This is Info file linux-faq.info, produced by Makeinfo-1.55 from the input file faq.texi. Answers to Frequently asked questions about Linux (v1.19) Last Modified 93/06/11 v1.19  File: linux-faq.info, Node: II-11, Next: II-12, Prev: II-10, Up: IIB-00 (II.11) I got this FAQ from a local BBS, or a friend, and I see there is a newsgroup called comp.os.linux . I don't have access to USENET or mail, so how can I get the messages? ==================================================================================================================================================================================== ANSWER: Some of the BBS's on FidoNet carry comp.os.linux as a FidoNet conference. Also some of the other BBS's carry it in some form or other.  File: linux-faq.info, Node: II-12, Next: II-13, Prev: II-11, Up: IIB-00 (II.12) Do BBS's offer anything that the Internet does not? ============================================================= ANSWER: Yes, on the information side there are the UNIX conferences on both the RIME network and FidoNet. Although they are not dedicated to linux, a large amount of the messages are linux related. Also at least one software package being developed for linux, and also one port is available via BBS's long before they are available via anonymous FTP.  File: linux-faq.info, Node: II-13, Next: II-14, Prev: II-12, Up: IIB-00 (II.13) What is a BBS? ======================== ANSWER: A BBS is a Bulletin Board System, it let's you transfer message's and file's via your phone line and all you need is a computer with communications software and a modem. Some BBS's transfer message's among each other forming large computer network's similar to USENET. The most popular of these in the US are FidoNet and RIME. *Note Linux BBS list: II-17.  File: linux-faq.info, Node: II-14, Next: II-15, Prev: II-13, Up: IIB-00 (II.14) How can I get a (Near) complete list of BBS's that carry Linux? ========================================================================= ANSWER: I (Zane Healy) post a list of all known BBS's that carry Linux to comp.os.linux as well as the RIME and Fidonet UNIX conferences on the 1st and 15th of each month. *Note Linux BBS list: II-17.  File: linux-faq.info, Node: II-15, Next: II-16, Prev: II-14, Up: IIB-00 (II.15) Now that I have a phone number, how do I go about accessing a BBS? ============================================================================ ANSWER: 1. You need a computer equipped with communications software and a modem. 2. For ALMOST all BBS's you will need to set the comm software up for: 8 - Data Bits N - Parity 1 - Stop Bit Although certain BBS's and Communication services require that the software be set for: 7 - Data Bits E - Parity 1 - Stop Bit You will also need to set the comm software for the correct speed, either the top speed, or the max speed for your modem. 3. Using the comm software, call the BBS. Once you connect with the BBS (this may take awhile, as other people are likely to be using it), you will be asked some questions. If you are a registered user of the BBS it will normally only ask for your name and password. However if you are not a registered user, it will most likely require that before you do anything, you register. The method of registration varies from BBS to BBS. Normally the first thing that will happen is, you sign on to the BBS, and tell it your name. It will then check it's list of user's and see that you are not one of them. At which time it will ask you if you are a new user, or if you wish to re-enter your name. When you tell it you are a new user, it will then ask you some questions about yourself, such as where you are calling from and your phone number. A lot of BBS's will want some statistical info such as what type of computer you are using, your communications software, your age, etc, etc. After this, most BBS's require some sort of validation, this is for the System Operator's (SysOp's) protection. One type is where you give the BBS software your phone number, hang up, and the BBS calls your computer to verify that you gave it legitament phone number. Some BBS's require that you mail the SysOp a postcard. Most, however just require that you give the SysOp the request info and then he upgrades your level of access a couple of day's later. For the most part you will find that the registration process is easy to follow and well documented.  File: linux-faq.info, Node: II-16, Next: II-17, Prev: II-15, Up: IIB-00 (II.16) There is a local BBS that carries Linux, but it isn't on the latest Linux BBS List. How do I go about submitting it for inclusion in the list? ========================================================================================================================================================= ANSWER: Send the following information on the BBS to me: BBS Name: Phone Number: Modem Speed: City and State/Country: Whatever Network it's on (i.e. FidoNet, RIME, etc.): First Time access to D/L Linux Files (Y/N): Free Access to Linux Files (Y/N): Allow File Requests (Y/N): BBS Rating (1-5): I can be reached at one of the following E-Mail Addresses: Internet -- healyzh@holonet.net CompuServe -- 70332,14 Prodigy -- SCNN49A Fido NetMail -- Zane Healy at 1:109/615 RIME UNIX Conference -- Zane Healy I would apprieciate it if when you send me info on a BBS that you send me all the info that you see in the entries, thanks. It is my understanding that if you have access to a BBS on FidoNet that if you can talk the SysOp into it he can get the Linux Files via Fidonet Linux SDN.  File: linux-faq.info, Node: II-17, Next: II-18, Prev: II-16, Up: IIB-00 (II.17) What can I do to help ensure the continued development of Linux? ========================================================================== ANSWER: PLEASE UPLOAD FILES TO BBS'S In posting this list I would like to point out that a large number enthusiests don't have FTP access. In fact it is possible that by now most of the Linux fan's don't. So I would like to suggest that those of us that do, find at least one BBS to post the Linux file's to. I, for one post every file that I get to at least one of the local BBS's, and from there they the file's tend to find there way to other local BBS's. I've seen post's about the future of Linux etc., well here is a way to help guarentee it. I think it's safe to assume that most people with FTP access also have a modem. So how about doing other Linux fan's a favor and finding a BBS to upload the Linux files to. BBS OF THE MONTH: MD Brodmann's Place 301-843-5732 14.4k This BBS not only carries an excellent selection of Linux file, but it also has the following Linux related newsgroups/conferences. USENET Fidonet RIME ------ ------- ---- comp.os.linux Fido UNIX RIME UNIX comp.os.linux.announce Linux_Local(local to 109 Fido area) FORMAT: State YYY BBS Name Phone Number Modem Speed Rating City Other data RATING SYSTEM: 1 -- Only enough the most basic of files 2 -- The basic's and a little more 3 -- So, so 4 -- A respectable amount 5 -- Pretty much everything you need ADDITIONAL INFO: YYY -- Either a Yes/No/? answer to the question ||| ||Free access to Linux files |Allow file requests (FidoNet) First time D/L of Linux related files File Requests: FidoNet BBS's with the right type's of front-end mailer's can call other Fido BBS's and request their front-end mailer to send them files that they want. All this can be done automatically. File Requests (freqs) are basically the FidoNet equivallent to UUCP. UNITED STATES: ?? ??? ?????????????????? 516-244-7064 9600 3-4 ?????? ??? CA NNY Citrus Grove Public Access 916-381-5822 ZyXEL 16.8/14.4 3 Sacramento citrus.sac.ca.us CA High[er] Powered BBS 408-737-7040 4 ? RIME ->HIGHER CA hip-hop 408-773-0768 19.2k 408-737-8300 38.4k 5 Sunnyvale USENET CA YYY Unix Online 707-765-4631 9600 4 Petaluma USENET CA The Outer Rim 805-252-6342 ? Santa Clarita CA Programmer's Exchange 818-444-3507 818-579-9711 ? El Monte Fidonet CA ??? Micro Oasis 510-895-5985 14.4k ? San Leandro CA YNY Test Engineering 916-928-0504 ? Sacramento FL NYY Slut Club 813-975-2603 USR/DS 16.8K HST/14.4K 5 Tampa Fidonet 1:377/42 FL Lost City Atlantis 904-727-9334 14.4k 4 Jacksonville Fidonet FL YYY Acquired Knowledge BBS 305-720-3669 14.4k v.32bis 5 Fort Lauderdale Internet (UUCP) GA AVSync 404-320-6202 2 Atlanta GA YYY Information Overload 404-471-1549 19.2k ZyXEL 5 FidoNet 1:133/308 GA Atlanta Radio Club 404-850-0546 9600 ? Atlanta ID Rebel BBS 208-887-3937 9600 5 Boise ID YYY Phantasia BBS 208-939-1350 9600 5 Boise Smartnet 1:347/25 ID YYY Rocky Mountain HUB BBS 208-232-3405 38.4k 4 Pocatello Fido,SLNet,CinemaNet,etc IL YYY EchoMania BBS 618-233-1659 14.4k HST 3 Belleville Fido 1:2250/1 (f'reg LINUX) F'reqs from unlisted nodes, online callback verifire (works L.D.) IL YNY UNIX USER 708-879-8633 14.4k 4 Batavia USENET, Internet mail Home of Unix User newsletter IL NYY PBS BBS 309-662-2042 Node 1 - 16.8k v.32/HST 309-663-7675 Node 2 - 2400 2 Bloomington Fido 1:232/303 IL Third World 217-356-9512 9600 v.32 3-4 IN NNY Digital Underground 812-941-9427 14.4k v.32bis 5 USENET News Feed LA The OA Southern Star 504-885-5928 ? New Orleans Fidonet 1:396/1 MA N?N Channel One 617-354-8873 ? Boston RIME ->CHANNEL MA YNY VWIS Linux Support BBS 508-793-9568 9600 4 Worcester MA YYY WayStar (508)481-7293 14.4k v.32bis (508)481-7147 (508)480-8371 5 Marlborough FidoNet (1:322/140) MD N?N Programmer's Corner 301-596-1180 9600 5 Columbia RIME MD Brodmann's Place 301-843-5732 14.4k 5 Waldorf RIME ->BRODMANN FidoNet Carries 5 different message groups dealing with Linux/UNIX MD Main Frame 301-654-2554 9600 4 Gaithersburg RIME ->MAINFRAM MD 1 Zero Cybernet BBS 301-589-4064 2 MD YNY WaterDeep BBS 410-614-2190 9600 v.32 5 Baltimore ME ??? Harbor Heights BBS 207-663-0391 ? Boothbay Harbor MN YNY Part-Time BBS 612-544-5552 14.4k v.32bis ? Plymouth MO NNY The Sole Survivor 314-845-6616 14.4k v.32bis 5 St. Louis WWIVnet, WWIVlink, +more NC MAC's Place 919-891-1111 16.8k, DS modem 5 Dunn RIME ->MAC NC YNY Digital Designs 919-423-4216 14.4k,23k 4 Hope Mills NE Flite Line 402-421-2434 2 Lincoln RIME ->FLITE DS modem NE Legend 402-438-2433 2 Lincoln DS modem NE MegaByte Mansion 402-551-8681 14.4 V,32bis ? Omaha NJ Mycroft QNX 201-858-3429 14.4k 4 ? NJ YNY Steve Leon's 201-886-8041 14.4k 3 Cliffside Park NJ YYY Dwight-Englewood BBS 201-569-3543 9600 v.42 3 Englewood, NJ USENET NJ YNY WEFUNK, The Mothership Connection 908-940-1012 38.4k 4 Franklin Park, NJ NY YYY The Laboratory 212-927-4980 16.8k HST, 14.4k v.32bis 3-4 FidoNet 1:278/707 OR YYY Intermittent Connection 503-344-9838 14.4k HST v.32bis 5 Eugene, Ore 1:152/35 f'req LINUX for a list - CBV not needed to d/l linux files PA NNY Centre Programmers Unit 814-353-0566 14.4k V.32bis/HST 5 Bellefonte, PA PA YNY Allentown Technical 215-432-5699 9600 v.32/v.42bis 4 Allentown WWIVNet 2578 PA YYY Tactical-Operations 814-861-7637 14.4k V32bis/V42bis 1 State College Fidonet 1:129/226 tac_ops.UUCP TX North Shore BBS 713-251-9757 2 Houston TX The Annex 512-575-1188 9600 HST ? Fidonet 1:3802/217 512-575-0667 2400 Fidonet 1:3802/216 Files available by f'req or by sign-on with a 60-minute per-day limit TX Walt Fairs 713-947-9866 2 Houston FidoNet 1:106/18 TX YYY CyberVille 817-249-6261 9600 3 FidoNet 1:130/78 TX YNY splat-ooh 512-578-2720 14.4k 512-578-5436 5 Victoria TX YNY alaree 512-575-5554 14.4k 5 Victoria TX YNY Ronin BBS 214-938-2840 14.4 HST/DS 2 Waxahachie (Dallas) RIME,Intelec,Smartnet,and more! VA VTBBS 703-231-7498 5 Blacksburg VA MBT 703-953-0640 ? Blacksburg VA NOVA 703-323-3321 9600 4 Annandale Fidonet 1:109/305 VA Rem-Jem 703-503-9410 9600 2 Fairfax VA Enlightend 703-370-9528 14.4k 3 Alexandria Fidonet 1:109/615 VA YYY My UnKnown BBS 703-780-6890 14.4k V.32bis 5 Fidonet 1:109/370 VA YN? Georgia Peach BBS 804-727-0399 14.4k 1 Newport News WA YYY S'Qually Holler 206-235-0270 14.4k USR D/S 5 Renton FidoNet: 1:343/34 USENET squally.halcyon.com (Anon UUCP: nuucp nuucp /sc2/bbs/filelist.z) WA YYY Top Hat BBS 206-244-9661 14.4k 2 Fidonet 1:343/40 WA YNY victrola.sea.wa.us 206-838-7456 19.2k 3 Federal Way USENET Commercial Services that carry some of Linux: -- NNN Compuserve CIS ??????????? 9600 1 UnixForum 800-848-8199 voice number -- NNN GENie ??????????? 9600/2400 3 800-638-9636 voice number 301-251-6415 voice number, international -- NNN BIX ??????????? 1 800-227-2983 voice number -- NNN Delphi ??????????? ? In PC SIG OUTSIDE US: AUSTRIA: W YYY Galaktische Archive 0043-222-8303804 16.8 ZYX (19:00-7:00) 4 Wien fido 2:310/77 AUSTRALIA: NSW YYN Linux-Support-Oz +61-2-418-8750 v.32bis 14.4k 5 Sydney Internet/Usenet, E-Mail/News NSW NYY 500cc Formula 1 BBS +61-2-550-4317 V.32bis 4 Sydney CANADA: AB NNN Magic BBS 403-569-2882 14.4k HST/Telebit/MNP 3 Calgary, AB, Canada Internet/Usenet AB Y?Y Logical Solutions 2400 Baud lines - 299-9900 to 9911 5 14.4 K lines - 299-9912 to 9913 16.8k USR v32bis- 299-9914 to 9917 AB YNY V.A.L.I.S. 403-478-1281 14.4k v.32bis 5 Edmonton USENET ON ??? The Windsor Download (519)-973-9330 v32bis 14.4 ? ON YYY r-node 416-249-5366 2400 3 Toronto USENET QC Synapse 819-246-2344 819-561-5268 4 Gatineau RIME->SYNAPSE QC YNY Radio Free Nyongwa 514-284-6693 v.32bis (ZyXEL) 2 Montreal USENET, Fido GERMANY: The BBS's in the German and Austrian sections are thanks to Rasca Gmelch who maintains a list of German and Austrian BBS's. He can be reached at: rasca@marie.physik.tu-berlin.de HB bakunin.north.de (0421) 870532 9600 ? D 2800 Bremen kraehe@bakunin.north.de NDS ??? DataComm1 0531/13216 14.4 HST ? Braunschweig fido 2:240/550, LinuxNet NDS ??? DataComm2 0531/13217 14.4 HST ? Braunschweig fido 2:240/551, LinuxNet NDS YYY Linux Server /Braukmann 0441/592963 16.8 ZYX 5 Oldenburg fido 2:241/2012, LinuxNet HH ??? Hub Hamburg & trash-hh 040/? 14.4 (8:00 - 24:00) ? Hamburg fido 2:241/2100, LinuxNet NDS YYY MM's Spielebox 05323/3515 14.4 ZYX 5 Clausthal-Zfd. fido 2:241/3420, SLS 1.01, SLT NDS YYY MM's Spielebox 05323/3516 16.8 ZYX 5 Clausthal-Zfd. fido 2:241/3421, SLS 1.01, SLT NDS YYY MM's Spielebox 05323/3540 9.6 5 Clausthal-Zfd. fido 2:241/3422, SLS 1.01, SLT NDS YYY Bit-Company 05323/2539 16.8 ZYX MO 5 Clausthal-Zfd. fido 2:241/3430, SLS 1.01 BW NYY Fractal Zone BBS /Maass 0721/863066 16.8 ZYX (24h) 3 Karlsruhe fido 2:241/7462 NRW ??? Hipposoft /M. Junius 0241/875090 14.4 HST (4:30-7,8-23:30) 5 Aachen fido 2:242/6, SLS1.01/kernel 0.99.9 ??? YYY UB-HOFF /A. Hoffmann 0203/584155 19.2 ZYX+ 3 Duisburg fido 2:242/37, SLS1.0/kernel 0.99.7 SHL ??? FORMEL-Box 04191/2846 16.8 ZYX (6:00-20:00) ? Kaltenkirchen fido 2:242/329, LinuxNet ??? ??? (boxname) ? 16.8 ZYX (10:00 - 22:00) ? ? fido 2:246/55.4 BAY ??? (boxname) 08161/82615 16.8 ZYX (22:00-8:00) ? Freising fido 2:246/129 BAY ??? BOX/2 089/6019677 16.8 ZYX (22-24,0:30-2,5-8) ? Muenchen fido 2:246/147, info magic: LINUX BAY YYY DBP Line 2+1 0851/55596 14.4 V32b (8:00-3:30) 2 Passau fido 2:246/200 BAY YYY DBP Line 1 0851/753789 16.8 ZYX (8:00-3:30) 2 Passau fido 2:246/2000 BAY YYY DBP Line 3 0851/73273 14.4 HST (5:00-3:30) 2 Passau fido 2:246/202 BAY YYY DBP ISDN 0851/950464 38.4/64k (V.110/X.75) 2 Passau fido 2:246/201 (8:00-24:00,1:00-3:30) BLN ??? (boxname) 030/6866250 16.8 ZYX ? ? fido 2:2403/17 BLN YYY CS-Port 030/4913418 19.2 ZYX+ 4 Berlin fido 2:2403/13, SLS1.02 BLN YYY BigBrother / R. Gmelch 030/3356328 16.8 Z16 (16:00-23:00) 5 Berlin fido 2:2403/36.4, SLS1.02/kernel 0.99.9 BW YYY Echoblaster BBS #1 07142/21392 HST/V32b (7-19:00,23-01h) 5 Bietigheim fido 2:2407/4, LinuxNet BW YYY Echoblaster BBS #2 07142/21235 V32b (20:00-6:00) 5 Bietigheim fido 2:2407/40, LinuxNet BW NYN LinuxServer 0711/756275 16.8 HST (8:3-17:5,19-2) MO 5 Stuttgart fido 2:2407/34, LinuxNet BW NYY Rising Sun BBS 07147/3845 16.8 ZYX (05:30-02:30) 4 Sachsenheim fido 2:2407/41, LinuxNet FINLAND: NNY The Field of Inverse Chaos +358 0 506 1836 14.4k v32bis/HST 4 Helsinki, Finland USENET; ichaos.nullnet.fi FRANCE: NNY Modula BBS +33-1 4043 0124, +33-1 4530 1248 HST 14.4 V.32bis 5 Paris Michel Parlebas (no fee for Linux files) NNY Windows Manor ???????????? NEED MORE INFO PLEASE. ? Paris Francis Rozange (recently relocated) YYY BuBullux (semi-private, number by request) 16.8k V32bis 5 Paris send requests for number to perrier@onera.fr free semi-private system, hours 18:30-08:00 (but weekends 24 hours) 2 hours download time per day, FREQ for both listed and unlisted nodes. NYY STDIN BBS +33-72375139 V32bis 5 Lyon, Laurent Cas FidoNet 2:323/8 NYY Le Lien +33-72089879 HST 14.4/V32bis ? Lyon, Pascal Valette FidoNet 2:323/5 YNY Basil +33-1-44670844 V32bis 2 Paris, Laurent Chemla BBS under Linux (xbbs) YNY Cafard Naum +33-51701632 V32bis 2 Nantes, Yann Dupont open between 08:30-22:30 local time - BBS under Linux (pbbs 1.9) IRELAND: NYN TOPPSI +353-1-711047 9600 + HST +353-1-773547 14.4k v.32bis 4 Dublin, Ireland Fido, (Chatnet ?) Fidonet 2:263/151 NNN DUBBS +353-1-6789000 19.2 ZyXEL 2 Dublin, Ireland Fidonet 2:263/167 NNN Galway Online +353-91-27454 14.4k v32b 4 Galway, Ireland RIME, @iol.ie N?Y Nemesis' Dungeon +353-1-324755 or 326900 14.4k v32bis 4 Dublin Fidonet 2:263/150 ITALY: NYY nonsolosoftware +39 51 6140772 v.32bis,v.42bis Fidonet 2:332/407 " " +39 51 432904 ZyXEL 19.2k 5 Fidonet 2:332/417 NETHERLANDS: YNY Koos z'n Doos +31-3402-36647 NEW ZAALAND: YYY Advanced Systems +64-9-379-3365 ZyXEL 16.8k 5 Auckland Singet node number(s) 28:100/20 / 28:1000/201 INTLnet node number(s) 58:700/30 / 58:7200/30 Fidonet 3:772/360.10 (Just a pont sorry) 24Hrs Freqs etc. NORWAY: Thunderball Cave 472567018 ? RIME ->CAVE ? NETHERLANDS: YNY DownTown BBS Lelystad +31-3200-48852 14.4k 5 Lelystad Fido 2:512/155, UUCP YYY MUGNET Intl-Cistron BBS +31-1720-42580 38.4k 4-5 Alphen a/d Rijn UUCP SINGAPORE: YYY The Controversy (65)560-6040 14.4k V.32bis/HST 2-4 Fidonet 6:600/201 SOUTH AFRICA: NYY Pats System +27-12-333-2049 14.4k v.32bis/HST 3 Pretoria Fidonet 5:71-1/36 SWEDEN ?Y? Gunship BBS +46-31-693306 14.4k HST DS ? Gothenburg SWITZERLAND: NNY Atlantis +41-1-492-8711 14.4k 4 ILINK YYY Baboon BBS +41-62-511726 19.2k ? 2:301/580 /581 UNITED KINGDOM: NYN The Purple Tentacle +44-734-590990 HST/V32bis 4 Reading Fidonet 2:252/305 A6 BBS +44-582-460273 14.4k ? Herts Fidonet 2:440/111 YYY On The Beach +44-273-600996 9600 HST 4 Brighton Fidonet 2:441/122 Commercial Service's Outside the US: UNITED KINGDOM: NNN Compulink Info eXchange 081-390-1255 v.32bis 5  File: linux-faq.info, Node: II-18, Next: III-00, Prev: II-17, Up: IIB-00 (II.18) What are File Requests? ================================ ANSWER: FidoNet BBS's with the right type's of front-end mailer's can call other Fido BBS's and request their front-end mailer to send them files that they want. All this can be done automatically. File Requests (freqs) are basically the FidoNet equivallent to UUCP.  File: linux-faq.info, Node: III-00, Next: IIIA-00, Prev: II-18, Up: Top (III.) INSTALLATION, SETUP, and COMMON PROBLEMS *********************************************** Note: this FAQ section should be the most 'reliable' source for installation info. Please mail any corrections or changes to this section's coordinator, Matt Welsh (mdw@tc.cornell.edu). Last update April 93. * Menu: * IIIA-00:: WHERE TO START: What are the reliable sources of information * IIIB-00:: LINUX PACKAGES: Where and how install a complete Linux package * IIIC-00:: SOME COMMON PROBLEMS: Simple problems and simple solutions  File: linux-faq.info, Node: IIIA-00, Next: III-01, Prev: III-00, Up: III-00 (III.A.) WHERE TO START ======================= * Menu: * III-01:: I want to install Linux on my machine. Where do I start? * III-02:: Is there some kind of limit on how large my Linux partitions and/or filesystems can be?  File: linux-faq.info, Node: III-01, Next: III-02, Prev: IIIA-00, Up: IIIA-00 (III.01) I want to install Linux on my machine. Where do I start? ================================================================== ANSWER: The first thing you should do is read through the various introductory files, and ESPECIALLY the FAQ (this file). Especially this section :). A lot of effort has been done on these intro files, but note that some of them conflict with each other and cover older versions of Linux. When in doubt consult this file. These files are all found on tsx-11.mit.edu:/pub/linux/docs... FAQ The Linux Frequently Asked Questions list It's sitting in your hands now. This section is probably the best place to start to get the most up-to-date Linux installation information. INFO-SHEET Linux Information Sheet, by J. Winstead/L. Wirzenius/M. Welsh/M. Johnson This is a collection of general info about Linux. It's a good place to start if you've never heard of the package before. README.kernel Kernel compilation README file, by L. Wirzenius This is the README notes for recompiling the Linux kernel from the sources. You don't need it unless you're planning to upgrade your kernel by compiling it yourself. Others Every "release" of Linux (such as SLS, boot/root, HLU's disks, etc., see below) has its own up-to-date README files and docs that explain how to install that release. This FAQ section summarizes, but for more info on how to install Linux, read the READMEs and docs for the release that you choose. Old docs There are a number of obsolete, old docs lying around. Most of these tell how to install Linux from the old boot/root disk combo. I DO NOT SUGGEST that you use these docs unless you know what you're doing-- the best thing for beginners to do is read this FAQ and install the SLS release (using the docs and READMEs for the SLS release). These old docs are things like "install.txt", "guide.txt", "RELNOTES", "CHANGES", and so on, and are all geared towards old versions of the boot/rootdisk. They are *NOT* relevant to current versions of Linux.  File: linux-faq.info, Node: III-02, Next: IIIB-00, Prev: III-01, Up: IIIA-00 (III.02) Is there some kind of limit on how large my Linux partitions and/or filesystems can be? ================================================================================================= ANSWER: There's no limit on partition size (just the size of your drive), or filesystem size. The Minix filesystem type has a limit of 64 megs per filesystem. However, most folks use the Extended 2 filesystem or the Xia filesystem, which have limits of 4 terabytes per partition (virtually infinite). See section III.C below on creating partitions and filesystems for more info.  File: linux-faq.info, Node: IIIB-00, Next: III-03, Prev: III-02, Up: III-00 (III.B.) LINUX PACKAGES *********************** This section contains information about *SOME* of the current Linux packages available. * Menu: * III-03:: Does there exist a way to get all (or nearly all) of the Linux stuff? * III-04:: Where can I get these releases of Linux? * III-05:: What files do I need to get for the SLS release? * III-06:: Now that I have the files, how do I install SLS? * III-07:: Any other information about SLS? * III-08:: How do I get and install H.J. Lu's "bootable rootdisk" release?  File: linux-faq.info, Node: III-03, Next: III-04, Prev: IIIB-00, Up: IIIB-00 (III.03) Does there exist a way to get all (or nearly all) of the Linux stuff? =============================================================================== ANSWER: Yes. To install Linux, you're going to want to choose one of the "releases" of Linux, all of which have a different method of installation and set up. Each release also has its own README and installation docs, which you'll want to read first. But I'll summarize here. The major releases are: * The "Softlanding Linux System Release" Also known as the "SLS" release, consists of about 23 disks for Linux and 9 for X11. The nice thing about this release is that you can pick and choose which disks and packages you want to install. The first disk ("a1") must be "rawritten" (using rawrite.exe) on floppies, and the rest of the images are put onto DOS format floppies using the DOS "copy" command. Contains all of the softs you'll ever need, and is easy to install for newcomers. This is the release that I suggest everyone new to Linux should install. It's the most complete and up-to-date package. HLU's disks, below, are good for upgrading, and (unfortunately), the MCC-interim is quite dated at this point. If you install SLS you'll save yourself a lot of trouble. * The "TAMU" (Texas A&M University) Linux Release This release is supposedly like the SLS release, but has some different softs and a different installation procedure. From Dave Safford, "The installation procedure is the main difference from SLS. A single boot diskette is used, and it boots directly into an automated installation program." This installation program asks a few questions about the desired configuration, and sets up everything, including your filesystems, booting from the hard drive with LILO (see section III.C below), and a simplified X-Windows configuration. This humble author has never installed the TAMU release but I've heard good things about it. * H.J. Lu's "bootable rootdisk" This is a release of the Linux kernel and basic binaries on a single floppy. It, along with HLU's 'gccdisk', 'libdisk', and so on, are good for upgrading or installing basic Linux system by hand. It's not reccommended for newcomers, because there's no real install script, it's mostly meant as an upgrade of the basic system software. Beginners should install SLS or MCC-interim (see below) instead. * The Manchester Computing Centre Interim Release This is the fabled "MCC-Interim" Linux release, which was originally the de facto standard Linux distribution. After 0.97.2, it was dropped in favor of SLS, but as of 0.99.8 a new MCC-Interim has been released. Like SLS and TAMU, it has an easy-to-install, complete set of Linux software, including networking and X11. * Others but OUTDATED There are other releases and distributions of the Linux software, "MJ" release. There is also an older "boot/root" disk combo (0.98.1) which is like HLU's bootable rootdisk, above, but it's no longer supported (as far as I know). The "MJ" release, according to Martin Junius, is no longer maintained. The last version was 0.97.1.  File: linux-faq.info, Node: III-04, Next: III-05, Prev: III-03, Up: IIIB-00 (III.04) Where can I get these releases of Linux? ================================================== ANSWER: The SLS release is at tsx-11.mit.edu:/pub/linux/packages/SLS and sunsite.unc.edu:/pub/Linux/SLS. H.J. Lu's "bootable rootdisk" release is found at tsx-11.mit.edu: /pub/linux/packages/GCC, as well as the mirror sites. TAMU.99p4 is available from sc.tamu.edu in pub/free_unix/TAMU.99p4.  File: linux-faq.info, Node: III-05, Next: III-06, Prev: III-04, Up: IIIB-00 (III.05) What files do I need to get for the SLS release? ========================================================== ANSWER: Basically all of the releases are alike. You need to get the DOS program 'rawrite.exe' (or 'rawrite2.exe'). This program takes a binary file and writes it, block by block, to a blank formatted floppy. This is the way to take a Linux floppy image and put it onto a disk from DOS. Rawrite can be found in tsx-11.mit.edu:/pub/linux/dos_utils. For the SLS release, you need to get the files: * SLS.README and SLS.FAQ. These files contain further information on the current release of SLS. You should read them in addition to this FAQ. * a1.3 or a1.5, depending on what type of floppy you boot from on your system. a1.3 is for high-density 3.5" floppies, and a1.5 for high-density 5.25" floppies. This file is the image of the SLS "a1" disk. You must use rawrite.exe (above) to rawrite the file to a high-density *formatted* MS-DOS floppy. (Once the file is rawritten, the floppy will no longer be recognized by DOS). * The files in the a2, a3, and a4 directories. These files must be copied to MS-DOS formatted floppies (using the MS-DOS 'copy' command). For example, the files in the a2 directory are copied to a floppy labeled 'a2', and so on. These files make up the "a" disk set. They are required. The rest of the files below are optional. * The files under the directories b1-bN, c1-cN, x1-xN, t1-tN, and so on. These files are copied to MS-DOS floppies just like a2-a4 above. (e.g. the files in the b2 directory are copied to a floppy labeled 'b2'). These floppies contain optional software for SLS: b1-bN: base system extras, such as emacs and man pages c1-cN: compilers such as gcc, g++, f2c, etc. x1-xN: the X Windows system i1-iN: Interviews (doc and idraw) t1-tN: TeX, LaTex, etc. (document processing system) s1-sN: sources for some of these utilities I suggest getting at least the a, b, and c disk series. If you want to run Xwindows, get the x series as well. When you're making these floppies, a2-a4 and so on must all be the same kind of floppy (i.e. either 3.5" or 5.25"). The a1 disk must be the floppy type that you boot from. The rest of the disks don't have to be the same type as the a1 disk.  File: linux-faq.info, Node: III-06, Next: III-07, Prev: III-05, Up: IIIB-00 (III.06) Now that I have the files, how do I install SLS? ========================================================== ANSWER: Before installing SLS you may need to resize your partitions for MS-DOS, etc. to make space for Linux on your hard drive. For this you generally use MS-DOS's "fdisk" and resize your partitions by first deleting them and then re-creating them with smaller sizes. Note that this procedure deletes everything on the affected partitions: you'll need to make backups first and restore from them later. See section III.C for more info on this. To install the system: First boot the a1 disk. You should see the prompt "LILO". Press or to get a list of instructions: at this point you'll be able to choose how you want to boot the a1 disk (i.e. choose the option "floppy" to boot without the ramdisk enabled, "ramdisk" to boot normally, and so on). If you just press you'll boot with the ramdisk enabled (recommended, but may not be possible for systems with less than 4 megs of RAM). Once the system boots up login as "root" (no password). You can now use 'fdisk' to create partitions for Linux, and reboot (from the a1 disk again). Again, login as "root" and use 'mke2fs', 'mkswap', and so on to create filesystems and swap space. See section III.C below for information on making partitions and filesystems. To install the software, use the command doinstall where is the location of your root filesystem that you just created. For example, if your Linux root filesystem is on /dev/hda2, use the command doinstall /dev/hda2 If you have more than one Linux filesystem (for example, a filesystem on/dev/hda3 for /usr), then use something like doinstall /dev/hda2 /dev/hda3 /usr Those with previous UNIX experience will know what this means. See section III.C below. Next, the system will ask how you want to install the system (from floppy, hard disk, tape, CD-ROM, or over the network). If you're installing from floppy, choose "floppy". (For info on installing from the hard drive, etc. see the file SLS.FAQ). For floppy installations you'll also be asked what drive to install from and how much software you're going to install. It's very self-explanatory. You must have a formatted high-density floppy on hand before you go on. It must be the type of floppy that you boot from (i.e. same type as the a1 disk). It will be used to make a boot disk at the end of the installation procedure. >From here on it's pretty automatic- you simply flip disks while it installs the software.  File: linux-faq.info, Node: III-07, Next: III-08, Prev: III-06, Up: IIIB-00 (III.07) Any other information about SLS? ========================================== ANSWER: This comes from the file SLS.FAQ, by Peter MacDonald. Please get the most recent version and read it: sunsite.unc.edu: /pub/Linux/SLS/SLS.FAQ. SLS (Softlanding Linux System) Copyright 1992, Softlanding Software. which is NOT just an image dump of someones Unix system. Also note that in the interest of preventing ftp storms, the version of SLS that appears on the internet, is not quite the same as the version distributed by Softlanding. Softlanding regularly gets a whole new version which has the changes integrated. But the updates to the Internet version are tailored to minimize the amount that has to be downloaded to become current. That is why bugs manage to creep in on me. I am not installing and testing the Internet version, although, functionally, it should be quite close to the Softlanding one. The purposes of the SLS are the following: 0) provide an initial installation program (for the queasy). 1) utilities compiled to use minimal disk space. 2) provide a reasonably complete/integrated U*ix system. 3) provide a means to install and uninstall packages. 4) permit partial installations for small disk configs. 5) add a menu driven, extensible system administration. 6) take the hassle out of collecting and setting up a system. 7) give non internet users access to Linux. 8) provide a distribution that can be easily updated. Highlights of the base are: gcc/g++, emacs, kermit, elm/mail/uucp, gdb, sc (spreadsheet), man pages, groff, elvis, zip/zoo/lh and menu. Highlights of X are: X, programmers libs, 75 dpi fonts, games (spider, tetris, xvier, chess, othello, xeyes, etc) and utilities like xmag, xmenu, xcolormap and ghostscript. Approximate usage is as follows: Tiny base system: 9 Meg (Series 'a') Main base system: 25 Meg (Series 'a', 'b' and 'c') Main base system + X11: 45 Meg (Series 'a', 'b', 'c' and 'x') Please read the file COPYING which outlines the GNU copying restrictions. The linux kernel is copywrite Linux B. Torvalds. Various other copywrites apply, but the upshot is that you may do whatever you like with SLS, except restrict others in any way from doing likewise, and you must leave all copywrites intact, and you can not misrepresent or take credit for others work. SLS is also available via mail from the address: Softlanding Software 910 Lodge Ave. Victoria, B.C., Canada V8X-3A8 (604) 360-0188 More details about SLS can be asked to pmacdona@sanjuan.uvic.ca.  File: linux-faq.info, Node: III-08, Next: IIIC-00, Prev: III-07, Up: IIIB-00 (III.08) How do I get and install H.J. Lu's "bootable rootdisk" release? ========================================================================= ANSWER: It's much like SLS release. Just get the bootroot disk image and use rawrite to transfer it to a floppy, and then boot it. You'll probably want to get the 'gccdisk' and 'libdisk', etc. images and rawrite them to floppies as well. Note that this release doesn't have a user-friendly installation script, it's meant mostly to upgrade or install the system by hand. Unless you're familiar with Linux this may prove difficult. :) This release is VERY USEFUL as a recovery disk in case you trash your Linux system. Everyone should have a copy of the newest bootroot disk for emergencies. It contains a full Linux system on one floppy.  File: linux-faq.info, Node: IIIC-00, Next: III-09, Prev: III-08, Up: III-00 (III.C.) SOME COMMON PROBLEMS ***************************** * Menu: * III-09:: What filetype is the extension ".z"? What about ".taz", ".tpz", and ".tgz"? I see these files on the archives but I don't know how to unpack them. * III-10:: How do I make partitions and/or filesystems for Linux? * III-11:: Why does fdisk say "Linux cannot currently use XXXX sectors of this partition"? * III-12:: What does the message "MINIX-fs: Magic match failed" on bootup mean? * III-13:: Linux mkfs doesn't accept the size I give the device, although I double-checked with fdisk, and it's correct. * III-14:: How can I get mkfs/mkefs to check for bad blocks? * III-15:: How can I boot Linux off of my hard drive? * III-16:: I tried to install LILO, but screwed up somehow, and now can't boot anything from the hard drive. How can I fix this? * III-17:: When installing SLS, I get the error "You may have inserted the wrong disk" when putting in the next disk in a series. What's going on? * III-18:: When installing SLS, the installation script creates a "boot floppy" for me to boot Linux with. How can I make these myself (or fix problems with them?) * III-19:: How can I set the default video mode used by Linux? Do I have to recompile the kernel to do this? * III-20:: How else can I use rdev? * III-21:: When I login as non-root, I get tons of errors about "shell-init: permission denied". Also, some things work as root but not as a normal user. What's the deal? * III-22:: I have the previous version of the Linux kernel, how can I upgrade it? * III-23:: Where is /usr/include/linux and /usr/include/asm, or, Why won't the kernel compile correctly? * III-24:: How can I upgrade to the newest version of GCC and/or libraries? * III-25:: What's the deal with these things called "jump tables"? * III-26:: How to upgrade jump tables? (Without hanging my system) * III-27:: How can I be sure I won't be writing over anything important when installing Linux? I have to use DOS on my machine, and I don't want to lose any files. * III-28:: I just rebooted my machine, and now Linux dies with a "panic: trying to free unused inode". What's going on? * III-29:: Can I use both OS/2 and Linux on my machine?? * III-30:: I use OS/2's Boot Manager on my hard drive. How can I get it to recognize Linux? * III-31:: When I run Linux's fdisk it says "OPUS" for OS/2's Boot Manager partition. Is this right? What's OPUS?  File: linux-faq.info, Node: III-09, Next: III-10, Prev: IIIC-00, Up: IIIC-00 (III.09) What filetype is the extension ".z"? What about ".taz", ".tpz", and ".tgz"? I see these files on the archives but I don't know how to unpack them. ============================================================================================================================================================ ANSWER: Here's a list of common filename extensions on the archives. Extension Used by --------- ---------------------------------------------------------- .Z compress/uncompress. Use "uncompress foo.Z" to uncompress the file. .z gzip. Gzip is now used by many archive sites instead of compress; if you don't have gzip on your system, get it! To uncompress one of these files use "gzip -d foo.z". .tar Tar file. Use "tar xvf foo.tar" to unpack it. Or, you can fo "tar tvf foo.tar" to get an index listing of the tarfile. .taz Compressed tar file. You can do something like "zcat foo.taz | tar xvf -" or "tar xvfz foo.taz" to unpack it (some versions of tar don't have the z option). .tpz, .tgz Gzipped tar file. If you have gzip, zcat is linked to it, so you can do "zcat foo.tpz | tar xvf -" to unpack it. .tpz is the old extension; all gzipped tar files should now end in .tgz instead. The SLS distribution uses gzipped tar files (.tgz).