358 lines
15 KiB
HTML
358 lines
15 KiB
HTML
<!--startcut ==========================================================-->
|
|
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 3.2//EN">
|
|
<HTML>
|
|
<HEAD>
|
|
<title>Linux Gazette MailBag Issue #16</title>
|
|
</HEAD>
|
|
|
|
<BODY BGCOLOR="#EEE1CC" TEXT="#000000" LINK="#0000FF" VLINK="#0020F0"
|
|
ALINK="#FF0000" >
|
|
<!--endcut ============================================================-->
|
|
<H4>"Linux Gazette...<I>making Linux just a little more fun!</I>"</H4>
|
|
<HR>
|
|
<center>
|
|
<table width="100%" cellpadding=7><tr><td>
|
|
<H2><a NAME="mail"><IMG SRC="../gx/mailbox.gif" ALIGN=MIDDLE ALT=" ">
|
|
The Mailbag!</a> </H2>
|
|
Write the Gazette at <A HREF="mailto:gazette@ssc.com"> gazette@ssc.com</A>
|
|
</td><td>
|
|
<H3>Contents:</H3>
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li><a HREF="./lg_mail16.html#help">Help Wanted -- Article Ideas</a>
|
|
<li><a HREF="./lg_mail16.html#gen">General Mail</a>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</td></tr></table>
|
|
</center>
|
|
|
|
<a name="help"></a>
|
|
<p><hr><p>
|
|
<!-- =================================================================== -->
|
|
<center><H3> Help Wanted -- Article Ideas </H3></center>
|
|
|
|
Date: Tue, 25 Mar 1997 16:32:30 -0600
|
|
Subject: <B> great </B> <BR> <BR>
|
|
From: Francisco Benavides, <A HREF="mailto:txmfrbg@txm.ericsson.se">
|
|
>txmfrbg@txm.ericsson.se </A>
|
|
<P>
|
|
The work being done with the LG is great! As for ideas, taking into
|
|
account that most known applications are those which are for the PCs
|
|
( DOS based or Windog based ) why not a section dedicated to those
|
|
( like me ) that wish that soon we will get a Linuz that will be
|
|
filesystem wise, a Linux wich will run DOS applications without having
|
|
to distinguish from those meant for Linux/Unix, and things like that.
|
|
<P>
|
|
-- Bye/Francisco :)
|
|
|
|
<P> <HR> <P>
|
|
<!--====================================================================-->
|
|
<IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/envelope.gif">
|
|
Date: Wed, 05 Mar 97 11:24:23 -0500 <BR>
|
|
Subject: <B> Request </B> <BR>
|
|
From: Bill R. Williams, <A HREF="mailto:brw@etsu-tn.edu">brw@etsu-tn.edu</A>
|
|
<P>
|
|
Actually, this is more a request than a "Letter to the Editor"; however,
|
|
you may use it as/if you see fit.
|
|
<P>
|
|
A fundamental element of security is the use of "shadow" passwords.
|
|
Linux (and some commercial un*x!) systems do not necessarily include
|
|
this feature by default. (I have thus far always used Slackware and it
|
|
does not install with the Shadow Password Suite (SPS) configured.)
|
|
<P>
|
|
I consider SPS absolutely essential to any un*x (Linux) system which is
|
|
accessable by users. In other words: No, I don't need it on my home
|
|
Linux because that system is not connected to a network and I'm the only
|
|
one using it. While there are worse things than having to install the
|
|
SPS it is a task that I really dread. Makes me very nervous.
|
|
<P>
|
|
So here's a question for those of you who have evaluated the various
|
|
Linux distributions: Do any of the distributions provide Linux with the
|
|
SPS installed and all the appropriate utilities and other pre-built
|
|
packages built against the SPS? (Such as sudo and wu-ftpd.)
|
|
<P>
|
|
A related question which is not immediately obvious: Using a given
|
|
distribution -- Red Hat or Debian or whatever -- are there any potential
|
|
hazards in bringing in packages which may not be part of that
|
|
distribution? Since I have no experience with anything other than
|
|
Slackware I do not know what is involved in the packaging software used
|
|
by other vendors; however, I am aware that some vendors do have
|
|
utilities which can track the levels of various components. If I were
|
|
to install some software package which might not be part of the
|
|
"installed" distribution what is the probability that I will "step on"
|
|
the original installation's package tracking? As a trivial example:
|
|
Suppose I want to install 'Doom' from my old Slackware CD-ROM onto my
|
|
"Miranda v0.01" distribution of Linux. Am I going to have a problem
|
|
over this when I go to update my "Miranda" with a new release? (Linus
|
|
had a new "Miranda" in January! See, it could happen. ;-)
|
|
<P>
|
|
And on an entirely different subject...
|
|
There has GOT to be, somewhere, a utility which can be used to CORRECTLY
|
|
configure the monitor settings for XFree! I have tried. I really have.
|
|
Every time I come across an item on this subject I read and study it,
|
|
but no matter how hard I try I can't seem to get it through my thick
|
|
head as to what's what. The supplied servers can figure out the video
|
|
cards with no problem, but then there's the stuff dealing with the
|
|
monitor and refresh rates and Hz and KHz and bandwidth and dot clocks
|
|
and... this is where I lose it completely. Something with heuristic
|
|
abilities which would allow me to just type in everything in my
|
|
monitor's manual which the program would parse out into the significant
|
|
lines for the XF86config file such than when I start X I have *no* modes
|
|
which cause the output to skew off to the side and thereby causing me to
|
|
worry that I've fried the tube. (*sigh*)
|
|
<P>
|
|
I have the new X (v3.4?) with the graphic setup utility. Better.
|
|
But there are *still* modes which are frightening to see. "...push down
|
|
one place it just bubbles up somewhere else."
|
|
<P>
|
|
Comments, articles, and/or suggestions on all the above from the fine
|
|
folks at "Linux Journal" and the readers thereof will be much
|
|
appreciated!
|
|
<P>
|
|
Bill R. Williams
|
|
|
|
<P> <HR> <P>
|
|
<!--====================================================================-->
|
|
<IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/envelope.gif">
|
|
Date: Sat, 01 Mar 1997 20:49:13 -0800 <BR>
|
|
Subject: <B> X Windows Depth...Linear Addressing Problem. </B> <BR>
|
|
From: Nicky Wilson, <A HREF="mailto:benson@znet.com">benson@znet.com</A>
|
|
<P>
|
|
After fiddling with the xf86config file in a concerted effort to
|
|
coax X into displaying 16 bit color, I was dismayed to learn that
|
|
with my current hardware (16 megs RAM and a Cirrus Logic GL-5426)
|
|
16 bit color is *impossible*...not because of any hardware
|
|
incapability, but because of a certain limitation of X Windows
|
|
itself...a problem with linear addressing. Seems that to have
|
|
16 bit color under X, one must have linear addressing enabled,
|
|
which only works if the system has *no more than 14 megs RAM*.
|
|
<P>
|
|
(*blink*)
|
|
<P>
|
|
So I'm just two megs from the 16 bit color I so took for granted
|
|
under Win95. I can't even pull out two megs (downgrading my
|
|
system to work under Linux?!) because of my one 16 meg memory chip.
|
|
<P>
|
|
There has *got* to be a way. I was hoping to work on my
|
|
graphics stuff under Linux, but 256 colors just doesn't cut it.
|
|
<P>
|
|
Does anyone at Linux Gazette have a solution? I heard something
|
|
about making a two meg "memory hole" (?), or a program that fools
|
|
the system into thinking that there's less RAM than there actually
|
|
is. Any ideas? (I wonder if the X development team are working
|
|
on this problem?)
|
|
<P>
|
|
Thanks for any input. <BR>
|
|
Your Friendly Local Neighborhood Novice, <BR>
|
|
Nicky
|
|
|
|
<P> <HR> <P>
|
|
<!--====================================================================-->
|
|
<IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/envelope.gif">
|
|
Date: Sat, 15 Mar 1997 03:41:04 GMT <BR>
|
|
Subject: <B> Soundcard under Linux </B> <BR>
|
|
From: L Hatch, <A HREF="mailto:tn00607@ibm.net">tn00607@ibm.net</A>
|
|
<P>
|
|
After recompiling my kernel I managed to get my soundcard
|
|
working under Linux ... the only problem is that I have
|
|
to boot into dos first to set up the card ... the card
|
|
is softset through my autoexec bat ... its an ESS
|
|
Audiodrive .. any suggestions
|
|
<P>
|
|
Another question as well ... I want to connect two machines
|
|
together using a modem dialup connection .. I want to be able
|
|
to dial from a standard comm prg under dos, win, win95, etc
|
|
and turn control of the terminal over to the person on the
|
|
other end so that they can use a linux shell in their
|
|
comm prg ... managed to do it under dos by getting a mdm
|
|
connection and then doing a ctty com2: at the command prompt
|
|
to turn control over to them ... they would get a C:> and
|
|
be able to enter commands, and get the output in their comm
|
|
prg ... any suggestions of how to do it under linux
|
|
thanks
|
|
|
|
<P> <HR> <P>
|
|
<!--====================================================================-->
|
|
<IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/envelope.gif">
|
|
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 1997 15:11:45 -0800 <BR>
|
|
Subject: <B> Stupid question </B> <BR>
|
|
From: Steve Arnold, <A HREF="mailto:sarnold@rain.org">sarnold@rain.org</A>
|
|
<P>
|
|
Howdy: I just searched your site looking for an answer, but failing
|
|
that, I'll just ask directly:
|
|
<P>
|
|
What the heck is the screen-blanker that runs under the console by
|
|
default (ie, what is the name, where is it started, etc)?
|
|
<P>
|
|
In the old RedHat 2.1 (kernel 1.2.13) it was disabled after X starts, but
|
|
in the new Redhat 4.0 (kernel 2.0.28) it still kicks in under X, even
|
|
when running xlock or something similar.
|
|
<P>
|
|
What binary and what switch do I throw to disable the console
|
|
screen-blanker under X?
|
|
<P>
|
|
Thanks in advance, Steve Arnold
|
|
|
|
<P> <HR> <P>
|
|
<!--====================================================================-->
|
|
<IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/envelope.gif">
|
|
Date: Sun, 23 Mar 1997 11:55:35 -0500 (EST)<BR>
|
|
Subject: <B> Linux Question </B> <BR>
|
|
From: Peter Pereira Stamford, <A HREF="mailto:stamford@bme.unc.edu">
|
|
stamford@bme.unc.edu</A>
|
|
<P>
|
|
Hi, I am a gazette reader and have a question that might be of interest to
|
|
others too. It's a mixture of hardware + software problem. Before I sent
|
|
this mail I did a quick overview of all the gazette's table of contents
|
|
and Linux How-To's. I didn't find any help in these two places. If this
|
|
is a common question and I missed it please forgive me.
|
|
|
|
<P>With the spread of different systems, many can end up owning several
|
|
small monitors. Instead of acquiring a new, bigger, more expensive,
|
|
monitor one can use two monitors that can work as one big screen.
|
|
|
|
<P>I am trying to install a second monitor to effectively get this
|
|
bigger screen, since I have an extra monitor and card. I'm not trying to
|
|
display the same image on both monitors. It is my understanding that
|
|
MetroX (comes with my redhat version) permits me to have X divided into
|
|
multiple virtual screens (forgive the lack of the official technical
|
|
terms) and view two X virtual screens side by side on separate the
|
|
monitors (I'm sure others Xservers do the same). Thus I can have
|
|
different applications opened in each virtual screen avoiding clutering.
|
|
(I'm tring to be precise because I have tried to get info before and was
|
|
missunderstood).
|
|
|
|
<P>My work place has an extra monitor and video card that I am
|
|
willing to take advantage of. But currently when I have both video cards
|
|
installed, I can't BOOT. I have been told that this is because only one
|
|
of the video BIOS is accepted by ROM BIOS, requiring the second video
|
|
BIOS to be turned off. My cards don't have this option (I don't think).
|
|
Others told me that it is a setting on the mother board.
|
|
|
|
<P>The software configuration of Metro-X for this seems easy and
|
|
intuitive, but how do I set up the hardware? Maybe an explanation on
|
|
X86Free on this would be good, but my problem is setting up the hardware.
|
|
|
|
<P>Could you please help? If I need a special card is there a recommended
|
|
one?
|
|
<P>
|
|
Thanks for any help, Peter.
|
|
|
|
|
|
<!--================================================================-->
|
|
|
|
<a name="gen"></a>
|
|
<P> <hr> <P>
|
|
<!-- =================================================================== -->
|
|
<center><H3> General Mail </H3></center>
|
|
|
|
<P> <HR> <P>
|
|
<!--====================================================================-->
|
|
<IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/envelope.gif">
|
|
Date: Tue, 04 Mar 1997 20:02:22 -0500 <BR>
|
|
Subject: <B> broken issue14 </B> <BR>
|
|
From: Pinwu Xu, <A HREF="mailto:pxu@perigee.net">pxu@perigee.net</A>
|
|
<P>
|
|
Hi there, <BR>
|
|
It's true that the issue14.html was broken. But one can fix it using
|
|
the Netscape editor (or save/print directly from the editor). That
|
|
works for me.
|
|
<P>
|
|
Thanks for your excellent work. <BR>
|
|
-- Pinwu Xu
|
|
|
|
<P> <HR> <P>
|
|
<!--====================================================================-->
|
|
<IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/envelope.gif">
|
|
Date: Wed, 05 Mar 1997 18:39:17 -0800 <BR>
|
|
Subject: <B> thanks </B> <BR>
|
|
From: arne, <A HREF="mailto:asnow@cdepot.net">asnow@cdepot.net</A><BR>
|
|
<P>
|
|
Just a note to say thanks for your work on the Linux Gazette. I'm a
|
|
brand new Linux user and I have found the articles geared toward the new
|
|
user invaluable. Thanks again.
|
|
<P>
|
|
Arne, Rocky Road Ranch
|
|
|
|
<P> <HR> <P>
|
|
<!--====================================================================-->
|
|
<IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/envelope.gif">
|
|
Date: Sun, 09 Mar 1997 16:08:06 -0500 <BR>
|
|
Subject: <B> Love the service </B> <BR>
|
|
From: Thomas L. Gossard, <A HREF="mailto:tgossard@ix.netcom.com">
|
|
tgossard@ix.netcom.com</A><BR>
|
|
<P>
|
|
I've been using Linux for aprox. 2 years now and have been a subscriber
|
|
to "Linux Journal" for about a year of that. I like what you have even
|
|
better. I love the 2 cent section, has great tips and ideas. If you
|
|
sold this as a magazine on the news stands or subscription I would be an
|
|
avid buyer. As it is I've got this link at the top of my bookmarks.
|
|
Keep up the great job.
|
|
<P>
|
|
Thomas L. Gossard
|
|
|
|
<P> <HR> <P>
|
|
<!--====================================================================-->
|
|
<IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/envelope.gif">
|
|
Date: Sun, 09 Mar 1997 01:19:54 -0600 <BR>
|
|
Subject: <B> Netscape </B> <BR>
|
|
From: Anthony Scott, <A HREF="mailto:ascott@Interaccess.com">
|
|
ascott@Interaccess.com</A>
|
|
<P>
|
|
Could you please tell me where Netscape for Linux is located....How much
|
|
does is cost.
|
|
<P>
|
|
thx, tony
|
|
(You can download it free from Netscape's home page. --Ed.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
<P> <HR> <P>
|
|
<!--====================================================================-->
|
|
<IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/envelope.gif">
|
|
Date: Sat, 8 Mar 1997 18:25:28 <BR>
|
|
Subject: <B> Thanks </B> <BR>
|
|
From: Lance A. DeVooght, <A HREF="mailto:devooght@flash.net">
|
|
devooght@flash.net</A>
|
|
<P>
|
|
Just a note of gratitude for all your hard work in producing the BEST
|
|
online magazine!
|
|
Also, kudos to the sponsor, Infomagic. Rest assured I won't forget them
|
|
next time I'm going to make a software purchase. And finally, I am very
|
|
impressed with the fine writers you've assembled.
|
|
<P>
|
|
In Your Debt, <BR>
|
|
Lance DeVooght
|
|
|
|
<P> <HR> <P>
|
|
<!--====================================================================-->
|
|
<IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/envelope.gif">
|
|
Date: Thu, 20 Mar 1997 11:01:23 +0100 (GMT+0100) <BR>
|
|
Subject: <B> Good non-fiction book! The Cuckoo's egg </B> <BR>
|
|
From: Tomas Brostroem, <A HREF="mailto:tbc@rcc.se">tbc@rcc.se</A>
|
|
<P>
|
|
A nice book that should interest all Linux-fans.
|
|
"The cuckoo's egg" by Cliff (Clifford) Stoll.
|
|
<P>
|
|
Computer-security at it's worst.
|
|
<P>
|
|
I.m.h.o. the best non-fiction book I've ever read.
|
|
<P>
|
|
Regards, Tomas
|
|
|
|
<P> <HR> <P>
|
|
<!--====================================================================-->
|
|
<center>Published in Linux Gazette Issue 16, April 1997</center>
|
|
<!--====================================================================-->
|
|
<P> <hr> <P>
|
|
<A HREF="./index.html"><IMG SRC="../gx/indexnew.gif" ALT="[ TABLE OF
|
|
CONTENTS ]"></A>
|
|
<A HREF="../index.html"><IMG SRC="../gx/homenew.gif" ALT="[ FRONT
|
|
PAGE ]"></A>
|
|
<A HREF="lg_tips16.html"><IMG SRC="../gx/fwd.gif" ALT=" Next "></A>
|
|
<P>
|
|
<h5>This page written and maintained by the Editor of <I>Linux Gazette</I>,
|
|
<A HREF="mailto: gazette@ssc.com">gazette@ssc.com</A><BR>
|
|
Copyright © 1997 Specialized Systems Consultants, Inc. </H5>
|
|
<P>
|
|
<!--startcut ==========================================================-->
|
|
</body> </html>
|
|
<!--endcut ============================================================-->
|