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864 lines
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<!--startcut ==========================================================-->
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<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 3.2//EN">
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<HTML>
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<HEAD>
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<title>Linux Gazette MailBag LG #42</title>
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</HEAD>
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<BODY BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#000000" LINK="#0000FF" VLINK="#0000AF"
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ALINK="#FF0000">
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<!--endcut ============================================================-->
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<H4>"Linux Gazette...<I>making Linux just a little more fun!</I>"</H4>
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<HR>
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<center>
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<table width="100%" cellpadding=7><tr><td>
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<H2><a NAME="mail"><IMG SRC="../gx/mailbox.gif" ALIGN=MIDDLE ALT=" ">
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The Mailbag!</a> </H2>
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Write the Gazette at <A HREF="mailto:gazette@ssc.com"> gazette@ssc.com</A>
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</td><td>
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<H3>Contents:</H3>
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<ul>
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<li><a HREF="./lg_mail42.html#help">Help Wanted -- Article Ideas</a>
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<li><a HREF="./lg_mail42.html#gen">General Mail</a>
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</ul>
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</td></tr></table>
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</center>
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<a name="help"></a>
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<p><hr><p>
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<!-- =================================================================== -->
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<center><H3><font color="maroon">Help Wanted -- Article Ideas</font></H3></center>
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<P>
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Answers to these questions should be sent directly to the e-mail address of
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the inquirer with or without a copy to gazette@ssc.com. Answers that are
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copied to <I>LG</I> will be printed in the next issue in the Tips column.
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<P> <HR> <P>
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<!--====================================================================-->
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<IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/envelope.gif">
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Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 12:33:42 -0230 (NDT)<BR>
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From: Neil Zanella, <A HREF="mailto:nzanella@cs.mun.ca">
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nzanella@cs.mun.ca</A> <BR>
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Subject: <font color="navy">call for article: wireless ethernet</font>
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<P>
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It would be nice if someone wrote an article on wireless ethernet on Linux
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(eg. WaveLAN). I think it would make a good article.
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<P>
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Best Regards,
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<P>
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--<BR>
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Neil Zanella
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<P> <HR> <P>
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<!--====================================================================-->
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<IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/envelope.gif">
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Date: Mon, 03 May 1999 16:33:32 -0500<BR>
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From: Pete Nelson, <A HREF="mailto:pete.nelson@ci.stpaul.mn.us">
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pete.nelson@ci.stpaul.mn.us</A> <BR>
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Subject: <font color="navy">Any inetd wizards out there?</font>
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<P>
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I have been digging for the past several months to try and find any way
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to bind inetd to one IP / interface. I have a machine with several
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virtual hosts, and had originally intended for only the main IP /
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interface to respond to telnet, ftp, etc. The virtuals would only
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respond via httpd. Unfortunatly, this doesn't seem to be the way it's
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working - not only can I telnet / ftp to all addresses, it seems like
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every inetd connection shows up on the LAST IP interface for some
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reason.
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<P>
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I've looked thru manpages, NAG, websites, and while I know a lot more
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than when I started looking, I was never able to solve this binding
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problem.
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<P>
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Anyone have the answer?
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<P>
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--<BR>
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Pete
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<P> <HR> <P>
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<!--====================================================================-->
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<IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/envelope.gif">
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Date: Mon, 3 May 1999 13:07:07 -0700 <BR>
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From: Darrin Mossor, <A
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HREF="mailto:darrinm@Model.com">darrinm@Model.com</A><BR>
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Subject: <font color="navy">LILO Lock</font>
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<P>
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I have a Dell PII-450 with an STB4400 Riva TNT video board, 128M RAM. I
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dual boot Windows (for the kids and some games) and RedHat5.2. I use LILO
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to
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handle the booting, with Windows being the default. Occasionally, Windows
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will
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lockup (big surprise), especially when playing more recent, graphics
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intensive,
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games. When this happens, a reset is required and the magic reset button is
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<P>
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pressed. Most of the time, on the LILO screen, the boot locks, displaying
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"LIX". A
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second reset is required to get things moving again.
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<P>
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I'm looking for two things:
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<P>
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1) Possible explanations for what would cause LILO to hang (I suspect the
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video
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drivers, but I've tried the ones that shipped with the PC, the latest and
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even the
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Detonator drivers from nVidia - no change in the frequency of lockups or the
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LILO
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hang.
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<P>
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2) Where can I find out what (if anything) LILO is trying to tell me by
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displaying
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"LIX". I have a feeling it's trying to tell me something useful, if I new
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how to decode
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it. And I would like to know the source of this information. I have pretty
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good luck
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find the answers myself, but this one has eluded me.
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<P>
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Other possible details: SB16 for sound, 13.6G IDE HD.
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<P>
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Thanks,
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<P>
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--<BR>
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Darrin Mossor
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<P> <HR> <P>
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<!--====================================================================-->
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<IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/envelope.gif">
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Date: Sat, 8 May 1999 18:09:51 -0700 (PDT)<BR>
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From: Ariel "Leon", <A HREF="mailto:a_soul@rocketmail.com">
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a_soul@rocketmail.com</A> <BR>
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Subject: <font color="navy">I need some help here, please!</font>
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<P>
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Hi, I wonder if anyone can help me out here with my
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partitions. I have a P100 with 16RAM, i recently
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changed my HDD 'cause it died, i replaced it with a
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6.4Gb WesternDigital HDD. When i was installing it
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using EZ-Drive, the setup program detected that my
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bios wasn't going to support large drives so it
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installed EZ-Bios, EZ-Drive also partitioned the
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drive into four partitions (right now one has win95
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and the others are free).....when i tried to install
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debian 1.3.1 the setup insisted in trying to go
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through the partitioning process but it detected "bad
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logical partitions".
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<P>
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What can i do to install linux in two of the existing
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partitions without losing my data (i'd like to run
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dual boot). One more thing, the D:, E: and F:
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partitions have recycle bins and i can't get rid of
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them even when formating them, what's going on here.
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<P>
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Thanks
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<P>
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--<BR>
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Ariel
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<P>
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Date: Sun, 9 May 1999 19:03:42 +0100 (BST)<BR>
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From: "D. Lovecraft", <A HREF="mailto:dl19@leicester.ac.uk">
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dl19@leicester.ac.uk</A> <BR>
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Subject: <font color="navy">Choosing GUI for users</font>
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<P>
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I have set up my PC to allow all the people in my household (we're
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students, by the way) to use various accounts in Linux. No problem
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there.
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<P>
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The thing is the user-interface we use. Everyone uses KDE for their
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chosen interface, but I prefer Afterstep. I use the kwm login program
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to allow people to,... well,... login, but it always defaults to using
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KDE. For the people in my household, this poses no great problem, as
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that is what they are after. I would like to be able to use Afterstep
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though.
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<P>
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But try as I might, I cannot get it to load Afterstep just for me. I
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have tried editing .xinitrc in my directory, and many other things
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besides, but I cannot get it to go.
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<P>
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Please, oh wise one, what should I do???
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<P>
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--<BR>
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Dela Lovecraft
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<P> <HR> <P>
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<!--====================================================================-->
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<IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/envelope.gif">
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Date: Mon, 10 May 1999 22:11:59 +0100<BR>
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From: "Michael", <A HREF="mailto:michael@cimmj.freeserve.co.uk">
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michael@cimmj.freeserve.co.uk</A> <BR>
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Subject: <font color="navy">Direct Cable Connection between Win95 and Linux</font>
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<P>
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Just read issue 41 and read the great article about direct cable connections
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between
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Win95 and Linux, I tried implementing this method but came across a couple
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of problems
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running Windows 98. (4.10.1998)
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<P>
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I can get terminal emulation (using HyperTerminal) running at 38400 baud
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but 115200 crashes at the password prompt. (115200 works with xon/xoff
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using kermit as the terminal program).
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<P>
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Can't figure out how to get Windows to dial out over the serial line as in
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your article.
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I tried creating a new modem using the modems wizard in the control panel
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using
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'standard serial between 2 PC's' and it goes through the process reporting
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success at
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the end but no device appears anywhere.
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<P>
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In control-panel|System Devices|Com Ports another device appears for COM1 so
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Windows
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thinks I have 2 COM1's ?
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<P>
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I click on add Dial Up Connection and can't select anything other than the
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Hayes accura
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modem I have on COM3.
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<P>
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Any Ideas ?
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<P>
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Thanks in advance for any help you may be able to give.
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<P>
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PS.
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<P>
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I am running RedHat Linux 5.2 and can't find the ftpserver*.rpm. Do you
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have details
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on where I can get the sources/binaries (in any package format - I have the
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alien
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script and ar) so I can set up an ftp server on this machine.
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<P>
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--<BR>
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Michael
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<P> <HR> <P>
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<!--====================================================================-->
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<IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/envelope.gif">
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Date: Mon, 10 May 99 16:05:05 PDT<BR>
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From: "Ross Waters", <A HREF="mailto:rwaters@tartannet.ns.ca">
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rwaters@tartannet.ns.ca</A> <BR>
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Subject: <font color="navy">Linux and Windows</font>
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<P>
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I am new to the computer world and I only have a 386 laptop running Win3.1.
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Is there a small linux program I can Install without losing my win3.1.
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I have 200 meg hard ddrive and 8Megs of RAM.
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<P>
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--<BR>
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Ross Waters
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<blockquote> <I>
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(Check out the article, <A HREF="../issue38/veselosky.html">"Windows/Linux Dual Boot"</A> by Vince Veselosky in issue
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38. --Editor)</I> </blockquote>
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<P> <HR> <P>
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<!--====================================================================-->
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<IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/envelope.gif">
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Date: Mon, 17 May 1999 13:52:34 -0600<BR>
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From: Chris Hirsch, <A HREF="mailto:chris@symsystems.com">
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chris@symsystems.com</A> <BR>
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Subject: <font color="navy">Netscape Bookmark Window Width</font>
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<P>
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I'm trying to figure out how to adjust the bookmark window width for
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netscape 4.51. My problem with the current size is that when looking at
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bookmarks that have very long descriptions they get truncated in the
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middle and make the descriptions worthless. Is there some way to
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dynamically size them? I'll even settle for a static size as long as its
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bigger than the defautlt.
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<P>
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Any suggestions?
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<P>
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Thanks,
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Chris
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<P> <HR> <P>
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<!--====================================================================-->
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<IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/envelope.gif">
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Date: Thu, 20 May 1999 20:30:54 -0400<BR>
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From: "Jesse Legg", <A HREF="mailto:jesse.legg@axom.com">
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jesse.legg@axom.com</A> <BR>
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Subject: <font color="navy">Good commercial Terminal Emulation</font>
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<P>
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I'm in need of a good commercial package for Linux and terminal
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emulation. It needs a *very good* VT320 support and such. Any
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suggestions?
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<P>
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--<BR>
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Jesse
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<P> <HR> <P>
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<!--====================================================================-->
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<IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/envelope.gif">
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Date: Fri, 21 May 1999 18:01:02 -0500<BR>
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From: Noel Stoutenburg, <A HREF="mailto:mjolnir@ticnet.com">
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mjolnir@ticnet.com</A> <BR>
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Subject: <font color="navy">re: gzipping TWHT-1</font>
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<P>
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I am in the process of switching to Linux, however, I cannot complete
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the process just yet, in addition, I am in the process of moving, and my
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linux box is not presently functioning.
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<P>
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I have been downloading and saving the LG issues, using TWDT - 1, and
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discovered that the last three issues have been gz files, but I cannot
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figure out how to get these expanded on my win/dos system. Maybe you
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can point me to a place where I can find out what process to use, and
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where to get the appropriate software to accomplish the expansion on
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DOS/WIN.
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Thanks.
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<P>
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--<BR>
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Noel
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<P> <HR> <P>
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<!--====================================================================-->
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<IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/envelope.gif">
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Date: Fri, 21 May 1999 18:04:06 -0500<BR>
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From: Noel Stoutenburg, <A HREF="mailto:mjolnir@ticnet.com">
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mjolnir@ticnet.com</A> <BR>
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Subject: <font color="navy">PS to re: gzipping TWHT-1</font>
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<P>
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I am in the process of switching to Linux, however, I cannot complete
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the process just yet, in addition, I am in the process of moving, and my
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Linux box is not presently functioning.
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<P>
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I have been downloading...[snip]...expansion on
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DOS/WIN.
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<P>
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Thanks.
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<P>
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P.S. Maybe you could add TWDT 3, which would be an uncompressed file...
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--<BR>
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Noel
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<blockquote> <I>
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(Check this month's 2 Cent Tips for ways to uncompress Linux files using Windows. The HTML file is not compressed and for most issues neither is the txt file. I just started compressing it lately at user's request. --Editor)
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</I> </blockquote>
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<P> <HR> <P>
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<!--====================================================================-->
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<IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/envelope.gif">
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Date: Sun, 23 May 1999 20:47:57 -0600<BR>
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From: "Steven Koch", <A HREF="mailt:kochsb@home.com">
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kochsb@home.com</A> <BR>
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Subject: <font color="navy">How To Make A Bootable Linux (OpenLinux 2.2) Floppy?</font>
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<P>
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Question: How do I make a bootable OpenLinux 2.2 floppy? I have Windows
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95 on my PC right now. I already installed OpenLinux 2.2 on my HDD. I
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put Linux (Root & Swap) on my Second HDD - D: drive. I did a Full
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install & works great. But I can't seem to boot to the Linux anymore.
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I boot straight to Windows 95 (with no problems). I don't know if LILO
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will work? On my PC (Acer Open - P133) I have EZ-Drive installed in theDC
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BIOS (my BIOS couldn't handle the 6.4MB WD HDD). I've tried PM's
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BootMagic, it won't work because of the EZ-Drive. That's why I want to
|
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know if it's possible to Boot to Linux from a Floppy? I tried these
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methods from a Web Site:
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<P>
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I have these 3 files in my C: root drive:<BR>
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-> Loadlin.exe<BR>
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-> Vmlinux<BR>
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-> Linux.bat (Below is what's inside of LINUX.BAT file)....<BR>
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<pre>
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@echo off
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cls
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echo.
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echo.
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echo.
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echo.
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c:\windows\command\choice /t:y,5 "Do you wish to boot Linux?"
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if errorlevel 2 goto End
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c:\loadlin.exe c:\vmlinuz root=3D/dev/hdb4 ro
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:End
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</pre>
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I also made this Boot Floppy (According to the Web Site) & it has these
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2 files:<BR>
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-> autoexec.bat (Below is what's inside of AUTOEXEC.BAT file)....
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<PRE>
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goto %config%
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:win95=20
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SET CTCM=3DC:\WINDOWS
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SET SOUND=3DC:\PROGRA~1\CREATIVE\CTSND
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SET MIDI=3DSYNTH:1 MAP:E
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SET BLASTER=3DA220 I10 D3 H3 P300 T6
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</PRE>
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-> config.sys (Below is what's inside of CONFIG.SYS file)....
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<PRE>
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[menu]=20
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menuitem=3DLinux, Boot to Linux
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menuitem=3DWin95, Boot to Windows 95=20
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menucolor=3D15,1
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menudefault=3DLinux, 15
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[linux]
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shell=3Dc:\loadlin.exe c:\vmlinuz root=3D/dev/hdb4 ro
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[win95]
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</PRE>
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When I Do Boot With The Floppy In The A: Drive, I Receive This Error
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Message:
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<PRE>
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Invalid System Disk
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Replace The Disk, And Then Press Any Key
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</pre>
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I Take Out Floppy & It Boots To Windows 95. Am I Doing Something Wrong
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Here? I Did Exactly What The Web Site Said To Do. I Know It's Something
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In One OF These Files Or There All Wrong? Or do you know a better
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alternative?
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Thanks,
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<P>
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--<BR>
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Steve
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<P> <HR> <P>
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<!--====================================================================-->
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<IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/envelope.gif">
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Date: Mon, 24 May 1999 12:58:40 -0400<BR>
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From: Steve Ickes, <A HREF="mailto:stevei@paonline.com">
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stevei@paonline.com</A> <BR>
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Subject: <font color="navy">Help wanted</font>
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<P>
|
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I am currently trying to install Star Office so that I may finally do
|
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away with my Microsloth products. However, when running ./setup, I get
|
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a script error. I have searched and posted but to no avail. I did find
|
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reference to using 'ldd' instead of 'exec' when running ./setup.bin.
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However, being relatively new to Linux, this means very little to me.
|
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<P>
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Any ideas, help or suggestions? I wouldn't think that this is a big
|
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issue. Yes, I am running the appropriate versions of glib and lib and
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running Red Hat v5.2 with the GNOME desktop and FVWM.
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<P>
|
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--<BR>
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Steve
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<P> <HR> <P>
|
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<!--====================================================================-->
|
|
<IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/envelope.gif">
|
|
Date: Sun, 9 May 1999 20:48:19 -0400<BR>
|
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From: "Timothy Gray", <A HREF="mailto:timgray@geocities.com">
|
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timgray@geocities.com</A> <BR>
|
|
Subject: <font color="navy">CAD on Linux and X</font>
|
|
<P>
|
|
I have a CAD station that is currently windows crippled. I have a
|
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summagraphics tablet and a hp plotter which both work great under WIN95/98
|
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(both are old by most everyones standards.. circa 1989-1990). But, I cannot
|
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find anything on the net about using a tablet with X windows, or a plotter.
|
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Xfree86's sites all mention mice and never say anything about any other
|
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input device. Both items have win/dos/cad drivers along with SCO and VMS
|
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drivers.
|
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<P>
|
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Is there anything I can find about serious CAD under linux and using my
|
|
hardware on the net? If I can get this running under xfig I can save
|
|
thousands and give me one more reason to use my windows CD's as coasters.
|
|
<P>
|
|
--<BR>
|
|
Timothy
|
|
|
|
<P> <HR> <P>
|
|
<!--====================================================================-->
|
|
<IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/envelope.gif">
|
|
Date: Tue, 11 May 1999 10:36:39 +0200
|
|
From: Matthias Mikuletz, <A HREF="mailto:matthias@theo2.physik.uni-stuttgart.de">
|
|
matthias@theo2.physik.uni-stuttgart.de</A>
|
|
Subject: Corrupt partition table
|
|
<P>
|
|
I need urgent HELP.
|
|
<P>
|
|
After having deleted a 8gig primary FAT32 partition and reinstalled a 4gig primary
|
|
<P>
|
|
and a 4gig extended FAT32 partition on a 13.5 gig drive the linux partition on the last 5gig
|
|
<P>
|
|
isn't accessible anymore.
|
|
<P>
|
|
Dos Fdisk works properly, doesn't show up anything unusual, but linux fdisk complains about
|
|
<P>
|
|
different logical/physical beginnings/endings and overlapping. Also PartitionMagic 3.0 only
|
|
tells me about a partition table error #116.
|
|
<P>
|
|
Windows95 works properly on the first two partitions.
|
|
<P>
|
|
Can anyone tell me about a tool to fix the partition table (to scan the disk and guess
|
|
correct cylinder/head values)?
|
|
<P>
|
|
Maybe the reassigning of the extended FAT32 partition has destroyed the linux partition.
|
|
<P>
|
|
Thanks a lot in advance.
|
|
<P>
|
|
--<BR>
|
|
matthias
|
|
|
|
<P> <HR> <P>
|
|
<!--====================================================================-->
|
|
<IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/envelope.gif">
|
|
Date: Wed, 26 May 1999 23:37:13 EDT<BR>
|
|
From: <A HREF="mailto:Robert8005@aol.com">
|
|
Robert8005@aol.com</A> <BR>
|
|
Subject: <font color="navy">Video Problems</font>
|
|
<P>
|
|
I new to linux and learning fast. I just got one problem when I use startx or
|
|
kde my screen just shows Black and gray stripes. I have a Diamond SpeedStar
|
|
A50 AGP card and a ViewSonic 17EA Monitor. I tried the optiond Caldera said
|
|
and none worked. ANy help would be great.
|
|
<P>
|
|
--<BR>
|
|
Robert
|
|
|
|
<P> <HR> <P>
|
|
<!--====================================================================-->
|
|
<IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/envelope.gif">
|
|
Date: Wed, 2 Jun 1999 02:43:24 -0700 (PDT)<BR>
|
|
From: kenneth kenneth, <A HREF="mailto:monkeydrum_98@yahoo.com">
|
|
monkeydrum_98@yahoo.com</A> <BR>
|
|
Subject: <font color="navy">Red Hat</font>
|
|
<P>
|
|
Can you tell me where can i find the step to install
|
|
Linux Red Hat 5.2 ....
|
|
<P>
|
|
--<BR>
|
|
Kenneth
|
|
|
|
|
|
<a name="gen"></a>
|
|
<P> <hr> <P>
|
|
<!-- =================================================================== -->
|
|
<center><H3><font color="maroon">General Mail</font></H3></center>
|
|
|
|
<P> <HR> <P>
|
|
<!--====================================================================-->
|
|
<IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/envelope.gif">
|
|
Date: Fri, 04 Jun 1999 01:31:14 +1000
|
|
From: peter, <A HREF="mailto:marshypj@ozemail.com.au">
|
|
marshypj@ozemail.com.au</A>
|
|
Subject: netled article issue 41, by larry ayers
|
|
<P>
|
|
Zee correct address for Matthew Bevan site and NetLed Program is :
|
|
<P>
|
|
http://mars.ark.com/~mbevan/products/netled.shtml
|
|
|
|
<P> <HR> <P>
|
|
<!--====================================================================-->
|
|
<IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/envelope.gif">
|
|
Date: Tue, 4 May 1999 00:54:19 -0700 (PDT)<BR>
|
|
From: Felix Morley Finch, <A HREF="mailto:felix@crowfix.com">
|
|
felix@crowfix.com</A> <BR>
|
|
Subject: <font color="navy">Conversation with Craig Burton</font>
|
|
<P>
|
|
I think Mr Burton has a lack of imagination on how Linux can take over
|
|
a lot of desktops. He claims
|
|
<blockquote> <font color="navy">
|
|
Windows growth would have to go to zero and Linux would have
|
|
to grow exponentially for the next eight to ten years before
|
|
it would even begin to gain on Microsoft. And until Linux is
|
|
at 20% market share, no serious developer is going to give it
|
|
any respect.
|
|
</font></blockquote>
|
|
It might be so if the hundreds of millions of Windows PCs in use now
|
|
would still be in use eight to ten years from now. But PCs will be
|
|
replaced several times during that period. Each replacement is
|
|
another opportunity for Linux.
|
|
<P>
|
|
Most people use Windows for Office file compatibility and games.
|
|
StarOffice, ApplixWare, and Word Perfect already offer almost complete
|
|
Word compatibility, and games are beginning to appear. In a year or
|
|
two, Linux will be reasonable for a majority of uses. A few early
|
|
adaptors will smuggle Linux into offices, its viability will become
|
|
evident under practical conditions, and managers will realize they can
|
|
save money, downtime, and headaches by installing Linux.
|
|
<P>
|
|
Internet compatibility requirements, and resentment over expensive
|
|
upgrades, will prevent MS from force feeding many more incompatible
|
|
Office file format "upgrades". Cheaper and cheaper hardware will make
|
|
the cost of MS software more apparent. Just as MS Works was developed
|
|
as a cheaper alternative to Office, people will "settle" for Linux for
|
|
their kids.
|
|
<P>
|
|
Linux doesn't have to replace existing Windows machines. It only has
|
|
to be a proven viable alternative when people replace old PCs. Faced
|
|
with forced upgrades by MS's short sighted policies, people will
|
|
choose inexpensive compatible standards-friendly Linux over expensive
|
|
incompatible Redmond-protocols Microsft.
|
|
<P>
|
|
--<BR>
|
|
Felix
|
|
|
|
<P> <HR> <P>
|
|
<!--====================================================================-->
|
|
<IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/envelope.gif">
|
|
Date: Mon, 3 May 1999 18:30:31 EDT<BR>
|
|
From: <A HREF="mailto:Robbo0119@aol.com">Robbo0119@aol.com</A> <BR>
|
|
Subject: <font color="navy">Linux and W98</font>
|
|
<P>
|
|
I use W98 for most of my essential tasks and also use it for "GAMES". I own a
|
|
lot of games.
|
|
<P>
|
|
HOWEVER i recently started to use Linux as an alternative operating system.
|
|
It has a steep learning curve , ( at least for me, because I don't seem to
|
|
own the hardware that it comes ready for and have had to hunt down drivers on
|
|
the net, and also learn to install them properly.)
|
|
<P>
|
|
The current state of Linux reminds me of OS/2 when it first came out. I liked
|
|
OS/2 (I had the 3.0 ). BUT . I stopped using it because there were very few
|
|
(almost none) programs for OS/2 at the time. I considered it a superior OS to
|
|
Windoze. It actually worked.But you had to learn how to make it work.
|
|
<P>
|
|
I will be really glad if Linux makes it in the market, Be assured that Bill
|
|
Gates with all of his money is not going to let an Operating System that's
|
|
essentially FREE take over his market share ( probably he thinks of it as his
|
|
domain).
|
|
Good Luck Linux!!
|
|
<P>
|
|
--<BR>
|
|
robbo
|
|
|
|
<P> <HR> <P>
|
|
<!--====================================================================-->
|
|
<IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/envelope.gif">
|
|
Date: Mon, 03 May 1999 23:58:12 -0500<BR>
|
|
From: <A
|
|
HREF="mailto:cbbrowne@godel.brownes.org">cbbrowne@godel.brownes.org</A> <BR>
|
|
Subject: <font color="navy">LinuxCAD Reviewz</font>
|
|
<P>
|
|
I think that it is a very good thing that you presented the Official
|
|
Reaction of Software Forge Inc to the previous "LinuxCAD" Review;
|
|
the quality of the response as well as the advertising material speaks
|
|
as loudly as any review could. (Including the one claimed to be
|
|
"fraudulent.")
|
|
<P>
|
|
It is clearly important for Linux Gazette to remain editorially objective;
|
|
in this case that has been quite successfully done. However badly you
|
|
may have wanted to use a spell-checker, the community will always remain
|
|
grateful for your self-control in throttling that impulse. :-).
|
|
<P>
|
|
--<BR>
|
|
cb
|
|
|
|
<P> <HR> <P>
|
|
<!--====================================================================-->
|
|
<IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/envelope.gif">
|
|
Date: Tue, 4 May 1999 20:41:47 +0200<BR>
|
|
From: Craig Schlenter, <A HREF="mailto:craig@qualica.com">
|
|
craig@qualica.com</A> <BR>
|
|
Subject: <font color="navy">NetLED security problem?</font>
|
|
<P>
|
|
I read an article in <I>Linux Gazette</I> about netled and the comment about not
|
|
prepending /dev/ to any of the command line arguments intrigued me so I
|
|
thought I'd look at the source code:
|
|
<P>
|
|
From netled.c:
|
|
<pre>
|
|
char tty[10] = "/dev/";
|
|
[snip]
|
|
strcat(tty,argv[1]);
|
|
if((ttyfd = open(tty,O_RDWR)) < 0) {
|
|
fprintf(stderr,"Error opening keyboard %s\n ",tty);
|
|
exit(1);
|
|
}
|
|
[snip]
|
|
</PRE>
|
|
<P>
|
|
I'm not an expert in these matters but this would appear to be prone to
|
|
a buffer-overflow/stack-smashing attack. The fact that it's part of
|
|
main() and not some subroutine might have some bearing on the matter as
|
|
I'm not too sure whether exit() will look for some sort of return
|
|
address on the stack (and no libc source handy to check) but either way
|
|
it looks like something that needs fixing ...
|
|
<P>
|
|
I'd recommend a
|
|
<PRE>
|
|
if (strlen(argv[1]) >= 5) {
|
|
fprintf(stderr, "argument too long");
|
|
exit (1);
|
|
}
|
|
</pre>
|
|
be added before the strcat. This is especially relevant since you recommend
|
|
running the program SUID root. Actually a size of 10 for tty is too low as a
|
|
size since you want argv[1] to be "console" ...
|
|
<P>
|
|
I've cc'ed the author of the article, linux-gazette too and one of the
|
|
security mailing lists maintainers who is probably far more
|
|
knowledgeable than me about stack overflows to shed some light on the
|
|
matter.
|
|
Thank you,
|
|
<P>
|
|
--<BR>
|
|
Craig
|
|
|
|
<P> <HR> <P>
|
|
<!--====================================================================-->
|
|
<IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/envelope.gif">
|
|
Date: Tue, 11 May 1999 11:12:05 -0600<BR>
|
|
From: <A HREF="mailto:njg@itmin.com">njg@itmin.com</A> <BR>
|
|
Subject: <font color="navy">Desktop Users</font>
|
|
<P>
|
|
I wish to make a request to the editor of the LG and hope others in my
|
|
category will support me. I was prompted to do this after reading mail in
|
|
your journal. The letter in April <BR>
|
|
From: "Michael J. Hammel", mjhammel@graphics-muse.org <BR>
|
|
Subject: Re: a newbie's grief : Erik Refner & Clara Lundqvist: "<BR>
|
|
is one such example.
|
|
(I must admit that in my debut I created a partition with FIPS and installed
|
|
RedHat Linux ver 2.1 on my PC in 1995 with only few problems. So it is not
|
|
THAT bad really..But I could not get my modem to work!)
|
|
<P>
|
|
Linux is more than a BIG OS for developers and programmers. It has a great
|
|
future for ordinary PC DESKTOP users like me. Many people in the world
|
|
cannot afford Microsoft software. The OS and their Offfice suite is very
|
|
expensive. The restrictions of a single PC means if you have more than one
|
|
PC the cost increases.
|
|
Linux is affordable. One copy of the latest version in a library can be
|
|
shared by many. In poorer countries this will be a great boon. People will
|
|
learn to manage with the free software that is there to use. Going on the
|
|
internet will be easy as Netscape, familiar to everyone is available. A
|
|
simple x-based email client allowing multiple users will be all that is
|
|
needed, as Netscape does not allow multiple addresses on the same PC.
|
|
Also viruses are not a problem in linux, as yet!!! :-)
|
|
I read in the news in lg that Corel was going to build a desktop PC version
|
|
for ordinary PC users in MAY lg news...
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Ottawa, Canada - April 21, 1999 - Corel Corporation (NASDAQ: COSFF, TSE:
|
|
COS) today announced an alliance with
|
|
two major Open Source developer communities to advance the development of
|
|
its proposed Linux distribution; a user-friendly
|
|
Linux installation and graphical user interface (GUI) for the desktop PC."
|
|
<P>
|
|
But this may be costly. In the April news there was some hope...
|
|
"Project Independence: Linux for the Masses,
|
|
http://independence.seul.org/distribution/ "
|
|
<P>
|
|
Therefore my request.
|
|
Could you please reserve a little section of your lg for simple desktop uses
|
|
of Linux, as opposed to programmers, LAN users, Server users etc.? News as
|
|
well as software reviews specially of value to us could be great!
|
|
Thanks
|
|
<P>
|
|
--<BR>
|
|
Nandalal Gunaratne
|
|
<blockquote> <I>
|
|
(I'd be happy to have deskopt uses included. Anyone who submits this type of
|
|
article can be assured that we will post it. --Editor)
|
|
</I> </blockquote>
|
|
|
|
<P> <HR> <P>
|
|
<!--====================================================================-->
|
|
<IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/envelope.gif">
|
|
Date: Wed, 5 May 1999 16:53:53 -0400<BR>
|
|
From: Larry Kollar, <A HREF="mailto:lkollar@my-dejanews.com">
|
|
lkollar@my-dejanews.com</A> <BR>
|
|
Subject: <font color="navy">Re: KDE is bloated and slow (not</font>)
|
|
<P>
|
|
I keep hearing all this stuff about KDE is bloated, KDE is slow, KDE
|
|
put a nasty stain on my favorite T-shirt and I can't get it clean,
|
|
you get the idea....
|
|
<P>
|
|
I run Linux part-time on a Mac G3/266 (the beige box, "only" 32MB of
|
|
RAM), with KDE as my standard GUI, and I don't see what people are
|
|
complaining about. Maybe I'd feel different if I had to run it on
|
|
a Pentium, or on a Mac IIsi running NetBSD or Linux-68k, but KDE
|
|
responds well to decent hardware. I recently updated from a beta
|
|
to 1.1, and it does feel a bit snappier.
|
|
<P>
|
|
I'll admit to shutting down X to compile large projects, but only
|
|
because of my current RAM limits. Once I add more RAM, I'll probably
|
|
change the runlevel to 5 and have X + KDE running all the time.
|
|
<P>
|
|
Besides, my wife would kill -9 me if I removed KDE -- she learned how
|
|
to boot into Linux & start X just so she can play kmahjongg and a couple
|
|
of the other games. This by itself is a reason to have KDE available;
|
|
you can spend a few minutes showing newbies a comfortable interface
|
|
and blunt the irrational fear of not-Windows.
|
|
<P>
|
|
Looking for a 3-button ADB mouse,
|
|
<P>
|
|
--<BR>
|
|
Larry
|
|
|
|
<P> <HR> <P>
|
|
<!--====================================================================-->
|
|
<IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/envelope.gif">
|
|
Date: Mon, 24 May 1999 14:52:06 +0200<BR>
|
|
From: Roger
|
|
Subject: <font color="navy">MTBF for Craig Burton</font>
|
|
<P>
|
|
Craig Burton said "Show me the MTBF figures"
|
|
<P>
|
|
I am used to a hardware background, where we calculate MTBF figures
|
|
before releasing systems. If nothing else, they give a rougth guide to
|
|
how many spares you need;-)
|
|
<P>
|
|
BUT, basicly speaking, this calculation is done by taking an MTBF figure
|
|
for each element (This type of component employed in this manner has
|
|
this MTBF), which are text book figures derived from statistical
|
|
analysis, and then you add them all together.
|
|
<P>
|
|
This means if system A has 10 widgets and 6 doofas, whilst system B has
|
|
15 widgets and 12 doofas, then system A will have a much lower MTBF.
|
|
<P>
|
|
It may seem a harsh way to calculate reliability, but generaly speaking
|
|
it works, and one always regards system reliability as being inversely
|
|
proportional to system complexity. Most of us are not able to review the
|
|
NT source, but it is believed to be far more complex than Linux, which
|
|
would suggest that the MTBF is proportionatlely lowwer.
|
|
<P>
|
|
Of course in software there are many other parameters, but nontheless
|
|
complexity is a major parameter. Another biggie is the language used for
|
|
development, C programming is far more vulnerable than higher level
|
|
languages for obscure bugs such as memory leaks, but for performance
|
|
reasons so low level languages are considered essential for OS work, and
|
|
so both have the same vulnerability (in fact one can easily find
|
|
disaster tales of e.g. memory leaks on both platforms).
|
|
<P>
|
|
Another major factor is using tried and trusted methods (or re-using
|
|
well proven code). Much of the reason for NT's additional complexity is
|
|
that it has to support so many MS invented protocols designed to render
|
|
it incompatible with the rest of the world. This is particularly so when
|
|
one get's out of kernel space into userland, Linux makes heavy (re)use
|
|
of legacy *nix software such as sendmail which has a very long history.
|
|
<P>
|
|
In a nutshell, there are sound scientific arguments as to why Linux may
|
|
be more relaible than NT, indeed one of Linus's rallying cries is to
|
|
keep things simple, and he resists attempts to over complicate the
|
|
kernel. MS (IMHO) appear to have tied themselves in knots with all thier
|
|
attempts to do things in a proprietry manner.
|
|
<P>
|
|
I think Craigs comments that imply that people who say Linux never goes
|
|
down are talking shit and are just Linux worshippers are a bit
|
|
excessive. Of course Linux does go down, but these people are just
|
|
reflecting a common appearence that Linux boxes do seem to go months
|
|
before re-boots (so one forgets when one last re-booted), wheras NT
|
|
reboots tend to be common enougth to be frustrating (...but we re-booted
|
|
just a couple of weeks ago). It is a subtle difference, but Linux by
|
|
being a little better appears to cross the memory threshold.
|
|
<P>
|
|
All I will add is that at work I use both a Linux and NT server, neither
|
|
are particularly loaded, and both are doing file and print sharing
|
|
(allthougth the Linux box does handle a mega printer which often has
|
|
100's of megabytes in the queue, it was moved from the NT box because it
|
|
did not work there). The Linux box has only ever gone down during power
|
|
outages (no UPS), whilst the NT box (which does has a UPS), has gone
|
|
down several times in the two year period I have been in this
|
|
environment. Note that the Linux server was just loaded and set up on
|
|
the fly by ourselves, whilst the NT box was set up, and is maintained,
|
|
by an outside firm with MS certified personel.
|
|
<P>
|
|
Am I a religious nut for pointing this out?
|
|
<P>
|
|
I think Craigs comments that imply that people who say Linux never goes down are talking shit and are just Linux worshippers are a bit excessive. Of course Linux does go down, but these people are just reflecting a common appearence that Linux boxes do seem to go months before re-boots (so one forgets when one last re-booted), wheras NT reboots tend to be common enougth to be frustrating (...but we re-booted just a couple of weeks ago). It is a subtle difference, but Linux by being a little better appears to cross the memory threshold.
|
|
<P>
|
|
--
|
|
Bye for now, And watch out for those
|
|
low flying Penguins.......
|
|
<P>
|
|
Roger
|
|
|
|
|
|
<P> <hr> <P>
|
|
<!--================================================================-->
|
|
<center>Published in <i>Linux Gazette</i> Issue 42, June 1999</center>
|
|
<!--====================================================================-->
|
|
<!--startcut ==========================================================-->
|
|
<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_tips42.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 © 1999 Specialized Systems Consultants, Inc. </H5>
|
|
<P>
|
|
</body> </html>
|
|
<!--endcut ============================================================-->
|