From 91df642242d8ee2702063cde9b39b9600da21588 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: "Jordan K. Hubbard" Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1997 14:36:13 +0000 Subject: [PATCH] Update the FAQ using some of Peter's text and some of my own. Submitted-By: pds & jkh --- FAQ/FAQ.sgml | 331 ++++++++++++++++++++++----------------------------- 1 file changed, 141 insertions(+), 190 deletions(-) diff --git a/FAQ/FAQ.sgml b/FAQ/FAQ.sgml index 3a93b169b0..9c6e110a39 100644 --- a/FAQ/FAQ.sgml +++ b/FAQ/FAQ.sgml @@ -1,5 +1,5 @@ - +
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ Maintainer: Peter da Silva -$Date: 1997-01-14 06:26:05 $ +$Date: 1997-01-14 14:36:13 $ This is the FAQ for FreeBSD systems version 2.X All entries are assumed to be relevant to FreeBSD 2.0.5+, unless otherwise noted. @@ -34,11 +34,8 @@ Any entries with a <XXX> are under construction. Every effort has been made to make this FAQ as informative as possible; if you have any suggestions as to how it may be improved, - please feel free to mail them to the - - or to + please feel free to mail them to the . What is FreeBSD? @@ -105,13 +102,13 @@ Any entries with a <XXX> are under construction. What is the latest version of FreeBSD?

- Version 2.1.5 is the latest version; it was released in mid-July, 1996. + Version 2.1.6 is the latest version; it was released in December, 1996. What is FreeBSD-current?

FreeBSD-current is the development version of the operating system, - which will in due course become version 2.2. As such, it is really + which will in due course become version 3.0. As such, it is really only of interest to developers working on the system. See the section ``Staying current with FreeBSD'' in the @@ -152,8 +149,8 @@ Any entries with a <XXX> are under construction. enhancements would be made to it (for Internet Service Providers and other commercial enterprises for whom sudden shifts or experimental features are quite undesirable). The other branch was - 2.2-current, which essentially has been one unbroken line leading - towards 2.2-RELEASE since 2.0 was released. If a little ASCII art + 3.3-current, which essentially has been one unbroken line leading + towards 3.0-RELEASE since 2.0 was released. If a little ASCII art would help, this is how it looks: 2.0 @@ -163,21 +160,23 @@ Any entries with a <XXX> are under construction. 2.0.5 ---> 2.1 ---> 2.1.5 ---> 2.1.6 ---* [-stable ends] | (Dec 1996) | - [2.2-current] 2.2-SNAPs + [3.0-current] 2.2-SNAPs | | - 2.2-RELEASE (scheduled for Q1 1997) + 2.2-ALPHA ---> 2.2-BETA ---> 2.2-RELEASE ---> [2.2-stable] + | (Q1 1997) | | . \|/ + - [future releases] + [future 3.x releases]

- The -current branch is slowly progressing towards 2.2 and beyond, - whereas the -stable branch will effectively end with 2.1.6. + The -current branch is slowly progressing towards 3.0 and beyond, + whereas the -stable branch will effectively end with 2.1.6, + resurrecting itself as 2.2-stable after the 2.2-RELEASE is out. Why is the -stable branch ending with 2.1.6? @@ -237,10 +236,12 @@ Any entries with a <XXX> are under construction. Where can I get FreeBSD?

The distribution is available via anonymous ftp from: - + - For the current release, 2.1.5R, look in: - + For the current release, 2.1.6R, look in: + FreeBSD is also available via CDROM, from the following place(s): @@ -250,7 +251,8 @@ Any entries with a <XXX> are under construction. Orders: (800)-786-9907 Questions: (510)-674-0783 FAX: (510)-674-0821 - email: + email: WWW: In Australia, you may find it at: @@ -281,91 +283,23 @@ Any entries with a <XXX> are under construction. Fax: +44 01892 667473 (Do not dial the leading zero if calling from outside the UK). - - What FreeBSD mailing lists are available? -

- The following mailing lists are provided for FreeBSD users and - developers. For more information, send to - <majordomo@FreeBSD.ORG> and include a single line saying - ``help'' in the body of your message. - - -

- The FreeBSD-commit list has been broken up into groups dealing - with different areas of interest. Please see the FreeBSD mailing - list FAQ in: - -

+ - How can I get on the mailing lists? + Where do I find info on the mailing lists? +

+ You can find full information in the +

- Example: -

- To subscribe to the - subscribe questions john.smith@foo.bar (John Smith) - -

- Unsubscribing is just as easy:- - - unsubscribe questions john.smith@foo.bar (John Smith) - - Just remember to send your request - to - - and What FreeBSD news groups are available?

- There are two newsgroups currently dedicated to FreeBSD: - - - The following newsgroups may also be of interest to - general BSD enthusiasts: - - - General BSD topics - - /usr/ports/news contains a number of ready-ported - programs not only for reading Usenet News, but even setting - up and running your own News server! You'll find trn, TIN, - Cnews, INN and others there. - - For French-speaking people, the - + You can find full information in the + + Is there anything about FreeBSD on IRC (Internet Relay Chat) ?

@@ -381,18 +315,17 @@ Any entries with a <XXX> are under construction. Books on FreeBSD

Greg Lehey's book ``Installing and Running FreeBSD'' is available - from Walnut Creek and ships with the 2.1.5 CDROM. There is also + from Walnut Creek and ships with the 2.1.6 CDROM. There is also a larger book entitled ``The Complete FreeBSD'', which comes with - additional printed manpages and includes the 2.1.5 CDROM set. It + additional printed manpages amd includes the 2.1.6 CDROM set. It should be available in most good bookshops now. There is a FreeBSD Documentation Project which you may contact (or even better, join) on the doc mailing list: . - A FreeBSD ``handbook'' is being created, and can be found as: - - + A FreeBSD ``handbook'' is availible, and can be found as: + . Note that this is a work in progress, and so parts may be incomplete. However, as FreeBSD 2.X is based upon Berkeley 4.4BSD-Lite, most @@ -442,17 +375,18 @@ Any entries with a <XXX> are under construction. SLIP/PPP, sendmail, INN/NNTP, printing, etc.. It's expensive (approx. US$45-$55), but worth it. It also includes a CDROM with the sources for various tools; most of - these, however, are also on the FreeBSD 2.1.5R CDROM (and the + these, however, are also on the FreeBSD 2.1.6R CDROM (and the FreeBSD CDROM often has newer versions). - I have heard about the Problem Report database. Is there an easy way to accesss it ? + I have heard about the Problem Report database. + Is there an easy way to accesss it ?

The Problem Report database, filled with all the problems, bugs and changes requested by users with help of the command can be reached at - @@ -508,7 +442,7 @@ Any entries with a <XXX> are under construction. of the FreeBSD installation (lucky you!), the simplest way to install FreeBSD is to download make a boot floppy, boot with it and watch it pull down all the necessary files. Depending on connection speed and how much of FreeBSD you wish to install, this could take several hours @@ -534,29 +468,14 @@ Any entries with a <XXX> are under construction. Where are the instructions for installing FreeBSD?

- Installation instructions can be found as: + Installation instructions can be found in the + - - - Release notes are also available as: - - - - On the CDROM, the following files are in the top-most directory: - - - HARDWARE.TXT -- Hardware information - INSTALL -- Installation instructions - README.TXT -- Basic README file - RELNOTES -- Release notes - - What do I need to run FreeBSD?

- you'll need a 386 or better PC, with 4 MB or more of RAM and at + You'll need a 386 or better PC, with 4 MB or more of RAM and at least 60 MB of hard disk space. It can run with a low end MDA card but to run X11R6, a VGA or better video card is needed. @@ -565,16 +484,23 @@ Any entries with a <XXX> are under construction. I have only 4 MB of RAM. Can I install FreeBSD?

- The latest version of FreeBSD (2.1.5) will install on a 4MB - system, provided you use the + FreeBSD 2.1.6 is the last version of FreeBSD that will install on + a 4MB system. Newer versions of FreeBSD, like 2.2, need at least + 5MB to install on a new system. - FreeBSD 2.1.5 does not install in 4 MB. To be exact: it does - not install with 640 kB base + 3 MB extended memory. If your - motherboard can remap some of the ``lost'' memory out of the - 640kB to 1MB region, then you may still be able to get FreeBSD - 2.1.5 up. + All versions of FreeBSD, including 2.2, will RUN in 4MB of ram. You + can add extra memory for the install process, if you like, and then + after the system is up and running, go back to 4MB. + + Use + + There are also situations in which FreeBSD 2.1.6 will not install + in 4 MB. To be exact: it does not install with 640 kB base + 3 MB + extended memory. If your motherboard can remap some of the ``lost'' + memory out of the 640kB to 1MB region, then you may still be able + to get FreeBSD 2.1.6 up. Try to go into your BIOS setup and look for a ``remap'' option. Enable it. You may also have to disable ROM shadowing. @@ -583,8 +509,8 @@ Any entries with a <XXX> are under construction. custom kernel with only the options you need and then get the 4 MB out again. - You may also install 2.0.5 and then upgrade your system to 2.1.5 - with the ``upgrade'' option of the 2.1.5 installation program. + You may also install 2.0.5 and then upgrade your system to 2.1.6 + with the ``upgrade'' option of the 2.1.6 installation program. After the installation, if you build a custom kernel, it will run in 4 MB. Someone has even succeeded in booting with 2 MB (the @@ -600,7 +526,8 @@ Any entries with a <XXX> are under construction. How can I have more than one operating system on my PC?

- Have a look at + Have a look at Can I install on an IDE disk with bad blocks? @@ -641,10 +568,10 @@ Any entries with a <XXX> are under construction. Help! I can't install from tape!

- If you are installing 2.1.5R from tape, you must create the tape + If you are installing 2.1.6R from tape, you must create the tape using a tar blocksize of 10 (5120 bytes). The default tar blocksize is 20 (10240 bytes), and tapes created using this - default size cannot be used to install 2.1.5R; with these tapes, + default size cannot be used to install 2.1.6R; with these tapes, you will get an error that complains about the record size being too big. @@ -744,6 +671,23 @@ Any entries with a <XXX> are under construction. translation is turned on - see previous question). For IDE, the corresponding figure is 504MB. + What about disk managers? My BIOS doesn't support large drives! +

+ FreeBSD recognises the Ontrack Disk Manager and makes allowances + for it. Other disk managers are not supported. + + If you just want to use the disk with FreeBSD you don't need a + disk manager. Just configure the disk for as much space as the + BIOS can deal with (usually 504 megabytes), and FreeBSD + should figure out how much space you really have. If you're using + an old disk with an MFM controller, you may need to explicitly + tell FreeBSD how many cylinders to use. + + If you want to use the disk with FreeBSD and another operating + system, you may be able to do without a disk manager: just make sure + the the FreeBSD boot partition and the slice for the other + operating system are in the first 1024 cylinders. + When I boot FreeBSD I get ``Missing Operating System''.

@@ -786,14 +730,14 @@ Any entries with a <XXX> are under construction. for confirmation, and press `q' to quit.

WARNING: There is no substitute for reading carefully & understanding what you are doing! Things described here may DESTROY your system. Proceed with caution! Remember, a BACKUP is your friend!

- I am about to buy a new machine. What do you recommend?

- See the + See the of the handbook. --> @@ -1408,6 +1352,42 @@ options PSM_NO_RESET #don't reset mouse hardware (some laptops) the section . This is a problem that occurs with the Vesa-Local Buslogic SCSI cards. + + FreeBSD does not recognise my on-board AIC-7xxx EISA SCSI in an HP Netserver +

+ This is basically a known problem. The EISA on-board SCSI controller + in the HP Netserver machines occupies EISA slot number 11, so all + the ``true'' EISA slots are in front of it. Alas, the address space + for EISA slots >= 10 collides with the address space assigned to PCI, + and FreeBSD's auto-configuration currently cannot handle this + situation very well. + + So now, the best you can do is to pretend there were no address + range clash :), go right ahead and edit the file + /sys/i386/eisa/eisaconf.h. Look for a line defining the + macro . + + Of course, this does present you a chicken-and-egg problem when + installing on such a machine. In order to work around this + problem, a special hack is available inside UserConfig. + Do not use the ``visual'' interface, but the plain command-line + interface there. Simply type + +eisa 12 +quit + + + at the prompt, and install your system as usual. Don't forget + to install the kernel source distribution, since you need to + build a custom kernel, or otherwise you would have to repeat the + described procedure at each boot! FreeBSD does not recognise my on-board AIC-7xxx EISA SCSI in an HP Netserver

@@ -1632,7 +1612,9 @@ crw-rw-rw- 1 root wheel 41, 1 Oct 15 22:14 spx How do I configure INN (Internet News) for my machine?

After installing the inn package or port, the - where you'll find the INN FAQ may be an excellent place to start. + + where you'll find the INN FAQ may be an excellent place to start. Miscellaneous Questions @@ -2079,42 +2061,14 @@ pseudo-device vn #Vnode driver (turns a file into a device) What is this thing called `` -

- You should really be using CVSup, not sup, according to the latest - skinny. I'm going to bug the hackers for a section describing that. - In the meantime: - +

SUP stands for Software Update Protocol, and was developed by CMU - for keeping their development trees in sync. We use it to keep + for keeping their development trees in sync. We used it to keep remote sites in sync with our central development sources. - Unless you have direct Internet connectivity, and don't care too - much about the cost/duration of the sessions, you shouldn't use - sup. For those ``low/expensive-bandwidth'' applications, we have - developed - for more about that. - - To use it, you need to have direct Internet connectivity (not - just mail or news). First, pick up the - - Second, read the - - This file describes how to setup sup on your machine. You may - also want to look at - - /usr/src/share/examples/sup/*-supfile, or you may grab - updated supfiles from: - - - - which are a set of supfiles for supping from How cool is FreeBSD? @@ -2215,7 +2169,7 @@ pseudo-device vn #Vnode driver (turns a file into a device) Yes, you can do this @@ -2236,15 +2190,12 @@ pseudo-device vn #Vnode driver (turns a file into a device) ${RELEASEDIR}/tarballs/bindist/bin_tgz.) - - <XXX> I'd like to browse the system dumps after a panic. - I've written a kernel extension, who do I send it to?

Please take a look at: - And thanks for the thought! @@ -2645,7 +2596,7 @@ disk fd1 at fdc0 drive 1 Please have a look at the Handbook entry on printing. It should cover most of your problem. See the @@ -2779,7 +2730,7 @@ disk fd1 at fdc0 drive 1 network, and reads the necessary files from a server instead of its hard disk. For full details, please read - @@ -2852,13 +2803,13 @@ disk fd1 at fdc0 drive 1 handbook in /usr/share/doc/handbook or use the following links: - - - - @@ -2918,7 +2869,7 @@ disable pred1 See for more information on @@ -3225,7 +3176,7 @@ domain foo.bar.edu

If you have compiled your kernel with the