ch15.htm

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

dip/                    mtools/       unzip/

elm/                    net-tools/    util-linux-2.5/

emacs-19.31/            netpipes/     x3270/

faq/                    nfs-server/   xboard-3.2.pl2/

fdutils-4.3/            nn/           xfig/

file/                   p2c/          xfm-1.3/

flex/                   perl5.003/    xlock/

fvwm95-2/               pidentd/      xpaint/

g77/                    pine/         xpm-3.4c/

gawk/                   popclient/    xspread/

gdb/                    portmap/      xv/

getty_ps/               ppp/          yp-clients/

gnu-make/               procmail/     ypserv/

gnuchess-4.0/           rcs/          zip/

gpm/                    rdist/

ibcs2/                  sasteroids/

</FONT></PRE>

<P>Each subdirectory in the preceding list contains more specific information about

each tool. For example, if you want more specific information about archiving, look

in the <TT>/usr/doc/tar/</TT> directory for a <TT>README</TT> file for a listing

of the contents.

<H3 ALIGN="CENTER"><A NAME="Heading8<FONT COLOR="#000077">HOWTO Documents</FONT></H3>

<P>Let's face it. This one chapter (or book, for that matter) cannot possibly hope

to cover all the scenarios you will encounter as you work with Linux. The number

of combinations of hardware devices, software interfaces, and versions of Linux makes

it impossible to list them all here. That one specific CD-ROM or Ethernet card in

your PC might not be listed here in this book, but might very well be supported under

Linux. To get detailed information about specific topics, you have to read the <TT>HOWTO</TT>

files for that topic.</P>

<P>Basically, a <TT>HOWTO</TT> file is compiled by someone who has tracked problems

related to a specific issue. Topics include booting, printing, tape support, and

so on. Various <TT>HOWTO</TT> files are included with the CD-ROM (and installed to

the hard drive with most installations of Linux). If your mount point is <TT>/cdrom</TT>,

the <TT>HOWTO</TT> files are found in <TT>/cdrom/docs</TT>. The files are in text

format in that directory, so you can use any text editor to view them. A complete

listing of the <TT>/cdrom/docs/INDEX</TT> file is shown here to help you get an idea

of where to look for more information: <TT>Linux-HOWTOs.tar.gz</TT> Tar file of all

the <TT>HOWTO</TT>s in plain text</P>

<P><TT>README</TT> <TT>README</TT> file</P>

<P><TT>mini</TT> Directory containing informal mini-<TT>HOWTO</TT>s</P>

<P><TT>other-formats</TT> Directory containing other formats of the <TT>HOWTO</TT>s</P>

<P><TT>AX25-HOWTO</TT> How to configure AX25 networking for Linux</P>

<P><TT>Access-HOWTO</TT> How to use adaptive technology with Linux</P>

<P><TT>BootPrompt-HOWTO</TT> List of boot-time arguments and overview of booting

software</P>

<P><TT>Bootdisk-HOWTO</TT> How to create a boot/root maintenance disk for Linux</P>

<P><TT>Busmouse-HOWTO</TT> Information on bus mouse compatibility with Linux</P>

<P><TT>CDROM-HOWTO</TT> Information on CD-ROM drive compatibility with Linux</P>

<P><TT>Commercial-HOWTO</TT> Listing of commercial software products for Linux</P>

<P><TT>Cyrillic-HOWTO</TT> How to configure Linux for use with the Cyrillic character

set</P>

<P><TT>DNS-HOWTO</TT> How to set up DNS</P>

<P><TT>DOSEMU-HOWTO</TT> <TT>HOWTO</TT> about the Linux MS-DOS Emulator, DOSemu</P>

<P><TT>Danish-HOWTO</TT> How to configure Linux for use with the Danish character

set</P>

<P><TT>Distribution-HOWTO</TT> List of Linux distributions</P>

<P><TT>ELF-HOWTO</TT> How to install and migrate to the ELF binary file format</P>

<P><TT>Ethernet-HOWTO</TT> Information on Ethernet hardware compatibility with Linux</P>

<P><TT>Finnish-HOWTO</TT> How to configure Linux for use with the Finnish character

set</P>

<P><TT>Firewall-HOWTO</TT> How to set up a firewall using Linux</P>

<P><TT>Ftape-HOWTO</TT> Information on ftape drive compatibility with Linux</P>

<P><TT>GCC-HOWTO</TT> How to set up the GNU C compiler and development libraries</P>

<P><TT>German-HOWTO</TT> Information on using Linux with German-specific features</P>

<P><TT>HAM-HOWTO</TT> How to configure amateur radio software for Linux</P>

<P><TT>HOWTO-INDEX</TT> Index of <TT>HOWTO</TT> documents about Linux</P>

<P><TT>Hardware-HOWTO</TT> List of hardware known to work with Linux</P>

<P><TT>Hebrew-HOWTO</TT> How to configure Linux for use with the Hebrew character

set</P>

<P><TT>INFO-SHEET</TT> Generic introduction to the Linux operating system</P>

<P><TT>IPX-HOWTO</TT> How to install and configure IPX networking</P>

<P><TT>ISP-Hookup-HOWTO</TT> Basic introduction to hooking up to an ISP</P>

<P><TT>Installation-HOWTO</TT> How to obtain and install the Linux software</P>

<P><TT>Italian-HOWTO</TT> How to configure Linux for use with the Italian character

set</P>

<P><TT>JE-HOWTO</TT> Information on JE, a set of Japanese language extensions for

Linux</P>

<P><TT>Java-HOWTO</TT> How to get started with Java and HotJava</P>

<P><TT>Kernel-HOWTO</TT> Upgrading and compiling the Linux kernel</P>

<P><TT>Keyboard-HOWTO</TT> Information about the Linux keyboard, console, and non-ASCII

characters</P>

<P><TT>META-FAQ</TT> A listing of Linux sources of information</P>

<P><TT>MGR-HOWTO</TT> Information on the MGR graphics interface for Linux</P>

<P><TT>Mail-HOWTO</TT> Information on Linux-based mail servers and clients</P>

<P><TT>Module-HOWTO</TT> How to load modules and a listing of parameters</P>

<P><TT>NET-2-HOWTO</TT> How to configure TCP/IP networking, SLIP, PLIP, and PPP under

Linux</P>

<P><TT>NIS-HOWTO</TT> Information on using NIS/YP on Linux systems</P>

<P><TT>News-HOWTO</TT> Information on USENET news server and client software for

Linux</P>

<P><TT>PCI-HOWTO</TT> Information on PCI-architecture compatibility with Linux</P>

<P><TT>PCMCIA-HOWTO</TT> How to install and use PCMCIA Card Services</P>

<P><TT>PPP-HOWTO</TT> Information on using PPP networking with Linux</P>

<P><TT>Polish-HOWTO</TT> How to configure Linux for use with the Polish character

set</P>

<P><TT>Portuguese-HOWTO</TT> How to configure Linux for use with the Portuguese character

set</P>

<P><TT>Printing-HOWTO</TT> <TT>HOWTO</TT> on printing software for Linux</P>

<P><TT>Printing-Usage-HOWTO</TT> How to use the printing system for various file

types and options</P>

<P><TT>SCSI-HOWTO</TT> Information on SCSI driver compatibility with Linux</P>

<P><TT>SCSI-Programming-HOWTO</TT> Information on programming the generic Linux SCSI

interface</P>

<P><TT>Serial-HOWTO</TT> Information on use of serial devices and communications

software</P>

<P><TT>Shadow-Password-HOWTO</TT> How to obtain, install, and configure shadow passwords</P>

<P><TT>Sound-HOWTO</TT> Sound hardware and software for the Linux operating system</P>

<P><TT>Sound-Playing-HOWTO</TT> How to play various sound formats under Linux</P>

<P><TT>Term-HOWTO</TT> How to use the <TT>term</TT> communications package on Linux

systems</P>

<P><TT>Tips-HOWTO</TT> <TT>HOWTO</TT> on miscellaneous tips and tricks for Linux</P>

<P><TT>UMSDOS-HOWTO</TT> How to install and use the UMSDOS file system</P>

<P><TT>UPS-HOWTO</TT> Information on using a UPS power supply with Linux</P>

<P><TT>UUCP-HOWTO</TT> Information on UUCP software for Linux





<BLOCKQUOTE>

	<P><TT>XFree86-HOWTO</TT> How to obtain, install, and configure XFree86 3.1.1 (X11R6)



</BLOCKQUOTE>



<P>Look at the preceding list carefully. If you see the topic of your interest here,

you are in luck. The <TT>HOWTO</TT> file will be the best source for you to get more

specific information. If you want to confirm that you have the latest <TT>HOWTO</TT>

files, you can check the official repository of documents in the <TT>tsx-11.mit.edu</TT>

site in the <TT>/pub/linux/docs/HOWTO</TT> directory for any updates.

<H3 ALIGN="CENTER"><A NAME="Heading9<FONT COLOR="#000077">Usenet Newsgroups</FONT></H3>

<P>Usenet is a collection of discussion groups (called newsgroups) available to Internet

users. The more than 25,000 newsgroups generate over 1GB 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.</P>

<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

online 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.</P>

<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 might not be handled by all news

servers due to the relaxed rules of etiquette on them. These are the primary newsgroups

of interest to Linux users when this book was written:



<UL>

	<LI>Proponents of the Linux system sound off in <TT>comp.os.linux.advocacy</TT>.

	<P>

	<LI>The <TT>comp.os.linux.announce</TT> 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.

	<P>

	<LI>The <TT>comp.os.linux.answers</TT> newsgroup contains questions and answers to

	problems about Linux.

	<P>

	<LI>Ongoing work on Linux applications is discussed in <TT>comp.os.linux.development.apps</TT>.

	<P>

	<LI>Ongoing work on the Linux operating system is discussed in <TT>comp.os.linux.development.system</TT>.

	<P>

	<LI>The <TT>comp.os.linux.hardware</TT> newsgroup deals with issues concerning Linux

	and hardware support.

	<P>

	<LI>Linux-specific (not just UNIX-specific) topics not covered by other groups are

	covered in <TT>comp.os.linux.misc</TT>.

	<P>

	<LI>Linux-specific topics concerned primarily with X Window are covered in <TT>comp.os.linux.x</TT>.

	<P>

	<LI>Linux networking issues are discussed in <TT>comp.os.linux.networking</TT>.

	<P>

	<LI>The <TT>comp.os.linux.setup</TT> deals with Linux setup and installation problems.

</UL>



<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 <TT>alt.</TT> (alternate) newsgroups are the ones most likely

to contain such users. One <TT>alt.</TT> newsgroup in operation when this book was

written was the following one:<FONT COLOR="#0066FF"></FONT>

<PRE><FONT COLOR="#0066FF">alt.uu.comp.os.linux.questions

</FONT></PRE>

<P>To find several different newsgroups about Linux, use your newsreader software

to search for all newsgroups with the word Linux 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. Online services that provide access to Usenet usually maintain lists

of all active newsgroups that can be searched quickly.</P>

<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



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