.os.linux.help
|
|
|
|
Please read carefully the following advice about how to write your
|
|
posting. Taking heed of it will greatly increase the chances that an
|
|
expert and/or fellow user reading your posting will have enough
|
|
information and motivation to reply.
|
|
|
|
Make sure you give full details of the problem, including
|
|
|
|
* What program, exactly, you are having problems with. Include the
|
|
version number if known and say where you got it. Many standard
|
|
commands tell you their version number if you give them a --version
|
|
option.
|
|
|
|
* Which Linux release you're using (MCC, SLS, whatever).
|
|
|
|
* The *exact* and *complete* text of any error messages printed.
|
|
|
|
* Exactly what behaviour you were expecting, and exactly what behaviour
|
|
you observed. A transcript of an example session is a good way of
|
|
showing this.
|
|
|
|
* The contents of any configuration files used by the program in question
|
|
and any related programs.
|
|
|
|
* What version of the kernel and of the shared libraries you are using.
|
|
The kernel version can be found by typing uname -a, and the shared
|
|
library version by typing ls -l /lib/libc.so.4.
|
|
|
|
* Details of what hardware you're running on, if it seems appropriate.
|
|
|
|
You are in little danger of making your posting too long unless you
|
|
include large chunks of source code or uuencoded files, so err on the side
|
|
of giving too much information.
|
|
|
|
Use a clear, detailed Subject line. Don't put things like `doesn't work',
|
|
`Linux', `help' or `question' in it --- we already knew that ! Save the
|
|
space for the name of the program, a fragment of the error message,
|
|
summary of the unusual behaviour, etc.
|
|
|
|
If you are reporting an `unable to handle kernel paging request' message,
|
|
follow the instructions in the Linux kernel sources README for turning the
|
|
numbers into something more meaningful. If you don't do this noone who
|
|
reads your post will be able to do it for you, as the mapping from numbers
|
|
to function names varies from one kernel to another.
|
|
|
|
Put a summary paragraph at the top of your posting.
|
|
|
|
At the bottom of your posting, ask for responses by email and say you'll
|
|
post a summary. Back this up by using Followup-To: poster. Then, do
|
|
actually post a summary in a few days or a week or so. Don't just
|
|
concatenate the replies you got --- summarise. Putting the word SUMMARY
|
|
in your summary's Subject line is also a good idea.
|
|
|
|
Make sure your posting doesn't have an inappropriate References header
|
|
line. This marks your article as part of the thread of the article
|
|
referred to, which will often cause it to be junked by the readers with
|
|
the rest of a boring thread. If you use (t)rn you must make sure that
|
|
when you post you use the lowercase f key; using uppercase F and deleting
|
|
the quoted text doesn't do the same thing. However Some versions of trn
|
|
2.x have a bug which produces this effect effen if you use f. If this
|
|
applies to your version you can edit out the References line in the
|
|
message before you post, or just use plain Pnews to make a new posting.
|
|
You should always read the header before posting anyway.
|
|
|
|
Finally, remember that you should not post email sent to you personally
|
|
without the sender's permission.
|
|
|
|
===============================================================================
|
|
|
|
Section 10. Administrative information and acknowledgements
|
|
|
|
Q10.1 Feedback is invited
|
|
Q10.2 Formats in which this FAQ is available
|
|
Q10.3 Authorship and acknowledgements
|
|
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Question 10.1. Feedback is invited
|
|
|
|
Please send me your comments on this FAQ.
|
|
|
|
I accept submissions for the FAQ in any format; All contributions
|
|
comments and corrections are gratefully received.
|
|
|
|
Please send them to <ijackson@nyx.cs.du.edu>.
|
|
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Question 10.2. Formats in which this FAQ is available
|
|
|
|
This document is available as ASCII text, an Emacs Info document and
|
|
PostScript.
|
|
|
|
The ASCII and Emacs Info versions and a Lout typesetter file (from which
|
|
the PostScript is produced) are generated automatically by a Perl script
|
|
which takes as input a file in the Bizarre Format with No Name.
|
|
|
|
The output files linux-faq.ascii, .info and .ps and a tarfile
|
|
linux-faq.source.tar.gz, containing the BFNN source and Perl script
|
|
converter, are available in the docs directories of the major Linux FTP
|
|
sites.
|
|
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Question 10.3. Authorship and acknowledgements
|
|
|
|
This FAQ was compiled by Ian Jackson <ijackson@nyx.cs.du.edu>, with
|
|
assistance and comments from others too numerous to mention. It was
|
|
loosely based on the original Linux FAQ by Marc-Michel Corsini.
|
|
|
|
Special thanks are due to Matt Welsh, who coordinates the HOWTOs and has
|
|
written substantial portions of many of them, and to Marc-Michel Corsini.
|
|
Thanks also to the contributors to the previous Linux FAQ, and to those
|
|
sent me comments about this FAQ, and who answered questions on the
|
|
newsgroup.
|
|
|
|
Last but not least, thanks to Linus Torvalds and the other contributors to
|
|
Linux for giving us something to write about !
|
|
|