From: Lars.Wirzenius@helsinki.fi (Lars Wirzenius)
Newsgroups: comp.os.linux
Subject: --> META-FAQ: Where to find information about Linux (08 Sep 1992) <--
Summary: Quick summary of where to find information about Linux
Date: 27 Sep 92 22:00:07 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'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 many.

Major FTP sites for Linux

        textual name                            numeric addr   Linux directory
        
        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-Aachen.DE   137.226.112.31 /pub/Linux
        sunsite.unc.edu                         152.2.22.81    /pub/Linux
        
        Filenames in this article are relative to the directories
        given above.
        
        tsx-11 and fgb1 are the official sites 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.

        Zane Healy posts (every now and then) a list of BBS's that
        have Linux available for download.  Try them if you can't FTP.
        You can also try various ftpmail-servers, for example by
        sending mail to ftpmail@decwrl.dec.com, with the word help in
        the subject.

"Releases" (or different versions) of Linux

        The official release (Linus' bootdisk and Jim Winstead's
        rootdisk) can be found on most ftp sites (at least tsx-11 and
        nic.funet.fi).  Unofficial releases include the MCC interim
        release, said to be easy to install, from ftp.mcc (and other
        sites), the SLS release, which should contain most of the
        important stuff (from tsx-11), Dave Safford's kit, based on MCC,
        but includes X, and Martin Junius' mj-release, similar to the
        official release with a lot of added programs (from ftp.dfv). 
        See also the FAQ for more information. 

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 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 many common problems.  It
        can be FTP'd from at least tsx-11 (docs/FAQ_xxx, where xxx is
        the date), and nic.funet.fi (doc/FAQ_xxx).  Also check the
        archives at pit-manager, send mail to
        mail-server@pit-manager.mit.edu with the word help in it.

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.
        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 is
        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.