Mailing List

A mailing list is graciously being hosted by the guys at NRAO. To subscribe, visit http://listmgr.cv.nrao.edu/mailman/listinfo/chuug.

The list address is <chuug@nrao.edu>, however it is a closed list, meaning no posts will be accepted from non-subscribers.

Chuug has also collected material that can be used to promote Linux, BSD, Unix, and (most importantly) our group. All of this material is conveniently available for you to download through your browser. See our Propaganda page.

Slashdot.org - Your source for current news and discussion

Linux.org

Linux Hardware Database (LhD) - A site for Linux users to share their opinions and experiences using different computer hardware under Linux. LhD is an independent, central database with an easy to use rating system. It also includes some information about device drivers and some hints for getting quirky devices working under Linux.

Sunsite - Tons of Linux files: applications, system utilities, kernels, HOWTOs, etc.

Redhat Advanced Development Labs (rhad) - Resolving all the usability issues, and then some

Mozilla.org - Netscape's release of the Mozilla (aka Navigator) source code is a major boost to the Open-source software movement

The GNU archives - GNU's Not Unix!

There are several "major" free Linux distributions available (in order of ease of install/setup/use):

RedHat - RedHat is the recommended distribution for true newbies (Wintendo 95 converts may find it particularly helpful), though it is certainly not limited to them. The reasoning behind the above statement is that RedHat has always focused on improving the ease of use/installation, and therefore has a very impressive set of installation scripts to make life easier for the beginner. In addition, they have a good software packaging system for ease of installation of software. Be Warned however - RedHat installs tend to take a lot of disk space by default, and cannot be done floppy-only. Also note: Shadowed passwords available at install time.

Debian - Debian is an excellent distribution, and blends features from both RedHat and Slackware. It is recommended for those with some prior experience (or the braver newbies). Debian has very good installation scripts (nearly on par with RedHat), a good package management system for ease of software installation, and yet is by default minimal (fully functional system can be installed from 5 floppies), yet with the packages is easily scaled to include whatever software you wish. Debian has been called the "real man's" Slackware ;) . Debian allows you to choose whether to use shadowed passwords during install.

Slackware - Slackware is the control-freak's installation. You can control exactly what is installed. There is very little hand-holding and only a minimal packaging system The system can be installed from floppies. It is recommended only for those with a considerable amount of experience with Linux and installations.

MkLinux - Mach microkernel Linux for the Power Mac (short description due to the author's utter lack of Mac experience...anyone familiar with it is more than welcome to send an informative description)

CD copies of these and other distributions can be purchased (or sometimes downloaded for CD-R) direct from the vendors as well as numerous other vendors. Places like Cheap*Bytes offer extremely affordable (~$2) CDs. In addition, there are various "commercial" distributions, including the "Official" RedHat release (includes commercial software like the Metro-X Xserver, and an paperback installation guide), Caldera (rumored to be available at the UVA bookstore), and SuSE.

FreeBSD

OpenBSD

NetBSD

Minix - Minix has a history not unlike Linux. It was written by a collage professor (Andrew Tannenbaum) as an alternative to Unix. Unlike Linux, it wasn't open source, but was sold through a book publisher for about $150. The cost is what drove Linus Torvolds to write his Linux. Minix was put out under a freeware licence in 1996 and has been ported to almost every system imaginable (put it on that old 8086/amiga/atari ST/mac[runs in MacOS and on 68k!]) (See the Minix Information Sheet.)

MacMiNT - A Unix-like OS that was originally written for the Atari ST, but was later ported to Macintosh. It runs under MacOS and on any processor used in a Mac (untried below 68030, but will try on Mac Plus soon). It can run Bash, Tcsh, Man pages (most Unices that run on top of MacOS don't, at least not for free), Gcc, Elvis (a vi clone) and possibly others, if recompiled. MacMiNT is not open source, but it is freeware.