793 lines
36 KiB
Plaintext
793 lines
36 KiB
Plaintext
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Linux Information Sheet
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Michael K. Johnson <johnsonm@redhat.com>
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v4.14, 1 September 1998
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This document provides basic information about the Linux operating
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system, including an explanation of Linux, a list of features, some
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requirements, and some resources.
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______________________________________________________________________
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Table of Contents
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1. Introduction to Linux
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2. Linux Features
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3. Hardware Issues
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3.1 Minimal configuration
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3.2 Usable configuration
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3.3 Supported hardware
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4. An Incomplete List of Ported Programs and Other Software
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5. Who uses Linux?
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6. Getting Linux
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6.1 Anonymous FTP
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6.2 CDROM
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6.3 Other methods of obtaining Linux
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7. Legal Status of Linux
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8. News About Linux
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9. The Future
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10. This document
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11. Legalese
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______________________________________________________________________
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11.. IInnttrroodduuccttiioonn ttoo LLiinnuuxx
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Linux is a completely free reimplementation of the POSIX
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specification, with SYSV and BSD extensions (which means it looks like
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Unix, but does not come from the same source code base), which is
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available in both source code and binary form. Its copyright is owned
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by Linus Torvalds <torvalds@transmeta.com> and other contributors, and
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is freely redistributable under the terms of the GNU General Public
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License (GPL). A copy of the GPL is included with the Linux source;
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you can also get a copy from <ftp://prep.ai.mit.edu/pub/gnu/COPYING>
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LLiinnuuxx, per se, is only the kernel of the operating system, the part
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that controls hardware, manages files, separates processes, and so
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forth. There are several combinations of Linux with sets of utilities
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and applications to form a complete operating system. Each of these
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combinations is called a ddiissttrriibbuuttiioonn of Linux. The word LLiinnuuxx,
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though it in its strictest form refers specifically to the kernel, is
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also widely and correctly to refer to an entire operating system built
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around the Linux kernel. For a list and brief discription of various
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distributions, see <http://sunsite.unc.edu/LDP/HOWTO/Distribution-
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HOWTO.html> NNoonnee of these distributions is ``the official Linux''.
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Linux is nnoott public domain, nor is it `shareware'. It is `free'
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software, commonly called ffrreeeewwaarree or OOppeenn SSoouurrccee SSooffttwwaarree[[ttmm]] (see
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<http://www.opensource.org>), and you may give away or sell copies,
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but you must include the source code or make it available in the same
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way as any binaries you give or sell. If you distribute any
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modifications, you are legally bound to distribute the source for
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those modifications. See the GNU General Public License for details.
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Linux is still free as of version 2.0, and will continue to be free.
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Because of the nature of the GPL to which Linux is subject, it would
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be illegal for it to be made not free. Note carefully: the `free'
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part involves access to the source code rather than money; it is
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perfectly legal to charge money for distributing Linux, so long as you
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also distribute the source code. This is a generalization; if you
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want the fine points, read the GPL.
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Linux runs on 386/486/Pentium machines with ISA, EISA, PCI and VLB
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busses. MCA (IBM's proprietary bus) is not well-supported in 2.0.x
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and earlier versions, but support has been added to the current
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development tree, 2.1.x. If you are interested, see
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<http://glycerine.itsmm.uni.edu/mca>
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There is a port to multiple Motorola 680x0 platforms (currently
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running on some Amigas, Ataris, and VME machines), which now works
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quite well. It requires a 68020 with an MMU, a 68030, 68040, or a
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68060, and also requires an FPU. Networking and X now work. See
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<news:comp.os.linux.m68k>
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Linux runs well on DEC's Alpha CPU, currently supporting the "Jensen",
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"NoName", "Cabriolet", "Universal Desktop Box" (better known as the
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Multia), and many other platforms. For more information, see
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<http://www.azstarnet.com/~axplinux/FAQ.html>
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Linux runs well on Sun SPARCs; most sun4c, sun4m, and sun4u machines
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now run Linux, with support for sun4 in development. Red Hat Linux is
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(as of this writing) the only Linux distribution available for SPARCs;
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see <http://www.redhat.com/support/docs/rhl-sparc/>
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Linux is being actively ported to the PowerPC architecture, including
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PowerMac (Nubus and PCI), Motorola, IBM, and Be machines. See
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<http://www.cs.nmt.edu/~linuxppc/> and <http://www.linuxppc.org/>
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Ports to other machines, including MIPS (see
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<http://linus.linux.sgi.com> and <http://lena.fnet.fr/>) and ARM, are
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under way and showing various amounts of progress. Don't hold your
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breath, but if you are interested and able to contribute, you may well
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find other developers who wish to work with you.
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Linux is no longer considered to be in beta testing, as version 1.0
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was released on March 14, 1994. There are still bugs in the system,
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and new bugs will creep up and be fixed as time goes on. Because
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Linux follows the ``open development model'', all new versions will be
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released to the public, whether or not they are considered
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``production quality''. However, in order to help people tell whether
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they are getting a stable version or not, the following scheme has
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been implemented: Versions n.x.y, where x is an even number, are
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stable versions, and only bug fixes will be applied as y is
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incremented. So from version 1.2.2 to 1.2.3, there were only bug
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fixes, and no new features. Versions n.x.y, where x is an odd number,
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are beta-quality releases for developers only, and may be unstable and
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may crash, and are having new features added to them all the time.
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>From time to time, as the currect development kernel stabilizes, it
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will be frozen as the new ``stable'' kernel, and development will
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continue on a new development version of the kernel. Note that most
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releases of the Linux kernel, beta or not, are relatively robust;
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``stable'' in this context means ``slow to change'' in addition to
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``robust''.
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The current stable version is 2.0.35 (this will continue to change as
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new device drivers get added and bugs fixed), and development has also
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started on the experimental 2.1.x kernels. The Linux kernel source
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code contains a file, Documentation/Changes, which explains changes
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that you should be aware of when upgrading from one kernel version to
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another. However, the great majority of Linux users simply update
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their Linux distribution occasionally to get a new kernel version.
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Most versions of Linux, beta or not, are quite robust, and you can
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keep using those if they do what you need and you don't want to be on
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the bleeding edge. One site had a computer running version 0.97p1
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(dating from the summer of 1992) for over 136 days without an error or
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crash. (It would have been longer if the backhoe operator hadn't
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mistaken a main power transformer for a dumpster...) Others have
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posted uptimes in excess of a year. One site still had a computer
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running Linux 0.99p15s over 600 days at last report.
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One thing to be aware of is that Linux is developed using an open and
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distributed model, instead of a closed and centralized model like much
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other software. This means that the current development version is
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always public (with up to a week or two of delay) so that anybody can
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use it. The result is that whenever a version with new functionality
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is released, it almost always contains bugs, but it also results in a
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very rapid development so that the bugs are found and corrected
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quickly, often in hours, as many people work to fix them.
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In contrast, the closed and centralized model means that there is only
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one person or team working on the project, and they only release
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software that they think is working well. Often this leads to long
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intervals between releases, long waiting for bug fixes, and slower
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development. The latest release of such software to the public is
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sometimes of higher quality, but the development speed is generally
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much slower.
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For a discussion of these two models, read ``The Cathedral and the
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Bazaar'' at <http://sagan.earthspace.net/~esr/writings/cathedral-
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bazaar/> by Eric Raymond.
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As of September 1, 1998, the current stable version of Linux is
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2.0.35, and the latest development version is 2.1.119.
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22.. LLiinnuuxx FFeeaattuurreess
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+o multitasking: several programs running at the same time.
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+o multiuser: several users on the same machine at the same time (and
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nnoo two-user licenses!).
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+o multiplatform: runs on many different CPUs, not just Intel.
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+o multiprocessor: SMP support is available on the Intel and SPARC
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platforms (with work currently in progress on other platforms), and
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Linux is used in several loosely-coupled MP applications, including
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Beowulf systems (see <http://cesdis.gsfc.nasa.gov/linux-
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web/beowulf/beowulf.html>) and the Fujitsu AP1000+ SPARC-based
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supercomputer.
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+o multithreading: has native kernel support for multiple independent
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threads of control within a single process memory space.
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+o runs in protected mode on the 386.
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+o has memory protection between processes, so that one program can't
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bring the whole system down.
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+o demand loads executables: Linux only reads from disk those parts of
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a program that are actually used.
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+o shared copy-on-write pages among executables. This means that
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multiple process can use the same memory to run in. When one tries
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to write to that memory, that page (4KB piece of memory) is copied
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somewhere else. Copy-on-write has two benefits: increasing speed
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and decreasing memory use.
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+o virtual memory using paging (not swapping whole processes) to disk:
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to a separate partition or a file in the filesystem, or both, with
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the possibility of adding more swapping areas during runtime (yes,
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they're still called swapping areas). A total of 16 of these 128
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MB (2GB in recent kernels) swapping areas can be used at the same
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time, for a theoretical total of 2 GB of useable swap space. It is
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simple to increase this if necessary, by changing a few lines of
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source code.
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+o a unified memory pool for user programs and disk cache, so that all
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free memory can be used for caching, and the cache can be reduced
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when running large programs.
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+o dynamically linked shared libraries (DLL's), and static libraries
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too, of course.
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+o does core dumps for post-mortem analysis, allowing the use of a
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debugger on a program not only while it is running but also after
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it has crashed.
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+o mostly compatible with POSIX, System V, and BSD at the source
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level.
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+o through an iBCS2-compliant emulation module, mostly compatible with
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SCO, SVR3, and SVR4 at the binary level.
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+o all source code is available, including the whole kernel and all
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drivers, the development tools and all user programs; also, all of
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it is freely distributable. Plenty of commercial programs are
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being provided for Linux without source, but everything that has
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been free, including the entire base operating system, is still
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free.
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+o POSIX job control.
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+o pseudoterminals (pty's).
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+o 387-emulation in the kernel so that programs don't need to do their
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own math emulation. Every computer running Linux appears to have a
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math coprocessor. Of course, if your computer already contains an
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FPU, it will be used instead of the emulation, and you can even
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compile your own kernel with math emulation removed, for a small
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memory gain.
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+o support for many national or customized keyboards, and it is fairly
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easy to add new ones dynamically.
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+o multiple virtual consoles: several independent login sessions
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through the console, you switch by pressing a hot-key combination
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(not dependent on video hardware). These are dynamically
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allocated; you can use up to 64.
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+o Supports several common filesystems, including minix, Xenix, and
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all the common system V filesystems, and has an advanced filesystem
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of its own, which offers filesystems of up to 4 TB, and names up to
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255 characters long.
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+o transparent access to MS-DOS partitions (or OS/2 FAT partitions)
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via a special filesystem: you don't need any special commands to
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use the MS-DOS partition, it looks just like a normal Unix
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filesystem (except for funny restrictions on filenames,
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permissions, and so on). MS-DOS 6 compressed partitions do not
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work at this time without a patch (dmsdosfs). VFAT (WNT, Windows
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95) support and FAT-32 is available in Linux 2.0
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+o special filesystem called UMSDOS which allows Linux to be installed
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on a DOS filesystem.
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+o read-only HPFS-2 support for OS/2 2.1
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+o HFS (Macintosh) file system support is available separately as a
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module.
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+o CD-ROM filesystem which reads all standard formats of CD-ROMs.
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+o TCP/IP networking, including ftp, telnet, NFS, etc.
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+o Appletalk server
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+o Netware client and server
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+o Lan Manager/Windows Native (SMB) client and server
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+o Many networking protocols: the base protocols available in the
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latest development kernels include TCP, IPv4, IPv6, AX.25, X.25,
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IPX, DDP (Appletalk), Netrom, and others. Stable network protocols
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included in the stable kernels currently include TCP, IPv4, IPX,
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DDP, and AX.25.
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33.. HHaarrddwwaarree IIssssuueess
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33..11.. MMiinniimmaall ccoonnffiigguurraattiioonn
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The following is probably the smallest possible configuration that
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Linux will work on: 386SX/16, 1 MB RAM, 1.44 MB or 1.2 MB floppy, any
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supported video card (+ keyboards, monitors, and so on of course).
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This should allow you to boot and test whether it works at all on the
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machine, but you won't be able to do anything useful. See
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<http://rsphy1.anu.edu.au/~gpg109/mem.html> for minimal Linux
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configurations
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In order to do something, you will want some hard disk space as well,
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5 to 10 MB should suffice for a very minimal setup (with only the most
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important commands and perhaps one or two small applications
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installed, like, say, a terminal program). This is still very, very
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limited, and very uncomfortable, as it doesn't leave enough room to do
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just about anything, unless your applications are quite limited. It's
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generally not recommended for anything but testing if things work, and
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of course to be able to brag about small resource requirements.
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33..22.. UUssaabbllee ccoonnffiigguurraattiioonn
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If you are going to run computationally intensive programs, such as
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gcc, X, and TeX, you will probably want a faster processor than a
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386SX/16, but even that should suffice if you are patient.
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In practice, you will want at least 4 MB of RAM if you don't use X,
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and 8 MB if you do. Also, if you want to have several users at a
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time, or run several large programs (compilations for example) at a
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time, you may want more than 4 MB of memory. It may still work with a
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smaller amount of memory, but it will use virtual memory (using the
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hard drive as ssllooww memory) and that will be so slow as to be unusable.
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If you use many programs at the same time, 16 MB will reduce swapping
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considerably. If you don't want to swap appreciably under normal
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load, 32 MB will probably suffice for a single user. If you run lots
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of memory-intensive applications at once, 64 MB may be necessary to
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avoid lots of swapping. Of course, if you run memory-hungry
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applications, you may want more.
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The amount of hard disk you need depends on what software you want to
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install. The normal basic set of Unix utilities, shells, and
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administrative programs should be comfortable in less than 10 MB, with
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a bit of room to spare for user files. For a more complete system,
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get Red Hat, Debian, or another distribution, and assume that you will
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need 60 to 600 MB, depending on what you choose to install and what
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distribution you get. Add whatever space you want to reserve for user
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files to these totals. With today's prices on hard drives, if you are
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buying a new system, it makes no sense to buy a drive that is too
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small. Get at least 2 GB, preferably 4 GB or more, and you will not
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regret it. Linux will happily handle very large hard drive such as
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the recently popular 11 GB IDE hard drives or 18 GB SCSI hard drives.
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Add more memory, more hard disk, a faster processor and other stuff
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depending on your needs, wishes and budget to go beyond the merely
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usable. In general, one big difference from DOS is that with Linux,
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adding memory makes a large difference, whereas with DOS, extra memory
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doesn't make that much difference. This of course has something to do
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with DOS's 640KB limit, which is completely nonexistent under Linux.
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33..33.. SSuuppppoorrtteedd hhaarrddwwaarree
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CCPPUU::
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Anything that runs 386 protected mode programs. All models of
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|||
|
386s 486s, Pentiums, Pentium Pros, Pentium IIs, and clones of
|
|||
|
these chips should work. (286s and below may someday be
|
|||
|
supported on a smaller kernel called ELKS (Embeddable Linux
|
|||
|
Kernel Subset), but don't expect the same capabilities). A
|
|||
|
version for the 680x0 CPU (for _x = 2 with external MMU, 3, 4,
|
|||
|
and 6) which runs on Amigas and Ataris can be found at
|
|||
|
tsx-11.mit.edu in the 680x0 directory. Many DEC Alphas, SPARCs,
|
|||
|
and PowerPC machines are supported. Ports are also being done
|
|||
|
to the ARM, StrongARM, and MIPS architectures. More details are
|
|||
|
available elsewhere.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
AArrcchhiitteeccttuurree::
|
|||
|
PCI, ISA, EISA, and VLB busses. MCA (mostly true blue PS/2s)
|
|||
|
support is incomplete but improving (see above). Linux puts
|
|||
|
higher demands on hardware than DOS, Windows, and in fact most
|
|||
|
operating systems. This means that some marginal hardware that
|
|||
|
doesn't fail when running less demanding operating system may
|
|||
|
fail when running Linux. Linux is an excellent memory tester...
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
RRAAMM::
|
|||
|
Up to 1 GB on Intel; more on 64-bit platforms. Some people
|
|||
|
(including Linus) have noted that adding ram without adding more
|
|||
|
cache at the same time has slowed down their machine extremely,
|
|||
|
so if you add memory and find your machine slower, try adding
|
|||
|
more cache. Some machines can only cache certain amounts of
|
|||
|
memory regardless of how much RAM is installed (64 MB is the
|
|||
|
most one popular chipset can cache). Over 64 MB of memory will
|
|||
|
require a boot-time parameter with kernels 2.0.35 and earlier,
|
|||
|
as the BIOS was originally designed to be unable to report more
|
|||
|
than 64MB. Recent 2.1.x kernels and later are able to detect
|
|||
|
more memory in a system.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
DDaattaa ssttoorraaggee::
|
|||
|
Generic AT drives (EIDE, IDE, 16 bit HD controllers with MFM or
|
|||
|
RLL, or ESDI) are supported, as are SCSI hard disks and CD-ROMs,
|
|||
|
with a supported SCSI adaptor. Generic XT controllers (8 bit
|
|||
|
controllers with MFM or RLL) are also supported. Supported SCSI
|
|||
|
adaptors: Advansys, Adaptec 1542, 1522, 1740, 27xx, and 29xx
|
|||
|
(with some exceptions) series, Buslogic MultiMaster and
|
|||
|
Flashpoint, NCR53c8xx-based controllers, DPT controllers, Qlogic
|
|||
|
ISP and FAS controllers, Seagate ST-01 and ST-02, Future Domain
|
|||
|
TMC-88x series (or any board based on the TMC950 chip) and
|
|||
|
TMC1660/1680, Ultrastor 14F, 24F and 34F, Western Digital
|
|||
|
wd7000, and others. SCSI, QIC-02, and some QIC-80 tapes are
|
|||
|
also supported. Besides IDE and SCSU cdroms, several
|
|||
|
proprietary CD-ROM devices are also supported, including
|
|||
|
Matsushita/Panasonic, Mitsumi, Sony, Soundblaster, Toshiba,
|
|||
|
ATAPI (EIDE), SCSI, and others. For exact models, check the
|
|||
|
hardware compatibility HOWTO. NN..BB.. These lists are incomplete,
|
|||
|
and always will be. Distribution vendors maintain more up-to-
|
|||
|
date lists.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
VViiddeeoo::
|
|||
|
VGA, EGA, CGA, or Hercules (and compatibles) work in text mode.
|
|||
|
For graphics and X, there is support for (at least) normal VGA,
|
|||
|
some super-VGA cards (most of the cards based on Tseng,
|
|||
|
Paradise, and some Trident chipsets), S3, 8514/A, ATI, Matrox,
|
|||
|
and Hercules. (Linux uses the XFree86 X server, so that
|
|||
|
determines what cards are supported. A full list of supported
|
|||
|
chipsets alone takes over a page. See
|
|||
|
<http://www.XFree86.org/>)
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
NNeettwwoorrkkiinngg::
|
|||
|
Ethernet support includes 3COM 503/509/579/589/595/905
|
|||
|
(501/505/507 are supported but not recomended), AT&T GIS (nee
|
|||
|
NCR) WaveLAN, most WD8390-based cards, most WD80x3-based cards,
|
|||
|
NE1000/2000 and most clones, AC3200, Apricot 82596, AT1700, ATP,
|
|||
|
DE425/434/435/500, D-Link DE-600/620, DEPCA, DE100/101,
|
|||
|
DE200/201/202 Turbo, DE210, DE422, Cabletron E2100 (not
|
|||
|
recommended), Intel EtherExpress (not recommended), EtherExpress
|
|||
|
Pro, EtherExpress 100, DEC EtherWORKS 3, HP LAN, HP PCLAN/plus,
|
|||
|
most AMD LANCE-based cards, NI5210, ni6510, SMC Ultra, DEC 21040
|
|||
|
(tulip), Zenith Z-Note ethernet, All Zircom cards and all
|
|||
|
Cabletron cards other than the E2100 are unsupported, due to the
|
|||
|
manufacturers unwillingness to release programming information
|
|||
|
freely.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
FDDI support currently includes the DEF_x_x cards from DEC.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Point-to-Point networking support include PPP, SLIP, CSLIP, and
|
|||
|
PLIP. PPP support is available for both standard asyncronous
|
|||
|
devices like modems, and syncronous connections like ISDN.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Limited Token Ring support is available.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
SSeerriiaall::
|
|||
|
Most 16450 and 16550 UART-based boards, including AST Fourport,
|
|||
|
the Usenet Serial Card II, and others. Intelligent boards
|
|||
|
supported include Cyclades Cyclom series (supported by the
|
|||
|
manufacturer), Comtrol Rocketport series (supported by the
|
|||
|
manufacturer), Stallion (most boards; supported by the
|
|||
|
manufacturer), and Digi (some boards; supported by the
|
|||
|
manufacturer). Some ISDN, frame relay, and leased line hardware
|
|||
|
is supported.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
OOtthheerr hhaarrddwwaarree::
|
|||
|
SoundBlaster, ProAudio Spectrum 16, Gravis Ultrasound, most
|
|||
|
other sound cards, most (all?) flavours of bus mice (Microsoft,
|
|||
|
Logitech, PS/2), etc.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
44.. AAnn IInnccoommpplleettee LLiisstt ooff PPoorrtteedd PPrrooggrraammss aanndd OOtthheerr SSooffttwwaarree
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Most of the common Unix tools and programs have been ported to Linux,
|
|||
|
including almost all GNU software and many X clients from various
|
|||
|
sources. Actually, ported is often too strong a word, since many
|
|||
|
programs compile out of the box without modifications, or only small
|
|||
|
modifications, because Linux tracks POSIX quite closely. There are
|
|||
|
never enough applications for any operating system, but Linux is
|
|||
|
gaining both end-user applications and server applications. Contact
|
|||
|
the vendor of your favorite commercial Unix application and ask if
|
|||
|
they have ported it to Linux.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Here is an incomplete list of software that is known to work under
|
|||
|
Linux:
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
BBaassiicc UUnniixx ccoommmmaannddss::
|
|||
|
ls, tr, sed, awk and so on (you name it, Linux probably has it).
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
DDeevveellooppmmeenntt ttoooollss::
|
|||
|
gcc, gdb, make, bison, flex, perl, rcs, cvs, prof.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
LLaanngguuaaggeess aanndd EEnnvviirroonnmmeennttss::
|
|||
|
C, C++, Objective C, Java, Modula-3, Modula-2, Oberon, Ada95,
|
|||
|
Pascal, Fortran, ML, scheme, Tcl/tk, Perl, Python, Common Lisp,
|
|||
|
and many others.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
GGrraapphhiiccaall eennvviirroonnmmeennttss::
|
|||
|
GNOME and KDE (desktops), X11R6 (XFree86 3.x), X11R5 (XFree86
|
|||
|
2.x), MGR.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
EEddiittoorrss::
|
|||
|
GNU Emacs, XEmacs, MicroEmacs, jove, ez, epoch, elvis (GNU vi),
|
|||
|
vim, vile, joe, pico, jed, and others.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
SShheellllss::
|
|||
|
bash (POSIX sh-compatible), zsh (includes ksh compatiblity
|
|||
|
mode), pdksh, tcsh, csh, rc, es, ash (mostly sh-compatible shell
|
|||
|
used as /bin/sh by BSD), and many more.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
TTeelleeccoommmmuunniiccaattiioonn::
|
|||
|
PPP, UUCP, SLIP, CSLIP, full TCP/IP communication toolset,
|
|||
|
kermit, szrz, minicom, pcomm, xcomm, term (runs multiple shells,
|
|||
|
redirects network activity, and allows remote X, all over one
|
|||
|
modem line), Seyon (popular X-windows communications program),
|
|||
|
and several fax and voice-mail (using ZyXEL and other modems)
|
|||
|
packages are available. Of course, remote serial and network
|
|||
|
logins are supported.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
NNeewwss aanndd mmaaiill::
|
|||
|
C-news, innd, trn, nn, tin, smail, elm, mh, exmh, pine, mutt,
|
|||
|
etc.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
TTeexxttpprroocceessssiinngg::
|
|||
|
TeX, groff, doc, ez, LyX, Lout, Linuxdoc-SGML, and others.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
GGaammeess::
|
|||
|
Nethack, several Muds and X games, and lots of others. One of
|
|||
|
those games is looking through all the games available at tsx-11
|
|||
|
and sunsite.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
All of these programs (and this isn't even a hundredth of what is
|
|||
|
available) are freely available. Commercial software is becoming
|
|||
|
widely available; ask the vendor of your favorite commercial software
|
|||
|
if they support Linux.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
55.. WWhhoo uusseess LLiinnuuxx??
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Linux is freely available, and no one is required to register their
|
|||
|
copies with any central authority, so it is difficult to know how many
|
|||
|
people use Linux. Several businesses now survive solely on selling
|
|||
|
and supporting Linux, and the Linux newsgroups are some of the most
|
|||
|
heavily read on the internet, so the number is likely in the millions,
|
|||
|
but firm numbers are hard to come by. The best market research
|
|||
|
currently indicates between 7.5 and 11 million users.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
One brave soul, Harald T. Alvestrand <Harald.T.Alvestrand@uninett.no>,
|
|||
|
has decided to try to count Linux users the hard way: one by one. If
|
|||
|
you are willing to be counted as a Linux user, please use the web
|
|||
|
forms available at <http://counter.li.org/> Alternatively, you can
|
|||
|
send a message to linux-counter@uninett.no with one of the following
|
|||
|
subjects: `I use Linux at home', `I use Linux at work', or `I use
|
|||
|
Linux at home and at work'. He will also accept `third-party'
|
|||
|
registrations; ask him for details.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
He posts his counts to <news:comp.os.linux.misc> each month; they are
|
|||
|
also available from <http://counter.li.org/>.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
66.. GGeettttiinngg LLiinnuuxx
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
66..11.. AAnnoonnyymmoouuss FFTTPP
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
For freely-redistributable Linux documentation, see the Linux
|
|||
|
Documentation Project sites at
|
|||
|
<ftp://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/Linux/docs/LDP/> and
|
|||
|
<http://sunsite.unc.edu/LDP/>
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Stay tuned to the <news:comp.os.linux.announce> newsgroup for further
|
|||
|
developments.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
At least the following anonymous ftp sites carry Linux.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Textual name Numeric address Linux directory
|
|||
|
============================= =============== ===============
|
|||
|
tsx-11.mit.edu 18.172.1.2 /pub/linux
|
|||
|
sunsite.unc.edu 152.2.22.81 /pub/Linux
|
|||
|
ftp.funet.fi 128.214.248.6 /pub/Linux
|
|||
|
net.tamu.edu 128.194.177.1 /pub/linux
|
|||
|
ftp.mcc.ac.uk 130.88.203.12 /pub/linux
|
|||
|
src.doc.ic.ac.uk 146.169.2.1 /packages/linux
|
|||
|
fgb1.fgb.mw.tu-muenchen.de 129.187.200.1 /pub/linux
|
|||
|
ftp.informatik.tu-muenchen.de 131.159.0.110 /pub/comp/os/linux
|
|||
|
ftp.dfv.rwth-aachen.de 137.226.4.111 /pub/linux
|
|||
|
ftp.informatik.rwth-aachen.de 137.226.225.3 /pub/Linux
|
|||
|
ftp.Germany.EU.net 192.76.144.75 /pub/os/Linux
|
|||
|
ftp.lip6.fr 132.227.77.2 /pub/linux
|
|||
|
ftp.uu.net 137.39.1.9 /systems/unix/linux
|
|||
|
wuarchive.wustl.edu 128.252.135.4 mirrors/linux
|
|||
|
ftp.win.tue.nl 131.155.70.100 /pub/linux
|
|||
|
ftp.stack.urc.tue.nl 131.155.2.71 /pub/linux
|
|||
|
srawgw.sra.co.jp 133.137.4.3 /pub/os/linux
|
|||
|
cair.kaist.ac.kr /pub/Linux
|
|||
|
ftp.denet.dk 129.142.6.74 /pub/OS/linux
|
|||
|
NCTUCCCA.edu.tw 140.111.1.10 /Operating-Systems/Linux
|
|||
|
nic.switch.ch 130.59.1.40 /mirror/linux
|
|||
|
sunsite.cnlab-switch.ch 193.5.24.1 /mirror/linux
|
|||
|
cnuce_arch.cnr.it 131.114.1.10 /pub/Linux
|
|||
|
ftp.monash.edu.au 130.194.11.8 /pub/linux
|
|||
|
ftp.dstc.edu.au 130.102.181.31 /pub/linux
|
|||
|
ftp.sydutech.usyd.edu.au 129.78.192.2 /pub/linux
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
tsx-11.mit.edu and fgb1.fgb.mw.tu-muenchen.de are the official sites
|
|||
|
for Linux's GCC. Some sites mirror other sites. Please use the site
|
|||
|
closest (network-wise) to you whenever possible.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
At least sunsite.unc.edu and ftp.informatik.tu-muenchen.de offer
|
|||
|
ftpmail services. Mail ftpmail@sunsite.unc.edu or ftp@informatik.tu-
|
|||
|
muenchen.de for help.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
If you are lost, try looking at
|
|||
|
<http://sunsite.unc.edu/LDP/HOWTO/Distribution-HOWTO.html>, where
|
|||
|
several distributions are enumerated. Red Hat Linux and Debian appear
|
|||
|
to be the most popular distributions at the moment, at least in the
|
|||
|
U.S.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
66..22.. CCDDRROOMM
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Most people now install Linux from CDROM's. The distributions have
|
|||
|
grown to hundreds of MBs of Linux software, and downloading that over
|
|||
|
even a 28.8 modem or an ISDN connection takes a lloonngg time.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
There are essentially two ways to purchase a Linux distribution on
|
|||
|
CDROM: as part of an archive of FTP sites, or directly from the
|
|||
|
manufacturer. If you purchase an archive, you will often get several
|
|||
|
different distributions to choose from, but support is generally not
|
|||
|
included. When you purchase a distribution directly from the vendor,
|
|||
|
you usually only get one distribution, but you usually get some form
|
|||
|
of support, usually installation support.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
66..33.. OOtthheerr mmeetthhooddss ooff oobbttaaiinniinngg LLiinnuuxx
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
There are many BBSs that have Linux files. A list of them is
|
|||
|
occasionally posted to comp.os.linux.announce. Ask friends and user
|
|||
|
groups, or order one of the commmercial distributions. A list of
|
|||
|
these is contained in the Linux distribution HOWTO, available as
|
|||
|
<http://sunsite.unc.edu/LDP/HOWTO/Distribution-HOWTO.html>, and posted
|
|||
|
regularily to the <news:comp.os.linux.announce> newsgroup.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
77.. LLeeggaall SSttaattuuss ooff LLiinnuuxx
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Although Linux is supplied with the complete source code, it is
|
|||
|
copyrighted software, not public domain. However, it is available for
|
|||
|
free under the GNU General Public License, sometimes referred to as
|
|||
|
the ``copyleft''. See the GPL for more information. The programs
|
|||
|
that run under Linux each have their own copyright, although many of
|
|||
|
them use the GPL as well. X uses the MIT X copyright, and some
|
|||
|
utilities are under the BSD copyright. In any case, all of the
|
|||
|
software on the FTP site is freely distributable (or else it shouldn't
|
|||
|
be there).
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
88.. NNeewwss AAbboouutt LLiinnuuxx
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
A monthly magazine, called _L_i_n_u_x _J_o_u_r_n_a_l, was launched over four years
|
|||
|
ago. It includes articles intended for almost all skill levels, and
|
|||
|
is intended to be helpful to all Linux users. One-year subscriptions
|
|||
|
are $22 in the U.S., $27 in Canada and Mexico, and $32 elsewhere,
|
|||
|
payable in US currency. Subscription inquiries can be sent via email
|
|||
|
to subs@ssc.com, or faxed to +1-206-782-7191, or phoned to
|
|||
|
+1-206-782-7733, or mailed to Linux Journal, PO Box 85867, Seattle, WA
|
|||
|
98145-1867 USA. SSC has a PGP public key available for encrypting
|
|||
|
your mail to protect your credit card number; finger info@ssc.com to
|
|||
|
get the key.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
There are several Usenet newsgroups for Linux discussion, and also
|
|||
|
several mailing lists. See the Linux FAQ for more information about
|
|||
|
the mailing lists (you should be able to find the FAQ either in the
|
|||
|
newsgroup or on the FTP sites).
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
The newsgroup <news:comp.os.linux.announce> is a moderated newsgroup
|
|||
|
for announcements about Linux (new programs, bug fixes, etc).
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
The newsgroup <news:comp.os.linux.answers> is a moderated newsgroup
|
|||
|
to which the Linux FAQ, HOWTO documents, and other documentation
|
|||
|
postings are made.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
The newsgroup <news:comp.os.linux.admin> is an unmoderated newsgroup
|
|||
|
for discussion of administration of Linux systems.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
The newsgroup <news:comp.os.linux.development.system> is an
|
|||
|
unmoderated newsgroup specifically for discussion of Linux kkeerrnneell
|
|||
|
development. The only application development questions that should
|
|||
|
be discussed here are those that are intimately associated with the
|
|||
|
kernel. All other development questions are probably generic Unix
|
|||
|
development questions and should be directed to a comp.unix group
|
|||
|
instead, unless they are very Linux-specific applications questions,
|
|||
|
in which case they should be directed at
|
|||
|
comp.os.linux.development.apps.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
The newsgroup <news:comp.os.linux.development.apps> is an unmoderated
|
|||
|
newsgroup specifically for discussion of Linux-related applications
|
|||
|
development. It is not for discussion of where to get applications
|
|||
|
for Linux, nor a discussion forum for those who would like to see
|
|||
|
applications for Linux.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
The newsgroup <news:comp.os.linux.hardware> is for Linux-specific
|
|||
|
hardware questions.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
The newsgroup <news:comp.os.linux.networking> is for Linux-specific
|
|||
|
networking development and setup questions.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
The newsgroup <news:comp.os.linux.x> is for Linux-specific X Windows
|
|||
|
questions.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
The newsgroup <news:comp.os.linux.misc> is the replacement for
|
|||
|
comp.os.linux, and is meant for any discussion that doesn't belong
|
|||
|
elsewhere.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
In general, ddoo nnoott crosspost between the Linux newsgroups. The oonnllyy
|
|||
|
crossposting that is appropriate is an occasional posting between one
|
|||
|
unmoderated group and <news:comp.os.linux.announce>. The whole point
|
|||
|
of splitting the old comp.os.linux group into many groups is to reduce
|
|||
|
traffic in each group. Those that do not follow this rule will be
|
|||
|
flamed without mercy...
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Linux is on the web at the URL <http://sunsite.unc.edu/LDP/>
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
99.. TThhee FFuuttuurree
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
After Linux 1.0 was released, work was done on several enhancements.
|
|||
|
Linux 1.2 included disk access speedups, TTY improvements, virtual
|
|||
|
memory enhancements, multiple platform support, quotas, and more.
|
|||
|
Linux 2.0, the current stable version, has even more enhancements,
|
|||
|
including many performance improvements, several new networking
|
|||
|
protocols, one of the fastest TCP/IP implementations in the world, and
|
|||
|
far, far more. Even higher performance, more networking protocols,
|
|||
|
and more device drivers will be available in Linux 2.2.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Even with over 3/4 million lines of code in the kernel, there is
|
|||
|
plenty of code left to write, and even more documentation. Please
|
|||
|
join the linux-doc@vger.rutgers.edu mailing list if you would like to
|
|||
|
contribute to the documentation. Send mail to
|
|||
|
majordomo@vger.rutgers.edu with a single line containing the word
|
|||
|
``help'' in the body (NNOOTT the subject) of the message.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
1100.. TThhiiss ddooccuummeenntt
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
This document is maintained by Michael K. Johnson
|
|||
|
<johnsonm@redhat.com>. Please mail me with any comments, no matter how
|
|||
|
small. I can't do a good job of maintaining this document without
|
|||
|
your help. A more-or-less current copy of this document can always be
|
|||
|
found at <http://sunsite.unc.edu/LDP/>
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
1111.. LLeeggaalleessee
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Trademarks are owned by their owners. There is no warranty about the
|
|||
|
information in this document. Use and distribute at your own risk.
|
|||
|
The content of this document is in the public domain, but please be
|
|||
|
polite and attribute any quotes.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
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|
|
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|
|