From: jfritz@ptolemy1.rdrc.rpi.edu (Joe Fritz) Subject: Yet another new user (Success Story, mostly) Date: Mon, 7 Dec 1992 06:08:27 GMT
Hi linux users,
After reading the new for a few months, and and lost drueling, i
finally bought a machine (Zenith 486 (DX :), 4 MB RAM )for the nobel
purpose of running a free OS called linux. It worked. After a false
start with the root disk's mount dumping core, (i wanted to try an put
my own system together from scratch, hence no SLS). i then managed to
install the system from hjl's rootdisk. From here on, it installed
beautifully. i was stuck with using a floppy to boot the system,
until i managed to recompile the kernel and install LILO. No problem
here. Now i was able to boot off the hard disk, and run the system.
The kernel i first compiled was 0.98.4.
Then i downloaded the x binsries. Here, funny things started to
happen. The DOS clocks program and the X server gave different
values. i was able to get the xfree color server up in 640x400 mode,
but the picture was not centerd, and the margins were a little big, so
i played with the clocks until i had the best resolution i could get
at the clock frequency. The VGA chip is a Paradise WD90C30. Does
this chip have a programmable clock?, or what are the clock values?
Leter, i upgraved to patch level 5, and pulled out the net and SCSI
code. Most things ran (i had to recompile emacs, no big deal), but X
started acting funny. It starts up, but will immeniately hang.
Sometimes, the mouse stops working (i need to run mconv) , other
times, the system completely hangs (or at least the console does). PL
6 does not fix the problem. When i return to PL 4, X again works. i
think the problem may be caused by a memory shortage (4 MEG, 10 MEG
swap).
Aside from X, i have had no other problems. My system is beginning
to resemble a real UN*X system. i have also written a small utility
which works sort of like su, but allows ANY user to authorize another
user to execure commands on his/her behalf. i am willing to release
an alpha version of this to the net is people are interested.
Aside from the X problems, i an very happy with the system. Thanx
Linus, and keep up the good work.
---joe (jfritz@rdrc.rpi.edu)