From: Lars.Wirzenius@helsinki.fi (Lars Wirzenius) Subject: README: Where to find information about Linux (25 July 1992) Date: 2 Aug 1992 21:00:05 GMT
Purpose of this article
This article is a weekly reminder of how you can find information about
Linux. It doesn't answer any questions directly, but it tells you where
you can probably find an answer by yourself. I hope that it will make
people more aware of existing documentation, and cut down on the
unnecessary postings that ask solutions to common problems, thereby making
comp.os.linux more useful for new problems.
I'll try to keep this article short, to save bandwidth, although it does
mean I have to be quite brief. Please mail any comments, corrections and
suggestions to Lars.Wirzenius@helsinki.fi.
Thanks to all the people who have helped form this document. I'm sorry I
can't list your names, you're just too numerous.
Major FTP sites for Linux
textual name numeric addr Linux directory
banjo.concert.net 192.101.21.6 /pub/Linux
tsx-11.mit.edu 18.172.1.2 /pub/linux
nic.funet.fi 128.214.6.100 /pub/OS/Linux
ftp.mcc.ac.uk 130.88.200.7 /pub/linux
kirk.bu.oz.au 131.244.1.1 /pub/OS/Linux
utsun.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp 133.11.11.11 /misc/linux
ftp.informatik.tu-muenchen.de 131.159.0.110 /pub/Linux
fgb1.fgb.mw.tu-muenchen.de 129.187.200.1 /pub/linux
ftp.dfv.rwth-aachen.de 137.226.4.105 /pub/linux
Tupac-Amaru.Informatik.RWTH-Aaechen.DE 137.226.112.31 /pub/Linux
banjo and fgb1 are the official site for Linux' GCC. ftp.mcc is home of
the MCC interim release. Some sites mirror other sites. Please use the
site closest (network-wise) to you. Tupac-Amaru may be unreliable.
All filenames given in this article are relative to the directories given
above.
Getting Linux
The official release (Linus' bootdisk and Jim Winstead's rootdisk) can be
found on most ftp sites (at least tsx-11, nic.funet.fi and banjo).
Unofficial releases include the MCC interim release, said to be fairly
easy to install, from ftp.mcc (and other sites), Dave Safford's kit, based
on MCC, but includes X, and Martin Junius' mj-release (from ftp.dfv). See
also the FAQ for more information.
Installation documents
Ian Reid's INSTALL.doc (usually close to the root disk) and Chuck Boyer's
(DOS) Beginner's Guide to Linux v0.95a are a bit outdated but still
helpful installation instructions. The root disk has instructions for
installation, and the MCC release has its own instructions. The FAQ (see
below) also has something to say on this matter.
The general Linux FAQ (FAQ = Frequently Asked Questions list, with answers)
The FAQ contains a LOT of information, and is pretty long (posted as two
parts). Everybody should read it, 'cause it really does contain solutions
to the most common problems. It's posted monthly to comp.os.linux and
news.answers, and can also be FTP'd from at least tsx-11, docs/FAQ_xxx,
(xxx is the date), nic.funet.fi, doc/FAQ_xxx, and banjo, Incoming/FAQ_xxx.
The GCC README, release-xxxx, and FAQ
README and release-xxxx (xxxx is version number) contain instructions for
installation. It seems that most of the problems people have had with
release 2.2.2 are due to misreading or not reading these files. GCC also
has its own FAQ. It and the other two files are part of the GCC
distribution (in file 2.2.2misc.tar.Z).
Mailing-lists
There are several mailing-lists for Linux. Check the FAQ for more
information about them, including how to join.
Other newsgroups
Not all problems you encounter while using Linux are Linux specific. You
may also want to read several groups in the comp.unix hierarchy,
comp.sources.wanted, alt.sources.wanted, and especially any FAQs in these
groups.
Documentation for various programs
Most of the various software packages come with some sort of
documentation, often in files that have names similar to README. It is a
VERY good idea to read them with care. It is boring to see (_and_ answer)
questions that are answered in the documentation.
Finding the current releases of programs
New releases and new programs are usually announced in comp.os.linux
and/or the mailing lists. Other than that, you more or less have to check
the FTP sites.
Linus' .plan contains some information about the current kernel. finger
torvalds@klaava.helsinki.fi. (It is often quite long!)
Please try to use the current releases, if possible, at least of the
kernel and compiler. If you have a problem, please first make sure you
have a current release, it often helps. Don't use alpha test releases
unless you like problems.
Ongoing projects
James Callison maintains a list of who is currently doing what for Linux.
Mail to constellation!biglaw!registry@mailhost.ecn.uoknor (if that doesn't
work, try callison@uokmax.ecn.uoknor). The list will be posted regularly
to comp.os.linux.
Getting software
Most or all of the software is available via FTP. If you don't have FTP,
see "How to find sources" in news.answers, and the Linux FAQ.