3 Network Distributions

Contents of this section

In this section, we cover distributions available over the network for free. Many of the CD-ROM are simply re-packaged versions of net distributions.

3.1 Slackware Linux Distribution

Distributor:

Patrick Volkerding

Net: volkerdi@mhd1.moorhead.msus.edu

Provider's Description:

Slackware Linux is a full featured distribution of the Linux operating system designed for 386/486 computers with a 3.5" floppy. Slackware changes rapidly, but here's a current (partial) feature list:

A:

Base Linux system

AP:

Various applications that do not need X

D:

Program Development (C, C++, Kernel source, Lisp, Perl, etc.)

E:

GNU Emacs (19.27, with and without X11 support. Your choice.)

F:

FAQ lists (last updated: Oct 1994)

I:

Info pages.

IV:

Interviews: libraries, include files, Doc and Idraw apps for X

N:

Networking (TCP/IP, UUCP, Mail)

OOP:

Object Oriented Programming (GNU Smalltalk 1.1.1) and X11 interface

Q:

All kinds of extra kernels (based on Linux 1.1.59)

T:

TeX

TCL:

Tcl/Tk/TclX, Tcl language, and Tk toolkit for developing X apps

X:

XFree-86 3.1 Base X Window System

XAP:

Applications for X

XD:

XFree-86 3.1 X server development, PEX extensions, and man pages

XV:

XView3.2p1-X11R6. (OpenLook virtual Window Manager, apps)

Y:

Games (that do not require X)

Internet Access:

The home site is ftp.cdrom.com, where the latest distribution can be found in /pub/linux/slackware.

Ordering:

FTP only, although various independent distributors provide it on disk, floppy, and CD.

Entry last modified:

14 Dec 1994

Editor's Comments:

A lot of commercial Linuxes are re-packagings of Slackware (see the Re-Packagers section below.

3.2 MCC Interim Linux

Distributor:

Dr. A. V. Le Blanc
University of Manchester

Net: LeBlanc@mcc.ac.uk
FTP: ftp://ftp.mcc.ac.uk

Provider's Description:

Base Linux installation. Complete sources and patches for all included software are available. Full details vary from release to release; see /pub/linux/mcc-interim/*/Acknowledgements at ftp.mcc.ac.uk. Roughly: this includes the kernel (with source), C, C++, groff, man pages, basic utilities, networking. The binaries fit on about 10 floppies. It is also possible to have them on a DOS or Linux partition on a hard drive (plus one floppy) or on an NFS-mountable partition (plus two floppies).

Internet Access:

By anonymous ftp from ftp.mcc.ac.uk; mirrored at tsx-11.mit.edu, nic.funet.fi, sunsite.unc.edu, and elsewhere. At ftp.mcc.ac.uk, in /pub/linux/mcc-interim.

Miscellaneous:

Suggestions and contributions are welcome.

Last Freeze Date:

Unknown. New releases approximately every six months.

Entry last modified:

May 15 1995.

Editor's comments:

The current MCC-Interim release is based on Linux 1.0 with a few patches. If you are one of those people who demands to be on top of the current release, this release isn't for you. However, if you're looking for a small and stable Linux system, this makes a good starting point.

Dr. LeBlanc adds: "And if you do demand to be on top of the current release, you can get there from MCC Interim quite easily. For example, to upgrade to the current kernel you need only the kernel sources, bdflush, and a new version of procps. Of course, you will probably want other things as well... One of the big disadvantages of MCC is that it doesn't include X or packages that many people want, such as perl or tck/tk. Strictly speaking, the distribution has always been intended for internal use at MCC, and the fact that many people find it useful is serendipitous. Less strictly speaking, I would say that it works better for developers than for people who know nothing about Unix. I recommend the simpler commercial distributions and Bogus to people who know nothing.

3.3 TAMU Linux Distribution

Distributor:

Dave Safford
Texas A&M University,

Net: dave.safford@net.tamu.edu

Provider's Description:

TAMU.99p12+ is the latest release in the TAMU linux series. Unlike previous releases, this one includes both integrated source and binary sets, with the entire binary set created from a single top level source make. This ensures that all programs are compiled and linked with the same current tools and libraries, and guarantees availability of working source for every program in the binary set. In addition, the new boot diskette fully automates the installation process, including partitioning, lilo bootstrapping, and network configuration. Installation requires no rebooting, and requires the user to know only the host's name and IP address. At every step of installation, the program provides intelligent defaults, making it a snap for novices, while allowing experts full flexibility in setting installation parameters. Reliability has been improved over past TAMU installation by the use of labels on all disk images, so that the program can detect and recover from bad or misordered diskettes.

This release is a full-featured package, including XFree86-1.3, emacs-19.18, net-2, bootutils, and sources for all installation programs (without any use restrictions :-).

Internet Access:

The latest TAMU release is available by anonymous ftp from net.tamu.edu:pub/linux.

Entry last modified:

31 Oct 1993.

3.4 The BOGUS Linux Release

Distributor:

The BOGUS Group

Net: linux-bogus@cs.unc.edu

Provider's Description:

BOGUS is an unsupported, ftp-able distribution targeted at competent Linux hackers who want a stable development system. If you do not have experience developing, installing, and maintaining a Linux system, BOGUS is probably not for you.

BOGUS is a "bootstrapping" release: all of the patches needed to compile the complete system are provided, including explicit instructions on how we did the compilation. Indeed, the final build is totally automatic, and required the user to invoke a single command.

BOGUS has many other features, but the inclusion of pristine source, detailed patches, and a utility to support automatic patch application and compilation is the most important feature of BOGUS. For more information and a complete list of features, license restrictions, and other details, please see the Announce-BOGUS-* files at the ftp sites.

Internet Access:

The following sites are official mirror sites for the BOGUS release:

Ordering:

BOGUS 1.0.1 is also available on the Trans-Ameritech Systems "Linux Plus BSD CD-ROM" (Fall Supplement 2, November 1994) for $19.95. Trans-Ameritech may be contacted at: 408.727.3883 (voice), 408.727.3882 (fax), or order@trans-am.com .

Miscellaneous:

To join the BOGUS mailing list, send mail to majordomo@cs.unc.edu with "subscribe linux-bogus" in the body of the message (i.e., not in the subject). When you do this, make sure that you have a valid return address -- many people who set up a mailer for the first time have a return address which looks like joe@pizza instead of joe@pizza.cs.unc.edu. If you interact with the majordomo server successfully, you will receive mail. If you don't receive mail in about an hour, please don't continue to use the majordomo server as test bed.

Please note that the BOGUS release is COMPLETELY UNSUPPORTED: mail sent to the mailing list may not be answered, bugs may not be fixed, and it may be quite a while before there is another BOGUS release.

Entry last modified:

14 Dec 1994.

3.5 Debian Linux Distribution

Distributor:

Ian A. Murdock
The Debian Linux Association
Station 11
P.O. Box 3121
West Lafayette, IN 47906, USA

Net: imurdock@gnu.ai.mit.edu

Provider's Description:

Debian Linux is an effort to create a well thought-out, powerful, flexible yet complete Linux distribution. The motivations behind Debian are detailed in the Debian Manifesto, a copy of which can be acquired as described below.

For up-to-date information, please look at the files in the directory /pub/Linux/distributions/debian/info at sunsite.unc.edu. If you do not have access to the Internet or FTP, you may obtain printed copies by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the contact address given above.

This information includes how Debian can be obtained (via FTP or mail-order), why Debian is being constructed (the Manifesto) and other general information (including how to join the Debian mailing lists).

Internet Access:

Debian has not yet been "officially" released, but BETA releases are available to the general public at sunsite.unc.edu in the directory /pub/Linux/distributions/debian. It is mirrored at ftp.mcc.ac.uk.

Entry last modified:

21 Feb 1994.

Editor's comments:

The Debian distribution is currently under development by a ``semi-closed'' group of developers (rather then an individual) and has been adopted as the Free Software Foundation's Linux distribution.

Network feedback

Dr. A.V. LeBlanc, the priginator of MCC Interim Linux, comments: "BOGUS is a particularly well-designed release, and one which I feel is not sufficiently appreciated."

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