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<H1>Linux Frequently Asked Questions with Answers</H1>

<H2>Robert Kiesling, kiesling@ix.netcom.com</H2>October 4, 1998
<P><HR>
<EM>This is the list of Frequently Asked Questions for Linux, the free
Unix for just about every computer hardware platform on the planet.
Originally written for 386/486/586 Intel/ISA bus machines, versions
exist for Alpha, MIPS, ARM, 680x0, and PPC processors, and many
others. (See the question, ``
<A HREF="Linux-FAQ-1.html#What is Linux?">What is Linux?</A>
'' below.)  This
document should be read in conjunction with the Linux Documentation
Project's HOWTO series. (``
<A HREF="Linux-FAQ-2.html#Where can I get Linux material by FTP?">Where can I get Linux material by FTP?</A>
'' and, ``
<A HREF="Linux-FAQ-2.html#Where can I get the HOWTO's and other documentation?">Where can I get the HOWTO's and other documentation?</A>
'') The <CODE>INFO-SHEET</CODE> and <CODE>META-FAQ</CODE>,
which are found in the same place, also list sources of Linux
information.  Please look at these documents, and, ``
<A HREF="Linux-FAQ-12.html#You still haven't answered my question!">You still haven't answered my question!</A>
'' before posting to a Usenet
news group.  You can also get Postscript, HTML, SGML, and plain ASCII
versions of this document.  (``
<A HREF="Linux-FAQ-13.html#Formats in which this FAQ is available.">Formats in which this FAQ is available.</A>
'')</EM>
<HR>
<P>
<H2><A NAME="toc1">1.</A> <A HREF="Linux-FAQ-1.html">Introduction and General Information </A></H2>

<UL>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-1.html#ss1.1">1.1 What is Linux? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-1.html#ss1.2">1.2 Where do I start? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-1.html#ss1.3">1.3 What software does Linux support? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-1.html#ss1.4">1.4 Does Linux run on my computer?  What hardware is supported? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-1.html#ss1.5">1.5 What ports to other processors are there? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-1.html#ss1.6">1.6 How much hard disk space does Linux need?  </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-1.html#ss1.7">1.7 How much memory does Linux need? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-1.html#ss1.8">1.8 How much memory can Linux use? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-1.html#ss1.9">1.9 Is Linux public domain?  Copyrighted? </A>
</UL>
<P>
<H2><A NAME="toc2">2.</A> <A HREF="Linux-FAQ-2.html">Network sources and resources. </A></H2>

<UL>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-2.html#ss2.1">2.1 Where can I get the HOWTO's and other documentation? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-2.html#ss2.2">2.2 Where should I look on the World Wide Web for Linux stuff? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-2.html#ss2.3">2.3 What newsgroups are there for Linux? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-2.html#ss2.4">2.4 Where can I find out about Linux and the Millennium (Y2K) bug? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-2.html#ss2.5">2.5 Where can I get Linux material by FTP? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-2.html#ss2.6">2.6 I don't have FTP access.  Where do I get Linux? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-2.html#ss2.7">2.7 I don't have Usenet access.  Where do I get information? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-2.html#ss2.8">2.8 What mailing lists are there? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-2.html#ss2.9">2.9 Are the newsgroups archived anywhere? </A>
</UL>
<P>
<H2><A NAME="toc3">3.</A> <A HREF="Linux-FAQ-3.html">Compatibility with other operating systems. </A></H2>

<UL>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-3.html#ss3.1">3.1 Can Linux share my disk with DOS?  OS/2?  386BSD?  Win95? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-3.html#ss3.2">3.2 How do I access files on my DOS partition or floppy? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-3.html#ss3.3">3.3 Does Linux support compressed ext2 file systems? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-3.html#ss3.4">3.4 Can I use my Stacked/DBLSPC/etc. DOS drive? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-3.html#ss3.5">3.5 Can I access OS/2 HPFS partitions from Linux? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-3.html#ss3.6">3.6 Can Linux access Amiga file systems? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-3.html#ss3.7">3.7 Can Linux access BSD, SysV, etc. UFS? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-3.html#ss3.8">3.8 Can Linux access SMB file systems? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-3.html#ss3.9">3.9 Can Linux access Macintosh file systems? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-3.html#ss3.10">3.10 Can I run Microsoft Windows programs under Linux? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-3.html#ss3.11">3.11 How can I boot Linux from OS/2's Boot Manager? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-3.html#ss3.12">3.12 How can I share a swap partition between Linux and MS Windows? </A>
</UL>
<P>
<H2><A NAME="toc4">4.</A> <A HREF="Linux-FAQ-4.html">Linux's handling of file systems, disks, and drives </A></H2>

<UL>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-4.html#ss4.1">4.1 How can I get Linux to work with my disk? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-4.html#ss4.2">4.2 How can I undelete files? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-4.html#ss4.3">4.3 Is there a defragmenter for ext2fs etc.? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-4.html#ss4.4">4.4 How do I format and create a file system on a floppy? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-4.html#ss4.5">4.5 I get nasty messages about inodes, blocks, and the like. </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-4.html#ss4.6">4.6 My swap area isn't working. </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-4.html#ss4.7">4.7 How do I remove LILO so my system boots DOS again? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-4.html#ss4.8">4.8 Why can't I use fdformat except as root? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-4.html#ss4.9">4.9 My ext2fs partitions are checked each time I reboot. </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-4.html#ss4.10">4.10 My root file system is read-only! </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-4.html#ss4.11">4.11 I have a huge /proc/kcore!  Can I delete it? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-4.html#ss4.12">4.12 My AHA1542C doesn't work with Linux. </A>
</UL>
<P>
<H2><A NAME="toc5">5.</A> <A HREF="Linux-FAQ-5.html">Porting, compiling and obtaining programs </A></H2>

<UL>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-5.html#ss5.1">5.1 How do I compile programs? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-5.html#ss5.2">5.2 How do I port XXX to Linux? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-5.html#ss5.3">5.3 What is ld.so and where do I get it? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-5.html#ss5.4">5.4 How do I upgrade the libraries withough trashing my system?  </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-5.html#ss5.5">5.5 Has anyone ported / compiled / written XXX for Linux? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-5.html#ss5.6">5.6 Can I use code or a compiler compiled for a 486 on my 386? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-5.html#ss5.7">5.7 What does gcc -O6 do? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-5.html#ss5.8">5.8 Where are linux/*.h and asm/*.h? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-5.html#ss5.9">5.9 I get errors when I try to compile the kernel. </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-5.html#ss5.10">5.10 How do I make a shared library? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-5.html#ss5.11">5.11 My executables are (very) large. </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-5.html#ss5.12">5.12 Does Linux support threads or lightweight processes? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-5.html#ss5.13">5.13 Where can I get `lint' for Linux? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-5.html#ss5.14">5.14 Where can I find kermit for Linux? </A>
</UL>
<P>
<H2><A NAME="toc6">6.</A> <A HREF="Linux-FAQ-6.html">Solutions to common miscellaneous problems. </A></H2>

<UL>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-6.html#ss6.1">6.1 free dumps core. </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-6.html#ss6.2">6.2 My clock is very wrong. </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-6.html#ss6.3">6.3 Setuid scripts don't seem to work. </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-6.html#ss6.4">6.4 Free memory as reported by free keeps shrinking. </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-6.html#ss6.5">6.5 When I add more memory, the system slows to a crawl. </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-6.html#ss6.6">6.6 Some programs (e.g. xdm) won't let me log in. </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-6.html#ss6.7">6.7 Some programs let me log in with no password. </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-6.html#ss6.8">6.8 My machine runs very slowly when I run GCC / X / ... </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-6.html#ss6.9">6.9 I can only log in as root. </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-6.html#ss6.10">6.10 My screen is all full of weird characters instead of letters. </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-6.html#ss6.11">6.11 I have screwed up my system and can't log in to fix it. </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-6.html#ss6.12">6.12 I've discovered a huge security hole in <CODE>rm</CODE>! </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-6.html#ss6.13">6.13 <CODE>lpr(1)</CODE> and/or <CODE>lpd(8)</CODE> don't work. </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-6.html#ss6.14">6.14 Timestamps on files on MS-DOS partitions are set incorrectly. </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-6.html#ss6.15">6.15 How do I get LILO to boot the <CODE>vmlinux</CODE> file? </A>
</UL>
<P>
<H2><A NAME="toc7">7.</A> <A HREF="Linux-FAQ-7.html">How do I do this or find out that ... ? </A></H2>

<UL>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-7.html#ss7.1">7.1 How can I get scrollback in text mode? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-7.html#ss7.2">7.2 How do I switch virtual consoles?  How do I enable them? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-7.html#ss7.3">7.3 How do I set the time zone? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-7.html#ss7.4">7.4 What version of Linux and what machine name am I using? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-7.html#ss7.5">7.5 How can I enable or disable core dumps? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-7.html#ss7.6">7.6 How do I upgrade/recompile my kernel? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-7.html#ss7.7">7.7 Can I have more than 3 serial ports by sharing interrupts? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-7.html#ss7.8">7.8 How do I make a bootable floppy? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-7.html#ss7.9">7.9 How do I remap my keyboard to UK, French, etc.? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-7.html#ss7.10">7.10 How do I get NUM LOCK to default to on? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-7.html#ss7.11">7.11 How do I set (or reset) my initial terminal colors?</A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-7.html#ss7.12">7.12 How can I have more than 128Mb of swap? </A>
</UL>
<P>
<H2><A NAME="toc8">8.</A> <A HREF="Linux-FAQ-8.html">Miscellaneous information and questions answered. </A></H2>

<UL>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-8.html#ss8.1">8.1 How do I program XYZ under Linux? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-8.html#ss8.2">8.2 What's all this about ELF? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-8.html#ss8.3">8.3 What is a .gz file ? And a .tgz ? And ... ? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-8.html#ss8.4">8.4 What does VFS stand for? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-8.html#ss8.5">8.5 What is a BogoMip? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-8.html#ss8.6">8.6 What is the Linux Journal and where can I get it? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-8.html#ss8.7">8.7 What online/free periodicals exist for Linux? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-8.html#ss8.8">8.8 How many people use Linux? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-8.html#ss8.9">8.9 How should I pronounce Linux? </A>
</UL>
<P>
<H2><A NAME="toc9">9.</A> <A HREF="Linux-FAQ-9.html">Frequently encountered error messages. </A></H2>

<UL>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-9.html#ss9.1">9.1 Modprobe can't locate module, ``XXX,'' and similar messages. </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-9.html#ss9.2">9.2 Unknown terminal type linux and similar. </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-9.html#ss9.3">9.3 lp1 on fire </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-9.html#ss9.4">9.4 INET: Warning: old style ioctl... called! </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-9.html#ss9.5">9.5 ld: unrecognized option '-m486' </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-9.html#ss9.6">9.6 GCC says Internal compiler error. </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-9.html#ss9.7">9.7 make says Error 139 </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-9.html#ss9.8">9.8 shell-init: permission denied when I log in. </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-9.html#ss9.9">9.9 No utmp entry.  You must exec ... when I log in. </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-9.html#ss9.10">9.10 Warning--bdflush not running. </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-9.html#ss9.11">9.11 Warning: obsolete routing request made. </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-9.html#ss9.12">9.12 EXT2-fs: warning: mounting unchecked file system. </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-9.html#ss9.13">9.13 EXT2-fs warning: maximal count reached. </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-9.html#ss9.14">9.14 EXT2-fs warning: checktime reached. </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-9.html#ss9.15">9.15 df says Cannot read table of mounted file systems. </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-9.html#ss9.16">9.16 fdisk says Partition X has different physical/logical ... </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-9.html#ss9.17">9.17 fdisk: Partition 1 does not start on cylinder boundary. </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-9.html#ss9.18">9.18 fdisk says partition n has an odd number of sectors. </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-9.html#ss9.19">9.19 mtools says cannot initialize drive XYZ </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-9.html#ss9.20">9.20 At the start of booting: Memory tight </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-9.html#ss9.21">9.21 My syslog says `end_request: I/O error, ...'. </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-9.html#ss9.22">9.22 You don't exist. Go away. </A>
</UL>
<P>
<H2><A NAME="toc10">10.</A> <A HREF="Linux-FAQ-10.html">The X Window System. </A></H2>

<UL>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-10.html#ss10.1">10.1 Does Linux support X Windows? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-10.html#ss10.2">10.2 Where can I get an XF86Config for my system? </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-10.html#ss10.3">10.3 xterm logins show up strangely in who, finger. </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-10.html#ss10.4">10.4 I can't get X Windows to work right. </A>
</UL>
<P>
<H2><A NAME="toc11">11.</A> <A HREF="Linux-FAQ-11.html">Questions applicable to very out-of-date software. </A></H2>

<UL>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-11.html#ss11.1">11.1 fdisk says cannot use nnn sectors of this partition. </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-11.html#ss11.2">11.2 GCC sometimes uses huge amounts of virtual memory and thrashes.</A>
</UL>
<P>
<H2><A NAME="toc12">12.</A> <A HREF="Linux-FAQ-12.html">How to get further assistance. </A></H2>

<UL>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-12.html#ss12.1">12.1 You still haven't answered my question! </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-12.html#ss12.2">12.2 What to put in a request for help. </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-12.html#ss12.3">12.3 I want to mail someone about my problem. </A>
</UL>
<P>
<H2><A NAME="toc13">13.</A> <A HREF="Linux-FAQ-13.html">Administrative information and acknowledgments. </A></H2>

<UL>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-13.html#ss13.1">13.1 Feedback is invited. </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-13.html#ss13.2">13.2 Formats in which this FAQ is available. </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-13.html#ss13.3">13.3 Authorship and acknowledgments. </A>
<LI><A HREF="Linux-FAQ-13.html#ss13.4">13.4 Disclaimer and Copyright. </A>
</UL>
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