From: jkp@cs.HUT.FI (Jyrki Kuoppala)
Subject: MATERIAL: Linux in gopherspace
Reply-To: jkp@cs.HUT.FI (Jyrki Kuoppala)
Organization: Helsinki University of Technology, Finland
Date: Sun, 30 Aug 1992 01:58:46 GMT

The otax.tky.hut.fi gopher server is available via the root of the
gopher net under the name "Helsinki University of Technology", and
directly at host otax.tky.hut.fi port 70 via gopher.  It has a
directory for Linux.

Linux is a free Unix-line operating system for the 386/486 class of
machines which among other things is be quite useful in making
computer-aided learning possibilities available widely and cheaply.

The directory under Topics/Linux is:


    1. Meta-FAQ
    2. Tupac-Amaru.Informatik.RWTH-Aachen.DE Linux ftp archive/
    3. fgb1.fgb.mw.tu-muenchen.de Linux ftp archive/
    4. ftp.dfv.rwth-aachen.de Linux ftp archive/
    5. ftp.informatik.tu-muenchen.de Linux ftp archive/
    6. ftp.mcc.ac.uk Linux ftp archive (MCC interim release)/
    7. kirk.bu.oz.au Linux ftp archive/
    8. nic.funet.fi Linux ftp archive/
    9. reggae.oit.unc.edu Linux ftp archive/
   10. sunsite.unc.edu Linux ftp archive/
   11. tsx-11.mit.edu Linux ftp archive (official GCC site)/
   12. utsun.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp Linux ftp archive/


Here's an excerpt from the Linux FAQ file for some information on
Linux:

================================8<=====8<==============================
CONTENTS
	0.	WARNINGS			(part1)
	I.	LINUX GENERAL INFORMATION	(part1)
	II.	LINUX USEFUL ADDRESSES		(part1)
	III.	INSTALLATION and SECURITY	(part1)
	IV.	LINUX and DOS			(part1)
	V.	SOME CLASSICAL PROBLEMS		(part1)
	VI.	INSTALLATION HINTS		(part1)
	VII.	MORE HINTS			(part2)
	VIII.	FEATURES			(part2)
	IX.	GCC MISC INFORMATION		(part2)
	X.	SCSI SPECIAL			(part2)
	XI.	X11, THE MINIMUM and MORE	(part2)
 
0. WARNINGS
===========

The FAQ contains a lot of information sometimes I've put it down 
in 3 different ways because people seems not to understand what they
read (or what I wrote, you know I'm just a froggy and english is not
my natural language). What I mean is that not all is in the FAQ but 
many things are there, so please just take time to read it this will 
spare a lot of the other linuxers [and if you think I should rephrase
some Q/A just drop me a note].

In what follows I consider Linux v0.96b as the current version. Linus
Torvalds wrote the following about the 0.96 release:

0.96 has a lot of changes; it contains a lot of new files, as well as
some reorganizations in the old ones.

The main new things are:
- The SCSI distribution is now in the standard package.
- X11r5 as ported by Orest Zborowski is supported. It's still in 
beta-testing (join the X11 channel see the USEFUL ADDRESS section)
- Hopefully better interrupt latency
- Reorganization of the vfs routines and minix filesystem driver
- ps/uptime patches + added readahead, so having computationnaly
intensive background processes is not as noticeable anymore while
doing IO.

The 96b contains also the following features:
- full core/dumping, attach/detach etc debugging features
- 16550A support
- less low 1MB memory used for kernel structures 

The 96c contains:
- fifo's
- alpha extended filesystem (Remi Card)
- st_blocks implemented (du will give much more better information)

Due to my hardware limitation (386SX, IDE drives, 8MB RAM, 2MB swap
file and VGA card); some information provided in this FAQ about X11,
and SCSI drivers are not my own. I just grab them from the various
mailing lists and comp.os.linux. In fact the Linux X11 section is from
Peter Hawkins, the rest is extracted from the X386 faq, the SCSI
section is from Drew, the Serial subsection was enhanced by Jim
Gifford and last not least, most of the things involving gcc2.xx were
written by H.Lu


I. LINUX GENERAL INFORMATION 
=============================

QUESTION: What is linux?

ANSWER: Linux is a small unix for 386-AT computers, that has the added
advantage of being free. It is still in beta-testing, but is slowly
getting useful even for somewhat real developement.  The current
version is 0.96c, date: 05 July 1992. The previous version v0.96b
June 21st has been enhanced a bit (see 0. section). 


Linux is a freely distributable UNIX clone.  It implements a subset of
System V and POSIX functionality.  LINUX has been written from
scratch, and therefore does not contain any AT&T or MINIX code--not in
the kernel, the compiler, the utilities, or the libraries.  For this
reason it can be made available with the complete source code via
anonymous FTP.  LINUX runs only on 386/486 AT-bus machines; porting to
non-Intel architectures is likely to be difficult, as the kernel makes
extensive use of 386 memory management and task primitives.



QUESTION: What is the current state of Linux?

ANSWER: do "finger torvalds@kruuna.helsinki.fi", or read the
comp.os.linux newsgroup.


QUESTION: I've just heard about linux, what should I do to get it?

ANSWER: First read all this FAQ, and the INFO-SHEET monthly post, then
go to the nearest ftp site (see below), download the Images there are
two a rootimage and a bootimage (in general in the images directory),
for the present version, you need boot-image096c and root-image096c 
(or later), then download the INSTALL and RELNOTES files.  Find
the rawrite utility (for example at tsx-11 it's in
/pub/linux/INSTALL), then rawrite the images on HIGH density floppies
(5.25 or 3.5), finally boot on the root diskette and that's it.  

BTW From another Unix system a "dd" works fine. On "my" sun I use the
following "uncompress -c root-image.Z > /dev/fd0", assuming I had a
formatted floppy in /dev/fd0
NOTICE also that on 0.95a tar and compress are broken, don't use them. 


After playing a while, you should want to install linux on HD (there
were scripts on the v0.95c+ images for that purpose, I guess they are
in 0.96 too), see also section III for INSTALLATION. Then you will need
a compiler (gcc) and utilities, all can be found at the different
places described in section II below.



QUESTION: Does it run on my computer?

ANSWER: Linux has been written on a clone-386, with IDE drives and a
VGA screen. It should work on most similar setups. The harddisk should
be AT-standard, and the system must be ISA.  A high density floppy
drive -- either 5".25 or 3".5

IDE and MFM seem to work with no problem. It works, also, for some
ESDI drive (Joincom controller with Magtron drive after you have
commented out the "unexpected hd interrupt"-message from hd.c). There
exists a high-level SCSI driver, under which low-level drivers are
placed; a ST-01/ST-02 low driver has been completed see the FEATURES
and the USEFUL ADDRESSES sections.

Otherwise the requirements seem relatively small: a 386 (SX, DX or any
486).  Any video card of the following: Hercules, CGA, EGA, (S)VGA.

It needs at least 2M to run, and 4M is definitely a plus. It can
happily use up to 16M (and more if you change some things). 

BTW On some high speed machine (486/33 DTK, 64KB cache, 4MB RAM), 
there might be some trouble with the HD driver ; on possible cure is
to switch off the "turbo" i.e. set the speed to 8MHz instead of 33MHz 

QUESTION: Why the suggested 4Meg, for Linux?

ANSWER: Linux uses the first 640k for kernel text, kernel data and
buffercache. Your mother board may eat up 384K because of the chipset.
Moreover there is: init/login, a shell, update possibly other daemons.
Then, while compiling there is make and gcc (1.40 ~530k; 2.01 ~770k).
So you don't have enough real memory and have to page.


QUESTION: How would this operate in an OS/2 environment?

ANSWER: Linux will coexist with *any* other operating system(s) which
respects the "standard" PC partionning scheme - this includes Dos,
Os/2, Minix etc.


QUESTION: Will linux run on a PC or 286-AT? If not, why?

ANSWER: Linux uses the 386 chip protected mode functions extensively,
and is a true 32-bit operating system. Thus x86 chips, x<3, will
simply not run it.


QUESTION: Will Linux run on a 386 Laptop?

ANSWER: It works for some at least.


QUESTION: How big is the 'complete' Linux package?

ANSWER: Well, the boot and root image diskettes are about 750Ko
compressed.  The kernel sources are about 200Ko compressed, and the
libc sources are another 170Ko compressed.  The GNU C (1.40) compiler 
is 670Ko, the GNU C (2.01) package which enclose C and C++ compiler is
about 3Mo; and the other miscellaneous unix utilities are probably a 
bit over a megabyte.

Now add sources to whatever you want to port and compile yourself.
The sources to GNU emacs are about 3 megabytes, compressed.  Groff (a
troff replacement) is just over 1 megabyte.

If you think this is big, remember that the OS/2 2.0 Limited
Availability release is 20 1.44 megabyte diskettes.


QUESTION: (Dan) How long has Linux been publicly available?

ANSWER (partial): Few months, v0.10 went out in Nov. 91, v0.11 in Dec.
and the current version 0.95c+ is available since April 9th. But even
it is pretty recent it is quite reliable. There are very few and small
bugs and in its current state it is mostly useful for people who are
willing to port code and write new code.
As Linux is very close to a reliable/stable system, Linus decides that
v0.13 will be known as v0.95
Believe it or not: the whole story started (nearly) with two processes
that printed AAAA... and BBBB...
BTW consult the digest#136 Vol2 for a complete story


QUESTION: What is the proper pronounciation for "Linux"?

ANSWER: (Linus himself)
'li' is pronounced with a short [ee] sound: compare prInt, mInImal etc. 
'nux' is also short, non-diphtong, like in pUt.  It's partly due to
minix: linux was just my working name for the thing, and as I wrote it
to replace minix on my system, the result is what it is...  linus' minix
became linux. 

I originally intended it to be called freax (although buggix was one
contender after I got fed up with some of the more persistent bugs :)
and I think the kernel makefiles up to version 0.11 had something to
that effect ("Makefile for the freax kernel" in a comment).  But arl
called the linux directory at nic.funet.fi pub/OS/Linux, and the name
stuck.  Maybe just as well: freax doesn't sound too good either (freax
is obviosly free + freak + the obligatory -x). 


QUESTION: What's about the copyright of linux.

ANSWER: This is an except of the RELEASE Notes v.095a: Linux is
NOT public domain software, but is copyrighted by Linus Torvalds. The
copyright conditions are the same as those imposed by the GNU
copyleft: get a copy of the GNU copyleft at any major ftp-site (if it
carries linux, it probably carries a lot of GNU software anyway, and
they all contain the copyright).


QUESTION: Should I be a UNIX and/or a DOS wizard to install/use Linux?

ANSWER: Not at all, just follow the install rules, of course it will be
easier for you if you know things about Unix. Right now Linux is used
by more than 400 persons, very few of them enhance the kernel, some
adds/ports new soft, most of us are only (but USEFUL) beta testers.
Last but not least, various Linuxers work on manpages, newuser_help,
file-system organization. So join us and choose your "caste"


QUESTION: What are the differences, pros and cons compared to Minix ?

ANSWER (partial): 
Cons: 
- Linux is not as mature as Minix, there is less working software right now.  
- Linux only works on 386 and 486 processors.  
- Linux needs 2M of memory just to run, 4M to be useful.  
- Linux is a more traditional unix kernel, it doesn't use message passing.

Pros: 
- Linux is free, and freely distributable, BUT copyrighted.  
- Linux has some advanced features such as:
  - Memory paging with copy-on-write
  - Demand loading of executables
  - Page sharing of executables
  - Multi-threaded file system
  - job control and virtual memory, virtual consoles and pseudo-ttys.
- Linux is a more traditional unix kernel, it doesn't use message
passing.


QUESTION: Does Linux use TSS segments to provide multitasking?

ANSWER: Yes!


QUESTION: If my PC runs under Linux, is it possible to ftp, rlogin,
rsh etc.. to other Unix boxes?

ANSWER: Not yet, but kermit has been ported to Linux, and the ka9q too.


QUESTION: Does linux do paging? Can I have virtual memory on my small
machine?

ANSWER: Yes, it does.


QUESTION: Can I have tasks spanning the full 4GB of addressable 386
memory? No more 64kB limits like in coherent or standard minix?

ANSWER: Linux does limit the task-size, but at a much more reasonable
64MB (MEGA-byte, not kilos), so bigger programs are no problem. This
restriction is due to the file-system, pretty soon there will be a
workable VFS (it's in test) and the limitation will disappear.


QUESTION: Does the bigger program sizes mean I can run X?

ANSWER: X is ported to linux, it's in beta and needs some special
hardware stuff. As I said in the 0. section, there is some
support in the Linux 0.96 (and after) release.


II. LINUX USEFUL ADDRESSES 
=========================

QUESTION: Where can I get linux?

ANSWER: Linux can be gotten by anonymous ftp from
1) Major Sites
EUROPE:
	nic.funet.fi (128.214.6.100):
		directory /pub/OS/Linux
	ftp.dfv.rwth-aachen.de (137.226.4.105):
		directory /pub/linux
US:	
	tsx-11.mit.edu (18.172.1.2):
		directory /pub/linux

2) Mirroring sites (some of them)
AUSTRALIA:
	kirk.bu.oz.au (131.244.1.1)
		directory /pub/OS/Linux
EUROPE:
        src.doc.ic.ac.uk (146.169.3.7):
		directory /pub/os/Linux
	ftp.mcc.ac.uk (130.88.200.7):
		directory pub/linux
	ftp.informatik.tu-muenchen.de (131.159.0.110):
		directory pub/Linux
US:
	ftp.eecs.umich.edu (141.212.99.7):
		directory linux
	banjo.concert.net (192.101.21.6):
		directory pub/Linux/mirrors
JAPAN:
	utsun.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp (133.11.11.11):
		directory misc/linux

You might want to check out which of these is the most up-to-date.
Moreover banjo.concert.net is mirroring hpb, nic and tsx.

If you don't have ftp-capability, you are in trouble. See next Q/A.  If
you have no uncompress utility, there are a lot even for DOS, have a
look on SIMTEL, or else use facilities provided by some sites to
uncompress for you. Don't do that if you can, because it's lengthy,
expensive and causes troubles to other users on ftp sites.


QUESTION: I do not have FTP access, what can I do to get linux?

ANSWER: Try to contact a friend on the net with those access, or try
mailserver/ftpmail server otherwise contact tytso@ATHENA.MIT.EDU. You
might try mailing "mailserver@nic.funet.fi" with "help" in the body of
the mail.  If you choose ftpmail server (example: ftpmail@decwrl.dec.com),
with "help" in the body, the server will send back instructions and
command list. As an exemple to get the list of files available at tsx-11
in /pub/linux send:

		mail ftpmail@decwrl.dec.com
		subject: anything
		reply <your e-mail>
		connect tsx-11.mit.edu
		chdir /pub/linux
		dir -R
		quit

In Europe ftp.informatik.tu-muenchen.de is accessible via e-mail (send
"help" in the body to ftp-mailer@informatik.tu-muenchen.de)


QUESTION: Is there a newsgroup or mailing-list about linux? Where can
I get my questions answered? How about bug-reports?

ANSWER: comp.os.linux is formed, and alt.os.linux is dying little by 
little, for those who can't access to the news you can ask for digest to:
Linux-Activists-request@NEWS-DIGESTS.MIT.EDU. On the other hand, mail
sent to Linux-Activists@NEWS-DIGESTS.MIT.EDU are posted to
comp.os.linux

DO NOT mail "I want to [un]subscribe" to the newsgroup, use
the request-address. IF not your mail-box will be over-crowded by
activists.

Questions and bug-reports can be sent either to the newsgroup or to
"torvalds@kruuna.helsinki.fi", depending on which you find more
appropriate. Moreover there is a BUGLIST file available in the
different main site (at least you can find it at tsx-11, in
pub/linux/patches/BUGLIST). 

People are working on the organization of Linux, this is done on
a separate mailing-list.

linux-standards: Discussion of distribution and directory standards
for the Linux operating system, including directory structure, file
location, and release disk format.

Requests to be added to this list must be sent to:
		linux-standards-request@banjo.concert.net

Others on the man pages and users guide.
		contact linux-man-request@stolaf.edu

And last but not least there is the original mailing-list, which is
now a multi-channel list. 
		contact linux-activists-request@niksula.hut.fi


QUESTION: Could you be more explicit about the multi-channel list?

ANSWER: Well, there are many things to say:
	- these channels are rather devoted to hackers
	- the one I am aware of are: GCC, MGR, X11, SCSI, NEW-CHANNELS,
	MSDOS (emulator discussion) , NORMAL, KERNEL, FTP ...
	- whenever you want to JOIN or LEAVE a channel you have to
	contact the request address
	- you have to use special header (Mn-Key and Mn-Admin); Mn-Key
	is *ONLY* for regular post, the Mn-Admin is for *REQUEST*

QUESTION: How can I join the channel XXX on the linux-activists
mailing list?

ANSWER: just send a mail to the request address with help in the body;
you will get back a mail which gives you the list of channels and the
way to join/leave them (or simply send a mail to the request address
with the following line: 
X-Mn-Admin: join XXX
)

QUESTION: How can I leave the channel XXX on the linux-activists
mailing list?

ANSWER: just send a mail to the request address with help in the body;
you will get back a mail which gives you the list of channels and the
way to join/leave them (or simply send a mail to the request address
with the following line: 
X-Mn-Admin: leave XXX
)

QUESTION: Does there exist a place where the traffic of the newsgroup
is kept?

ANSWER: Yes, on nic and tsx-11 (see the ftp addresses above), and since
12th March, a Gopher server is up at beryl.daimi.aau.dk
(130.225.16.86). The archives go back to Nov. 18. 91
Also recently a WAIS server for the linux mail archive has been setup
at fgb1.fgb.mw.tu-muenchen.de contact tw at that address.


----------------------------------------

//Jyrki
Newsgroups: alt.sexual.abuse.recovery