281 lines
15 KiB
HTML
281 lines
15 KiB
HTML
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//IETF//DTD HTML 2.0//EN">
|
|
<!--Converted with LaTeX2HTML 96.1-h (September 30, 1996) by Nikos Drakos (nikos@cbl.leeds.ac.uk), CBLU, University of Leeds -->
|
|
<HTML>
|
|
<HEAD>
|
|
<TITLE>Preface</TITLE>
|
|
<META NAME="description" CONTENT="Preface">
|
|
<META NAME="keywords" CONTENT="gs">
|
|
<META NAME="resource-type" CONTENT="document">
|
|
<META NAME="distribution" CONTENT="global">
|
|
<LINK REL=STYLESHEET HREF="gs.css">
|
|
</HEAD>
|
|
<BODY LANG="EN" >
|
|
<A NAME="tex2html813" HREF="node3.html"><IMG WIDTH=37 HEIGHT=24 ALIGN=BOTTOM ALT="next" SRC="next_motif.gif"></A> <A NAME="tex2html811" HREF="gs.html"><IMG WIDTH=26 HEIGHT=24 ALIGN=BOTTOM ALT="up" SRC="up_motif.gif"></A> <A NAME="tex2html805" HREF="node1.html"><IMG WIDTH=63 HEIGHT=24 ALIGN=BOTTOM ALT="previous" SRC="previous_motif.gif"></A> <A NAME="tex2html815" HREF="node1.html"><IMG WIDTH=65 HEIGHT=24 ALIGN=BOTTOM ALT="contents" SRC="contents_motif.gif"></A> <BR>
|
|
<B> Next:</B> <A NAME="tex2html814" HREF="node3.html">1 Introduction to Linux</A>
|
|
<B>Up:</B> <A NAME="tex2html812" HREF="gs.html">Linux Installation and Getting </A>
|
|
<B> Previous:</B> <A NAME="tex2html806" HREF="node1.html">Contents</A>
|
|
<BR> <P>
|
|
<H1><A NAME="SECTION00200000000000000000">Preface</A></H1>
|
|
<P>
|
|
<I>Linux Installation and Getting Started</I> (LIGS) has been the
|
|
shepherding work for countless new users of the Linux operating
|
|
system. Linux continues to evolve and so, too, must this guide.
|
|
<P>
|
|
Matt Welsh, the original author, has turned the book over to the care
|
|
and management of Specialized Systems Consultants, Inc. (SSC), publishers of
|
|
<i>Linux Journal</i>, computer books, and references. <i>Linux
|
|
Installation and Getting Started</i> is still covered by the GNU
|
|
General Public License--it is still freely redistributable, like the
|
|
operating system it describes. This new version becomes a
|
|
collaborative effort of individuals separated by geography but brought
|
|
together on the Internet, much like Linux itself. If you believe you
|
|
could expand or update a section of <i>Linux Installation and
|
|
Getting Started</i> or have something new and wonderful to add, please
|
|
send e-mail to <tt>ligs@ssc.com</tt> and tell us how you'd like to
|
|
contribute.
|
|
<P>
|
|
For this edition, we've added distribution-specific instructions for
|
|
obtaining and installing S.u.S.E. Linux, Debian GNU/Linux, Linux
|
|
Slackware, Caldera OpenLinux, and Red Hat Linux. Please read through
|
|
the acknowledgements, and if you should meet someone named there on
|
|
line or in person, thank them for the help.
|
|
<P>
|
|
Specialized Systems Consultants, Inc. (SSC)<BR>
|
|
February 1998
|
|
<H1><A NAME="SECTION00210000000000000000">Preface to the previous edition.</A></H1>
|
|
<P>
|
|
<EM>``You are in a maze of twisty little passages, all alike.''</EM>
|
|
<P>
|
|
Before you looms one of the most complex and utterly intimidating
|
|
systems ever written. Linux, the free UNIX clone for the personal computer,
|
|
produced by a mishmash team of UNIX gurus, hackers, and the occasional loon.
|
|
The system itself reflects this complex heritage, and although the development
|
|
of Linux may appear to be a disorganized volunteer effort, the system is
|
|
powerful, fast, and free. It is a true 32-bit operating system solution.
|
|
<P>
|
|
My own experiences with Linux began several years ago when I sat
|
|
down to figure out how to install the only ``distribution'' available at
|
|
the time--a couple of diskettes made available by H. J. Lu. I downloaded
|
|
a slew of files and read page upon page of loosely-organized installation
|
|
notes. Somehow, I managed to install this basic system and get everything
|
|
to work together. This was long before you could buy the Linux software on
|
|
CD-ROM from worldwide distributors; before, in fact, Linux was able to
|
|
access a CD-ROM drive. This was before XFree86, before Emacs, before
|
|
commercial software support, and before Linux became a true rival to
|
|
MS-DOS, Microsoft Windows, and OS/2 in the personal computer market.
|
|
<P>
|
|
You hold in your hands a map and guidebook to the world of Linux.
|
|
It is my hope that this book will help you get rolling with what I
|
|
consider to be the fastest, most powerful operating system for the personal
|
|
computer. Setting up your own Linux system can be great fun--so
|
|
grab a cup of coffee, sit back, and read on.
|
|
<P>
|
|
Matt Welsh<BR>
|
|
January 1994
|
|
<H1><A NAME="SECTION00220000000000000000">Hints for UNIX novices.</A></H1>
|
|
<P>
|
|
Getting started with your own Linux system does not require a great
|
|
deal of UNIX background. Many UNIX novices have successfully installed
|
|
Linux on their systems. This is a worthwhile learning experience, but
|
|
keep in mind that it can be frustrating. Moreover, once you are ready
|
|
to delve into the more complex tasks of running Linux--installing new
|
|
software, recompiling the kernel, and so forth--having background
|
|
knowledge in UNIX is necessary.
|
|
<P>
|
|
However, simply by running your own Linux system you will learn the
|
|
essentials of UNIX. This book helps you get
|
|
started--Chapter <A HREF="node5.html#chaptutorialnum">3</A> is a tutorial covering UNIX
|
|
basics. Chapter <A HREF="node6.html#chapsysadmnum">4</A> has information on Linux system
|
|
administration. You may wish to read these chapters before attempting
|
|
to install Linux at all--the information will prove to be invaluable
|
|
should you run into problems.
|
|
<P>
|
|
Nobody can expect to go from UNIX novice to UNIX system administrator
|
|
overnight. No implementation of UNIX is expected to be maintenance
|
|
free. You must be prepared for the journey that lies ahead. Otherwise,
|
|
if you're new to UNIX, you may very well become frustrated with the
|
|
system.
|
|
<P>
|
|
<H1><A NAME="SECTION00230000000000000000">Hints for UNIX gurus.</A></H1>
|
|
<P>
|
|
Someone with years of experience in UNIX programming and system
|
|
administration may still need assistance before he or she is able to
|
|
pick up and install Linux. UNIX wizards must be familiar with certain
|
|
aspects of the system before they dive in. Linux is neither a
|
|
commercial UNIX system, nor attempts to uphold the same
|
|
standards. While stability is an important factor in Linux
|
|
development, it is not the only factor.
|
|
<P>
|
|
Perhaps more important is functionality. In many cases, new code
|
|
becomes part of the standard kernel while it is still buggy and not
|
|
functionally complete. The Linux development model assumes that it is
|
|
more important to release code for users to test and use, than delay a
|
|
release until it is complete. WINE (the Microsoft Windows Emulator for
|
|
Linux) had an official alpha release before it was completely
|
|
tested. The Linux community at large had a chance to work with the
|
|
code, and those who found the alpha code good enough for their needs
|
|
could use it. Commercial UNIX vendors rarely, if ever, release
|
|
software this way.
|
|
<P>
|
|
If you have been a UNIX systems administrator for more than a decade,
|
|
and have used every commercial UNIX system under the Sun (pun
|
|
intended), Linux may take some getting used to. The system is very
|
|
modern and dynamic. A new kernel is released every few weeks. New
|
|
software is constantly being released. One day, your system may be
|
|
completely up-to-date, and the next day the system may be in the Stone
|
|
Age.
|
|
<P>
|
|
With all of this activity, how does one keep up with the ever-changing
|
|
Linux world? For the most part, it is best to upgrade only those
|
|
parts of the system which need upgrading, and only when you think it
|
|
is necessary. For example, if you never use Emacs, there is little
|
|
reason to continuously install new releases of Emacs on your
|
|
system. Furthermore, even if you are an avid Emacs user, there is
|
|
usually no reason to upgrade unless you need a feature that is present
|
|
only in the next release. There is little or no reason to always be on
|
|
top of the newest software versions.
|
|
<P>
|
|
We hope that Linux will meet or exceed your expectations for a
|
|
homebrew UNIX system. At the very core of Linux is the spirit of free
|
|
software, of constant development and growth. The Linux community
|
|
favors expansion over stability, which is a difficult concept to
|
|
swallow, especially after being steeped in the world of commercial
|
|
UNIX. Expecting Linux to be perfect is unrealistic; nothing in
|
|
the free software world ever is. We believe, however, that Linux is
|
|
as complete and useful as any other implementation of UNIX.
|
|
<P>
|
|
<H1><A NAME="SECTION00240000000000000000">Audience.</A></H1>
|
|
<P>
|
|
This book is for personal computer users who want to install and use
|
|
Linux. We assume that you have basic knowledge about personal
|
|
computers and operating systems like MS-DOS, but no previous knowledge
|
|
of Linux or UNIX.
|
|
<P>
|
|
Despite this, we strongly suggest that UNIX novices invest in one of
|
|
the many good UNIX books out there. You still need UNIX know-how to
|
|
install and run a complete system. No distribution of Linux is
|
|
completely bug-free. You may be required to fix small problems by
|
|
hand. Running a UNIX system is not an easy task, even with commercial
|
|
versions of UNIX. If you're serious about Linux, bear in mind that it
|
|
takes considerable effort and attention to keep the system running.
|
|
This is true of any UNIX system. Because of the diversity of the
|
|
Linux community and the many needs which the software attempts to
|
|
meet, not everything can be taken care of for you all of the time.
|
|
<P>
|
|
<H1><A NAME="SECTION00250000000000000000">Organization.</A></H1>
|
|
<P>
|
|
This book contains the following chapters:
|
|
<P>
|
|
Chapter <A HREF="#chapintro">1</A>, <EM>Introduction to Linux</EM>, is a general
|
|
introduction to Linux, its capabilities, and requirements for running
|
|
it on your system. It also provides hints for getting help and
|
|
reducing your stress level.
|
|
<P>
|
|
Chapter <A HREF="#chapinstall">2</A>, <EM>Obtaining and Installing Linux</EM>,
|
|
explains how to obtain and install Linux software, beginning with
|
|
drive repartitioning, creating filesystems, and installing software
|
|
packages. The chapter contains instructions that are meant to be
|
|
general for any Linux distribution and relies for specifics on the
|
|
documentation provided by your particular release.
|
|
<P>
|
|
Chapter <A HREF="node5.html#chaptutorial">3</A>, <EM>Linux Tutorial</EM>, is a complete
|
|
introduction for UNIX novices. If you have previous UNIX experience,
|
|
most of this material should be familiar.
|
|
<P>
|
|
Chapter <A HREF="node6.html#chapsysadm">4</A>, <EM>System Administration</EM>, introduces
|
|
important concepts for system administration under Linux. This will
|
|
be of interest to UNIX system administrators who want to know about
|
|
the Linux-specific issues for running a system.
|
|
<P>
|
|
Chapters <A HREF="node7.html#chapxwindows">5</A> and <A HREF="node8.html#chapnetworking">6</A>, <EM>X
|
|
Windows</EM> and <EM>Networking</EM>, introduce a number of advanced options that
|
|
Linux supports, like the X Window System and TCP/IP networking. We
|
|
also provide a complete guide to configuring XFree86-3.1.
|
|
<P>
|
|
Appendix <A HREF="app-sources/node1.html">A</A>, <EM>Sources of Linux Information</EM>, is
|
|
a list of further documentation sources like newsgroups, mailing
|
|
lists, on-line documents, and books.
|
|
<P>
|
|
Appendix <A HREF="app-ftp/node1.html">B</A>, <EM>FTP Tutorial and Site List</EM>, is a tutorial for
|
|
downloading files from the Internet with FTP. This appendix also
|
|
lists FTP archive sites that carry Linux software.
|
|
<P>
|
|
Appendix <A HREF="app-gpl/node1.html">C</A>, <EM>The GNU General Public License</EM>, is the
|
|
license agreement under which Linux is distributed. It is important
|
|
that Linux users understand the GPL. Many disagreements over the
|
|
terms in describes have been raised.
|
|
<P>
|
|
<H1><A NAME="SECTION00260000000000000000">Acknowledgments.</A></H1>
|
|
<P>
|
|
This edition builds on the work of those who have gone before, and
|
|
they are thanked below in Matt Welsh's original
|
|
acknowledgement. Additionally, we owe thanks to Larry Ayers, Boris
|
|
Beletsky, Sean Dreilinger, Evan Leibovitch, and Henry Pierce for
|
|
contributing the information in Chapter 2 on S.u.S.E. Linux, Debian
|
|
GNU/Linux, Linux Slackware, Caldera OpenLinux, and Red Hat Linux,
|
|
respectively. David Bandel updated Chapter 2 and added a section
|
|
describing a generic Linux installation. Vernard Martin updated and
|
|
added to Chapter 5. Thanks are also due to Belinda Frazier for
|
|
editing and to Jay Painter for the update to Chapter 4 on systems
|
|
administration.
|
|
<P>
|
|
<H2><A NAME="SECTION00261000000000000000">Acknowledgments from the previous edition.</A></H2>
|
|
<P>
|
|
This book has been long in the making, and many people have contributed
|
|
to the outcome. In particular, I would like to thank Larry Greenfield
|
|
and Karl Fogel for their work on the first version of
|
|
Chapter <A HREF="node5.html#chaptutorial">3</A>, and to Lars Wirzenius for his
|
|
work on Chapter <A HREF="node6.html#chapsysadm">4</A>. Thanks to Michael K. Johnson for
|
|
his assistance with the LDP and the LaTeX conventions used in this
|
|
manual, and to Ed Chi, who sent me a printed copy of
|
|
the book.
|
|
<P>
|
|
Thanks to Melinda A. McBride at SSC, Inc., who did an excellent
|
|
job of completing the index for Chapters <A HREF="node5.html#chaptutorial">3</A>, <A HREF="node6.html#chapsysadm">4</A>,
|
|
and <A HREF="#chapadvanced"><IMG ALIGN=BOTTOM ALT="gif" SRC="cross_ref_motif.gif"></A>. I would also like to thank Andy Oram, Lar Kaufman,
|
|
and Bill Hahn at O'Reilly and Associates for their assistance with the
|
|
Linux Documentation Project.
|
|
<P>
|
|
Thanks to Linux Systems Labs, Morse Telecommunications, and Yggdrasil
|
|
Computing for their support of the Linux Documentation
|
|
Project through sales of this book and other works.
|
|
<P>
|
|
Much thanks to the many Linux activists, including (in no particular order)
|
|
Linus Torvalds, Donald Becker, Alan Cox, Remy Card, Ted T'so, H. J. Lu,
|
|
Ross Biro, Drew Eckhardt, Ed Carp, Eric Youngdale, Fred van Kempen, and Steven
|
|
Tweedie, for devoting so much time and energy to this
|
|
project, and without whom there wouldn't be anything to write a book about.
|
|
<P>
|
|
Finally, special thanks to the myriad of readers who have sent their helpful
|
|
comments and corrections; they are far too many to list here.
|
|
<P>
|
|
<H1><A NAME="SECTION00270000000000000000">Credits and legalese.</A></H1>
|
|
<P>
|
|
The Linux Documentation Project consists of a loose team of
|
|
writers, proofreaders,
|
|
and editors who are working on a set of definitive Linux manuals.
|
|
<P>
|
|
This manual is one of several which are distributed by the Linux
|
|
Documentation Project. Other manuals include the <EM>Linux User's
|
|
Guide, System Administrator's Guide, Network Administrator's Guide,</EM>
|
|
and <EM>Kernel Hacker's Guide.</EM> These manuals are all available in
|
|
LaTeX source and PostScript output format for anonymous FTP access
|
|
at <TT>sunsite.unc.edu</TT>, in the directory <TT>/pub/Linux/docs/LDP</TT>.
|
|
<P>
|
|
<P>
|
|
<H1><A NAME="SECTION00280000000000000000">Conventions.</A></H1>
|
|
<P>
|
|
We have attempted to use the following documentation conventions
|
|
in this guide:
|
|
<P>
|
|
<BR><IMG WIDTH=649 HEIGHT=508 ALIGN=BOTTOM ALT="dispitems119" SRC="img1.gif"><BR><HR><A NAME="tex2html813" HREF="node3.html"><IMG WIDTH=37 HEIGHT=24 ALIGN=BOTTOM ALT="next" SRC="next_motif.gif"></A> <A NAME="tex2html811" HREF="gs.html"><IMG WIDTH=26 HEIGHT=24 ALIGN=BOTTOM ALT="up" SRC="up_motif.gif"></A> <A NAME="tex2html805" HREF="node1.html"><IMG WIDTH=63 HEIGHT=24 ALIGN=BOTTOM ALT="previous" SRC="previous_motif.gif"></A> <A NAME="tex2html815" HREF="node1.html"><IMG WIDTH=65 HEIGHT=24 ALIGN=BOTTOM ALT="contents" SRC="contents_motif.gif"></A> <BR>
|
|
<B> Next:</B> <A NAME="tex2html814" HREF="node3.html">1 Introduction to Linux</A>
|
|
<B>Up:</B> <A NAME="tex2html812" HREF="gs.html">Linux Installation and Getting </A>
|
|
<B> Previous:</B> <A NAME="tex2html806" HREF="node1.html">Contents</A>
|
|
<P><ADDRESS>
|
|
<I>Clarica Grove <BR>
|
|
Wed Mar 4 10:46:42 PST 1998</I>
|
|
</ADDRESS>
|
|
</BODY>
|
|
</HTML>
|