From root@localhost Thu Jun 14 02:23:40 2001
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Date: Thu, 14 Jun 2001 02:23:39 -0500 (CDT)
From: root
Message-Id: <199409150723.CAA05783@localhost>
To: root
Subject: Register with the Linux counter project

   (Adapted from a question in the Linux-FAQ)

   9.8. How Many People Use Linux?

   Linux is freely available, and no one is required to register with
   any central authority, so it is difficult to know. Several businesses
   survive solely on selling and supporting Linux. Linux news groups are
   some of the most heavily read on Usenet. Accurate numbers are hard to
   come by, but the number is almost certainly in the millions.

   However, one brave soul, Harald T. Alvestrand <Harald@Alvestrand.no>,
   has decided to try, and asks that if you use Linux, you visit this Web
   site to register:

   http://counter.li.org

   If you don't want to use the Web, send E-mail to
   counter@counter.li.org with the subject line, ``I use Linux at home,''
   or ``I use Linux at work.''

   The current count is posted monthly to comp.os.linux.misc, and is
   always available from the Web site.



From volkerdi@mhd1.moorhead.msus.edu  Thu Jun 14 18:19:46 2001
Return-Path: volkerdi
Received: (from volkerdi@localhost) by darkstar.slackware.com (8.8.8/8.8.8) id OAA03071; Thu, 14 Jun 2001 18:19:46 -0700
Date: Thu, 14 Jun 2001 18:19:46 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Patrick J. Volkerding" <volkerdi@slackware.com>
To: root
Subject: Welcome to Linux (Slackware 8.0 "tta")!
Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.4.10.000620134926.3041A-100000@darkstar.slackware.com>
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)  Once you've set up
   /etc/exports, the NFS daemons should run automatically at boot.

-- 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 D 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 tcpip1.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)

-- 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

