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FAQ DRAFT v2




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Linux-IL FAQ

Marc A. Volovic (marc@{leonardo.ls,cs}.huji.ac.il
Computer Science Faculty
Hebrew University
Jerusalem, Israel

(c) May 1996
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This document is a list of frequently asked questions and the pertinent
answers pertaining to the Linux operating system, its use in Israel and
to the use of the Linux-IL mailing list.

This document may be retrieved from the Leonardo FTP site using anonymous
FTP and from other, as yet, unknown places.

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0) Administrativia

This section deals with the structure of this FAQ, the FTP sites where
it may be obtained, its scope and its application.


Q0.1) Where can one get this FAQ?

A0.1) This FAQ may be obtained from the Leonardo FTP site by anonymous
      FTP:

          leonardo.ls.huji.ac.il:/pub/Docs/FAQ/linux-il.faq

      Furthemore, this FAQ may be obtained from Marc Volovic's home page
      currently residing on:

          http://www.ls.huji.ac.il/~marc/linux/FAQ.html

      In addition, this FAQ shall be mailed to every new subscriber of 
      Linux-IL. Read this FAQ. This FAQ is your friend. This FAQ is your 
      ONLY friend on Linux-IL. This FAQ and only this FAQ is what stands 
      between you and Marc A. Volovic's ire.


Q0.2) What is the structure of this FAQ?

A0.2) This FAQ deals with any and all issues pertaining to the Linux
      operating system. The preliminary structure is:

          Section 0: Administrativia
          Section 1: General Information
          Section 2: Initial (Primary) Installation
          Section 3: Secondary Installations
          Section 4: Networking
          Section 5: X11

      This is not a preordained structure and, in this writer's opinion,
      the structure and organization of the FAQ will change significantly
      during the writing and updating of the document.


Q0.3) What is Linux-IL?

A0.3) Linux-IL is a loosely bound (some would say mostly unbound) group
      of people who share a common interest in the Linux operating system.
      This group endeavors to maintain a presence of the Linux operating
      system at various trade shows, to promote the use of the Linux
      operating system and to assist newcomers to Linux to find the two
      mostly underused appendages of their bodies - namely, their feet.

      In addition, Linux-IL is also the name of the mailing list used
      by the Linux-IL members.


Q0.4) How can I subscribe, unsubscribe and post to Linux-IL mailing list?

A0.4) To subscribe to the list send a mail message containing the 
      following line to majordomo@cs.huji.ac.il:

         subscribe linux-il

      To unsubscribe from the list, send a mail message containing the 
      following line to the very same address :

         unsubscribe linux-il

      To send a real message to the list members, send the message to 
      linux-il@cs.huji.ac.il and hope for the best.

      Note that sending a subscribe or unsubscribe requst to the general 
      list is cause for flogging. With a SCSI cable. A differential SCSI 
      cable.

      Posting a message with a question from this FAQ without first 
      reading the documentation pointed out herein and without first 
      taking all possible steps to overcome a problem by one's own little 
      droogless self is the cause celebre for Marc Volovic's anger and 
      outbursts.


Q0.5) Who are the movers and doers of Linux-IL?

A0.5) There are no preset responsibility areas in Linux-IL. Anyone capable
      of explaining, obtaining or attaining anything may and should
      contribute.

      The people who post answers on a more or less regular basis are:

          Erez Strauss - Commercial liaison, organizer of trade shows'
                         participation and generally a presentable
                         creature. (strauss@actcom.co.il)

          Ira Abramov - Commercial liaison, importer of CD sets for
                        the Linux-IL group, co-organizer of trade shows'
                        participation. Answers technical questions.
                        (ira@scso.com)

          Harvey Stein - The wisest voice in the wilderness, maintainer
                         of the UPS-HOWTO. Answers technical questions
                         nicely. Very nicely. (abel@netvision.net.il)

          Amos Shapira - A wise voice in the wilderness. Answers Un*x
                         questions nicely. (amoss@picton.bard.org.il)

          Shay Rojansky - A persistent participator in trade shows. The
                          group mascot. Answers some technical questions.
                          Linux maniac, walks around in a Linux T-shirt.
                          (roji@cs.huji.ac.il)

          Marc Volovic - The maintainer of this FAQ, a loudmouthed,
                         filthy-minded, pugnacious creature. The group
                         bugbear. Maintainer of the Leonardo FTP site.
                         Answers technical questions NOT NICELY AT ALL.
                         (marc@cs.huji.ac.il)

          Evgeny Stambulchik - The maintainer of the PLASMA-GATE WWW
                               site. Answers technical questions nicely.
                               (fnevgeny@plasma-gate.weizmann.ac.il)

          MANY OTHERS WHO WILL BE LISTED IN FUTURE VERSIONS OF THIS FAQ.


Q0.6) Where can one find information on Linux in Israel?

A0.6) Probably the best location are Evgeny's WWW site in the Weizmann
      Institute. The URL is:

          http://plasma-gate.weizmann.ac.il/Linux/

      This WWW site also contains links to other WWW and FTP sites.


Q0.7) Where can I obtain Linux in Israel?

A0.7) While it lasts, the Leonardo FTP site is the largest and the most
      current. This may change in the very near future, since its 
      maintainer (namely, me) has left his job at the Life Sciences
      Institute in the Hebrew University. However, this site currently
      contains two complete distributions (Slackware and Debian),
      significant portions of sunsite (kernel, system, devel, libs,
      utils) and NTeX. The URL is:

          ftp://leonardo.ls.huji.ac.il/pub/Linux

      Other sites with Linux on them are:

          ftp://cs.huji.ac.il/mirror/Linux (Slackware)
          ftp://ftp.tau.ac.il/pub/OS/Slackware (Slackware)
          ftp://ftp.tau.ac.il/pub/OS/linux (emulators, kernel, utils)
          ftp://ftp.technion.ac.il/pub/unsupported/Linux (not current)


Q0.99) Who are the contributors to this FAQ?

A0.99) Current contributors (in no particular order) are:

       Marc A. Volovic (marc@cs.huji.ac.il)
       Gili Granot (gil@csc.cs.technion.ac.il)
       Raphael Slepon (mrkgnao@actcom.co.il)


1) General Information

The general information section pertains to why Linux, where Linux, what 
Linux and other matters of the sort.


Q1.0) What is Linux?

A1.0) Linux is a version of Un*x. It runs on Intel machines, on PPC, on 
      m68k, on MIPS', on Sparcs and on AXP. If one does not know what 
      these acronyms mean, then one must be satisfied in the answer that 
      it is a version of Un*x for Intel machines.

      Linux is also a mistique and a modus vivendi - if one is moderately 
      patient, if one is willing to read documentation, reread it, peruse 
      it and glance at it again and again, then one will be accorded a 
      mostly reasonable response by other users of Linux.

      If, however, one is a lazy bum why wants a POINTA-CLICKA-NO-THINKA
      interface to one's computer, one shall be told off, shown the 
      egress, kicked in the goolies and otherwise molested.


Q1.1) Why should one install Linux?

A1.1) If this question is asked, then the probable answer is that one 
      does most certainly NOT need install Linux. One should install 
      Linux if one wants to learn about Un*x without undue escape or if 
      one needs a powerful operating system for his computer at home.


Q1.2) Will Linux run Microsoft PowerPoint (Excell, Word 7.0, whatever)?

A1.2) The simple answer is _NO_. Therefore, do not look at Linux as a 
      Windows (whatever flavour) replacement - it is not.

      The complex answer is _MAYBE_. RTF{M,LDP,H,F} (Manual, Linux 
      Documentation Project, HOWTO's, FAQ's). You are interested in Wine, 
      a Windows emulator. It is not a complete package and may, in fact, 
      eat you machine. But it runs minelayer and solitaire.


Q1.3) Will Linux run Microsoft Flight Simulator 5 (Warcraft II, Heretic)?

Q1.3) The simple answer is _NO_. RTFM.


Q1.4) So, what should one want with Linux?

Q1.4) See question 1.1.


Q1.5) What should be done first and foremost?

A1.5) (Raphael Slepon answers):

      1. One should read chapters 1 and 2 of "Linux Installation and 
         Getting Started" by Matt Welsh.

      2. One should read "Linux Installation HOWTO."

      3. One should go through "Linux Hardware Compatibility HOWTO" and 
         check whether one's hardware is supported. Most of it probably 
         is, but better safe than sorry!

      4. One should then:

           i. Take a deep breath.
          ii. Clear the weekend.
         iii. Be alone, composed and relaxed (This is _NOT_ abnou 
              masturbation, I promise).
          iv. Get a few pens, a pad of paper, coffee, a comfy chair, all 
              the books and documents about Linux one has and that very
              nice teddy one used to have as child.

      5. JUUUUUUUUUUUMP!


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---MAV               (finger for PGP signature block)
Marc A. Volovic (marc@cs.huji.ac.il)
                 Linguists do it cunningly


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