lsg01.htm

linux-unix130.linux.and.unix.ebooks130 linux and unix ebookslinuxLearning Linux - Collection of 12 E

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<P>USENET is a collection of discussion groups (called newsgroups) available to Internet users. The over 13,000 newsgroups generate over 100M of traffic every day. Of all these newsgroups (which cover every conceivable topic), several are dedicated to Linux. These newsgroups are a useful forum for information and answers to questions about Linux.



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<P>You can read USENET newsgroups through newsreader software that accesses either the Internet or a local site that offers USENET service (called a newsfeed). Many on-line services, such as CompuServe and Delphi, provide access to the newsgroups (sometimes at an additional cost), and some have their own forums for Linux users. BBSs dedicated to Linux in whole or in part are also appearing, and many excerpt the USENET conversations for the BBS users who do not have access to USENET.



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<P>USENET newsgroups are divided into three categories: primary newsgroups that are readily available to all users, local newsgroups with a limited distribution (usually based on geography), and alternate newsgroups that may not be handled by all news servers due to the relaxed rules of etiquette on them. The primary newsgroups of interest to Linux users when this book was written are the following:



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<LI>The <A HREF="news:comp.os.linux.admin">comp.os.linux.admin</A> newsgroup deals with administering Linux systems.



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<LI>Proponents of the Linux system sound off in <A HREF="news:comp.os.linux.advocacy">comp.os.linux.advocacy</A>.



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<LI>The  <A HREF="news:comp.os.linux.announce">comp.os.linux.announce</A> newsgroup contains announcements important to the Linux community. This is a moderated newsgroup, which means someone approves the postings before you get to see them.



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<LI>The  <A HREF="news:comp.os.linux.answers">comp.os.linux.answers</A> newsgroup contains questions and answers to problems about Linux.



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<LI>Ongoing work on Linux in general is discussed in  <A HREF="news:comp.os.linux.development">comp.os.linux.development</A>.



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<LI>Ongoing work on Linux applications is discussed in  <A HREF="news:comp.os.linux.development.apps">comp.os.linux.development.apps</A>.



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<LI>Ongoing work on the Linux operating system is discussed in  <A HREF="news:comp.os.linux.development.system">comp.os.linux.development.system</A>.



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<LI>The  <A HREF="news:comp.os.linux.hardware">comp.os.linux.hardware</A> newsgroup deals with issues concerning Linux and hardware support.



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<LI>The  <A HREF="news:comp.os.linux.help">comp.os.linux.help</A> newsgroup contains questions and advice about Linux.



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<LI>Linux-specific topics not covered by other groups are covered in  <A HREF="news:comp.os.linux.misc">comp.os.linux.misc</A>.



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<LI>Linux networking issues are discussed in  <A HREF="news:comp.os.linux.networking">comp.os.linux.networking</A>.



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<LI>The  <A HREF="news:comp.os.linux.setup">comp.os.linux.setup</A> deals with Linux setup and installation problems.



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<P>These primary newsgroups should be available at all USENET sites unless the system administrator filters them out for some reason. The other Linux newsgroups tend to change frequently, primarily because they are either regional or populated with highly opinionated users. The alt (alternate) newsgroups are the ones most likely to contain such users. One alt newsgroup in operation when this book was written is



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<FONT COLOR="#000080"><A HREF="news:alt.uu.comp.os.linux.questions">alt.uu.comp.os.linux.questions</A></FONT></PRE>



<P>To find the several different newsgroups about Linux, use your newsreader software to search for all newsgroups with the word <I>linux</I> in the title. If you have access to USENET, regularly scan the newsgroup additions and deletions to check for new Linux newsgroups or existing groups that have folded. Notices about newsgroup changes are usually posted to all existing groups, but every now and again one gets through without fanfare. On-line services that provide access to USENET usually maintain lists of all active newsgroups that can be searched quickly.



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<P>The traffic on most of these Linux newsgroups deal with problems and issues people have when installing, configuring, administering, or using the operating system. A lot of valuable information passes through the newsgroups quickly, so check them regularly. The most interesting messages that deal with a specific subject (called a thread) are often collected and stored as an archive for access through an FTP site.



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<FONT SIZE=4 COLOR="#FF0000"><B>World Wide Web Sites</B></FONT></CENTER></H4>



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<P>Not surprisingly, Linux has a good presence on the World Wide Web. Several sites that Linux information, and a few home pages are specifically dedicated to Linux business. One of the most popular Linux Web sites is accessible as <A TARGET="resource window" HREF="http://www.ssc.com/linux/linux.html">http://www.ssc.com/linux/linux.html</A>. This site has a wealth of information and hyperlinks to other Linux sources. Figure 1.1 shows the home page for this site. From the home page, you can select the type of information you want by clicking the appropriate icon.



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<P><B> <A HREF="01LSG01.gif">Figure 1.1.</B>



<BR><B>The Linux home page at <A TARGET="resource window" HREF="http://www.ssc.com/linux/linux.html"></B><B>www.ssc.com</A> offers access to many of the most-frequently requested </B><B>pieces of information about Linux.</A></B>



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<P>From the Linux home page at <A TARGET="resource window" HREF="http://www.ssc.com/linux/linux.html">www.ssc.com</A>, you can also link to other Linux sites, including those of commercial vendors of Linux products. Figure 1.2 shows the screen that appears when you click the Linux on the Web icon. These links are updated frequently, so they are a good place to start when navigating through the Web.



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<P><B> <A HREF="01LSG02.gif">Figure 1.2.</B>



<BR><B>The hyperlinks on the Linux home page at </B><B><A TARGET="resource window" HREF="http://www.ssc.com/linux/linux.html">www.ssc.com</A> point you to </B><B>the latest Linux information.</A></B>



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<P>One of the key utilities the <A TARGET="resource window" HREF="http://www.ssc.com/linux/linux.html">www.ssc.com</A> home page offers is access to the Linux Software Map (LSM), which is the most complete index to Linux software available. The Linux Software Map includes all the software packages that were developed specifically for Linux, as well as utilities and applications that have been ported to Linux. Figure 1.3 shows the LSM home page. The Linux Software Map window lets you search for keywords in on-line documents and indexes, and then displays the results to provide a fast, easy method of finding software and documents. Searching the LSM page first can save you hours of digging through FTP and BBS archives.



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<P><B> <A HREF="01LSG03.gif">Figure 1.3.</B>



<BR><B>The Linux Software Map provides an almost complete list of available </B><B>Linux software, applications, documents, and associated </B><B>information.</A></B>



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<P>This section previously mentioned the Linux Documentation Project. Figure 1.4 shows the home page for the Linux Documentation Project. When accessing information from this page, keep in mind that the Project is an ongoing task, so don't expect to find a lot of information in finished form.



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<P><B> <A HREF="01LSG04.gif">Figure 1.4.</B>



<BR><B>The Linux Documentation Project's home page provides access to new Linux </B><B>documentation.</A></B>



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<FONT SIZE=4 COLOR="#FF0000"><B>Linux Journal</B></FONT></CENTER></H4>



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<P>The <I>Linux Journal</I> is a commercial publication dedicated to Linux. It covers the entire gamut of Linux topics, ranging from material suitable for newcomers to the operating system to very complex programming information. Figure 1.5 shows the home page for the Linux Journal, which is accessible through <A TARGET="resource window" HREF="http://www.ssc.com/linux/linux.html">www.ssc.com</A>. The magazine is not on-line, but its Web page can give you a sample Table of Contents, issue information, and subscription details.



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<P><B> <A HREF="01LSG05.gif">Figure 1.5.</B>



<BR><B>The </B><B><I>Linux Journal</I></B><B> is a magazine for Linux users, developers, and all </B><B>other interested parties.</A></B>



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<NOTE>If you want more information about the Linux Journal, send e-mail to <A HREF="mailto:[e-mail]">[e-mail]</A>. Alternatively, you can write to the publisher at P.O. Box 85867, Seattle, WA 98145, or call the publisher at [phone]. Subscriptions are $22 per year in the U.S.</NOTE>



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<FONT SIZE=5 COLOR="#FF0000"><B>Recent Linux Distributions</B></FONT></CENTER></H3>



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<P>Several versions of Linux are available, depending on which CD-ROM or FTP site you visit. This book doesn't care which version you use, because it applies to practically every version written. As of this writing, the latest Linux kernel versions were 1.2.13 and 1.3.15. The CD-ROM included with this book provides Slackware release 2.3, which includes the kernel version 1.2.8 (the last really stable version the author tested). You can change kernel versions by obtaining the source code for a new release, compiling it, and replacing your existing kernel. This procedure is covered in more detail later in the book.



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<P>You may find several CD-ROM distributions available at your local reseller. InfoMagic's Slackware release, for example, comes on four CD-ROMs and bears the name Linux Developer's Resource. In addition to the complete Linux system, it includes source code, FTP archives, full documentation, several extension products, and demonstration software of commercial applications (including WordPerfect). Some of this material is included on the CD-ROM at the back of this book.



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<FONT SIZE=5 COLOR="#FF0000"><B>Summary</B></FONT></CENTER></H3>



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<P>Now that you understand what Linux is all about, you're ready to tackle the basics of Linux installation and the misunderstood LILO utility. The next three chapters complete the introductory material of this book. Then you'll be ready to dive into the true system administration material.



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