151 lines
7.2 KiB
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151 lines
7.2 KiB
HTML
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 3.2 Final//EN">
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<HTML>
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<META NAME="GENERATOR" CONTENT="SGML-Tools 1.0.9">
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<TITLE>Linux Meta-FAQ: Introduction</TITLE>
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<LINK HREF="META-FAQ-2.html" REL=next>
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<LINK HREF="META-FAQ.html#toc1" REL=contents>
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</HEAD>
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<BODY>
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<A HREF="META-FAQ-2.html">Next</A>
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Previous
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<A HREF="META-FAQ.html#toc1">Contents</A>
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<HR>
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<H2><A NAME="s1">1. Introduction</A></H2>
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<P>
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<DL>
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<DT><B>What is Linux?</B><DD><P>Linux is an independent implementation of the POSIX operating system
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specification, with SYSV and BSD extensions, that has been written
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entirely from scratch (this means it looks and acts just like Unix).
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It has no proprietary code in it. Linux is freely
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distributable under the GNU General Public License.
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<P>Linux works on IBM PC
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compatibles with an ISA or EISA bus (including local bus variants VLB
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and PCI) and a 386 or higher processor.
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Some Amiga and Atari computers with MMU's are also supported.
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This means 68020 with an external MMU, 68030, 68040, or 68060.
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Support for the Digital Alpha is now stable.
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Red Hat and Craftworks have Alpha distributions of Linux.
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Support for Sparc is stable, and Red Hat Linux is available for Sparc.
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Support for PowerPC is in development for multiple platforms,
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including Nubus and PCI Macintosh, Motorola Powerstack, IBM
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830 and 850, and other platforms.
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Support for ARM, StrongARM, and MIPS is in various stages of
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completion, but don't hold your breath.
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Read comp.os.linux.announce instead.
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<P>See the Linux INFO-SHEET for more technical information on these
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ports, and the Hardware Compatibility HOWTO for more exact hardware
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requirements.
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<P>The Linux kernel
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is written by Linus Torvalds <torvalds@transmeta.com>
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and other volunteers. Most of the programs running under
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Linux are generic Unix freeware, many of them from the GNU project.
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<P>
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<DT><B>The Linux INFO-SHEET</B><DD><P>More specific technical information on Linux. Includes pointers
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to information on the various ports, a feature list, information
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about how to get Linux, and more.
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<P>
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<DT><B>The Linux HOWTO's</B><DD><P>These are somewhat like FAQ's, but instead of answering common
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questions, they explain how to do common tasks, like ordering
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a release of Linux, setting up print services under Linux,
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setting up a basic UUCP feed, etc. See
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<A HREF="http://sunsite.unc.edu/LDP/HOWTO/HOWTO-INDEX.html">http://sunsite.unc.edu/LDP/HOWTO/HOWTO-INDEX.html</A> or
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<A HREF="ftp://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/Linux/docs/HOWTO/">ftp://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/Linux/docs/HOWTO/</A>
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for the definitive versions
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of all the HOWTO's. Other sites with up-to-date copies of
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the HOWTOs are ftp.cc.gatech.edu and tsx-11.mit.edu.
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<P>In addition, there are many short, free-form documents called
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"mini-HOWTOs". These documents cover very specific subjects,
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such as BogoMIPS or Color-ls. These are available at
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<A HREF="ftp://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/Linux/docs/HOWTO/mini/">ftp://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/Linux/docs/HOWTO/mini/</A>
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and at
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<A HREF="http://sunsite.unc.edu/LDP/HOWTO/HOWTO-INDEX.html">http://sunsite.unc.edu/LDP/HOWTO/HOWTO-INDEX.html</A>.
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<P>
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<DT><B>Linux newsgroups</B><DD><P>There are several Usenet newsgroups for Linux.
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It is a good idea to follow at least comp.os.linux.announce if you
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use Linux. comp.os.linux.announce is moderated by
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Lars Wirzenius. To make submissions to the newsgroup, send mail to
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linux-announce@news.ornl.gov. You may direct questions about
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comp.os.linux.announce to Lars Wirzenius <wirzeniu@iki.fi>
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<P>The newsgroup comp.os.linux.announce is a moderated
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newsgroup for announcements about Linux (new programs, bug
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fixes, etc).
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<P>The newsgroup comp.os.linux.answers is a moderated newsgroup
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to which the Linux FAQ, HOWTO documents, and other
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documentation postings are made.
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<P>The newsgroup comp.os.linux.setup is an unmoderated newsgroup
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for discussion of issues and problems involved in setting up
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Linux systems.
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<P>The newsgroup comp.os.linux.admin is an unmoderated
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newsgroup for discussion of administration of Linux systems.
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<P>The newsgroup comp.os.linux.development.system is an
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unmoderated newsgroup specifically for discussion of Linux
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<B>kernel</B> development. The only application development
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questions that should be discussed here are those that are
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intimately associated with the kernel. All other
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development questions are probably generic Unix development
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questions and should be directed to a comp.unix group
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instead, unless they are very Linux-specific applications
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questions, in which case they should be directed at
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comp.os.linux.development.apps.
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<P>The newsgroup comp.os.linux.development.apps is an
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unmoderated newsgroup specifically for discussion of
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Linux-related applications development. It is not for
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discussion of where to get applications for Linux, nor a
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discussion forum for those who would like to see
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applications for Linux.
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<P>The newsgroup comp.os.linux.hardware is for Linux-specific
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hardware questions.
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<P>The newsgroup comp.os.linux.networking is for Linux-specific
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networking development and setup questions.
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<P>The newsgroup comp.os.linux.x is for Linux-specific X
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Windows questions.
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<P>The newsgroup comp.os.linux.misc is an unmoderated newsgroup for any
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Linux discussion that doesn't belong anywhere else.
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<P>In general, <B>do not</B> crosspost between the Linux newsgroups.
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The <B>only</B> crossposting that is appropriate is an occasional
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posting between one unmoderated group and comp.os.linux.announce. The
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whole point of splitting the old comp.os.linux group into many groups
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was to reduce
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traffic in each. Those that do not follow this rule will be flamed
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without mercy...
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<P>
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<DT><B>Other newsgroups</B><DD><P>Do not assume that all your questions are appropriate for a Linux
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newsgroup just because you are running Linux. Is your question
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really about shell programming under any unix or unix clone? Then
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ask in comp.unix.shell. Is it about GNU Emacs? Then try asking in
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gnu.emacs.help. Also, if you don't know another group to ask in, but
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think there might be, politely ask in your post if there is another
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group that would be more appropriate for your question. At least
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the groups comp.unix.{questions,shell,programming,bsd,admin} and
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comp.windows.x.i386unix should be useful for a Linux user.
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<P>
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<DT><B>The World-Wide Web</B><DD><P>Greg Hankins <gregh@cc.gatech.edu> maintains the home WWW page for
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the Linux project. The URL is
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<A HREF="http://sunsite.unc.edu/LDP/">http://sunsite.unc.edu/LDP/</A><P>
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<DT><B>Linux Journal</B><DD><P>A magazine called <EM>Linux Journal</EM> was launched several
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years ago. It includes articles intended for almost all
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skill levels, and is intended to be helpful to all Linux
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users. Subscriptions are $22 in the U.S., $27
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in Canada and Mexico, and $32 elsewhere around the
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world, all payable in U.S. funds. Subscription inquiries can
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be sent via email to subs@ssc.com or faxed to (U.S.)
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1-206-782-7191 or mailed to Linux Journal, PO Box 85867,
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Seattle, WA 98145-1867 USA. SSC has a PGP public key if
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you wish to send your credit card number via encrypted
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email: finger info@ssc.com
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<P>
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<DT><B>The Linux Software Map</B><DD><P>Information on free software available for Linux can be found in the
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Linux Software Map, which can be found at
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<A HREF="http://www.execpc.com/~lsm/">http://www.execpc.com/~lsm/</A><P>
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</DL>
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<P>
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<HR>
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