This is the Meta-FAQ for Linux. It is mainly a list of valuable sources of information. Check out these sources if you want to learn more about Linux, or have problems and need help. Lars Wirzenius (wirzeniu@cc.helsinki.fi) wrote the first version of this document, and it is now maintained by Michael K. Johnson (johnsonm@sunsite .unc.edu). Mail him if you have any questions about this document.

NOTE: Filenames in this article are for the tsx-11 .mit.edu ftp site unless otherwise noted. (see below for names of more ftp sites). Files are usually located in similar places on other sites. The names are relative to the directory /pub/linux/ on tsx-ll.

SITE ADDRESS NOTE: If the beginning of a line starts with a dot, it is the continuation of the address from the previous line.

Support for PowerPC, Alpha/AXP, and MIPS is in the works, but don't hold your breath. Read comp.os.linux .announce instead.

See the FAQ for more exact hardware requirements. The Linux kernel is written by Linus Torvalds (torvalds@ kruuna.helsinki.fi) from Finland, and by other volunteers. Most of the programs running under Linux are generic Unix freeware, many of them from the GNU project.

A collection of common problems and their solutions. Answers many questions faster than the net. Stored on many Linux ftp sites (docs/) and rtfm.mit.edu, the general archive site for all FAQs.

These are somewhat like FAQ's, but instead of answering common questions, they explain how to do common tasks, like ordering a release of Linux, setting up print services under Linux, setting up a basic UUCP feed, etc. See sunsite.unc.edu, directory /pub/Linux/docs/HOWTO/ for all the HOWTO's.

There are several Usenet newsgroups for Linux. It is a good idea to follow at least comp.os.linux.announce if you use Linux. Comp.os.linux.announce is moderated by Matt Welsh and Lars Wirzenius. To make submissions to the newsgroup, send mail to linux-announce@tc.cornell .edu. You may direct questions about comp.os.linux.announce to Matt Welsh, mdw@sunsite.unc.edu

The newsgroup comp.os.linux.admin is an unmoderated newsgroup for discussion of administration of Linux systems.

The newsgroup comp.os.linux.development is an unmoderated newsgroup specifically for discussion of Linux kernel development. The only application development questions that should be discussed here are those that are intimately associated with the kernel.

The newsgroup comp.os.linux.help is an unmoderated newsgroup for any Linux questions that don't belong anywhere else.

The newsgroup comp.os.linux.misc is the replacement for comp.os.linux, and is meant for any discussion that doesn't belong elsewhere.

In general, do not crosspost between the Linux newsgroups. The only crossposting that is appropriate is an occasional posting between one unmoderated group and comp.os.linux.announce. The whole point of splitting comp.os.linux into many groups is to reduce traffic in each. Those that do not follow this rule will be flamed without mercy.

Do not assume that all your questions are appropriate for a Linux newsgroup just because you are running Linux. Is your question really about shell programming under any Unix or Unix clone? Then ask in comp.unix .shell. Is it about GNU Emacs? Then try asking in gnu.emacs. Also, if you don't know another group to ask in, but think there might be, politely ask in your post if there is another group that would be more appropriate for your question. At least the groups comp.unix.{questions,shell,programming,bsd,admin}, and comp.windows.x.i386unix should be useful for a Linux user.

Matt Welsh, mdw@sunsite.unc.edu, maintains the home WWW page for the Linux project. The URL is sunsite.unc.edu/mdw/linux.html

A more complete list of Linux FTP sites is in the Linux INFO-SHEET (docs/INFO-SHEET). The most important sites are listed here; please see the INFO-SHEET for a site nearer to you (there are many mirrors).