From 332da550468be8909a4b9ded10598fb9f07425b1 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: "Jordan K. Hubbard" Date: Sat, 5 Apr 1997 08:38:48 +0000 Subject: [PATCH] Update run - try and use the correct release numbers for everything. --- share/doc/FAQ/FAQ.sgml | 250 +++++++++++++++++++++-------------------- 1 file changed, 129 insertions(+), 121 deletions(-) diff --git a/share/doc/FAQ/FAQ.sgml b/share/doc/FAQ/FAQ.sgml index d6b26800ca3..6632ee0c459 100644 --- a/share/doc/FAQ/FAQ.sgml +++ b/share/doc/FAQ/FAQ.sgml @@ -1,5 +1,5 @@ - +
@@ -7,7 +7,8 @@ Maintainer: Peter da Silva -$Date: 1997/03/20 13:15:41 $ +Last updated: $Date: 1997/03/15 23:29:02 $ + 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. @@ -40,7 +41,7 @@ Any entries with a <XXX> are under construction. What is FreeBSD?

- Briefly, FreeBSD 2.X is a UN*X type operating system based on + Briefly, FreeBSD 2.X is a UN*X-like operating system based on U.C. Berkeley's 4.4BSD-lite release for the i386 platform. It is also based indirectly on William Jolitz's port of U.C. Berkeley's Net/2 to the i386, known as 386BSD, though very little of the 386BSD @@ -53,7 +54,7 @@ Any entries with a <XXX> are under construction. in their work, education and recreation. See some of them in the - For a more detailed description of FreeBSD, see the Introduction to + For more detailed information on FreeBSD, please see the @@ -102,18 +103,31 @@ Any entries with a <XXX> are under construction. What is the latest version of FreeBSD?

- Version 2.1.7 is the latest version; it was released in February, 1997. + Version + is the latest stable version; it was released in February, 1997. + Version + is the latest release version; it was released in March, 1997. + Briefly explained, -stable is aimed at the ISP or other + corporate user who wants stability and a low change count over + the wizzy new features of the latest release (which is 2.2.1). + +

This is not to say that 2.2.1 is unusable for business services, + and many people who need some 2.2 specific feature (newer + compiler technology, faster networking code, etc) have decided to take + a chance with it with very good results. We simply do not wish to + "certify" 2.2 as mission-worthy until it's run another release or two + down its branch and been better shaken-out. What is FreeBSD-current?

is the development version of the operating system, which will in due - course become version 3.0. As such, it is really only of interest + course become 3.0-RELEASE. As such, it is really only of interest to developers working on the system and die-hard hobbiests. See the in the for - details. + details on running -current. What are ``snapshots''? @@ -165,7 +179,7 @@ Any entries with a <XXX> are under construction. | | 2.2-ALPHA -> -BETA -> -GAMMA -> 2.2-RELEASE -> [2.2-stable] - | (Q1 1997) + | (Mar 1997) | 3.0-SNAPs (Q1 1997) | @@ -194,7 +208,8 @@ Any entries with a <XXX> are under construction. Perhaps in the future we'll figure out another model which gives everyone what they want, and we are working on such a model, but in the meantime it's probably best to think of -stable coming to an end - with 2.1.7-RELEASE. + with (the final point release after 2.1.7). When are FreeBSD releases made? @@ -265,11 +280,10 @@ make release BUILDNAME=3.0-MY-SNAP CHROOTDIR=/some/big/filesystem/release Is FreeBSD only available for PCs?

- At present, yes. If your machine has a different architecture, we - suggest you look at - - - or + At present, yes, though a port to the DEC Alpha architecture + is planned. If your machine has a different architecture and + you need something right now, we suggest you look at + or . @@ -277,9 +291,11 @@ make release BUILDNAME=3.0-MY-SNAP CHROOTDIR=/some/big/filesystem/release

The key decisions concerning the FreeBSD project, such as the overall direction of the project and who is allowed to add code to - the source tree, are made by a ``core team'' consisting of 16 - people. There is a much larger group of around 60 people who can - make changes to the source tree. + the source tree, are made by a of some 17 people. There is a much larger + team of around 70+ who are authorized to make changes directly to the + FreeBSD source tree.

However, most non-trivial changes are discussed in advance in the mailing lists, and there are no restrictions on who may take part @@ -288,13 +304,26 @@ make release BUILDNAME=3.0-MY-SNAP CHROOTDIR=/some/big/filesystem/release Where can I get FreeBSD?

- The distribution is available via anonymous ftp from: - + The distribution is available via anonymous ftp from: + - For the current release, 2.1.7R, look in: - + For the current stable release, 2.1.7.1R, look in: + + + For the current 2.2 branch release, 2.2.1R, look in: + + + + are also made once a day along the RELENG_2_2 branch (2.2.1 -> 2.2.x) + as it winds its way towards the next point release on the 2.2 branch + (2.2.3, possibly, or maybe 2.2.5 depending on the change delta). With + the occasional exception of accidental breakage, the RELENG_2_2 + branch is being carefully maintained (no experimental changes, fixes only + after testing in -current) and these snapshots of it may be considered + "2.2.1+" for all intents and purposes and more desirable than 2.2.1 for new + installations. FreeBSD is also available via CDROM, from the following place(s): @@ -414,6 +443,15 @@ make release BUILDNAME=3.0-MY-SNAP CHROOTDIR=/some/big/filesystem/release + + For a more in-depth look at the 4.4BSD kernel organization, + you can't go wrong with: + + McKusick, Marshall Kirk, Keith Bostic, Michael J Karels, + and John Quarterman. + The Design and Implementation of the 4.4BSD Operating + System. Reading, Mass. : Addison-Wesley, 1996. + ISBN 0-201-54979-4 A good book on system administration is: @@ -445,22 +483,18 @@ make release BUILDNAME=3.0-MY-SNAP CHROOTDIR=/some/big/filesystem/release Other sources of information.

- One good source of additional information is the - ``[comp.unix.bsd] NetBSD, FreeBSD, and 386BSD (0.1) - FAQ''. Much of the information is relevant to FreeBSD, and this - FAQ is posted around twice a month to the following newsgroups: + The following newsgroups contain pertinent discussion for FreeBSD + users: - - comp.unix.bsd.netbsd.announce - comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.announce - comp.answers - news.answers - + + + + + - If you have WWW access, the FreeBSD home page is at: + If you have WWW access, please visit . - - The FreeBSD handbook has a pretty complete @@ -475,84 +509,45 @@ make release BUILDNAME=3.0-MY-SNAP CHROOTDIR=/some/big/filesystem/release Which file do I download to get FreeBSD?

- I'll answer that in a minute, but first a few words of explanation - might be in order. FreeBSD is not an application that you can - run from inside an existing DOS/Windows setup, it is an operating - system in its own right (in the same way as Windows NT or OS/2). + You generally need just one floppy image, the floppies/boot.flp + file, which you image-copy onto a 1.44MB floppy and then boot it + in order to download the rest (and the installation will manage your TCP/IP + collection, deal with tapes, CDROMs, floppies, DOS partitions, whatever's + necessary to get the reset of the bits installed). - To install it involves making a ``primary partition'' for it on - the hard disk and arranging for it to be booted at system startup. - (FreeBSD gives you the option of installing a boot manager, so you - will be able to choose which operating system to use every time the - system starts up. Alternatively, you can use the boot managers - provided with oher operating systems, such as OS/2 or Linux). - - Obviously, this is not as simple as using an operating system that - those nice people you bought your PC from pre-installed for you, - but it's not too difficult provided you read (and, if possible, print - out) all the instructions before starting. It may be a lot to - read, but it's very complete. You should also make full note of the - exhortations to back everything up first and the legal disclaimers. - These are not there for amusement value - we mean it! However, - most people find the installation goes fairly smoothly. - - If you are able to be connected to the Internet for the duration - 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 - (even the minimal installation requires downloading about 15MB of - compressed files). - - For people who do not have good Internet connectivity, the best - way to install FreeBSD is to buy a CDROM (see for details). Unfortunately, this - is problematic for some people, as the support for IDE CDROMs in - FreeBSD is still in alpha (not because of some violent antipathy - towards IDE CDROMs, but simply due to a lack of people with the - necessary combination of skill, inclination and time). - - Finally, if you already have a copy of the necessary files, FreeBSD - can be installed from floppy disks, a DOS hard disk partition or - tape or over a network via SLIP, PPP, NFS, PLIP and Ethernet. - - For further information, please see - + Full instructions on this procedure and a little bit more about installation + issues in general can be found in the Where are the instructions for installing FreeBSD?

Installation instructions can be found in the + name="Handbook entry on installing FreeBSD."> - What do I need to run FreeBSD? + What do I need in order 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 5 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. - See the section on + See also the section on I have only 4 MB of RAM. Can I install FreeBSD?

- FreeBSD 2.1.7 is the last version of FreeBSD that will install on + FreeBSD 2.1.7 was the last version of FreeBSD that could be installed on a 4MB system. Newer versions of FreeBSD, like 2.2, need at least 5MB to install on a new system. - 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 + All versions of FreeBSD, including 2.2, will RUN in 4MB of ram, they + just can't run the installation program in 4MB. 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. Or you could + always just swap your disk into a system which has >4MB, install onto + it and then swap it back. There are also situations in which FreeBSD 2.1.7 will not install in 4 MB. To be exact: it does not install with 640 kB base + 3 MB @@ -592,7 +587,34 @@ make release BUILDNAME=3.0-MY-SNAP CHROOTDIR=/some/big/filesystem/release

Install Windows 95 first, after that FreeBSD. FreeBSD's boot - manager will then manage to boot Win95 and FreeBSD. + manager will then manage to boot Win95 and FreeBSD. If you + install Windows 95 second, it will boorishly overwrite your + boot manager without even asking. If that happens, see + the next section. + + + Help, Windows 95 killed my boot manager! How do I get + it back? + +

You can reinstall the boot manager FreeBSD comes with in one of + two ways: + + + Running DOS, go into the tools/ directory of your FreeBSD + distribution and look for bootinst.exe. You run it like so: +

bootinst.exe boot.bin +

And the boot manager will be reinstalled. + + Boot the FreeBSD boot floppy again and go to the Custom + installation menu item. Choose Partition. Select the drive which + used to contain your boot manager (likely the first one) and when you + come to the partition editor for it, as the very first thing (e.g. + do not make any changes) select (W)rite. This will ask for + confirmation, say yes, and when you get the Boot Manager selection + prompt, be sure to select "Boot Manager." + This will re-write the boot manager to disk. Now quit out of the + installation menu and reboot off the hard disk as normal. + How can I have more than one operating system on my PC? @@ -624,11 +646,6 @@ make release BUILDNAME=3.0-MY-SNAP CHROOTDIR=/some/big/filesystem/release Did you download the floppy image in binary (or image) mode? (don't be embarrassed, even the best of us have made this mistake at least once when FTP'ing things!) - If you're using one of these new-fangled operating systems - like Windows95 or Windows NT, did you shut it down and restart - the system in plain, honest DOS? It seems these OS's can - interfere with programs that write directly to hardware, as - the disk creation program does; even running it inside a DOS shell in the GUI can cause this problem. @@ -787,25 +804,12 @@ make release BUILDNAME=3.0-MY-SNAP CHROOTDIR=/some/big/filesystem/release /stand/sysinstall as root.

Alternatively, if you still have the install floppy, you can just - reboot from that. -

- Select the ``Express Install'' option, which will put you - straight into the partition editor, and create a single slice on the - disk with the (A)ll option (make sure you are editing the right - disk!). Say ``No'' when asked if you want to remain compatible with - other operating systems, and ``Yes'' when asked if you know what - you're doing. Then write it out with the (W)rite command and - press (Q)uit to transfer to the disklabel editor. - -

- Divide up your FreeBSD slice according to taste and press `w' when - you are happy with the way it looks. Again, say ``Yes'' when asked - for confirmation, and press `q' to quit. If you're adding swap - space on the second drive, look at - for a nasty little gotcha that can cause no end of trouble. + reboot from that and use the partition & label editors while + the system is totally quiescent.

WARNING: There is no substitute for reading carefully & understanding what you are doing! Things described here may @@ -1271,6 +1275,12 @@ options PSM_CHECKSYNC #checks the header byte for sync. name="Handbook entry on configuring the kernel"> if you've no experience with building kernels. + If you're running FreeBSD 2.1.6 or later, the psm0 device + line is already there, but it's disabled. Remove the keyword + -