From: Lars.Wirzenius@helsinki.fi (Lars Wirzenius)
Newsgroups: comp.os.linux
Subject: README: Where to find information about Linux (25 July 1992)
Summary: Quick summary of where to find information about Linux
Date: 26 Jul 92 21:00:05 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, 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.
Newsgroups: comp.os.linux