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Linux News Issue 14
L i n u x N e w s
A summary of the goings-on in the Linux community
Issue #14 June 13, 1993
Our Motto: "To Hack and to Serve"
**** My Two Cents
Linux News is back... at last! Since a lot happens in the world of
Linux in a few months I will not endulge in my usual opinionated spiel
but will just report the updates and new devlopments on the kernel and
software scene.
**** Announcements
**June 8 Linus releases 0.99 pl10 kernel:
I've finally released an official version of linux-0.99 patchlevel 10:
there have been various alpha versions floating around which differ in
details (notably networking code), which shouldn't be used any more.
The new linux version is available only as full source code: the diffs
would have been too big to be useful. You can find linux-0.99.10.tar.z
(along with keytables.tar.z) on nic.funet.fi: pub/OS/Linux/PEOPLE/Linus
and probably on tsx-11 and other linux archives within a day or two (so
check there first if you are in the states).
Linux-0.99 pl10 has a number of new features and changes in interface.
The most notable of these are:
the networking code is reorganized (generally called "net-2",
although unrelated to the BSD release). The new code implements a
lot of standard features lacking in net-1, and also changes the user
interface to be closer to the BSD standards. Notably, the old
configuration binaries won't work, so to get the new networking to
work you'll have to get the net-2 binaries as well. The networking
binaries are available on tsx-11.mit.edu (and mirrors) under the
directory pub/linux/packages/net/net-2 (and the setup syntax has
changed somewhat..)
The networking code has been mainly organized and rewritten by Fred
van Kempen, with drivers by Donald Becker.
serial line setup has been changed: linux 0.99 pl10 does { NOT} try to
autodetect serial ports very agressively. If you have other serial
ports than the standard com1/com2, or nonstandard IRQ etc values,
this means that it's less likely to work without any help. The
solution is not to recompile the kernel - you should get the
"setserial" program available from tsx-11.mit.edu in the directory
pub/linux/sources/sbin/setserial-2.01.tar.z that allows you to
dynamically configure your serial ports to suit your setup.
The main organizer behind the serial line changes is tytso (Theodore
Ts'o).
Keyboard setup has changed: it is no longer hardcoded at compile
time, but instead you can use the new "loadkeys" program to load in a
new keyboard map on the fly. The default keyboard map is the normal
US keyboard (yes, I should have used the Finnish one by default, but
after thinking of all the problems that would have resulted in I
forgot about that idea). The loadkeys code can be found in the
"keytables.tar.z" archive, which also contains keymaps for most
normal keyboard types. To create a custom keyboard table is very
easy - just take a 5 minute look at the existing map files (they
resemble the ones used by xmodmap, so if you are familiar with
those..)
The loadable keymaps were mostly implemented by Risto Kankkunen.
There are a lot of other internal kernel changes, but they should be
mostly transparent, and noticeable only indirectly due to new features
or (hopefully) better/faster/whatever operation. These include:
the SysV IPC patches are in by default: Krishna Balasubramanian.
If you need these, you know what it's about (notably, dosemu 0.49
wants them).
inode handling is updated: inodes and files are now dynamically
allocated within the kernel, and use a hash table for faster lookup
(along with a NFU algorithm for the inode cache). Steven Tweedie.
Updated FPU emulation: mostly exception handling changes, making the
emulator handle most exceptions the same way a 486 does. The
emulator is written by Bill Metzenthen.
a few ext2-fs updates by Remy Card and Steven Tweedie.
support for the 'fsync()' function (Steven Tweedie)
various (minor) SCSI patches to catch some error conditions, add
support for VLB adaptec controllers without DMA and so on (different
people).
other changes - I forget.
In addition to patches sent in by others, I've naturally made my own
changes (often *to* the patches sent in by others :-). Among other
things, the pl10 buffer cache code now also tries to share pages with
executables, resulting in better cacheing especially of binaries (giving
noticeable improvements in kernel recompilation speed on some machines).
Also, I've changed a lot of low-level things around to help the iBCS2
project: this includes things like internal segment handling and the
signal stack (which now looks the same as on SysV i386 unixes). All in
all, pl10 has a disturbing amount of new code, but will hopefully work
well despite (due to?) the number of changes.
The new networking code in particular will change the network setup a
lot - it now looks more standard, but if you were used to the old way of
doing things.. On the other hand, most people actively using the
networking features have hopefully gotten warnings about this on the NET
channel for the last few weeks. Also, the networking code still isn't
perfect: Fred is still working on it, but it seems to have reached a
reasonably stable platform on which it will be easier to build. Look
out for the new-and-improved networking manual, hopefully out soon(?).
Standard request: please try it all out, give it a real shakedown, and
send comments/bug-reports to the appropriate place (I'm always
appropriate, but you may want to send the report to the mailing lists
and/or the newsgroup as well). I apologize for the lateness of the
release (forcing hlu to make interim gcc releases that relied on
nonstandard kernels etc), and the changes are somewhat bigger than I'd
prefer, so the more testerts that try it out, the faster we can try to
fix any possible problems. The new kernel has gone through various
stages of ALPHA-diffs and some late ALPHA-pl10's, so there shouldn't be
any major surprises, but alpha releases tend not to get even close to
the coverage a real release gets.
Linus
** June 8 Bill Riemers announces a Linux mail handler with info
on Linux kits and Xconfigs listings. Tofind out more send mail to
bcr@physics.purdue.edu with HELP in the subject line. If your mailer
does not support a subject line just put ``Subject: help'' in the message
body. This is a free service.
** June 8 David Engel has built a binary of GCC 2.4.3 out of the
box and tested it with itself, Emacs and the Linux kernel. Look on
tsx-11 and sunsite for: gcc-2.4.3.main.tar.z, gcc-2.4.3.plus.tar.z,
gcc-2.4.3.objc.tar.z and gcc-2.4.3.info.tar.z. You { must} have
H.J.'s libc 4.4 or later with a fixed limits.h and a 0.99 pl10 kernel
or later.
** June 8 Eric Troan FTP SUNSITE:
``Here's the long delayed sunsite new file list. There are a coupld
of things left over in Incoming,. If you know what they are, please
let me know. If you have any better descriptions, let me know that
too.
Cheap plug:telnet to sunsite.unc.edu, account "linux" and play with wais
Warning:get new .src files for the wais stuff if you're doing it from
home Addition:the gcc-faq is wais-indexed too!
Thanks for all of you who have uploaded lsm entries for things!''
/pub/linux/system/Mail/Mumail-1.6b-tar.Z
X-11 mail reader
/pub/Linux/utils/administration/fsutil-1.7.tar.z
Src for fs independent frontend for mkfs and fsck
/pub/Linux/X11/xapps/editors/Axe-5.0-defaults
Sample appdefault for Axe
/pub/Linux/utils/administration/utile-1.5.bin.tar.z
Bins for /etc utils (mount, mkfs, shutdown)
/pub/Linux/utils/administration/utile-1.5.src.tar.z
Src for /etc utils (mount, mkfs, shutdown)
/pub/Linux/apps/circuits/spice2g6.tar.z
Source to berkley's latest source release of spice
/pub/linux/X11/devel/Xm++.0.5.tar.Z
C++ wrappers for motif and athena widget
/pub/linux/docs/lsm-1.0.z
First release of the Linux Software Map
/pub/linux/docs/template.lsm.z
Template for new submissions to the lsm
/pub/linux/docs/GCC-FAQ
List of Frequently Asked Questions (and answers) about gcc and libraries
/pub/Linux/system/Filesystems/ifs/ifs.3.tar.Z
Code for the Inherited File System (allows layering)
/pub/Linux/system/Daemons/SysVinit-2.4.tar.z
init program (parent of all others), System V syntax
/pub/linux/apps/editors/emacs-19.7/emacs-19.7-A.bin.1of5.tar.z
First part of emacs binaries
/pub/linux/apps/editors/emacs-19.7/emacs-19.7-A.bin.2of5.tar.z
Second part of emacs binaries
/pub/linux/apps/editors/emacs-19.7/emacs-19.7-A.bin.3of5.tar.z
Third part of emacs binaries
/pub/linux/apps/editors/emacs-19.7/emacs-19.7-A.bin.4of5.tar.z
Fourth part of emacs binaries
/pub/linux/apps/editors/emacs-19.7/emacs-19.7-A.bin.5of5.tar.z
Fifth part of emacs binaries
/pub/linux/apps/editors/emacs-19.7/emacs-19.7-A.bin.fix1.tar.z
First fix for emacs binaries
/pub/Linux/X11/xutils/xvmount3.taz
X-windows version of mount
/pub/Linux/system/Terminal-management/tset-jv-0.9.tar.z
sets terminal type correctly using /etc/termcap
/pub/Linux/apps/comm/screen-3.2b.linux.tar.z
Source for linux port of screen (mulitple screens on one terminal)
/pub/Linux/libs/ncurses0.7.2.tar.z
Curses terminal control library 0.7.2
/pub/linux/system/Printing/lpr.tar.z
Binary and directory tree for lpr and lpd
/pub/Linux/apps/databases/mbase.tar.z
mbase (a relational database system) ported to linux
/pub/Linux/system/Serial/mgetty-sendfax.tar.z
Getty designed to recognize incoming faxes
/pub/Linux/apps/comm/vfax10.tar.z
Receives faxes from a fax modem
/pub/Linux/development/lisp/
New version of akcl
/pub/Linux/system/Network/chat/clover-0.3.6.tar.Z
An interactive, real-time communications system
/pub/Linux/system/Network/telnet2d.tar.z
Makes telnetd print /etc/issue before login prompt
/pub/Linux/system/Filesystems/ext2/e2fbin03.tgz
Binaries of the ext2 fs support programs
/pub/Linux/X11/xutils/rxvt-1.1.tar.z
A reduced xterm - MUCH smaller
/pub/Linux/X11/xapps/editors/axe50-3d.tgz
3d version of axe editor (replaces old corrupt version)
/pub/Linux/system/Mail/mh-6.8-kf8nh.tar.z
Binaries of the MH mail-handler (alternate port)
/pub/linux/apps/editors/emacs-19.9/emacs-19.9-A.bin.1of5.tar.z
First part of emacs binaries
/pub/linux/apps/editors/emacs-19.9/emacs-19.9-A.bin.2of5.tar.z
Second part of emacs binaries
/pub/linux/apps/editors/emacs-19.9/emacs-19.9-A.bin.3of5.tar.z
Third part of emacs binaries
/pub/linux/apps/editors/emacs-19.9/emacs-19.9-A.bin.4of5.tar.z
Fourth part of emacs binaries
/pub/linux/apps/editors/emacs-19.9/emacs-19.9-A.bin.5of5.tar.z
Fifth part of emacs binaries
/pub/linux/apps/editors/emacs-19.9/emacs19.9-src.tz
Ported source for emacs 19.9
/pub/linux/X11/xutils/Babaya-1.2b-tar.Z
Simple session manager
/pub/Linux/X11/Xconfig.tar.z
Working Xconfig files for various monitors/cards
/pub/linux/utils/file/des.tar.z
DES encryption (source)
/pub/Linux/X11/xutils/rxvt-1.1c.tar.z
small version of xterm (*much* smaller)
/pub/linux/X11/devel/iv31-bin.aa
Part 1 of InterViews bins (see iv31.README)
/pub/linux/X11/devel/iv31-bin.ab
Part 2 of InterViews bins (see iv31.README)
/pub/linux/X11/devel/iv31-bin.ac
Part 3 of InterViews bins (see iv31.README)
/pub/linux/X11/devel/iv31-lib.tgz
InterViews libraries (see iv31.README)
/pub/linux/docs/bugs-announce.Z
Ross Biro's announcement of linux problem support
/pub/linux/system/Network/admin/setup.tar.z
Binaries for network setup
/pub/linux/system/Admin/idleout.tar.Z
Automatically logs out idle users
/pub/Linux/apps/editors/emacs-19.12/emacs-19.12-A.bin.1of5.tar.gz
Binaries - 1 of 5
/pub/Linux/apps/editors/emacs-19.12/emacs-19.12-A.bin.2of5.tar.gz
Binaries - 2 of 5
/pub/Linux/apps/editors/emacs-19.12/emacs-19.12-A.bin.3of5.tar.gz
Binaries - 3 of 5
/pub/Linux/apps/editors/emacs-19.12/emacs-19.12-A.bin.4of5.tar.gz
Binaries - 4 of 5
/pub/Linux/apps/editors/emacs-19.12/emacs-19.12-A.bin.5of5.tar.gz
Binaries - 5 of 5
/pub/Linux/system/Printing/nenscript-1.13++.bin.tar.z
Binaries for enscript clone (ASCII -> ps)
/pub/Linux/system/Printing/nenscript-1.13++.tar.z
Source for enscript clone (ASCII -> ps)
/pub/Linux/X11/motif/asedit.tar.z
motif editor
/pub/Linux/X11/motif/mxterm.tar.z
motif xterm
/pub/Linux/X11/motif/xball*
physics demo with elasticity/gravity/collision
/pub/Linux/X11/motif/xephe*
motif astro charts, etc.
/pub/Linux/X11/motif/xmfm*
motif file manager
/pub/Linux/X11/motif/xball.tar.z
physics demo with elasticity/gravity/collision
/pub/Linux/X11/motif/xephem.tar.z
motif astronomical charts, etc.
/pub/Linux/X11/motif/xmfm.tar.z
motif file manager
/pub/Linux/X11/motif/xrolodex.tar.z
motif rolodex
/pub/Linux/X11/games/xpilot-beta-2.0.3.diff.z
patches to compile/run xpilot
/pub/linux/apps/comm/pcomm2.0.1.tgz
pcomm sources modified to compile w/ ncurses
/pub/Linux/utils/compress/gzip-112.tgz
binaries of gzip 1.12
/pub/Linux/kernel/misc-patches/qic02g10.patch.z
patches for qic-type tape drives
/pub/Linux/system/Misc/low-level/adidrv.taz
Configures some local bus IDE cards
** June 8 Martin Harris has a version 0.3 of his CD--ROM driver
for Mitsumi.
FTP:tsx--11.mit.edu:/pub/linux/ALPHA/cdrom/
mcd--0.3.tar.Z
** June 8 Hiroto Kagotani announed Kterm, available at sunsite,
which can display Japanese text.
** June 8 Rik Faith has made his paper ``Writing a SCSI Devise
Driver for Linux'' available in postscript and {} formats.
** June 12 Arno Schaefer has made his FIPS program available.
FIPS will split DOS partitions non-destructively.
FTP:sunsit.unc.edu:/pub/Linux/systen/Install/
fips03alpha.tar.Z
** June 12 David Engel has uploaded a fixed { limits.h/}/for
use with GCC-2.4.3 to tsx--11.
** June 12 Sunil Gupta has uploaded the following SUIT (Simple
User Interface Toolkit) files to sunsite.unc.edu:/Incoming:
automata.tpz -- cellular automata package using the SUIT interface.
suit.tpz -- the SUIT interface package
xvi.tpz -- extended VI editor (not an X program)
** June 12 Martin Mueller A German users guide for Linux is
available at ftp.simpson.germany.eu.net(192.76.144.75) /pub/comp/
i386/Linux/Documentation/
Linuxhandbuch2.0.tar.Z
** June 12 Ian Jackson announced Basser Lout 2.03 for Linux, a
batch typesetting language which outputs Adobe Postscript.
FTP:sunsite.unc.edu and nic.funet.fi:lout-2.03.tar.gz
As usual suggestions etc. to:
Denise Tree
tree@cs.jhu.edu
Happy Hacking
to everyone!
