From root@localhost Thu Sep 15 02:23:40 1997 Return-Path: root Received: (from root@localhost) by localhost (8.6.9/8.6.9) id CAA05783 for root; Thu, 15 Sep 1997 02:23:39 -0500 Date: Thu, 15 Sep 1997 02:23:39 -0500 From: root Message-Id: <199409150723.CAA05783@localhost> To: root Subject: Register with the Linux counter project (Adapted from a question in the Linux-FAQ) 7.19 How many people use Linux? Linux is freely available, and no one is required to register their copies with any central authority, so it is difficult to know. Several businesses are now surviving solely on selling and supporting Linux, and very few Linux users use those businesses, relatively speaking. The Linux newsgroups are some of the most heavily read on the Net, so the number is likely in the hundreds of thousands, but firm numbers are hard to come by. However, one brave soul, Harald T. Alvestrand , has decided to try, and asks that if you use Linux, you visit this Web site to register: http://counter.li.org There is also a "linux-counter-interest" mailing list. Send mail to linux-counter-interest-request@alvestrand.no with "subscribe" in the BODY of the message to subscribe. From volkerdi@mhd1.moorhead.msus.edu Tue Jun 20 18:19:46 2000 Return-Path: volkerdi Received: (from volkerdi@localhost) by darkstar.slackware.com (8.8.8/8.8.8) id OAA03071; Tue, 20 Jun 2000 18:19:46 -0500 Date: Tue, 20 Jun 2000 18:19:46 -0500 (CDT) From: "Patrick J. Volkerding" To: root Subject: Welcome to Linux (Slackware 7.1)! Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Welcome! Glad to see you've made it this far! :^) Here are a few hints to help you navigate through the Linux operating system a little bit better: -- Remember those screens you saw while each package was installing? You can see all the information (and more) again. The simplest way is to use the 'pkgtool' utility to view the package contents. Another way is to use 'less' or a text editor to read the files in /var/log/packages and /var/log/scripts (this is the method I use). -- You may need to make some changes to the /etc/rc.d/rc.serial script if you're using serial ports other than /dev/ttyS0 or /dev/ttyS1 (com1: and com2: under DOS), or if these ports use non-standard IRQs. I suggest using the section about halfway through that lets you set up the ports manually. Here's an example of how I set up the ports on my machine for /dev/ttyS0 and /dev/ttyS2: # These are the standard COM1 through COM4 devices # ${SETSERIAL} /dev/ttyS0 uart 16450 port 0x3F8 irq 4 # ${SETSERIAL} /dev/ttyS1 uart 16450 port 0x2F8 irq 3 ${SETSERIAL} /dev/ttyS2 uart 16450 port 0x3E8 irq 5 # ${SETSERIAL} /dev/ttyS3 uart 16450 port 0x2E8 irq 3 You'll also need to uncomment the line in /etc/rc.d/rc.S that starts the rc.serial script. -- If you've got hardware such as a CD-ROM drive or ethernet that doesn't seem to work with Linux, it's possible that the kernel you're using doesn't contain the needed support. In that case, you can do one of two things: 1. Recompile your kernel, including the needed driver(s). 2. Load the support with kernel modules. This is probably the simplest way to handle the situation. Just edit /etc/rc.d/rc.modules so that it loads the modules you need. -- If you're on a standalone LAN without a nameserver, make sure you don't have a nameserver line in /etc/resolv.conf, or you may experience delays with many network commands as they attempt to query the bogus nameserver. -- Want to run NFS? You'll to run the folllowing daemons in /etc/rc.d/rc.inet2: rpc.portmap, rpc.mountd, and rpc.nfsd. Then, edit your /etc/exports to allow NFS access. (see 'man exports' for examples) -- A lot of people ask me how to set up their printer under Linux. In my opinion, the best method is to set up APSfilter, a system that allows you to print many file formats (DVI, PS, text) by just sending them to the print spooler with lpr. To set this up, do the following steps: 1. Make sure you're loading the parallel driver in /etc/rc.d/rc.modules. This should be done by default. 2. Install the LPD printer software. This is package lpr.tgz on the A series. Odds are it's already been installed. 3. You'll probably want to have the TCP/IP subsystem installed and configured (at least for loopback). The tcpip1.tgz package is part of the N series, and the "netconfig" script is used to do a basic TCP/IP configuration. 4. APSfilter uses a variety of other filters that it expects to find installed. You'll want to install the ghostscr.tgz and gsfonts.tgz packages on the AP series to add Ghostscript if you want the ability to print PostScript documents. You'll also need the jpeg6.tgz package from the AP series for JPEG image support. If you want to print DVI files, install at least the default TeX packages from the T series. 5. Install the apsfilter package. This package is part of the AP series, so if you've done a full installation then it's already installed. Otherwise, find the package in the ap1 directory and install it: installpkg apsfilt.tgz 6. Change into the /usr/lib/apsfilter/ directory, and run the SETUP program: ./SETUP It'll write your /etc/printcap, and you'll be all set to start printing. Once you've got it working, you can also use netatalk and Samba to provide print services to Macs and Windows machines on the local network with your Linux box. -- If you have a busmouse, you'll need to load a mouse driver module before your mouse will work. These days, most mice are serial (with a 9 pin trapazoidal plug) or PS/2 (with a 6 pin round plug), and don't need a module, but if you think your mouse might need a special driver, read the comments in /etc/rc.d/rc.modules to see which one is needed, and edit the file to load it at boot time. Or, compile a new kernel with built in support for your mouse and install that. -- To get your machine on the net with a modem and PPP, you need to install the tcpip.tgz and ppp.tgz packages. Your machine should be configured at least with loopback using the "netconfig" utility. Also, be sure the serial port your modem uses is correctly configured. If in doubt, take a look through /etc/rc.d/rc.serial. Then, use "pppsetup" to configure the dialup process. (Additional documentation on pppsetup can be found in /usr/doc/pppsetup) Note that demand dialing does not work unless you're using pppd-2.3 or newer, and have the ppp-2.3.x driver in your kernel. -- If you installed the F series, there will be lots of FAQs (lists of Frequently Asked Questions with answers) /usr/doc/faq/, and HOWTOs (files explaining how to do a particular Linux task), in /usr/doc/Linux-HOWTOs/ and /usr/doc/Linux-mini-HOWTOs/. These should be helpful in getting you going with Linux. They cover most system admin tasks in a lot more detail than this little email does. :^) Have fun! --- Patrick Volkerding volkerdi@slackware.com