From: Lars.Wirzenius@helsinki.fi (Lars Wirzenius)
Newsgroups: comp.os.linux
Subject: README: Where to find information about Linux (20 July 1992)
Date: 20 Jul 92 16:19:19 GMT
Followup-To: poster
Organization: University of Helsinki

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
    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
    Tupac-Amaru.Informatik.RWTH-Aaechen.DE  137.226.112.31 /pub/msdos/replace
    fgb1.fgb.mw.tu-muenchen.de              129.187.200.1  /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. 

    All filenames given in this article are relative to the directories
    given above.

Installation documents

    Ian Reid's INSTALL.doc (nic.funet.fi, in the images directory) and Chuck
    Boyer's "(DOS) Beginner's Guide to Linux v0.95a" are a bit outdated but
    still helpful installation instructions.  The FAQ (see below) also has
    something to say on this matter.

    The MCC release has its own set of installation instructions.

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 can also be FTP'd from at least tsx-11
    (docs/FAQ_xxxx, where xxxx is the date) and mirrors.

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 the 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.

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.
Newsgroups: comp.os.linux