Linux-Misc Digest #469, Volume #19 Mon, 15 Mar 99 18:13:09 EST
Contents:
Re: pdfTeX example.tex won't (MicroPress, Inc.)
Re: setting linux up to use different IRQ for my modem? (Duane Elmer Smeckert)
Re: Migrating RH Linux 5.2 to new hard drive (Brett W. McCoy)
Re: CDROM that requires Win98? (Walter Strong)
Re: Help: No man pages in Debian 2.1? (John Hasler)
Re: Large (1MB) writes ("Norm Dresner")
Re: Help me, Linux is dying on me!! (Radovan Garabik)
Re: Soundblaser hisses under Linux (Patrik Magnusson)
Linux Serial Comm Prob (Eric Minor)
Re: problem telneting to 'localhost'/127.0.0.1 ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
Leafnode: Posted article never showed up on remote server ?? (Abhi Barthakur)
Re: Are screen savers necessary? (Jeff Shern)
Re: Printer recommendations, please (Jeff Shern)
Re: Instant Messenger Client Needed (Jeff Shern)
Re: CD autorun (Jeff Shern)
Re: MAKE command (Jeff Shern)
Re: Learn the truth - In Dear Recruiter we establish exactly what a recruiter does.
(John Hasler)
Re: New User (William Wueppelmann)
Is trn the best (Wlmet)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (MicroPress, Inc.)
Crossposted-To: comp.text.tex
Subject: Re: pdfTeX example.tex won't
Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 21:29:55 GMT
You may want to give a try to VTeX/linux instead:
Free download from
www.micropress-inc.com/linux
or www.ntg.nl/vtex
On Mon, 15 Mar 1999 20:37:28 GMT, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>I might have an application for pdfTeX, so I thought I'd give a try. pdfTeX's
>author suggests processing example.tex, and studying how it does what it does.
>So that's what I tried.
>
>I have RedHat Linux 5.2, which comes with something called pdfTeX, but
>without example.tex. I found example.tex on an ftp site, but it very quickly
>caused an error in pdftex and quit. So I found a newer version of pdftex in
>RPM format (apologies to the non-linux lurkers), downloaded that and
>installed it. (BTW, I had to upgrade my tetex to do this... some dependency
>was missing.)
>
>Anyway, now I have what I hope is a consistent set of pdftex and example.tex
>(they both came from the same RPM package).
>
>But no dice.
>
>It fails with "l.156 can't use 'file' and 'num' at the same time in goto
>action" or somesuch. Well, I can find a "goto action" but any mention of
>"file" after that is commented out. If I comment out the "num 1" we get past
>that, but it fails at a color-changing directive.
>
>Any help? It's hard to debug your learning tool :)
>
>I can't find any version numbers on any of the pdftex stuff except the RPM
>which I think is 0.9-14.
>
>-----------== Posted via Deja News, The Discussion Network ==----------
>http://www.dejanews.com/ Search, Read, Discuss, or Start Your Own
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 09:55:54 -0800
From: Duane Elmer Smeckert <"elmer at"@ ptw dot. com>
Crossposted-To: comp.os.linux.setup,comp.os.linux.hardware
Subject: Re: setting linux up to use different IRQ for my modem?
But in a nutshell, assuming that your modem is on
IRQ5 (don't try IRQ2) you can change the
IRQ using 'setserial' (Read the fantasic man page)
After you get it figured out the correct command line
and are sure you are running under minicom,
you can add the change to the rc.serial init script.
Andrew Comech wrote:
> Hi, I hope you could get the answers from
> http://www.math.sunysb.edu/~comech/tools/StonyBrookPPP.html#jumpstart
>
> Best,
> Andrew
------------------------------
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Brett W. McCoy)
Crossposted-To:
alt.linux,alt.os.linux,comp.os.linux,comp.os.linux.admin,comp.os.linux.hardware,comp.os.linux.questions,linux.redhat.misc
Subject: Re: Migrating RH Linux 5.2 to new hard drive
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 21:44:36 GMT
On Mon, 15 Mar 1999 15:04:28 -0500, Greg Waugh <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>Hey fellow Linux users! I'm going to be moving my current RedHat 5.2 Linux
>server to a new hard drive. Everything in the system is going to be the
>same, just a new /sda drive. I'm just curious if anyone has a procedure to
>do this of if it is documented anywhere. I thought I would do a cp -a * (or
>a few with correct tmp mount points), then boot from a floppy with the new
>HD as root and run LILO, but I'm fuzzy on how to set up the /proc and /dev
>filesystem.... and if there are going to be any issues with the swap
>space... Thanks everyone! Any help would be very appreciated!
The /proc filesystem is a virtual filesystem and is created dynamically by
the loaded kernel. /dev is a different story. You may be better off
backing up your important stuff (i.e., /home & /usr directories),
reinstalling directly onto the new hard drive, and then restoring your
backed up stuff.
But is there any reason you can't keep your boot partition on the current
drive and just create new (and bigger) partitions on the new one?
--
Brett W. McCoy
http://www.lan2wan.com/~bmccoy/
=======================================================================
A long-forgotten loved one will appear soon.
Buy the negatives at any price.
=====BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK=====
Version: 3.12
GAT dpu s:-- a C++++ UL++++$ P+ L+++ E W++ N+ o K- w--- O@ M@ !V PS+++
PE Y+ PGP- t++ 5- X+ R+@ tv b+++ DI+++ D+ G++ e>++ h+(---) r++ y++++
======END GEEK CODE BLOCK======
------------------------------
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Walter Strong)
Subject: Re: CDROM that requires Win98?
Date: 15 Mar 1999 20:13:46 GMT
--* ASHISH PANDEY *-- ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) wrote:
: [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
: : I am configuring a Dell Dimension on their web site
: : (higher education section) and noticed the warning
: : that says "40X CDROM requires Windows 98".
: : I plan to install Linux on this system. Does
: : anyone know if this CDROM drive is compatible?
: : What kind of a CDROM drive is it that depends on
: : a particular OS?
: #####################
: Well...... I don't think so. My 40X drive (Creative Infra 6000)
: works absolutely fine. How the hell is it supposed to make a difference?
: AP
so does my 40x CyberDrive.
------------------------------
From: John Hasler <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: Help: No man pages in Debian 2.1?
Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 13:58:16 GMT
Bill writes:
> I'm mystified and stumped, wondering maybe if they changed it in this new
> distribution or hid it or what?
You have installed only the base system, which contains just enough stuff
to install the rest. The install program will have dropped you directly
into dselect: you must have quit dselect without installing anything. Run
dselect, choose your access method, and then go directly to 'Install' and
dselect will install all the standard packages.
--
John Hasler This posting is in the public domain.
[EMAIL PROTECTED] Do with it what you will.
Dancing Horse Hill Make money from it if you can; I don't mind.
Elmwood, Wisconsin Do not send email advertisements to this address.
------------------------------
From: "Norm Dresner" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Crossposted-To: comp.os.linux.hardware
Subject: Re: Large (1MB) writes
Date: 15 Mar 1999 18:01:22 GMT
Michael Nolan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in article
<7cjeo2$6eo$[EMAIL PROTECTED]>...
> Are there any drivers to do large (1MB) tape read and write? The limit
> in 2.0.xx was ~64k, but if we can't do at least 1MB, we're stuck with
> Solaris.
>
Why not modify the original or write your own; that is, after all, one of
the most important things about Open Source, n'est pas?
Norm
------------------------------
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Radovan Garabik)
Subject: Re: Help me, Linux is dying on me!!
Date: 15 Mar 1999 20:42:56 GMT
Karl Bengtsson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
: I'm having a lot of trouble with Linux (again...)
:
: The problem: last night I changed the filesystem on my Windows D: partition
: from FAT32 to FAT16 (using Partition It from Quarterdeck). The reason is
: that I want to access my personal files, like documents and mp3s that are
: stored on this partition, using Linux. It's about 600 megs. The C:
why? linux can read fat32 fine.
moreover, it is dangerous - are you able to read the data from that
partition anymore without reformatting? (I doubt that)
: partition that Windows is installed on is still FAT32, mainly because I
: have no info on this partition that I need to access from Linux, it's all
: just programs.
:
: Now when I start Linux it wont mount the file system. I get this message:
:
: Partition Check:
: hda: hda1 hda2 hda3 hda4 <hda5>
: <technical specs for my FAT16 partition>
: kernel panic: vfs: unable to mount root fs on 03:03
:
: Before I changed the filesystem, it would report a linux partition on hda3
: and boot from it. I've tried to use the bootdisk used to install Redhat,
: and at the boot: prompt I typed:
: "vmlinuz root:/dev/hda3"
root=/dev/hda3 (I do not know about redhat disks, so I may be off here)
try other hda's
: but it doesn't work
:
: I also think it's kinda odd that it reports five partitions , as I only
: have 4:
: Windows C: (FAT32)
hda1
: Windows D: (FAT16/VFAT)
hda2
: Linux Native
hda3
: Linux Swap
hda5
hda4 is extended partition
(probably)
what does fdisk (run from boot disk) report? which partition is linux
native?
probably the partitions are just shifted, and it is easy to restore access
to them
Or they are completely meesed up, and then...
:
: Could someone PLEASE help me with this... what do I do? If I absolutely
: have to, I could change the fs on D: back to FAT32, but I'd prefer not to.
try to change it back and see if linux boots. there is no need to
have it as fat16
: Thanks in advance,
:
: Karl
--
-----------------------------------------------------------
| Radovan Garabik http://melkor.dnp.fmph.uniba.sk/~garabik |
| __..--^^^--..__ garabik @ fmph . uniba . sk |
-----------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Patrik Magnusson)
Crossposted-To: comp.os.linux.hardware,linux.debian.user
Subject: Re: Soundblaser hisses under Linux
Date: 15 Mar 1999 21:44:41 GMT
In article <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] (Hans Wolters) writes:
|> On Mon, 15 Mar 1999 19:57:59 GMT, A.G. <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
|> >Hi all:
|>
|>
|> >alias sound sb
|> >parameters sb io=0x220 irq=7 dma=1 dma16=5 mpu_io=0x330
|> >
|> >When I do modprobe sb, the modules load w/o any errors, and I hear quite
|> >annoying hiss comming from the speakers.
|> >
|> >The card doesn't produce *any* hissing under NT.
|> >
|> >Any ideas? My distro is Debian 2.1 for what that matters...
Here's an idea: when the mixer is initialised it turns on the
'line in' or mic. That would certainly produce a hiss.
If this is the case, just use xmixer or something similar to turn
it off.
/Patrik.
|> Don't know if Debian has sndconfig but you might give it a try. It all
|> depends on what kind of card it is (Vibra, Soundpro-chip?). If it is a card
|> with the Soundpro chip you can look at the CMI HOWTO in my signature.
|>
|> Are you using isapnptools?
|>
|> Regards Hans
|>
|> --
|> Java Search Engine Front End
|> http://home.gelrevision.nl/~h.wolter/
|> Linux Links/CMI8330 Soundpro HOWTO
|> http://home.gelrevision.nl/~h.wolter/linux.htm
------------------------------
From: Eric Minor <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Crossposted-To: comp.os.linux.development.apps,comp.os.linux.networking
Subject: Linux Serial Comm Prob
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 1999 10:01:17 -0800
I am using Linux to do some serial IO on COM1
and am running into a bit of trouble. I have the
port configured in loopback mode as follows:
pin2 -> pin3 (TD to RD)
pin4 -> pin5 (RTS to CTS)
pin6 -> pin8 -> pin20 (DSR to DCD to DTR)
I use a very basic piece of code to write out one
byte and then read it in, as follows:
/* Open COM1, configure it, write 1 byte, read 1 byte */
int iComFd = open("/dev/ttyS0", O_RDWR | O_NOCTTY);
termios oTs;
tcgetattr(iComFd, &oTs);
oTs.c_iflag = 0;
oTs.c_oflag = 0;
oTs.c_cflag = B9600 | CS8 | PARENB | PARODD | CREAD;
// have also tried using CLOCAL and HUPCL to no avail
oTs.c_lflag = 0;
oTs.c_cc[VMIN] = 0;
oTs.c_cc[VTIME] = 10;
tcsetattr(iComFd, TCSANOW, &oTs);
unsigned char szMsg[1] = "";
szMsg[0] = 0xFF; // Just a random byte
int iBytesSent = write(iComFd, szMsg, 1);
sleep(1);
unsigned char szBlah[1] = "";
int iBytesRead = read(iComFd, szBlah, iBytesSent);
close(iComFd);
/* end of code */
This setup works just fine, with one exception. It
will not work immediately after I reboot the box. I
have to unplug my loopback connector, then plug it
back in, in order to be able to read data off the
port. After I do that I can run the program over and
over and it will behave as expected. I confirmed with
an oscilloscope that the write call is working and is
sending out a byte, and hence that byte is arriving on
pin #3. So it is the read that is unable to
recognize the arriving data (in the real program I
first use 'ioctl' to see if any data is ready).
In the production program, it will of course not be
practical to have the user constantly unplugging the
device attached to the COM port. I was also able to
determine that it is pin #8, data carrier detect, which
is the key pin that is needing to be disconnected. All
the others can stay connected and it will work just fine.
Any ideas what is causing this problem? Is there some
function I can call to 'reset' the serial port. Can I
manually take control of the individual pins and cycle
pin #8. Thanks.
-Eric
------------------------------
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: problem telneting to 'localhost'/127.0.0.1
Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 18:03:01 GMT
In article <7ciefg$[EMAIL PROTECTED]>,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> [emailed and posted]
>
> Do you have any idea how difficult it is to read something formatted
> like that???
>
sorry about the formating but it had something to do with where i typed the
message and then pasted and copied.
here is a cleaner version of the same.
hi,
i am having trouble getting the loopback network connectionworking.
doing 'ifconfig' gives the following
-=
*lo Link encap:Local Loopback inet
addr:127.0.0.1 Bcast:127.255.255.255 Mask:255.0.0.0 UP BROADCAST
LOOPBACK
RUNNING MTU:3584 Metric:1 RX packets:64 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0
frame:0 TX packets:64 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
collisions:0
-=*
i belive that it means that the loopback connection (lo) is up and
running, but when i do 'telnet 127.0.0.1' it gives
-=*
Trying 127.0.0.1...
Connected to 127.0.0.1.Escape character is '^]'. Connection closed by foreign
host.
-=*
and also doing 'ping localhost' gives me
-=*
PING localhost
(127.0.0.1): 56 data bytes 64 bytes from 127.0.0.1: icmp_seq=0 ttl=64
time=0.2 ms 64 bytes from 127.0.0.1: icmp_seq=1 ttl=64 time=0.1 ms 64 bytes
from 127.0.0.1: icmp_seq=2 ttl=64 time=0.1 ms --- localhost ping statistics
--- 3 packets transmitted, 3 packets received, 0% packet loss round-trip
min/avg/max = 0.1/0.1/0.2 ms
-=*
the main problem is that i cant telnet to
locahost. any tips or pointers to debugging this problem ?am i overlooking
anything? which log file can i look at to figure this out ?
--V0D--
============= Posted via Deja News, The Discussion Network ============
http://www.dejanews.com/ Search, Read, Discuss, or Start Your Own
------------------------------
From: Abhi Barthakur <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Crossposted-To:
linux.redhat.devel,linux.redhat.install,linx.redhat.misc,linux.debian.users,linux.debian.bugs.dist,comp.os.linux.help,comp.os.linux.questions,news.groups.os.linux.misc
Subject: Leafnode: Posted article never showed up on remote server ??
Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 16:47:42 -0500
Hello :
I ahve the following problem, do know a solution ?
I used leafnode for posting to a newsgroup which is available
at my ISP's newsserver.
When I run fetchnews it says it has posted the news
but those news article sits as it is in the /var/spool/news/out.going
directory, ant these article NEVER shows up in the remote server ....
Could you please shed some light in to this?
I would love to see some faq how to actually fix posting problem !!
thanks
-Abhi
---transcripts -----
[root@Monavi sbin]# fetchnews -v -v -v -v
2.5: verbosity level is 4
Don't fetch threads that nobody has read after 7 days
Don't fetch threads that have been read once after 2 days
Connecting to news.vpinet.net ... connected.
Posting /var/spool/news/out.going/810-920600781-1...
Posting /var/spool/news/out.going/759-920642186-1...
Posting /var/spool/news/out.going/1406-920820496-1...
Posting /var/spool/news/out.going/810-921000992-1...
Posting /var/spool/news/out.going/837-921001171-1...
Posting /var/spool/news/out.going/1209-921532972-1...
Reading list of active newsgroups
Reading newsgroup descriptions
ignore a description since it is wrong:
comp.os.ms-windows.programmer.nt.kernel-mode: ?
ignore a description since there is no group: comp.sources.3b1: Source
code-only postings for the AT&T 3b1. (Moderated)
ignore a description since there is no group: misc.invest.funds: Sharing
info about bond, stock, real estate funds
ignore a description since there is no group: misc.invest.markteplace:
All other ads/promotions
ignore a description since there is no group:
news.admin.net-abuse.announce: Information regarding network resource
abuse. (Moderated)
ignore a description since there is no group: rec.games.computer.sars:
The strategy game "Stars!".
ignore a description since there is no group: rec.photo: Hobbyists
interested in photography.
ignore a description since there is no group: soc.religion.pagan:
Networking for Pagans. (Moderated)
GROUP alt.culture.assam (1 up in the air)
GROUP nj.forsale (2 up in the air)
GROUP soc.culture.indian.assam (3 up in the air)
[root@Monavi leafnode+-2.5]# cd /var/spool/news/out.going/
[root@Monavi out.going]# ls
1209-921532972-1 759-920642186-1 810-921000992-1
1406-920820496-1 810-920600781-1 837-921001171-1
--
Abhi Barthakur | QA Engineer; Builder Group
Mentor Graphics Corporation |
15 Independence Boulevard | (908) 604-0967
Warren, NJ 07059 | (908) 604-0901 FAX
------------------------------
From: Jeff Shern <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: Are screen savers necessary?
Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 10:34:23 -0700
So not only would I be trying to break RC5 encryption schemes, I'd be searching
for intelligent life... Imagine when I meet the aliens, I could tell them all
about RC5 64 bit encryption schemes.
Just a thought...
Carl Fink wrote:
> On 14 Mar 1999 17:29:51 -0500 Marc D. Bumble <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> >Are screen savers purely entertainment these days? Im so disheartened
> >just thinking about it. Has my lovely screen saver been reduced to
> >nothing more than a frivilous computer chachka?
>
> You could run the seti@home screensaver -- it has the practical
> purpose of searching radio signals from the Arecibo telescope for
> signs of extraterrestrial intelligence.
>
> See http://www.setiathome.ssl.berkeley.edu to register.
>
> Okay, maybe not "practical", but . . . .
> --
> Carl Fink [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Science and Technology Programming, I-Con 18
> Stony Brook, New York, April 9-11, 1999 www.iconsf.org
--
Please Make Sure You Are Sending Mail To [EMAIL PROTECTED] to ensure the
fastest reply to your e-mail messages.
------------------------------
From: Jeff Shern <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: Printer recommendations, please
Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 10:36:00 -0700
Jerry Lapham wrote:
> In <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, on 03/13/99
> at 08:47 PM, Ed Finch <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> said:
>
> > So, I'm in the market for a printer that works with Linux. My need is
> > mostly fast black and white (for printing source code). Color would be
> > a nice bonus. I went to Staples tonight and liked the HP 722 color
> > deskjet. Whaddyathink?
>
> If you can do without the color, I'd suggest the Lexmark Optra E+ laser
> printer. I got mine for $325 from www. mcglen.com several months ago.
>
> -Jerry
Just a note from experience, don't get the Lexmark 5700 or 7000, they're very
windows proprietary.
------------------------------
From: Jeff Shern <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: Instant Messenger Client Needed
Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 10:58:54 -0700
If you want an ICQ clone, there are a few... Mirabillis (http://www.icq.com)
makes a java icq client that works pretty well under linux, although I had the
problem that it mysteriously kept quitting, no warning...
and there are a couple more, LICQ is a popular one, although, like regular ICQ
it occasionally gets disconnected, but unlike regular ICQ it doesn't reconnect,
but if you keep an eye on it, it works fine.
there are probabably a couple more... check http://www.linuxberg.com.
They also have some other clones there, good place to put a bookmark on.
Joseph Dunn wrote:
> I need to find out if there's any instant messenger client (like ICQ)
> available for linux. I can't use X-Windows stuff, so if anyone knows of
> any text based client, I'd be glad. You can email me at [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> -Joseph Dunn
> ------------------------------------------------
> Whoever said words can't hurt me obviously never
> got hit in the head with a dictionary.
--
Please Make Sure You Are Sending Mail To [EMAIL PROTECTED] to ensure the
fastest reply to your e-mail messages.
------------------------------
From: Jeff Shern <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: CD autorun
Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 10:55:11 -0700
Woah, that sounds like a security problem if I ever heard one... So I toss a CD in
my box and it starts running some mysterious script before I even have a chance to
hit my ctrl-z
Ron Bergeron wrote:
> You mean like in Windows? There probably is, but most people I know
> find that extremely annoying. That is one of the first things I
> disable on any Windows machine I am forced to use for any length of
> time.
>
> I recommend that you NOT make your CD autorun.
>
> Penna wrote:
> >
> > We are making a CD ROM for use with linux machines, with some HTML pages on.
> > Is there any way to 'autorun' the CD when it is inserted?
> >
> > Thanks.
> >
> > Steve Penna
> > [EMAIL PROTECTED]
--
Please Make Sure You Are Sending Mail To [EMAIL PROTECTED] to ensure the
fastest reply to your e-mail messages.
------------------------------
From: Jeff Shern <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: MAKE command
Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 10:46:00 -0700
> Hi
> Sorry I am very new to Linux and I have a problem installing
> software. I am using RedHat 5.2 and when I try to install software it
> require the use of MAKE command. But when I try to execute MAKE it
> give a invaild command. What should I do or is there another command I
> can use? Please forgive me and refer me to the right newsgroup if I am
> in the wrong one.
Well, what is most likely your problem is that Linux (or liunx rather) is case
sensitive... MAKE and make are completely different. Make sure you read the
README file that is usually included with these programs you are downloading,
sometimes you have to do specific things to install them.
Good Luck, and I hope this helps
------------------------------
From: John Hasler <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Crossposted-To:
comp.lang.pascal.borland,comp.lang.perl.misc,comp.os.ms-windows.programmer.win32
Subject: Re: Learn the truth - In Dear Recruiter we establish exactly what a recruiter
does.
Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 20:01:45 GMT
Rufus V. Smith writes:
> A consultant is a person who:
> a) calls himself,
> or
> b) is called by someone else,
> a consultant.
or
c) Borrows your watch to tell you what time it is.
--
John Hasler
[EMAIL PROTECTED] (John Hasler)
Dancing Horse Hill
Elmwood, WI
------------------------------
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (William Wueppelmann)
Crossposted-To: comp.os.linux.setup
Subject: Re: New User
Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 18:19:03 GMT
In our last episode (Mon, 15 Mar 1999 14:25:34 +0000),
the artist formerly known as Colm Dougan said:
>Hi,
>
>I have been reading a lot of the FAQ's etc. about Linux and have a few
>questions :
>
>1. What is the best Distribution, I have read that Red Hat has won a few
>awards etc. (my main uses of Linux will be programming, networking,
>perhaps some X windows stuff)
Everyone has their own opinion on this. The best I can suggest is to try a
few. In my own experience, I've tried Redhat, Slackware and Debian.
Redhat required the least effort to install, but also produced the least
stable installation. Redhat also seems to choose the latest versions of
everything, preferring cutting edge over tested and stable. Debian
required some thought but installed cleanly and is very well organized,
plus I choose to use it on philosophical grounds. Slackware is considered
a good choice if you want to be forced to understand everything you are
doing. It was my first attempt at an install, so on those grounds alone it
wasn't the most successful, but certainly it makes little attempt to sugar
coat the system for you.
>2. is the X Windows system worth installing, i.e. is it good enough to
>justify the amount of Hard Disk space it requires (I am pretty good with
>shell environments but prefer Windows type environments for some
>things).
I have a reasonably large installation of Debian Linux 2.0 running in about
700Mb, about 200-300 Mb of which is manpages, documentation, data and
tarballs, another 50Mb of which is bloody Word Perfect 8, and another
30-40Mb worth of Emacs and its various support files. Unless you have a
very small disk, the space needed to install X shouldn't be a big deal. I
only use X very occasionally, and I have no problem justifying keeping it
around, since I'm only using about 30% of my drive's capacity anyway.
>3. are there any good programming IDE's for C, C++ or Java
Possibly. You might consider emacs to be an IDE. But Linux provides
enough tools that you can create a highly effective programming
environment. I generally have 2 or 3 virtual consoles open when I program.
I use vim with ctags to write code and switch to another console to compile
and test, or sometimes split those tasks between two consoles.
>4. as regards installation, I would like to try and have a crack at
>downloading it and then installing it, as I think I would learn a lot
>from doing it this way. Are there any good websites on this subject or
>is it generally a bad idea (I have read a few of the FAQ's that come
>with the various distributions but none of them seem to say the things I
>want to know, i.e. what files do I need, what steps should I follow
>etc.)
Most complete distributions are in the 1-2GB range. Even with a high speed
ethernet connection, it will take a bit of time to download the whole
thing. I'd recommend just buying a CD set. It's faster and a whole lot
more convenient. I don't think very many people actually download
distributions anymore. CD distributions are available for about US$3-50
depending on where you buy them and what kind of box goes around them.
Most installation guides will come with CDs, usually Redhat. There's some
info on getting Linux at www.linux.org
--
It is pitch black.
You are likely to be spammed by a grue.
------------------------------
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Wlmet)
Subject: Is trn the best
Date: 15 Mar 1999 17:35:57 GMT
I know trn is not the most intuitive newsreader, but I understood it to be the
fastest and most efficient.
However, it takes forever to get the overview files. HOw can I fix this
problem? What is the best text based newsreader if not trn?
------------------------------
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