Archive-name: linux-faq/part1 Last-Modified: 93/06/11 Version: 1.19 ********************************************************* * * * Answers to Frequently asked questions about Linux * * * ********************************************************* This post contains Part 1 of the Linux FAQ (6 parts) Hi Linuxers! The original FAQ 1st version was posted on Dec. 19, 1991 by Robert Blum. Most credits to Linus, Robert and Ted for the departure point of this work. The first X11 section was written by Peter Hawkins, the rest was either on the list posted by many (real) activists, not me ;-), either in some other news groups, or else by direct posting to me (thanks Humberto, Dan, Michael, Drew, Audoin). I haven't systematically copyrighted them, so thanks to every one who participated even indirectly to this FAQ. Since September 1992, the FAQ is co-written by: WHO (WHAT) E-MAIL ============================================================================= Michael K. Johnson (META-FAQ) johnsonm@stolaf.edu Matt Welsh (GENERAL INFO) mdw@tc.cornell.edu Zane Healy (BBS INFO) healyzh@holonet.net Matt Welsh (INSTALLATION) mdw@tc.cornell.edu Peter MacDonald (SLS INFO) pmacdona@sanjuan.uvic.ca Mark Komarinski (DOS) komarimf@craft.camp.clarkson.edu Drew Eckhardt (SCSI) drew@cs.colorado.edu Rick Miller (DEVICE INFO) rick@ee.uwm.edu Hongjiu Lu (GCC) hlu@eecs.wsu.edu Krishna Balasubramanian (X11) balasub@cis.ohio-state.edu Rick Sladkey (EMACS) jrs@world.std.com Philip Copeland (NET INFO) p_copela@csd.bristol-poly.ac.uk Brian McCauley (LPD) B.A.McCauley@bham.ac.uk Vince Skahan (UUCP/NEWS..) vince@victrola.sea.wa.us Dirk Hohndel (PROOF READER) hohndel@informatik.uni-wuerzburg.dbp.de Marc-Michel Corsini (FAQ collector) corsini@{labri,firmin}.greco-prog.fr ============================================================================= If anyone is interested in participating with this FAQ, just send me a note with: your name/e-mail and the section you want to maintain. Many of the questions could be avoided, if people had read the FAQ of the following newsgroups: news.announce.newusers, comp.lang.c, gnu.emacs.help, comp.unix.questions, comp.windows.x.i386unix. [The last-change-date of this posting is always "two minutes ago". :-)] This is the introduction to a list of frequently asked questions (FAQ for short) about Linux with answers (Yeap!). This article contains a listing of the sections and queries. This FAQ is supposed to reduce the noise level ;-) in the comp.os.linux newsgroup, and spare the time of many activists. I will cross-post it each month to news.answers. This FAQ is NOT an introduction to UNIX, there are many books for unix, and there is *also* a FAQ for unix (it's the one of comp.unix.questions which contains things such as "How do I remove a file named -". I DO NOT WANT TO ADD SUCH THINGS IN THIS FAQ DEVOTED TO LINUX. Some books to read: The C Programming Language: Kernighan & Ritchie POSIX Programmer's Guide: D. Lewine Unix System Administration Handbook: Nemeth, Snyder & Seebass. Unix for the Impatient: Abrahams & Larson Unix System V Release 4, An Introduction, by Rosen, Rosinski and Farber; Publisher Osborne MacGraw-Hill. The X Windows System in a Nutshell: O'Reilly. ..... This FAQ is available at the main Linux sites in the doc directory, the addresses are given in section II. of this FAQ. There is also an archive of (all) FAQs at rtfm.mit.edu [18.70.0.224]. Have a look in the anonymous ftp directory: /pub/usenet/news.answers/linux-faq. If you do not have anonymous ftp access, you can access the archive by mail server. Send mail to mail-server@rtfm.mit.edu with the words "help" and "index" in the body on separate lines for more information. The information in this multi-parts FAQ is likely to change relatively quickly. If this is more than two months old (it was released on February 1993) then you should obtain a new copy. See the paragraph above for details of where to find a more recent version. Please suggest any change, rephrasing, deletions, new questions, answers ... Please include "FAQ" in the subject of messages sent to me about FAQ. Please send them to linux@numero6.greco-prog.fr whatever will be the From part of this message. Finally discussion about the FAQ can be done on the DOC Channel (see section II). Thanks in advance, Marc Thanks to Martin Schulze (Martin.Schulze@Informatik.Uni-Oldenburg.de), the FAQ can be found in LaTeX version --- the first attempt was done by Pepe de flores --- at tsx-11.mit.edu in pub/linux/docs. Future Plan: - provide FAQ as diff too, since it seems to stay stable except for very few sections. - perform automatic post to c.o.l, c.o.l.a, c.a and n.a every month as I promised long time ago. ================================8<=====8<============================== CONTENTS (of this part) 0. WARNINGS (part1) I. LINUX GENERAL INFORMATION (part1) II. LINUX USEFUL ADDRESSES (part1) ================================8<=====8<============================== 0. WARNINGS =========== The FAQ contains a lot of information sometimes I've put it down in 3 different ways because people seems not to understand what they read (or what I wrote, you know I'm just a froggy and english is not my natural language). What I mean is that not all is in the FAQ but many things are there, so please just take time to read it this will spare a lot of the other linuxers [and if you think I should rephrase some Q/A just drop me a note with the corrections]. As the Linux kernel changes monthly (and even more ...), I define 2 pseudo variables a la C one for the version, and one for the date of the release. #define CURRENT_VERSION 0.99 /* the current version */ #define PATCH_LEVEL pl10 /* the patch level */ #define KERNEL_DATE 29, May /* Date of the CURRENT_VERSION */ In what follows I'll consider CURRENT_VERSION as the current version. > From: Linus.Torvalds@cs.Helsinki.FI (Linus Torvalds) > Subject: Re: New pl10 uploaded > Date: Sat, 29 May 1993 17:21:35 +0300 > > > I uploaded a new version of the ALPHA-pl10 to nic.funet.fi: this one > contains some more fixes for the networking code, along with various > other minor changes (including the math emulation fix). The directory > is, as before, pub/OS/Linux/PEOPLE/Linus. I'd suggest removing any old > traces of linux before unpacking this, so that you won't have problems > with old object files etc. > > Also note that Fred put the new networking binaries on tsx-11 the other > day, so you should probably get them from pub/linux/packages/net/net-2. > I'd suggest getting at least the 'net-base' and 'net-std' packages of > binaries, as they contain the config programs as well as all the normal > networking binaries. > > I'd be especially interested to hear comments from the people who were > unable to get the previous alpha-pl10 working. Does this one work for > you? If it doesn't *please* mail me directly, as that problem is now the > only thing keeping me from a real release. > > To recap, pl10 gives you roughly: > - new net-2 code (FvK) along with the newest drivers from Donald. > - IPC doesn't need patching (Krishna Balasubramanian). > - various FPU-emulation details fixed (Bill Metzenthen) > - ext2fs updates by Remy Card and Steven Tweedie. > - dynamic inode and file allocation (Steven Tweedie) with hash tables > for better inode lookup etc. Hopefully no more EMFILE errors. > - updated fdomain driver by Rik Faith (along with some other SCSI > changes by others) > - tty changes by Tytso and others. > - new uname() call for extended info (ie domain). HLU. > - iBCS signal stacks and stubs for 'lcall 7,0'. > - buffer cache / code page sharing. Small changes since the last > ALPHA-diff, as people with 4MB reported that the old code didn't > relinquish pages very nicely. > - updated 'clone()' - it didn't actually work with 'execve()' before, > and there may still be some problems. Untested. > - various other changes: I've probably forgotten half the changes since > 0.99pl9. > > Please test it out, and if you have problems, mail me about them so that > I know about it. Feel free to send them to the mailing list and > newsgroup too, of course, but at least include a mail to me - I'm > working on finding the reason for the bootup problems that two persons > have experienced: the more data I can get on this, the merrier. > > Linus > > I. LINUX GENERAL INFORMATION ============================= *** This section is maintained by Matt Welsh (mdw@tc.cornell.edu). Mail *** him if you have corrections, additions, other questions, etc. *** Last update June 1993. I.01) What is linux? ANSWER: Linux is a free, copylefted full-featured UNIX for 386 and 486 machines which use the AT bus. It is still in "beta testing" (the current version number of the kernel is less than 1.0) but is being used worldwide by thousands (?) of people. (*) Free means that you may use it, change it , redistribute it, as long as you don't change the copyright. Free does not mean public domain. Linux is copylefted under the GNU General Public License. Linux is a freely distributable UNIX clone. It implements a subset of System V and POSIX functionality, and contains a lot of BSD-isms. LINUX has been written from scratch, and therefore does not contain any AT&T or MINIX code--not in the kernel, the compiler, the utilities, or the libraries. For this reason it can be made available with the complete source code via anonymous FTP. LINUX runs only on 386/486 AT-bus machines; porting to non-Intel architectures is likely to be difficult, as the kernel makes extensive use of 386 memory management and task primitives. I.02) Does Linux support GCC, TCP/IP, X-Windows, MGR, etc.? ANSWER: Linux currently supports and uses a large amount of the GNU software (i.e. GCC, bison, groff, etc) so all of that functionality is there. X-Windows is also available, along with many client applications. MGR is there too. TCP/IP is available. I use Linux boxes as Xterminals and my "own" asterix has mounted half a Gig via NFS. Mitch DSuoza is running an anonymous FTP server on his Linux box. This is definitely more than testing. See section IX of this FAQ ("Features")! In short, Linux supports many, many features and programs. One of the biggest questions is: "Does ***** work on Linux? Does Linux have *****?" The answer, usually, is "yes". Just check out the rest of this FAQ, the newsgroup, as well as the files on the FTP sites. I.03) What is the current state of Linux? ANSWER: There are two main groups devoted to linux: The original one: comp.os.linux newsgroup, where the INFO-SHEET is periodically posted. The selective one: comp.os.linux.announce, which is a moderated newsgroup, has a lot less traffic, and contains all of the "IMPORTANT" information on Linux. I.04) Linux sounds great, but where do I get it and how do I install it? ANSWER: FIRST read this FAQ, and especially section III (installation). There is no single, "official" release of Linux--- instead, there are several independent releases, all with their own advantages and disadvantages. The SLS release is the de facto standard. Choose a "release" of Linux (such as the SLS release, TAMU, bootdisk/ rootdisk, etc). Download from your nearest FTP site, and put it on floppies. Specific instructions are given in section III and in the README files for each release. Note that some releases only give you the kernel and a few utilities, and others give you everything you need (including X11, GCC, and more) in that latter case the downloading is close to a douzen of SOFT. Just check out section III for more info. I.05) Sounds good, but all of these docs are very confusing. Is Linux really difficult to install and use? ANSWER: This FAQ, as you can see, if very large. This is mostly because it's full of every single frequently asked question about Linux on the net. In essence, it's very simple: to get started with Linux, download the SLS release, put it onto floppies (see section III), repartition your drive, and install the software. If you're new to the UNIX world, Linux (as with any UNIX) is going to be difficult to understand at first. There isn't a lot of real documentation (other than this FAQ) out there. The Linux Doc Project (mail `mdw@tc.cornell.edu' for info) is working on a set of Linux manuals which should solve this problem. However, Linux is a hacker's UNIX, in many ways: it was developed by experienced UNIX hacks for experienced UNIX hacks. People are working on making it more "newbie-friendly", however, keep in mind that this is an afterthought. Linux was never meant to be the huge popular free UNIX that it has become, and the lack of documentation doesn't bother UNIX wizards who can figure it out from just poking around. I.06) What's the best advice you can give to a Linux newbie? ANSWER: Go read a *good* book on using UNIX before you even get started. Jumping cold-turkey into the Linux world from DOS is going to be quite difficult. Also remember that you'll be running the system, as well as using it, so get a book on UNIX system administration. Too many folks post questions to comp.os.linux which aren't Linux specific at all, and thus aren't covered in this FAQ. (i.e. "How to remove a file called '-i'?). If you can't figure out something, it's more than likely a misunderstanding of UNIX concepts, not a bug in Linux. Please read up on UNIX (see the comp.unix.questions FAQ; that's a good one) before you get started. I.07) Does it run on my computer? ANSWER: Linux has been written on a clone-386, with IDE drives and a VGA screen. It should work on most similar setups. The harddisk should be AT-standard, and the system must be ISA. (though *some* EISA success has been reported [T. Koenig], Linux doesn't take advantage of the EISA structure). A high density floppy drive -- either 5.25" or 3.5"-- is required for installation. Finally, most common SCSI controllers are supported (see the section devoted to SCSI in this FAQ). {Drew's information: Linux supports anything that's register compatable with a WD1003 MFM disk controller (ie, the original PC-AT disk controller.) Most AT MFM, RLL, ESDI, and IDE setups look like this. There is an alpha driver for the XT disk controller, but in general it's best to have an AT controller. Mail smackinla@cc.curtin.edu.au about the XT controller. Generally, the rule is if you have the disk configured into the CMOS setup of your machine, it will work (because the BIOS is talking to a WD 1003 compatable board), otherwise it won't.} IDE and MFM seem to work with no problem. It works, also, for some ESDI drive (you might have to comment out the "unexpected hd interrupt"-messages). There exists a high-level SCSI driver, under which low-level drivers are placed; a ST-01/ST-02 low driver has been completed see the FEATURES and the USEFUL ADDRESSES sections. Otherwise the requirements seem relatively small: a 386 (SX, DX or any 486). Any video card of the following: Hercules, CGA, EGA, (S)VGA. It needs at least 2M to run (with SWAP), and 4M is definitely a plus. It can happily use up to 16M (and more if you want). BTW There are problems with some MAXTOR drives on high speed machines (sometimes switching off "turbo" helps). There may also be a problem with "slow" memory (under 60ns) on fast machines. Again, the solution is to turn off "turbo". Mixed SIMMs (3 and 9 chip versions) have also reported to be problematic. NOTE: It doesn't run (yet?) on a MCA machine (such as the IBM PS/2 line). I.08) How much space will Linux take up on my hard drive? ANSWER: It depends on which release you choose. See the section INSTALLATION below. Usually it's somewhere between 10 megs (for a nominal system+swap space) and 80 megs (for everything plus space for user directories, etc.). I.09) Will Linux run on a PC or 286-AT? If not, why? ANSWER: Linux uses the 386 chip protected mode functions extensively, and is a true 32-bit operating system. Thus x86 chips, x<3, will simply not run it. I.10) Will Linux run on a 386 Laptop? ANSWER: It works, including X on most of them. I.11) Why the suggested 4Meg, for Linux? ANSWER: Linux uses the first 640k for kernel text, kernel data and buffercache. Your mother board may eat up 384K because of the chipset. Moreover there is: init/login, a shell, update possibly other daemons. Then, while compiling there is make and gcc (2.01 ~770k). So you don't have enough real memory and have to page. I.12) How would this operate in an OS/2 environment? ANSWER: Linux will coexist with *ANY* other operating system(s) which respects the "standard" PC partioning scheme - this includes Dos, Os/2, Minix etc. WARNING: Linux and OS/2 *can* co-exist on the same machine. BUT, you cannot use Linux's fdisk to make Linux partitions! See the warnings in section III about Linux and OS/2. I.13) (Dan) How long has Linux been publicly available? ANSWER (partial): Few months, v0.10 went out in Nov. 91, v0.11 in Dec. and the current version CURRENT_VERSION is available since KERNEL_DATE. But even it is pretty recent it is quite reliable. There are very few and small bugs and in its current state it is mostly useful for people who are willing to port code and write new code. As Linux is very close to a reliable/stable system, Linus decided that v0.13 will be known as v0.95. Believe it or not: the whole story started (nearly) with two processes that printed AAAA... and BBBB... BTW consult the digest#136 Vol2 for a complete story. I.14) How reliable is Linux, anyway? ANSWER: Very much so. The only real "bugs" that we see are with alpha drivers (that's why they're alpha) and with some parts of the TCP/IP code. For 99% of applications, however, Linux is very robust. Linux and Xwindows is faster on a 486-33 than on many Sun workstations with the same amount of RAM, running SunOS. I.15) What is the proper pronounciation for "Linux"? ANSWER: (Linus himself) 'li' is pronounced with a short [ee] sound: compare prInt, mInImal etc. 'nux' is also short, non-diphtong, like in pUt. It's partly due to minix: linux was just my working name for the thing, and as I wrote it to replace minix on my system, the result is what it is... linus' minix became linux. I originally intended it to be called freax (although buggix was one contender after I got fed up with some of the more persistent bugs :) and I think the kernel makefiles up to version 0.11 had something to that effect ("Makefile for the freax kernel" in a comment). But arl called the linux directory at nic.funet.fi pub/OS/Linux, and the name stuck. Maybe just as well: freax doesn't sound too good either (freax is obviosly free + freak + the obligatory -x). (Rick's note for English speakers: Linux - "LIH-nuhks".) I.16) What's about the copyright of linux? ANSWER: This is an except of the RELEASE Notes v.095a: Linux is NOT public domain software, but is copyrighted by Linus Torvalds. The copyright conditions are the same as those imposed by the GNU copyleft: The GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE Version 2, June 1991 is part of the source tree. I.17) Should I be a UNIX and/or a DOS wizard to install/use Linux? ANSWER: Not at all, just follow the install rules, of course it will be easier for you if you know things about Unix. Right now Linux is used by more than BIGNUM persons, very few of them enhance the kernel, some adds/ports new soft, most of us are only (but USEFUL) beta testers. Last but not least, various Linuxers work on manpages, newuser_help, file-system organization. So join us and choose your "caste". It is even used in production environments (Dr. G.W. Wettstein). I.18) Does Linux use TSS segments to provide multitasking? ANSWER: Yes! I.19) If my PC runs under Linux, is it possible to ftp, rlogin, rsh etc.. to other Unix boxes? ANSWER: Yes; Linux supports serial communications (kermit), pseudo-SLIP (with ka9q), and TCP/IP. SLIP is included in the CURRENT_VERSION.PATCH_LEVEL. Read the NET-FAQ (see section XIII) for information on networking. I.20) Does linux do paging? Can I have virtual memory on my small machine? ANSWER: Yes, it does. Generally you set up a swap file or partition, and enable it with the "swapon" command. Voila! Virtual memory. I.21) Can I have tasks spanning the full 4GB of addressable 386 memory? No more 64kB limits like in coherent or standard minix? ANSWER: Since 0.97 it uses 4 GB Process Space, 3 for userspace and 1 for the kernel space. I.22) Does the bigger program sizes mean I can run X? ANSWER: Yes! See section XII below for details on X11. I.23) What are the differences, pros and cons compared to Minix ? ANSWER (partial): Cons: - Linux only works on 386 and 486 processors. - Linux needs 2M of memory just to run, 4M to be useful. - Linux is a more traditional unix kernel, it doesn't use message passing. Pros: - Linux is free, and freely distributable, BUT copyrighted. - Linux has some advanced features such as: - Memory paging with copy-on-write - Demand loading of executables - Page sharing of executables - Multi-threaded file system - job control and virtual memory, virtual consoles and pseudo-ttys. - Linux is a more traditional unix kernel, it doesn't use message passing. I.24) What are the pros and cons compared to 386BSD ? ANSWER: Linux and 386BSD started out as completely different projects, with completely different goals and design criteria in mind. there are newsgroups devoted to 386BSD : comp.os.386bsd.* - I have seen in may the first attempt for 386BSD FAQ. Nevertheless the Linux FAQ is not bug free, and contains some outdated information. - 386BSD can do POSIX and BSD - Linux can do POSIX, SYSV and some BSD stuff - Linux was developed with portability in mind. So it's not directly System V, nor is it directly BSD. It's the best of both worlds, a la SunOS. :) For most of the *nix* users both systems are fairly usable, but none of them are bug free. I.25) Why can't we split comp.os.linux ? ANSWER: (Ian Jackson) There is a procedure for creating new newsgroups, involving discussion periods and votes; it can be found in news.announce.newgroups. In November 1992 I (Ian Jackson) started a formal discussion under that procedure and duly held a vote for four new groups, comp.os.linux.announce (moderated), comp.os.linux.questions, comp.os.linux.bugs and comp.os.linux.misc. There was quite a heated argument, with many people (esp from Fidonet and the news->mail gateway) complaining that if the group split they wouldn't be able to read it. At the end of the vote the results were as follows (culled from the announcement at the end of the voting period): yes no abs diff ratio result why to change .announce 479 131 3 348 3.6564885 PASS 249 .questions 380 217 16 163 1.7511521 FAIL (ratio) 54 .bugs 390 212 11 178 1.8396226 FAIL (ratio) 34 .misc 390 207 16 183 1.8840580 FAIL (ratio) 24 diff = number more yes than no votes - this must be >=100 for a group to pass. ratio = ratio of yes to no votes - this must be >=2 for a group to pass. to change = the minimum number of votes which would have been required to change the result (if they were all "yes" or "no" as appropariate). The guidelines say that unless a group gets at least twice as many "yes" as "no" votes and at least 100 more "yes" than "no" votes it won't be created. Hence all the new groups except .announce failed. Comp.os.linux.announce now exists: the submission address is via Matt Welsh (linux-announce@tc.cornell.edu). The guidelines also say that you have to wait at least 6 months after a failed vote before trying again - this to stop the obvious problem of failed groups coming back over and over again. Hence any more discussion of proposed splits is futile until at least very late in June. In any case, such a discussion should take place in the group reserved for that purpose, news.groups, not in comp.os.linux. II. LINUX USEFUL ADDRESSES ========================= II.A. LINUX ON THE NET: ftp, mailing-list II.B. OBTAINING LINUX FROM BBS'S: everything about bbs II.A. LINUX ON THE NET ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ II.01) Where can I get linux? ANSWER: Linux (all the software, binaries, sources, releases, and so on), can be retrieved via anonymous FTP from : [ Major sites ] EUROPE: nic.funet.fi (128.214.6.100): directory /pub/OS/Linux ftp.informatik.tu-muenchen.de (131.159.0.110) directory /pub/Linux US: tsx-11.mit.edu (18.172.1.2): directory /pub/linux sunsite.unc.edu (152.2.22.81): directory /pub/Linux [ Mirroring sites (some of them, there are lots now) ] AUSTRALIA: kirk.bu.oz.au (131.244.1.1) directory /pub/OS/Linux EUROPE: src.doc.ic.ac.uk (146.169.2.1): directory packages/Linux ftp.mcc.ac.uk (130.88.200.7): directory pub/linux ftp.dfv.rwth-aachen.de (137.226.4.105): directory /pub/linux ftp.informatik.rwth-aachen.de (137.226.112.172): directory /pub/Linux ftp.ibr.cs.tu-bs.de (134.169.34.15): directory /pub/os/linux JAPAN: kuis.kyoto-u.ac.jp (130.54.20.1): directory /Linux /Linux/mirror (for the tsx mirror) KOREA: cair.kaist.ac.kr (143.248.11.170): mirror of sunsite; directory pub/Linux US: wustl.wuarchive.edu (128.252.135.4): directory /pub/mirrors4/linux ftp.eecs.umich.edu (141.212.99.7): directory linux You might want to check out which of these is the most up-to-date. > (From: Lee M J McLoughlin ) > src.doc.ic.ac.uk: > > We are also on Janet (the main UK academic network) as > uk.ac.ic.doc.src (000005102000). > > More useful perhaps is we are the only big archive available via FTAM, > the ISO equivalent to FTP. We can be reached either over the > internet or janet (see above addresses) or via the European IXI > network on 204334504108 If you have no FTP capability, you are in trouble. See the next Q/A. Also, you'll need the "UNCOMP.EXE" and "RAWRITE2.EXE" programs for DOS (to make your install disks). These are usually found in the Linux directories on the above FTP sites. II.02) I do not have FTP access, what can I do to get linux? ANSWER: You can either read the next subsection related to BBS's otherwise, read the following. The SLS release is distributable by snail-mail on floppies for those without net access; see the SLS section in section III of this FAQ for more. Try to contact a friend on the net with those access, or try mailserver/ftpmail server otherwise contact tytso@ATHENA.MIT.EDU. You might try mailing "mailserver@nic.funet.fi" with "help" in the body of the mail. If you choose ftpmail server (example: ftpmail@doc.ic.ac.uk, ftpmail@decwrl.dec.com), with "help" in the body, the server will send back instructions and command list. As an exemple to get the list of files available at tsx-11 in /pub/linux send: mail ftpmail@decwrl.dec.com subject: anything reply connect tsx-11.mit.edu chdir /pub/linux dir -R quit In Europe ftp.informatik.tu-muenchen.de is accessible via e-mail (send "help" in the body to ftp-mailer@informatik.tu-muenchen.de) II.03) Is there a newsgroup or mailing-list about linux? ANSWER: The comp.os.linux.announce is the place were all the announces related to linux are posted. The comp.os.linux newsgroup is literally *teeming* with postings. So, to the first question, yes. :) The older newsgroup, alt.os.linux, is being phased out and shouldn't be used anymore. If you don't have news access you can get the digest of postings via e-mail from: Linux-activists-request@news-digests.mit.edu. This list is gatewayed to the newsgroup as well. Only use the 'request' address for subscribe/unsubscribe messages; don't post those to the newsgroup or to the actual mailing list. And last but not least there is the original mailing-list, which is now a multi-channel list. contact linux-activists-request@niksula.hut.fi This multi-channel list is for developpers mainly, see section II for more information. II.04) Where can I get my questions answered? How about bug-reports? What do I put into a post to comp.os.linux? ANSWER: (Paul Gortmaker pg@cain.mmtc.rmit.oz.au) You can post your problem to the above group, comp.os.linux. BUT, BEFORE YOU DO THIS, PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING GUIDELINES. If you have read the FAQ, man pages, etc, and you still haven't solved your problem, then check to make sure you have got the latest version of whatever it is that you are working with. Check the dates and revision numbers of your versions with the versions on your local ftp site (tsx-11.mit.edu , sunsite.unc.edu ?). This includes (most importantly) the kernel itself. Make sure you have applied the latest patches and recompiled the kernel, or have got the kernel "Image" from someone who has done so. And, of course check comp.os.linux for info too. If you have a genuine problem, chances are that you aren't the first one to find it. So it has probably already been reported (...and fixed???). For example, if you are having trouble with say Xconfig for some strange VGA card, and you use nn to read comp.os.linux, then you could invoke nn as follows: nn -x -s 'config' comp.os.linux and it will find all the latest articles with the word config in their subject for you. This will be one of the most up to date sets of information that you can get -- DON'T OVERLOOK IT !!! (You can check the man pages of your news reader to determine the options that do the same as the above.) OK, so you've done all the above, spent 40 hours trying to figure it out, have had a nervous breakdown, your girlfriend/boyfriend has stopped talking to you, and you decide that you will turn to the Linux community for help. Here are some guidelines on posting that will ensure that you get a quick response, and that you hopefully don't get flamed. 1) Choosing a Subject: It is important to try and squeeze as much information into as few words as possible. If you can manage it, try and put the package name, version, and problem into the subject. But don't make it too long, or the middle will get chopped out. For example "I'm having problems with poeig-1.1.tar.Z on my 486 with 0.99p6" will probably appear to everybody as "I'm having prob <> ith 0.99p6" Not very useful... What should have been used was something like: "poeig-1.1 w 99p6 wont compile" would be much better, and relays that you are having trouble with getting it to compile. (Note that this is just an example, I have no knowledge of problems with poeig!) Also, (unless you like bugs -> getting flamed!) DON'T claim you have found a bug, unless you are ABSOLUTELY SURE! Nothing p***es developers off more than erroneous bug reports. 2) Keywords: If your news poster program asks for keywords, try and put in some useful descriptive words, so that others can use them for a meaningful search. 3) Body of the Article: There are some key things that need to be included in the body of the article. (a) The name and version of the thing that you are having the problem with. (b) The type of problem, ie compilation, execution, etc. -- (c) versions of related software, ie if compilation is the problem, then the version of GCC you are runnning is relevant. If you are having trouble with a program that uses X, then the version of X you are using is relevant. (d) The version and patchlevel of the kernel you are using at present. (ie. 0.99p7 or whatever) (e) the type or brand of any related hardware, ie. if you are having problems with networking, then you would want to say that you are using a Western Digital SMC Elite 16 or whatever your ethernet card is. (f) Any relevant error messages that were reported by the system during the problem. And, of course, there are some things that one should NOT put in the article. For example, don't post a 30 page configuration file and expect anybody in their right mind to look through it. And similarly for any HUGE files. If they are relevant to your problem, then someone will respond by asking you something like "Did you check line 32 in file such and such???" And try to avoid negative comments like "The documentation isn't fit for my dog." If you have a bone to pick, do it via e-mail, so the rest of us don't have to read a flame war! It just adds to the amount of useless noise on comp.os.linux, which already takes too long to scan through. Besides, the developers are doing this FOR FREE. THEY ARE NOT OBLIGATED TO DO ANYTHING. DON'T ABUSE THEM!!! (Or they might just go away, which hurts us all.) Well, with all this in mind, hopefully you will get a quick response to your problem, and maybe someday you will be able to answer someone else's problem from the experience you gain! II.05) Could you be more explicit about the multi-channel list? ANSWER: Well, there are many things to say: - these channels are rather devoted to hackers - the ones I am aware of are: GCC, MGR, X11, SCSI, NEW-CHANNELS, MSDOS (emulator discussion) , NORMAL, KERNEL, FTP, LAPTOP, DOC, NET, CONFIGS, LINUXNEWS ... - whenever you want to JOIN or LEAVE a channel you have to contact the request address - you have to use special header (X-Mn-Key and Mn-Admin); X-Mn-Key is *ONLY* for regular post, the X-Mn-Admin is for *REQUEST* (Ari Lemmke: 1 Nov. 1992): Hmmm.... It seems our list has now about 1500 users in 21 channels (mailing lists). 3960 without uniq. "echo foo | mail linux-activists-request@niksula.hut.fi" to get the Mail-Net User Guide. II.06) How can I join the channel XXX on the linux-activists mailing list? ANSWER: just send a mail to the request address with help in the body; you will get back a mail which gives you the list of channels and the way to join/leave them. Basically you send mail to the request address with the line: X-Mn-Admin: join II.07) How can I leave the channel XXX on the linux-activists mailing list? ANSWER: Same as above, basically. You send mail to the request address that contains the line: X-Mn-Admin: leave II.08) I'm not an hacker, what are the channels I could be interested in? ANSWER: Probably these are the most interesting for you (IMHO) Channel NORMAL: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Channel normal is the former Linux-Activists mailing list (all the people who were on the old Linux-Activists list are moved to this channel). Channel DOC: ~~~~~~~~~~~~ This channel is for Linux document "project". Discussion about Linux documents, manuals, papers, etc. Channel CONFIGS: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This channel will be devoted to send submissions of systems that have Linux already running, AND those that, for any reason, can't get it to work yet. Mainly, what it's need from all the channel users is to send their hardware configuration list (as complete as possible). Include anything that you feel pertinent for information: CPU, motherboard, RAM amount, HD & floppy controller, BIOS, monitor, video card & memory, network adapter, etc. If you are having trouble with your current system, or you find out that a program doesn't work properly on your system due to a HARDWARE problem, it may be useful for us to know your configuration; maybe you can get a lot of help. Channel LINUXNEWS: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The LINUXNEWS channel will be used for distribution of Linux News, a weekly (if I can find the time) summary of things that happen in the Linux community. Discussion is not encouraged, if you have complaints or suggestions, send them directly to me (Lars.Wirzenius@helsinki.fi). Channel NEW-CHANNELS: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ On the future users on this channel get the information about new channels created. By this way you can join the channels you want, and do not need to send mail to Mail-Net info server or listen rumours. II.09) Does there exist a place where the traffic of the newsgroup is kept? ANSWER: Yes, on nic and tsx-11 (see the ftp addresses above), and since 12th March, a Gopher server is up at beryl.daimi.aau.dk (130.225.16.86). The archives go back to Nov. 18. 91. Also recently a WAIS server for the linux mail archive has been setup at fgb1.fgb.mw.tu-muenchen.de. Contact tw@fgb1.fgb.mw.tu-muenchen.de for more info. All back issues of the Digest are available on tsx-11.mit.edu [18.172.1.2] in the following place(s): pub/linux/mail-archive ~/Volume? /* where '?' in volume # ~/digestnnn.Z * and nnn is issue # */ II.B OBTAINING LINUX FROM BBS'S ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** This section is maintain by Zane Healy (healyzh@holonet.net) *** Last Update June 1993. II.10) I don't have access to FTP, how can I obtain Linux? ANSWER: Linux is available from various BBS's around the world. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 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. ===================8<==========>8================ -- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ # LaBRI | # # 351 cours de la Liberation | e-mail: corsini@geocub.greco-prog.fr # # 33405 Talence Cedex | e-mail: corsini@labri.u-bordeaux.fr # # | # ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ -- There will be a sig when our local net is reliable. For now, I would rather stay anonymous. Archive-name: linux-faq/part1 Last-Modified: 93/06/07 Version: 1.18 ********************************************************* * * * Answers to Frequently asked questions about Linux * * * ********************************************************* This post contains Part 1 of the Linux FAQ (5 parts) Hi Linuxers! The original FAQ 1st version was posted on Dec. 19, 1991 by Robert Blum. Most credits to Linus, Robert and Ted for the departure point of this work. The first X11 section was written by Peter Hawkins, the rest was either on the list posted by many (real) activists, not me ;-), either in some other news groups, or else by direct posting to me (thanks Humberto, Dan, Michael, Drew, Audoin). I haven't systematically copyrighted them, so thanks to every one who participated even indirectly to this FAQ. Since September 1992, the FAQ is co-written by: WHO (WHAT) E-MAIL ============================================================================= Michael K. Johnson (META-FAQ) johnsonm@stolaf.edu Matt Welsh (GENERAL INFO) mdw@tc.cornell.edu Zane Healy (BBS INFO) healyzh@holonet.net Matt Welsh (INSTALLATION) mdw@tc.cornell.edu Peter MacDonald (SLS INFO) pmacdona@sanjuan.uvic.ca Mark Komarinski (DOS) komarimf@craft.camp.clarkson.edu Drew Eckhardt (SCSI) drew@cs.colorado.edu Rick Miller (DEVICE INFO) rick@ee.uwm.edu Hongjiu Lu (GCC) hlu@eecs.wsu.edu Krishna Balasubramanian (X11) balasub@cis.ohio-state.edu Rick Sladkey (EMACS) jrs@world.std.com Philip Copeland (NET INFO) p_copela@csd.bristol-poly.ac.uk Brian McCauley (LPD) B.A.McCauley@bham.ac.uk Dirk Hohndel (PROOF READER) hohndel@informatik.uni-wuerzburg.dbp.de Marc-Michel Corsini (FAQ collector) corsini@{labri,firmin}.greco-prog.fr ============================================================================= If anyone is interested in participating with this FAQ, just send me a note with: your name/e-mail and the section you want to maintain. Many of the questions could be avoided, if people had read the FAQ of the following newsgroups: news.announce.newusers, comp.lang.c, gnu.emacs.help, comp.unix.questions, comp.windows.x.i386unix. [The last-change-date of this posting is always "two minutes ago". :-)] This is the introduction to a list of frequently asked questions (FAQ for short) about Linux with answers (Yeap!). This article contains a listing of the sections and queries. This FAQ is supposed to reduce the noise level ;-) in the comp.os.linux newsgroup, and spare the time of many activists. I will cross-post it each month to news.answers. This FAQ is NOT an introduction to UNIX, there are many books for unix, and there is *also* a FAQ for unix (it's the one of comp.unix.questions which contains things such as "How do I remove a file named -". I DO NOT WANT TO ADD SUCH THINGS IN THIS FAQ DEVOTED TO LINUX. Some books to read: The C Programming Language: Kernighan & Ritchie POSIX Programmer's Guide: D. Lewine Unix System Administration Handbook: Nemeth, Snyder & Seebass. Unix for the Impatient: Abrahams & Larson Unix System V Release 4, An Introduction, by Rosen, Rosinski and Farber; Publisher Osborne MacGraw-Hill. The X Windows System in a Nutshell: O'Reilly. ..... This FAQ is available at the main Linux sites in the doc directory, the addresses are given in section II. of this FAQ. There is also an archive of (all) FAQs at rtfm.mit.edu [18.172.1.27]. Have a look in the anonymous ftp directory: /pub/usenet/news.answers/linux-faq. If you do not have anonymous ftp access, you can access the archive by mail server. Send mail to mail-server@rtfm.mit.edu with the words "help" and "index" in the body on separate lines for more information. The information in this multi-parts FAQ is likely to change relatively quickly. If this is more than two months old (it was released on February 1993) then you should obtain a new copy. See the paragraph above for details of where to find a more recent version. Please suggest any change, rephrasing, deletions, new questions, answers ... Please include "FAQ" in the subject of messages sent to me about FAQ. Please send them to linux@numero6.greco-prog.fr whatever will be the >From part of this message. Finally discussion about the FAQ can be done on the DOC Channel (see section II). Thanks in advance, Marc The FAQ can be found in LaTeX version, thanks to Pepe Flores Peters. Future Plan: - provide FAQ as diff too, since it seems to stay stable except for very few sections. - perform automatic post to c.o.l, c.o.l.a, c.a and n.a every month as I promised long time ago. ================================8<=====8<============================== CONTENTS (of this part) 0. WARNINGS (part1) I. LINUX GENERAL INFORMATION (part1) II. LINUX USEFUL ADDRESSES (part1) ================================8<=====8<============================== 0. WARNINGS =========== The FAQ contains a lot of information sometimes I've put it down in 3 different ways because people seems not to understand what they read (or what I wrote, you know I'm just a froggy and english is not my natural language). What I mean is that not all is in the FAQ but many things are there, so please just take time to read it this will spare a lot of the other linuxers [and if you think I should rephrase some Q/A just drop me a note with the corrections]. As the Linux kernel changes monthly (and even more ...), I define 2 pseudo variables a la C one for the version, and one for the date of the release. #define CURRENT_VERSION 0.99 /* the current version */ #define PATCH_LEVEL pl10 /* the patch level */ #define KERNEL_DATE 29, May /* Date of the CURRENT_VERSION */ In what follows I'll consider CURRENT_VERSION as the current version. > From: Linus.Torvalds@cs.Helsinki.FI (Linus Torvalds) > Subject: Re: New pl10 uploaded > Date: Sat, 29 May 1993 17:21:35 +0300 > > > I uploaded a new version of the ALPHA-pl10 to nic.funet.fi: this one > contains some more fixes for the networking code, along with various > other minor changes (including the math emulation fix). The directory > is, as before, pub/OS/Linux/PEOPLE/Linus. I'd suggest removing any old > traces of linux before unpacking this, so that you won't have problems > with old object files etc. > > Also note that Fred put the new networking binaries on tsx-11 the other > day, so you should probably get them from pub/linux/packages/net/net-2. > I'd suggest getting at least the 'net-base' and 'net-std' packages of > binaries, as they contain the config programs as well as all the normal > networking binaries. > > I'd be especially interested to hear comments from the people who were > unable to get the previous alpha-pl10 working. Does this one work for > you? If it doesn't *please* mail me directly, as that problem is now the > only thing keeping me from a real release. > > To recap, pl10 gives you roughly: > - new net-2 code (FvK) along with the newest drivers from Donald. > - IPC doesn't need patching (Krishna Balasubramanian). > - various FPU-emulation details fixed (Bill Metzenthen) > - ext2fs updates by Remy Card and Steven Tweedie. > - dynamic inode and file allocation (Steven Tweedie) with hash tables > for better inode lookup etc. Hopefully no more EMFILE errors. > - updated fdomain driver by Rik Faith (along with some other SCSI > changes by others) > - tty changes by Tytso and others. > - new uname() call for extended info (ie domain). HLU. > - iBCS signal stacks and stubs for 'lcall 7,0'. > - buffer cache / code page sharing. Small changes since the last > ALPHA-diff, as people with 4MB reported that the old code didn't > relinquish pages very nicely. > - updated 'clone()' - it didn't actually work with 'execve()' before, > and there may still be some problems. Untested. > - various other changes: I've probably forgotten half the changes since > 0.99pl9. > > Please test it out, and if you have problems, mail me about them so that > I know about it. Feel free to send them to the mailing list and > newsgroup too, of course, but at least include a mail to me - I'm > working on finding the reason for the bootup problems that two persons > have experienced: the more data I can get on this, the merrier. > > Linus > > I. LINUX GENERAL INFORMATION ============================= *** This section is maintained by Matt Welsh (mdw@tc.cornell.edu). Mail *** him if you have corrections, additions, other questions, etc. *** Last update June 1993. I.01) What is linux? ANSWER: Linux is a free, copylefted full-featured UNIX for 386 and 486 machines which use the AT bus. It is still in "beta testing" (the current version number of the kernel is less than 1.0) but is being used worldwide by thousands (?) of people. (*) Free means that you may use it, change it , redistribute it, as long as you don't change the copyright. Free does not mean public domain. Linux is copylefted under the GNU General Public License. Linux is a freely distributable UNIX clone. It implements a subset of System V and POSIX functionality, and contains a lot of BSD-isms. LINUX has been written from scratch, and therefore does not contain any AT&T or MINIX code--not in the kernel, the compiler, the utilities, or the libraries. For this reason it can be made available with the complete source code via anonymous FTP. LINUX runs only on 386/486 AT-bus machines; porting to non-Intel architectures is likely to be difficult, as the kernel makes extensive use of 386 memory management and task primitives. I.02) Does Linux support GCC, TCP/IP, X-Windows, MGR, etc.? ANSWER: Linux currently supports and uses a large amount of the GNU software (i.e. GCC, bison, groff, etc) so all of that functionality is there. X-Windows is also available, along with many client applications. MGR is there too. TCP/IP is available. I use Linux boxes as Xterminals and my "own" asterix has mounted half a Gig via NFS. Mitch DSuoza is running an anonymous FTP server on his Linux box. This is definitely more than testing. See section IX of this FAQ ("Features")! In short, Linux supports many, many features and programs. One of the biggest questions is: "Does ***** work on Linux? Does Linux have *****?" The answer, usually, is "yes". Just check out the rest of this FAQ, the newsgroup, as well as the files on the FTP sites. I.03) What is the current state of Linux? ANSWER: read the comp.os.linux newsgroup, where the INFO-SHEET is periodically posted. You can also read comp.os.linux.announce, which is a moderated newsgroup, has a lot less traffic, and contains all of the "important" information on Linux. I.04) Linux sounds great, but where do I get it and how do I install it? ANSWER: FIRST read this FAQ, and especially section III (installation). There is no single, "official" release of Linux--- instead, there are several independent releases, all with their own advantages and disadvantages. The SLS release is the de facto standard. Choose a "release" of Linux (such as the SLS release, TAMU, bootdisk/ rootdisk, etc). Download from your nearest FTP site, and put it on floppies. Specific instructions are given in section III and in the README files for each release. Note that some releases only give you the kernel and a few utilities, and others give you everything you need (including X11, GCC, and more) in that latter case the downloading is close to a douzen of SOFT. Just check out section III for more info. I.05) Sounds good, but all of these docs are very confusing. Is Linux really difficult to install and use? ANSWER: This FAQ, as you can see, if very large. This is mostly because it's full of every single frequently asked question about Linux on the net. In essence, it's very simple: to get started with Linux, download the SLS release, put it onto floppies (see section III), repartition your drive, and install the software. If you're new to the UNIX world, Linux (as with any UNIX) is going to be difficult to understand at first. There isn't a lot of real documentation (other than this FAQ) out there. The Linux Doc Project (mail `mdw@tc.cornell.edu' for info) is working on a set of Linux manuals which should solve this problem. However, Linux is a hacker's UNIX, in many ways: it was developed by experienced UNIX hacks for experienced UNIX hacks. People are working on making it more "newbie-friendly", however, keep in mind that this is an afterthought. Linux was never meant to be the huge popular free UNIX that it has become, and the lack of documentation doesn't bother UNIX wizards who can figure it out from just poking around. I.06) What's the best advice you can give to a Linux newbie? ANSWER: Go read a *good* book on using UNIX before you even get started. Jumping cold-turkey into the Linux world from DOS is going to be quite difficult. Also remember that you'll be running the system, as well as using it, so get a book on UNIX system administration. Too many folks post questions to comp.os.linux which aren't Linux specific at all, and thus aren't covered in this FAQ. (i.e. "How to remove a file called '-i'?). If you can't figure out something, it's more than likely a misunderstanding of UNIX concepts, not a bug in Linux. Please read up on UNIX (see the comp.unix.questions FAQ; that's a good one) before you get started. I.07) Does it run on my computer? ANSWER: Linux has been written on a clone-386, with IDE drives and a VGA screen. It should work on most similar setups. The harddisk should be AT-standard, and the system must be ISA. (though *some* EISA success has been reported [T. Koenig], Linux doesn't take advantage of the EISA structure). A high density floppy drive -- either 5.25" or 3.5"-- is required for installation. {Drew's information: Linux supports anything that's register compatable with a WD1003 MFM disk controller (ie, the original PC-AT disk controller.) Most AT MFM, RLL, ESDI, and IDE setups look like this. There is an alpha driver for the XT disk controller, but in general it's best to have an AT controller. Mail smackinla@cc.curtin.edu.au about the XT controller. Generally, the rule is if you have the disk configured into the CMOS setup of your machine, it will work (because the BIOS is talking to a WD 1003 compatable board), otherwise it won't.} IDE and MFM seem to work with no problem. It works, also, for some ESDI drive (you might have to comment out the "unexpected hd interrupt"-messages). There exists a high-level SCSI driver, under which low-level drivers are placed; a ST-01/ST-02 low driver has been completed see the FEATURES and the USEFUL ADDRESSES sections. Otherwise the requirements seem relatively small: a 386 (SX, DX or any 486). Any video card of the following: Hercules, CGA, EGA, (S)VGA. It needs at least 2M to run (with SWAP), and 4M is definitely a plus. It can happily use up to 16M (and more if you want). BTW There are problems with some MAXTOR drives on high speed machines (sometimes switching off "turbo" helps). There may also be a problem with "slow" memory (under 60ns) on fast machines. Again, the solution is to turn off "turbo". Mixed SIMMs (3 and 9 chip versions) have also reported to be problematic. NOTE: It doesn't run (yet?) on a MCA machine (such as the IBM PS/2 line). I.08) How much space will Linux take up on my hard drive? ANSWER: It depends on which release you choose. See the section INSTALLATION below. Usually it's somewhere between 10 megs (for a nominal system+swap space) and 80 megs (for everything plus space for user directories, etc.). I.09) Will Linux run on a PC or 286-AT? If not, why? ANSWER: Linux uses the 386 chip protected mode functions extensively, and is a true 32-bit operating system. Thus x86 chips, x<3, will simply not run it. I.10) Will Linux run on a 386 Laptop? ANSWER: It works, including X on most of them. I.11) Why the suggested 4Meg, for Linux? ANSWER: Linux uses the first 640k for kernel text, kernel data and buffercache. Your mother board may eat up 384K because of the chipset. Moreover there is: init/login, a shell, update possibly other daemons. Then, while compiling there is make and gcc (2.01 ~770k). So you don't have enough real memory and have to page. I.12) How would this operate in an OS/2 environment? ANSWER: Linux will coexist with *ANY* other operating system(s) which respects the "standard" PC partioning scheme - this includes Dos, Os/2, Minix etc. WARNING: Linux and OS/2 *can* co-exist on the same machine. BUT, you cannot use Linux's fdisk to make Linux partitions! See the warnings in section III about Linux and OS/2. I.13) (Dan) How long has Linux been publicly available? ANSWER (partial): Few months, v0.10 went out in Nov. 91, v0.11 in Dec. and the current version CURRENT_VERSION is available since KERNEL_DATE. But even it is pretty recent it is quite reliable. There are very few and small bugs and in its current state it is mostly useful for people who are willing to port code and write new code. As Linux is very close to a reliable/stable system, Linus decided that v0.13 will be known as v0.95. Believe it or not: the whole story started (nearly) with two processes that printed AAAA... and BBBB... BTW consult the digest#136 Vol2 for a complete story. I.14) How reliable is Linux, anyway? ANSWER: Very much so. The only real "bugs" that we see are with alpha drivers (that's why they're alpha) and with some parts of the TCP/IP code. For 99% of applications, however, Linux is very robust. Linux and Xwindows is faster on a 486-33 than on many Sun workstations with the same amount of RAM, running SunOS. I.15) What is the proper pronounciation for "Linux"? ANSWER: (Linus himself) 'li' is pronounced with a short [ee] sound: compare prInt, mInImal etc. 'nux' is also short, non-diphtong, like in pUt. It's partly due to minix: linux was just my working name for the thing, and as I wrote it to replace minix on my system, the result is what it is... linus' minix became linux. I originally intended it to be called freax (although buggix was one contender after I got fed up with some of the more persistent bugs :) and I think the kernel makefiles up to version 0.11 had something to that effect ("Makefile for the freax kernel" in a comment). But arl called the linux directory at nic.funet.fi pub/OS/Linux, and the name stuck. Maybe just as well: freax doesn't sound too good either (freax is obviosly free + freak + the obligatory -x). (Rick's note for English speakers: Linux - "LIH-nuhks".) I.16) What's about the copyright of linux? ANSWER: This is an except of the RELEASE Notes v.095a: Linux is NOT public domain software, but is copyrighted by Linus Torvalds. The copyright conditions are the same as those imposed by the GNU copyleft: The GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE Version 2, June 1991 is part of the source tree. I.17) Should I be a UNIX and/or a DOS wizard to install/use Linux? ANSWER: Not at all, just follow the install rules, of course it will be easier for you if you know things about Unix. Right now Linux is used by more than BIGNUM persons, very few of them enhance the kernel, some adds/ports new soft, most of us are only (but USEFUL) beta testers. Last but not least, various Linuxers work on manpages, newuser_help, file-system organization. So join us and choose your "caste". It is even used in production environments (Dr. G.W. Wettstein). I.18) Does Linux use TSS segments to provide multitasking? ANSWER: Yes! I.19) If my PC runs under Linux, is it possible to ftp, rlogin, rsh etc.. to other Unix boxes? ANSWER: Yes; Linux supports serial communications (kermit), pseudo-SLIP (with ka9q), and TCP/IP. Bona fide SLIP is on its way. Read the NET-FAQ (see section IX) for information on networking. I.20) Does linux do paging? Can I have virtual memory on my small machine? ANSWER: Yes, it does. Generally you set up a swap file or partition, and enable it with the "swapon" command. Voila! Virtual memory. I.21) Can I have tasks spanning the full 4GB of addressable 386 memory? No more 64kB limits like in coherent or standard minix? ANSWER: Since 0.97 it uses 4 GB Process Space, 3 for userspace and 1 for the kernel space. I.22) Does the bigger program sizes mean I can run X? ANSWER: Yes! See section XII below for details on X11. I.23) What are the differences, pros and cons compared to Minix ? ANSWER (partial): Cons: - Linux only works on 386 and 486 processors. - Linux needs 2M of memory just to run, 4M to be useful. - Linux is a more traditional unix kernel, it doesn't use message passing. Pros: - Linux is free, and freely distributable, BUT copyrighted. - Linux has some advanced features such as: - Memory paging with copy-on-write - Demand loading of executables - Page sharing of executables - Multi-threaded file system - job control and virtual memory, virtual consoles and pseudo-ttys. - Linux is a more traditional unix kernel, it doesn't use message passing. I.24) What are the pros and cons compared to 386BSD ? ANSWER: Linux and 386BSD started out as completely different projects, with completely different goals and design criteria in mind. there are newsgroups devoted to 386BSD : comp.os.386bsd.* - I have seen in may the first attempt for 386BSD FAQ. Nevertheless the Linux FAQ is not bug free, and contains some outdated information. - 386BSD can do POSIX and BSD - Linux can do POSIX, SYSV and some BSD stuff - Linux was developed with portability in mind. So it's not directly System V, nor is it directly BSD. It's the best of both worlds, a la SunOS. :) For most of the *nix* users both systems are fairly usable, but none of them are bug free. I.25) Why can't we split comp.os.linux ? ANSWER: (Ian Jackson) There is a procedure for creating new newsgroups, involving discussion periods and votes; it can be found in news.announce.newgroups. In November 1992 I (Ian Jackson) started a formal discussion under that procedure and duly held a vote for four new groups, comp.os.linux.announce (moderated), comp.os.linux.questions, comp.os.linux.bugs and comp.os.linux.misc. There was quite a heated argument, with many people (esp from Fidonet and the news->mail gateway) complaining that if the group split they wouldn't be able to read it. At the end of the vote the results were as follows (culled from the announcement at the end of the voting period): yes no abs diff ratio result why to change .announce 479 131 3 348 3.6564885 PASS 249 .questions 380 217 16 163 1.7511521 FAIL (ratio) 54 .bugs 390 212 11 178 1.8396226 FAIL (ratio) 34 .misc 390 207 16 183 1.8840580 FAIL (ratio) 24 diff = number more yes than no votes - this must be >=100 for a group to pass. ratio = ratio of yes to no votes - this must be >=2 for a group to pass. to change = the minimum number of votes which would have been required to change the result (if they were all "yes" or "no" as appropariate). The guidelines say that unless a group gets at least twice as many "yes" as "no" votes and at least 100 more "yes" than "no" votes it won't be created. Hence all the new groups except .announce failed. Comp.os.linux.announce now exists: the submission address is via Matt Welsh (linux-announce@tc.cornell.edu). The guidelines also say that you have to wait at least 6 months after a failed vote before trying again - this to stop the obvious problem of failed groups coming back over and over again. Hence any more discussion of proposed splits is futile until at least very late in June. In any case, such a discussion should take place in the group reserved for that purpose, news.groups, not in comp.os.linux. II. LINUX USEFUL ADDRESSES ========================= II.A. LINUX ON THE NET: ftp, mailing-list II.B. OBTAINING LINUX FROM BBS'S: everything about bbs II.A. LINUX ON THE NET ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ II.01) Where can I get linux? ANSWER: Linux (all the software, binaries, sources, releases, and so on), can be retrieved via anonymous FTP from : [ Major sites ] EUROPE: nic.funet.fi (128.214.6.100): directory /pub/OS/Linux ftp.informatik.tu-muenchen.de (131.159.0.110) directory /pub/Linux US: tsx-11.mit.edu (18.172.1.2): directory /pub/linux sunsite.unc.edu (152.2.22.81): directory /pub/Linux [ Mirroring sites (some of them, there are lots now) ] AUSTRALIA: kirk.bu.oz.au (131.244.1.1) directory /pub/OS/Linux EUROPE: src.doc.ic.ac.uk (146.169.2.1): directory packages/Linux ftp.mcc.ac.uk (130.88.200.7): directory pub/linux ftp.dfv.rwth-aachen.de (137.226.4.105): directory /pub/linux ftp.informatik.rwth-aachen.de (137.226.112.172): directory /pub/Linux ftp.ibr.cs.tu-bs.de (134.169.34.15): directory /pub/os/linux JAPAN: kuis.kyoto-u.ac.jp (130.54.20.1): directory /Linux /Linux/mirror (for the tsx mirror) KOREA: cair.kaist.ac.kr (143.248.11.170): mirror of sunsite; directory pub/Linux US: wustl.wuarchive.edu (128.252.135.4): directory /pub/mirrors4/linux ftp.eecs.umich.edu (141.212.99.7): directory linux You might want to check out which of these is the most up-to-date. > (From: Lee M J McLoughlin ) > src.doc.ic.ac.uk: > > We are also on Janet (the main UK academic network) as > uk.ac.ic.doc.src (000005102000). > > More useful perhaps is we are the only big archive available via FTAM, > the ISO equivalent to FTP. We can be reached either over the > internet or janet (see above addresses) or via the European IXI > network on 204334504108 If you have no FTP capability, you are in trouble. See the next Q/A. Also, you'll need the "UNCOMP.EXE" and "RAWRITE2.EXE" programs for DOS (to make your install disks). These are usually found in the Linux directories on the above FTP sites. II.02) I do not have FTP access, what can I do to get linux? ANSWER: You can either read the next subsection related to BBS's otherwise, read the following. The SLS release is distributable by snail-mail on floppies for those without net access; see the SLS section in section III of this FAQ for more. Try to contact a friend on the net with those access, or try mailserver/ftpmail server otherwise contact tytso@ATHENA.MIT.EDU. You might try mailing "mailserver@nic.funet.fi" with "help" in the body of the mail. If you choose ftpmail server (example: ftpmail@doc.ic.ac.uk, ftpmail@decwrl.dec.com), with "help" in the body, the server will send back instructions and command list. As an exemple to get the list of files available at tsx-11 in /pub/linux send: mail ftpmail@decwrl.dec.com subject: anything reply connect tsx-11.mit.edu chdir /pub/linux dir -R quit In Europe ftp.informatik.tu-muenchen.de is accessible via e-mail (send "help" in the body to ftp-mailer@informatik.tu-muenchen.de) II.03) Is there a newsgroup or mailing-list about linux? ANSWER: The comp.os.linux newsgroup is literally *teeming* with postings. So, to the first question, yes. :) The older newsgroup, alt.os.linux, is being phased out and shouldn't be used anymore. If you don't have news access you can get the digest of postings via e-mail from: Linux-activists-request@news-digests.mit.edu. This list is gatewayed to the newsgroup as well. Only use the 'request' address for subscribe/unsubscribe messages; don't post those to the newsgroup or to the actual mailing list. And last but not least there is the original mailing-list, which is now a multi-channel list. contact linux-activists-request@niksula.hut.fi II.04) Where can I get my questions answered? How about bug-reports? What do I put into a post to comp.os.linux? ANSWER: (Paul Gortmaker pg@cain.mmtc.rmit.oz.au) You can post your problem to the above group, comp.os.linux. BUT, BEFORE YOU DO THIS, PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING GUIDELINES. If you have read the FAQ, man pages, etc, and you still haven't solved your problem, then check to make sure you have got the latest version of whatever it is that you are working with. Check the dates and revision numbers of your versions with the versions on your local ftp site (tsx-11.mit.edu , sunsite.unc.edu ?). This includes (most importantly) the kernel itself. Make sure you have applied the latest patches and recompiled the kernel, or have got the kernel "Image" from someone who has done so. And, of course check comp.os.linux for info too. If you have a genuine problem, chances are that you aren't the first one to find it. So it has probably already been reported (...and fixed???). For example, if you are having trouble with say Xconfig for some strange VGA card, and you use nn to read comp.os.linux, then you could invoke nn as follows: nn -x -s 'config' comp.os.linux and it will find all the latest articles with the word config in their subject for you. This will be one of the most up to date sets of information that you can get -- DON'T OVERLOOK IT !!! (You can check the man pages of your news reader to determine the options that do the same as the above.) OK, so you've done all the above, spent 40 hours trying to figure it out, have had a nervous breakdown, your girlfriend/boyfriend has stopped talking to you, and you decide that you will turn to the Linux community for help. Here are some guidelines on posting that will ensure that you get a quick response, and that you hopefully don't get flamed. 1) Choosing a Subject: It is important to try and squeeze as much information into as few words as possible. If you can manage it, try and put the package name, version, and problem into the subject. But don't make it too long, or the middle will get chopped out. For example "I'm having problems with poeig-1.1.tar.Z on my 486 with 0.99p6" will probably appear to everybody as "I'm having prob <> ith 0.99p6" Not very useful... What should have been used was something like: "poeig-1.1 w 99p6 wont compile" would be much better, and relays that you are having trouble with getting it to compile. (Note that this is just an example, I have no knowledge of problems with poeig!) Also, (unless you like bugs -> getting flamed!) DON'T claim you have found a bug, unless you are ABSOLUTELY SURE! Nothing p***es developers off more than erroneous bug reports. 2) Keywords: If your news poster program asks for keywords, try and put in some useful descriptive words, so that others can use them for a meaningful search. 3) Body of the Article: There are some key things that need to be included in the body of the article. (a) The name and version of the thing that you are having the problem with. (b) The type of problem, ie compilation, execution, etc. -- (c) versions of related software, ie if compilation is the problem, then the version of GCC you are runnning is relevant. If you are having trouble with a program that uses X, then the version of X you are using is relevant. (d) The version and patchlevel of the kernel you are using at present. (ie. 0.99p7 or whatever) (e) the type or brand of any related hardware, ie. if you are having problems with networking, then you would want to say that you are using a Western Digital SMC Elite 16 or whatever your ethernet card is. (f) Any relevant error messages that were reported by the system during the problem. And, of course, there are some things that one should NOT put in the article. For example, don't post a 30 page configuration file and expect anybody in their right mind to look through it. And similarly for any HUGE files. If they are relevant to your problem, then someone will respond by asking you something like "Did you check line 32 in file such and such???" And try to avoid negative comments like "The documentation isn't fit for my dog." If you have a bone to pick, do it via e-mail, so the rest of us don't have to read a flame war! It just adds to the amount of useless noise on comp.os.linux, which already takes too long to scan through. Besides, the developers are doing this FOR FREE. THEY ARE NOT OBLIGATED TO DO ANYTHING. DON'T ABUSE THEM!!! (Or they might just go away, which hurts us all.) Well, with all this in mind, hopefully you will get a quick response to your problem, and maybe someday you will be able to answer someone else's problem from the experience you gain! II.05) Could you be more explicit about the multi-channel list? ANSWER: Well, there are many things to say: - these channels are rather devoted to hackers - the ones I am aware of are: GCC, MGR, X11, SCSI, NEW-CHANNELS, MSDOS (emulator discussion) , NORMAL, KERNEL, FTP, LAPTOP, DOC, NET, CONFIGS, LINUXNEWS ... - whenever you want to JOIN or LEAVE a channel you have to contact the request address - you have to use special header (X-Mn-Key and Mn-Admin); X-Mn-Key is *ONLY* for regular post, the X-Mn-Admin is for *REQUEST* (Ari Lemmke: 1 Nov. 1992): Hmmm.... It seems our list has now about 1500 users in 21 channels (mailing lists). 3960 without uniq. "echo foo | mail linux-activists-request@niksula.hut.fi" to get the Mail-Net User Guide. II.06) How can I join the channel XXX on the linux-activists mailing list? ANSWER: just send a mail to the request address with help in the body; you will get back a mail which gives you the list of channels and the way to join/leave them. Basically you send mail to the request address with the line: X-Mn-Admin: join II.07) How can I leave the channel XXX on the linux-activists mailing list? ANSWER: Same as above, basically. You send mail to the request address that contains the line: X-Mn-Admin: leave II.08) I'm not an hacker, what are the channels I could be interested in? ANSWER: Probably these are the most interesting for you (IMHO) Channel NORMAL: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Channel normal is the former Linux-Activists mailing list (all the people who were on the old Linux-Activists list are moved to this channel). Channel DOC: ~~~~~~~~~~~~ This channel is for Linux document "project". Discussion about Linux documents, manuals, papers, etc. Channel CONFIGS: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This channel will be devoted to send submissions of systems that have Linux already running, AND those that, for any reason, can't get it to work yet. Mainly, what it's need from all the channel users is to send their hardware configuration list (as complete as possible). Include anything that you feel pertinent for information: CPU, motherboard, RAM amount, HD & floppy controller, BIOS, monitor, video card & memory, network adapter, etc. If you are having trouble with your current system, or you find out that a program doesn't work properly on your system due to a HARDWARE problem, it may be useful for us to know your configuration; maybe you can get a lot of help. Channel LINUXNEWS: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The LINUXNEWS channel will be used for distribution of Linux News, a weekly (if I can find the time) summary of things that happen in the Linux community. Discussion is not encouraged, if you have complaints or suggestions, send them directly to me (Lars.Wirzenius@helsinki.fi). Channel NEW-CHANNELS: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ On the future users on this channel get the information about new channels created. By this way you can join the channels you want, and do not need to send mail to Mail-Net info server or listen rumours. II.09) Does there exist a place where the traffic of the newsgroup is kept? ANSWER: Yes, on nic and tsx-11 (see the ftp addresses above), and since 12th March, a Gopher server is up at beryl.daimi.aau.dk (130.225.16.86). The archives go back to Nov. 18. 91. Also recently a WAIS server for the linux mail archive has been setup at fgb1.fgb.mw.tu-muenchen.de. Contact tw@fgb1.fgb.mw.tu-muenchen.de for more info. All back issues of the Digest are available on tsx-11.mit.edu [18.172.1.2] in the following place(s): pub/linux/mail-archive ~/Volume? /* where '?' in volume # ~/digestnnn.Z * and nnn is issue # */ II.B OBTAINING LINUX FROM BBS'S ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** This section is maintain by Zane Healy (healyzh@holonet.net) *** Last Update June 1993. II.10) I don't have access to FTP, how can I obtain Linux? ANSWER: Linux is available from various BBS's around the world. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 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. ===================8<==========>8================ -- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ # LaBRI | # # 351 cours de la Liberation | e-mail: corsini@geocub.greco-prog.fr # # 33405 Talence Cedex | e-mail: corsini@labri.u-bordeaux.fr # # | # ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ -- There will be a sig when our local net is reliable. For now, I would rather stay anonymous.