LINUX GAZETTE

January 2000, Issue 49       Published by Linux Journal

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Copyright © 1996-2000 Specialized Systems Consultants, Inc.

"Linux Gazette...making Linux just a little more fun!"

The Mailbag!

Write the Gazette at gazette@ssc.com

Contents:

Help Wanted -- Article Ideas

Answers to these questions should be sent directly to the e-mail address of the inquirer with or without a copy to gazette@ssc.com. Answers that are copied to LG will be printed in the next issue in the Tips column.

Before asking a question, please check the Linux Gazette FAQ to see if it has been answered there.

Mon, 29 Nov 1999 22:30:09 -0600
From: Matthew Woodward <mpwoodward@hotmail.com>
Subject: Win98 ICS + Linux

Is there a way to have my Linux box access the internet via a Win98 box that has the Win98SE internet connection sharing (ICS) installed? I have my LAN setup fine (can ping, telnet, ftp, etc.), but I tried setting my Win98 box as my "default gateway" in RedHat 6.0, and it hits the Win98 box, but the connection is refused. Do any how-tos exist to get this to work?

Tue, 30 Nov 1999 15:48:28 +0100
From: magni <magni@omega.ien.it>
Subject: QUICK html browse/edit

Hi everybody,

I am in need of some program that let me browse and quickly edit HTML files. The reason is a grat lot of HTML local files that need VERY frequent updating. To launch the editor of Netscape - apart from the not-so-occasional crash, is way too slow.

It would be so fine to have a browser that, at the touch of some magic key, would allow to WRITE upon the html doc, and save it locally.

Are you aware of something like this?

Thank you

Alessandro

Tue, 30 Nov 1999 15:48:23 -0800
From: H. Gorkem Kuterdem <kuterdem@u.washington.edu>
Subject: fopen() failure

Dear Editor;

I am having a weird problem (probably due to my omitting something someplace) with fopen. The program dumps core while executing the fopen() command. I have included some details below. I have tried to compile on different architectures (including Digital Unix 4.3 on an Alpha and the Windows (with Watcom C/C++ 10.5)) and this problem does not occur.

I would appreciate if you'd publish it in the Gazette or point me in the right direction. Your help will be appreicated.

Gorkem

Problem description:

Operating System: Redhat Linux 6.0 (With minor modifications to the boxed set, no significant additions to the programming packages except possibly efence) 

Compiler: cc -c mss -g -lm *.c (thru make)
Debugger: gdb / ddd

Includes:
#include <math.h>
#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>
#include <errno.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <assert.h>
#include <float.h>

Code: 

FILE *fq;

..............

fq=fopen("quan.071099","w");
The program dumps core (with a segmentation fault) while executing this line. The gdb output is: 
Program received signal SIGSEGV, Segmentation fault.
chunk_alloc (ar_ptr=0x4011d580, nb4) at malloc.c:2723
malloc.c:2723: No such file or directory.
(gdb) up
#1  0x4008cb8a in __libc_malloc (bytes6) at malloc.c:2616
malloc.c:2616: No such file or directory.
(gdb) up
#2  0x40085e5b in _IO_new_fopen (filename=0x8052df2 "quan.071099",
    mode=0x8052df0 "w") at iofopen.c:42
iofopen.c:42: No such file or directory.
(gdb) up
#3  0x804f5e7 in scoll (seg=0x8062800, l1=0x8054610, l2=0x805a428,
    xpos=0x80638b0, d1=0x8060240, d2=0x8060bb0, d3=0x8061520,
d4=0x8061e90,
    nseg=0xbffffcc0, mMU=0xbffffce0, Ntrx, numpts=3, topleaf)
    at scalc.c:640
640         fq=fopen("quan.071099","w");

Wed, 01 Dec 1999 08:24:14 PST
From: samir dobaria <sam_dobs@hotmail.com>
Subject: sound card

i have installed linux 6.1 in my system. i am having ymf274 pci sound card (yamaha). when it autoprobes it detects the card but soon after it displays a message "This card is supported by Linux". so where can i get the drivers and how to install it.

Wed, 1 Dec 1999 14:22:22 -0600
From: Web Development <daron@netbci.com>
Subject: Virtual Domain LIMIT??

We are running Red Hat 6.o on our Linux Box and have one IP # bined to the machine.

On that one IP# we have presently about 30 domains. All virtual domiains. We've messed with and fixed the whole "Old Browsers will not..." problem...that's not our problem...

Now we have had the box lock up TWICE when configuring the "linuxconf" to add another domain to that IP#.

SOLUTION: ??? Is there a limit to how many virtual domains you can have bound to ONE IP# Can we just bind ANOTHER IP# to the box and begin doing more virtual hosts with it?

PLEASE HELP!!! WE cannot add anymore domains to our server until we can figure this one out!

THANKS!

Wed, 1 Dec 1999 17:38:52 -0600
From: Gregory S. Waits <greg@gtinternet.com>
Subject: SSl

hi,

i need to setup my server to allow users on the server to access their pages via SSL.

i have created a site on the machine that has a secure certificate. "https://gtsafeorder.net"

i looked at the information on http://apache.org to see if i coould find the information on how to do this. i beleive the information i have included below may be what we need to do.

can you look at this and tell me if this is the procedure and how i can do it?

any guidance would be appreciated.

-regards

greg

Thu, 2 Dec 1999 01:26:24 -0800 (PST)
From: Michael Van Malderen <mvanmalderen@yahoo.com>
Subject: Linux Red Hat installation kernel panic Unable to mount root

I'm not sure if anyone can help me out here.

On installation of Red Hat Linux 6.0, i receive the error

crc errorVFS: Cannot open device 08:21 Kernel panic: VFS: Unable to mount root fs on 08:21

And then it stops, i know the reason, i think, but i don't know what to do about it

I got windows 98 installed on a 9,5 Gb hard drive, and now, i want to install linux on the same drive. However, i did already install linux before, and in removing it, i removed my MBR(master boot record) under dos with command FDISK /MBR. So my MBR is blank now, and then i repartitioned my drive with partitionmagic 4.0 . Now, linux can't mount the drive because in the MBR there is nothing telling linux there is a drive.

This i the reason for not retrieving my root.

Does anyone have a solution, for rewriting the MBR or telling linux where to mount the drive ???

Any other solution would be welcome too.

Thu, 02 Dec 1999 23:44:54 +0530
From: Naveen Aggarwal <naveenagg@vsnl.com>
Subject: intel 810 chipset

Does Linux support intel 810 chipset. I recently purchased an intel 810 chipset based computer. I was not able to install red hat 6.1 and caldera open linux 2.2 as the chipset was reported to be unidentified. Can i get more help on the same ? Thanks Naveen

Fri, 03 Dec 1999 06:24:55 -0600
From: Ken Mumme <kmumme@ecpi.com>
Subject: Sendmail Problem?

Situation:

Have installed Redhat Linux 6.0 on a machine connected to the internet using a static ip address, and have enabled the pop3 mail server.

I can send mail from this machine to other accounts located on remote systems, but when I try to send email from a remote account to this machine I get the following: 

Subject:    Returned mail: Service unavailable
   Date:    Fri, 3 Dec 1999 05:39:22 -0600 (CST)
   From:    Mail Delivery Subsystem 
     To:    

The original message was received at Fri, 3 Dec 1999 05:39:21 -0600 (CST)
from ppp20.ecpi.com [216.141.25.49]

   ----- The following addresses had permanent fatal errors -----
<emailacct@mosisinc.com>

   ----- Transcript of session follows -----
... while talking to mail.jump.net.:
	RCPT To:<emailacct@mosisinc.com>
<<< 571 <emailacct@mosisinc.com>... relay rejected
554 <emailacct@mosisinc.com>... Service unavailable

Reporting-MTA: dns; ecpi.com
Received-From-MTA: DNS; ppp20.ecpi.com
Arrival-Date: Fri, 3 Dec 1999 05:39:21 -0600 (CST)

Final-Recipient: RFC822; emailacct@mosisinc.com
Action: failed
Status: 5.5.0
Remote-MTA: DNS; mail.jump.net
Diagnostic-Code: SMTP; 571 <emailacct@mosisinc.com>... relay rejected
Last-Attempt-Date: Fri, 3 Dec 1999 05:39:22 -0600 (CST)

Subject:   test
   Date:    Fri, 03 Dec 1999 05:43:54 -0600
   From:    kmumme <kmumme@ecpi.com>
     To:    emailacct@mosisinc.com
===========================================================================
Is the problem due to the setup on "mosisinc.com" (actually: zeus.mosisinc.com) or is it due to mail.jump.net?

Fri, 3 Dec 1999 09:30:45 -0800 (PST)
From: james gan <csgan97@yahoo.com>
Subject: Problem

Hi

i can not install or detect my sound card can any one help me and teach me how to do it... and i can not a.out after i compile my program and i tried to find a,out but there is no such file. so i think there is no c program in my linux...

thank

Sat, 4 Dec 1999 11:44:38 +0800
From: Froilan N. Magdadaro <hcsales@solnets.com>
Subject: Adding Hardware devices in Linux

Hello,

I would like to ask a favor if you can give me the basic steps in adding hardware devices in linux (ie NIC, SCSI card etc.). How do i enable these devices every boot up and how do i install their modules.

Thanks.....

Froilan :)

Mon, 06 Dec 1999 09:48:03 +0100
From: Joaquim Homrighausen <joho@webbplatsen.se>
Subject: Not a tip, but rather a question

I'm looking to add "disk mirroring" (RAID-1) to a SUSE 6.1 system with an AHA-2940U2W.. I must be looking in the wrong places, but it seems like information about this particular issue is scarce at best.

Any ideas?

Tue, 07 Dec 1999 00:12:57 +0600
From: Nandalal Gunaratne <njg@itmin.com>
Subject: Help on database and stats for doctors

Dear Linux gurus and experts I am a surgeon who is planning to use Linux for the computer in the hospital I work in. I need a simple database program and a statistical program which can anlyse the data in the patient database. We are not programmers and so cannot use complex programs. The only useful feature is to auto fill certain records. Example if the operation is TURP, the category is major, region is prostate and code is J789EX, once I put it in the next time I choose TURP from a drop down list of operation names the other criteria should automatically be recorded. OK? Then I must be able to get the statistics say for the year, of the data I want analysed in graphical as well as numerical form. Number of a type of operation, a pie graph of the category of surgery etc. It must be easy to use in a GUI and must be freeware as well. I have looked at the Software Map but there are too many listed and it confused me more! Please advice so we can get going as soon as possible.

Thanks
Nandalal Gunaratne
Sri Lanka

Tue, 29 Jun 1999 11:28:37 -1700
From: DJ Hackenbruch <djhack@rmci.net>
Subject: Articles on touch-tone decoding.

I am interested in setting up a Linux box to receive incoming phone calls where the caller uses the touch tones to play specific messages. Any articles in your journal about this, or any ideas as to where I can look?

Tue, 7 Dec 1999 18:10:05 -0600
From: Vic Herrera <vherrera@interaccess.com>
Subject: modprobe: can't locate module char-major-4

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.

I am hanging on boot with respawning errors, I booted to single user and checked messeges, I added an alias for char-major-4 and I still have the same problem. 

Dec  7 23:01:29 localhost /sbin/mingetty[560]: /dev/tty5: cannot open tty: No su
ch device
Dec  7 23:01:29 localhost init: Id "5" respawning too fast: disabled for 5 minut
es
Dec  7 23:01:29 localhost modprobe: can't locate module char-major-4
Dec  7 23:01:29 localhost /sbin/mingetty[564]: /dev/tty6: cannot open tty: No su
ch device
Dec  7 23:01:29 localhost init: Id "6" respawning too fast: disabled for 5 minut
es
Dec  7 23:01:29 localhost init: no more processes left in this runlevel
bash# vi /etc/conf.modules

"/etc/conf.modules" 2 lines, 60 characters
:q
alias parport_lowlevel parport_ax
alias char-major-4 serial

When I run mingetty from the command line this is what I get 

bash# cd /sbin
bash# more mingetty

******** mingetty: Not a text file ********

bash# mingetty tty1
modprobe: can't locate module char-major-4
bash#

I have searched a lot and am stumped.

This is RedHat 6.1 on a sparc2

Wed, 08 Dec 1999 02:26:40 -0600
From: gLaNDix <glandix@linuxfreak.com>
Subject: Epson Stylus Color 400 problems

ok, i have tried and tried, but i just can't seem to get my Epson Stylus Color 400 setup in Debian2.1... it worked in RedHat 5.x via printtool, but now i don't have this nice gui to aid in setting up my printer... using LPRng and magicfilter (i'm willing to change that if neccessary!!!), i am able to print ascii text files, but nothing else... everything else spits lots and lots of blank pages at me... WHAT DO I DO??? i've heard of APS Filter, and tried it to no avail (i couldn't even print text on that one)... please help me...

jesse

Wed, 8 Dec 1999 11:46:40 -0500
From: <kmurray@us.ibm.com>
Subject: Token-Ring LAN Streamer Configuration

I would like to know if you have had problems configuring a Token Ring PCI LAN Streamer card to run under Linux 6.1

Wed, 08 Dec 1999 16:07:14 -0500
From: Ed Vander Ryd <support@brant.net>
Subject: resource limits in Linux ?

Are there limitations in RedHat 5.1 Linux that would prevent me from hosting a certain number of virtual domains? I'm currently running on a P133 with 64 MB, hosting 42 virtual subdomains.

I'm currently running Apache 1.3.0 and Sendmail 8.9.1 and wu-ftp 2.5.0, Radius 2.01, etc.

I suspect that there may be a problem because of lost email messages from outside sources. My log files have not revealed any major flaw and the system has been working fine for four years. The only thing that has changed is the number of processes being run on the one server.

Any advice would be gratefully appreciated.

Wed, 08 Dec 1999 18:10:25 -0500
From: Yihung Chen <ychen@igs.marconimed.com>
Subject: Linux Driver for the DigiBoard Xr/920 Serial Ports

I 'm trying to install Digi AccelePort Xr/920 4 port card on a DEC Alpha-based machine (Compaq XP1000) running Linux v. 2.2.4. The driver which I download form Digi was successfully built as a kernel module and loaded in. The board does not work after the command "digiDload" was run to initialize the hardware. The command fails with an error message "Could not start BIOS on card 1" . I'm wondering if any one can give me some tips on how to port the driver from the Intel-based version to an Alpha-based. Or is there any other model of serial multiport card in the market that would support Alpha based Linux? Thanks.

Fri, 10 Dec 1999 08:07:41 +0530
From: satheesh john <satheesh_john@hotmail.com>
Subject: Specialix ISA card configuration in LINUX ver 5.2 and 6.1 after the installation of OS in the server

I am hardware service engineer and working in HCL Insys. Ltd., INDIA. In one of our customer sites the server came with two ISA Specialix IO8+ cards. But I am unable to configue it. Moreover those cards came after the installation of LINUX ver 5.2. So whether it can be configured after the OS installation or not. From Specialix internet site I came to knew that LINUX has inbuilt driver for these cards. But I don't know whether it can be activated only at the time of OS installation or not. So please kindly E-mail to me the procedure of configuration of those cards under LINUX ver 5.2 and ver 6.1 (bec- ause we have recently received a LINUX ver 6.1 server --there also I want to configure ISA Specialix cards.) Moreover kindly send me the IO base address setting dip switch positions--Because there is no manual for dip switch settings of Specialix card.

Fri, 10 Dec 1999 13:44:41 -0500
From: Pierre Abbat <phma@oltronics.net>
Subject: How do I get mgetty to sendfax?

I am trying to send a fax with mgetty+sendfax. I have tried this on two machines, with two different modems. The one in the desktop box works with Windows; the other is a PCMCIA modem in a laptop that has only Linux on it. Both modems work for connecting to the net. I get the same error on both.

phma 

[root@neofelis mgetty+sendfax]# faxrunq
processing F000001/JOB...
/usr/sbin/sendfax -v ####### f1.g3
Trying fax device '/dev/modem'... OK.
/usr/sbin/sendfax: not a class 2/2.0 fax modem
command exited with status 3

Sat, 11 Dec 1999 21:12:04 -0500
From: matt <mbacchi@together.net>
Subject: Can I run pppd from cron?

I'm attempting to run pppd from cron. It runs fine if I start it from the command line, but I want it to start at a designated time during the

day. I believe the problem is related to the fact that cron doesn't have an associated controlling terminal. Also, I don't want to use diald or demand dialing with pppd.

Question 1: How do you start a deamon process from cron. In one script I've tried using setsid() to create a process group for the daemon, and then redirect STDIN, STDOUT and STDERR, but that doesn't work.

Question 2: Has anyone done this before. If I'm breaking new ground by attempting this maybe it calls for a modification to pppd, and I'm chasing my tail trying to figure it out another way.

Thanks for the help.

Sun, 12 Dec 1999 18:36:27 +0330
From: Mohammad Mahdi Motiei <motiei@seismo.um.ac.ir>
Subject: erro in loging in

Dear Sir. Hi. I have a serious problem with my Red Hat Linux 6.0 server. Our servaer name is "seismo". I can not login to it form 2 days before to now. Before that I had not any problem with it. When I trying to login to server, after type 'root' or any other valid usernames, against "seismo login:" on server, for example:

seismo login: root

the 'root ' or any other name was erased and ' seismo login: ' appeares again.

like: 

 
login name: root
login name:

login name: username
login name:

 ....

What can I do? Your help will make me glad. Regards. Thank you very much. M.M.Motiei

Sun, 12 Dec 1999 11:35:32 -0500
From: David Sander <Panic@gambitdesign.com>
Subject: pulse vs tone dialing

currently my modem dials using tone, but my phone line needs pulse, how do fix it?

Mon, 13 Dec 1999 07:45:20 -0500
From: John C. Pardon <jpardon@erinet.com>
Subject: Article idea: Linux and MS SMS

Is there a way to "fool" MS Systems Management Server into thinking that a Linux (or Sun/intel) machine is just another Win95 machine? I'm not sure of everything that MS SMS does, but aside from asking me for a network pasword they also check for the Explorezip worm... I've looked at the Linux HOWTOs and did not see anything on this subject.

MS SMS runs on Windows NT and comes in 2 pieces: server component and client component. Among other things SMS does: Hardware Inventory, Network Discovery, Software Inventory, and Compliance Checking. (see http://www.microsoft.com/smsmgmt/exec/sms20datasheet.asp ) I looked at the SAMBA doc. at http://wwww.samba.org and see the following: "Samba runs on Unix platforms, but speaks to Windows clients like a native. It allows a Unix system to move into a Windows "Network Neighborhood" without causing a stir." This does not mention SMS. Can SAMBA "fool" MS SMS into thinking that my linux box is a Windows machine and permit me to logon on the network without raising alarms bells? SMS logon also seems to authenticate me to the MS Exchange Server from which I must retrieve email... I need this capability as well.

Given the "underground" nature of many Linux deployments, I'd be surprised if others have not had similar qestions. It would make for a good article and maybe a good HOWTO...

Mon, 13 Dec 1999 20:00:39 -0600
From: Ben Kressman <benk@fatrat.com>
Subject: Linux Loop Device question - Not Covered before.

Hi.

Wanted to say thanks about the tidbit of increasing the MAX_LOOP past 8 for the loop back device to get more than 8 devices. I've got mine set to 32, and it is working great.

Question is:

I know the loopback device has options for encryption, I wanted to know if anyone can think of a way to get it to do compression. IE. Gzip the loopfile, and have the system automagically parse the read/write through a decompressor/compressor.. It would be the same type of process like the encryption, except be compressed.

I really have a need in something like this, if you can think of any resources I could try, I would greatly appreciate it.

Keep up the great work!

Wed, 15 Dec 1999 00:47:34 EST
From: Scot Reichert <R6Davies@aol.com>
Subject: Linux Paper

To whom it may concern, I am writing a paper on the LINUX operating system and would like some information on the following topics: 

Origin of Linux
Type of operating system
Strengths
Weaknesses
Why use Linux
Why is it gaining popularity or is it?

If you could help out with some information any of these it would be appreciated.

Thank you,

Wed, 15 Dec 1999 07:06:09 -0600
From: David Hayek <DrHintoon@netscape.net>
Subject: Music CDs on Linux

I tried to find the answer to this question in the archives first but no luck. I can mount the cdrom and use data cds just fine, but if I unmount the cdrom, remove the data cd and put in a music cd and try to mount the cdrom again I get an error message that says the file system is unknown/unsupported. How do mount the cdrom to read music cds? I have Red Hat 5.2, kernel version 2.0.36. Thank you for you help.

[You don't mount music CDs. Instead, you run a CD-player program. Your distribution should have several console and X-windows utilities to choose from. -Ed.]

Thu, 16 Dec 1999 08:56:28 -0800
From: Dr. Nicholas Graham <ngraham@ucsd.edu>
Subject: limit: coredumpsize:

I am running Redhat 6.0 on a Dell 610. Recently (after reseting the system clock and rebooting), I began receiving this message on opening a terminal:

limit: coredumpsize: Can't set limit

This message is coming from /etc/csh.cshrc. Thinking perhaps that csh (who I suppose is exectuing csh.cshrc) thought that there wasn't enough disk space, I reset the value to 100000 from 1000000. That fixed the problem...sort of. However, now when I log in from outside via telnet I get the same message. Even this statement

limit coredumpsize 10

does not work from a telneted session.

I am worried that this behavior is due to some kind of hack attack. I am running tcp wrappers on most everything from anywhere, but I do use the web and thought perhaps something bad came in on a cgi script.

What can I do to figure out what is going on and repair??

Thanks in advance for any help.

Sun, 21 Nov 1999 02:57:13 +0100
From: giancarlo ciancagli <pano1100@inwind.it>
Subject: Question in Italian

Mi piacerebbe provare LINUX, dove lo posso trovare?

Grazie e buone feste!

Fri, 17 Dec 1999 09:45:52 -0800
From: Francine Fortin <ffortin@cnwl.igs.net>
Subject: Access 97

Hi,

I'm a 3rd year Business/Technology student and need to design a database using Access 97. However, my client is using Linux. Can Access 97 run on a Linux platform?

Any direction you can provide would be very much appreciated.

Thanks

Fri, 17 Dec 1999 14:44:05 -0800 (PST)
From: djouallah mimoune <javafun@excite.com>
Subject: new linux user from algeria

hello every one

I am a linux newbie, I use linux mandrake 6.0 and let say all thing work very fine( apart netscape composer ) I wonder if some one can send me some free applications like star office it will be very nicely, and if understand french you can visite my web site about linux www.ifrance.com/linuxalgeria

thanks a lot

Sun, 19 Dec 1999 11:04:58 -0800 (PST)
From: john rafeal <pbbarrett@yahoo.com>
Subject: connecting to internet

Hello, currently i am using linux5.2 for intel and i also use win95. I have an account on the microsoft network (msn) to access the internet. is it possible to use this account to connect to the internet undermy linux system? if so how?

Mon, 20 Dec 1999 15:54:40 -0500
From: Tue Hoang <tueh@cyberworldgroup.com>
Subject: SSI on Win32 and Linux

Hello,

I am currently trying to configure SSI to work on LINUX and WinNT environment and very much unsuccessful for both os. Is there any key configuration format and techniques that I should be aware of when configuring SSI on WinNT4.0/sp5 and on LINUX-redhat6.1? these platforms are on different machine.

Please assist,
/dt

Wed, 22 Dec 1999 13:30:45 +0800
From: =?gb2312?B?wre54ruq?= <lugh@neu-alpine.com>
Subject: Help

Help!

I have a machine with PII 233,64M RAM,SIS 6326 AGP Card. I can't config SIS 6326 with Redhat 6.1 to run Xwindow.

Where can I get the Driver for SIS 6326?

Thanks a lot.

Wed, 22 Dec 1999 12:14:40 +0100 (CET)
From: taki mohamed <taki_80150@yahoo.fr>
Subject: Informations

Hello, my problem is:

I have smal ethernet Network (3 Pc-Hub) 2 pc work under win98 with TCP/IP protocole other pc work under linux redhat

Iwant to access to program in the pc redhat from pc win98. Thanks for you.

Thu, 23 Dec 1999 16:50:42 +0100
From: Christian C. Schouten <cschoute@wi.leidenuniv.nl>
Subject: DSystems Wizar3d display adapter

Hello and goodmorning...

I have installed RedHat Linux 6.1 a few days ago - AND I AM NEW TO LINUX... - I just have one problem, or, actually, difficulty... I have managed to figure out some things to get my soundcard working, i am getting close to getting my zip drive to work - but one thing I cannot solve... I have a DSystems Wizar3d display adapter with 4096 Kb RAM and Linux says it is based on the Cirrus Logic GD5464? chipset. In windows, I could easily use it at 16.7 Million colors at 1024x768, but the graphical thing of RedHat (startx??) can't get more out of it than 8 bit color, 640x480, and I hate that tiny screen... I found a program called Xconfigurator or something and it tells me it can't display 1024x768, or even 800x600... it won't even give me more than 8 bit (256?) colors... I think it MUST be possible to get a screen I like - say 1024x768x16.7M colors? :-)

Who can help me???????????????????????

Signed, An almost desperate Dutch guy...
Chris

Tue, 26 Jan 1999 07:08:24 +0800
From: Li Wei <leeway@kali.com.cn>
Subject: hookup to isp

i have Debian 2.0. i use pon to make a connection and after that i find i can't ping ip numbers (the output say "network unreachable" but i'm sure it is reachable.)

during startup, Debian says that it can't find /usr/sbin/inetd. is this the problem?

Sat, 25 Dec 1999 09:46:29 +0530
From: Sam Dobs <sam_dobs@hotmail.com>
Subject: yamaha sound card.

i am having yamaha ymf274 pci sound card installed in my system. when it autoprobes it detects it but soon after it displays that "this card is not supported by Linux".

Sat, 25 Dec 1999 17:05:21 +0800
From: Chris Chen <chris-cc_chen@mentorg.com>
Subject: NIS on Linux and Solaris

I have a Solaris 2.5.1 act as a NIS master working on the network. I tried to setup a RedHat 6.1 Linux act as a Slave server of the Solaris.

I have successfully setup the master NIS on the Solaris by isuue the "ypinit -m" command but when I try to run "ypinit -s master_name" on the Linux, the Linux always tell me the error message:

"Can't enumerate maps from master. Please check that it is running."

Is there anything I missed??

Thank you.

Sat, 25 Dec 1999 14:01:24 -0500 (EST)
From: Jeffrey Meltzer <meltzer@villagenet.com>
Subject: Dual Pentium Pro (Vectra)

Hello. I'm trying to get Redhat 6.1 (kernel 2.2.12) up on an HP Vectra XU 6/200 (224MB Ram). I know all hardware is functioning because I had Solaris x86 loaded on it for a year.

The problem i'm having is that when I try and boot into SMP the system hangs at:

hda: ST39140A, 8693MB w/ 448kB Cache, CHS662/16/63

When I boot Uniprocessor it boots up fine

I've been searching around the net all day and haven't found much...I've seen a few things about the SCSI controller, and i've disabled it in the bios (using IDE disk) My lilo.conf looks like this: 

boot=/dev/hda
map=/boot/map
install=/boot/boot.b
prompt
timeoutP
default=linux
Linear   
image=/boot/vmlinuz-2.2.12-20smp
        label=linux-smp
        initrd=/boot/initrd-2.2.12-20smp.img
        read-only
        root=/dev/hda1
image=/boot/vmlinuz-2.2.12-20
        label=linux
        initrd=/boot/initrd-2.2.12-20.img
        read-only
        root=/dev/hda1

Anybody have any ideas as to what i'm doing wrong? Thanks!

Sun, 26 Dec 1999 03:43:26 -0600 (CST)
From: Isaac Tsalicoglou <bsane@SDF.lonestar.org>
Subject: linux-win98 networking issues

Hi there and season's greetings! I have a 486/66 w/ 8megs RAM on which I recently installed Redhat 5.2 (a console only installation - no X-Windows). At home I've got a small network, with 3 PCs running Windows98, networked through both IPX/SPX and TCP/IP. SInce now that school is over for holidays I have the time to fool around with such things, I wonder whether there is a way I could network the Win98 PCs with the 486. I heard something about Samba, but I've got no clue about networks, considering that the setup of a network running WIn98 is piece of cake. Has anyone got an idea of what could be done with this issue?

Thanks in advance.

Mon, 27 Dec 1999 01:06:13 +0530 (IST)
From: Raj <s_raj@flashmail.com>
Subject: to answer guy

hello,

i have a probem with netscape. the problem is that once the netscape starts up it takes around 2min 35 sec to display the next page, ie that page that is listed as the start page.

i have a working DNS (cache only). i am on a single dial up machine. this is the nslookup. 

[root@localhost /root]# nslookup
Default Server:  localhost
Address:  127.0.0.1

	localhost
Server:  localhost
Address:  127.0.0.1


 *** localhost can't find localhost: No response from server ( took around
15 secs)

	127.0.0.1
Server:  localhost
Address:  127.0.0.1


 Name:    localhost
Address:  127.0.0.1

	exit



 the fwd resolv is not working since their are no A records to local host.
(can you tell me how to set this right)


 my DNS setup is like this
options { directory "/var/named"; }; zone "." { type hint; file "zone/named.ca"; }; zone "0.0.127.in-addr.arpa" { type master; file "zone/named.local"; };

the named.ca is the std file. named.local is @ IN SOA localhost.localdomain. root.localhost.localdomain. ( 1997022700 ; Serial 28800 ; Refresh 14400 ; Retry 3600000 ; Expire 86400 ) ; Minimum IN NS localhost.localdomain.

1 IN PTR localhost. which is again pretty std.

the message that came on /var/log/messages on ndc restart is 

 Dec 27 00:54:07 localhost named[836]: hint zone "" (IN) loaded (serial 0)
Dec 27 00:54:07 localhost named[836]: Zone "0.0.127.in-addr.arpa" (file
zone/named.local): No default TTL set using SOA minimum instead
Dec 27 00:54:07 localhost named[836]: master zone "0.0.127.in-addr.arpa"
(IN) loaded (serial 1997022700)
Dec 27 00:54:07 localhost named[836]: listening on [127.0.0.1].53 (lo)
Dec 27 00:54:07 localhost named[836]: Forwarding source address is
[0.0.0.0].1040
Dec 27 00:54:07 localhost named[837]: Ready to answer queries.
Dec 27 00:54:07 localhost named[837]: sysquery: sendto([128.8.10.90].53):
                                                       ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 
Network is unreachable

i have no idea why it is concerned with the [128.8.10.90].53 also what is sysquery:

finally the /etc/resolv.conf is 

nameserver 127.0.0.1

actually i am not having any other problem other than the 2:35 sec delay but my mind does not let me ignore it. after all what could be wrong. this some how feels to me like a dns issue since the ps ax gives the lines 

 752 pts/0    S      0:02 netscape --library-path /usr/i386-glibc20-linux/lib /
 769 pts/0    S      0:00 (dns helper)

like this i suspect the (dns helper) that might lead to the solution i suppose.

if you need any other info pl contact me

Sun, 26 Dec 1999 16:43:10 EST
From: Facundo <FMolina851@aol.com>
Subject: Install

Hi My name is Facundo and I'm trying to install LINUX to a clean HDD, but I'm having some problems. I was wondering if I would be able to get some help. my problem is that I get a message that sass "you must assign a root [/] partition to a LINUX native partition (ext2) for the install to proceed" can you help this is my first time to try something other than windows.

Sun, 26 Dec 1999 23:12:31 -0600
From: Nicholas Jordan <njp@balista.com>
Subject: suggestions and ideas

I just got linux back up and went in with the intention of configuring XFree & fvwm.

That would have been simple except for three or four *GLARING!!!!!!!!* omissions in every HOW-T and linux page I have visited out of approaching a meg of code and ascii over the net & cd-rom bus.

1.. Once you get into the manual, how do you get out ? 2.. Copying files from one location to another. 3.. Use the Pico editor 'cause it's the only one with any hint of commands once you are in the application. These seemingly obvious help questions ...... ugh.

I formatted and re-installed my Linux partition, doing a custom install without my mentor being there, got the numbers for Xconfig and the monitor, went in and was going to make some progress. Once you are in these applications, there is no known way to get the commands to get out of it and you are really stuck.

Mon, 27 Dec 1999 06:40:46 -0800 (PST)
From: ertugrul ugur <ertugrulbey@yahoo.com>
Subject: network operating system

Hi,

I am a student at beykent university. I have a question about network. What are the differences between Linux and Windows in network.?

Thank you!!!

ERTUGRUL

Mon, 27 Dec 1999 14:00:56 -0500
From: don owens <dowens@level8.com>
Subject: SNA Server

Is SNA Server available for Linux, yet?

[Not knowing what SNA Server is, I asked one of our sysadmins, Rory Krause. He did a web search and discovered that according to the Microsoft web site, SNA Server is a "comprehensive gateway and application integration platform", a "LAN-to-Host gateway" (especially to AS/400 and mainframe systems), and a part of Microsoft BackOffice. Given that information, and the unwillingness of Microsoft to port its other products (e.g., MS-Office, Internet Explorer) to Linux, I would say not to expect SNA Server in the near future.

Don, what is it you need SNA Server to do? Possibly there are some existing Linux programs which could be combined to do the same thing. -Ed.]

Sun, 26 Dec 1999 21:26:31 +0100
From: Filip Sneppe <filip.sneppe@chello.be>
Subject: How do I disable network services on one network card ?

I have two linux boxes in a home network (connected via ethernet). One of my computers (the faster machine) has a second network card connected to the internet via a cable modem. I've read all about basic security and how I should not run too many unnecessary network daemons like ftp, finger, etc on a host that's connected to the internet. However I often use these services for testing purposes at home. Is there an easy way I can disable these services from running on the network card that's connected to the internet, sort of like the network bindings tab in NT where you can unbind NetBIOS from one NIC. I'd hate to have to run one computer as a dedicated firewall...

Tue, 28 Dec 1999 15:51:13 EST
From: Kevin <Grasshoper1@aol.com>
Subject: Rockwell modem configuration?

i have a rockwell 56k Data Fax RTAD PCI modem and i cannot get it mounted. I have used minicom and the pppd and control panel to try and configure it. I have it set on com2 and it is telling me my modem is busy. Any info on how to get this configured?? Kevin

Date: Tue, 28 Dec 1999 19:09:39 +0530
From: "Krishnan Mani" <krishnanm@ways.com>
Subject: Re Hat 6.0

I use a RH6.0 for a mail-server on a Pentium desktop and it works fine as a dream. But from time to time i notice the following message on the screen: 

hda: status timeout: status=0xd0 {Busy}
hda: no DRQ after issuing WRITE
ide0: reset: success
what does this mean and do i need to do anything at all? i am sure that this is a common occurence

Date: Wed, 29 Dec 1999 18:43:51 +0100
From: <romain@vidonne.fr>
Subject: French dictionary for emacs I'm looking for a french dictionary for emacs. I've got Red Hat, my editor is emacs, and I use LaTeX on it.

General Mail

Tue, 30 Nov 1999 22:53:59 -0500
From: Albin A. Gesek <cagesek@ruralnet.org>
Subject: Problem downloading issues 47, 48

I have always downloaded the Linux Gazette to save and read off line and have all issues through 46. Since issue 47 I have not suceeded in downloading from the ftp site. I can read the issues on line but cannot get to the ftp site. Neither with Linux and Netscape nor with Explorer and Windows 95.

Am I unique in having this problem?

Trying TWDT2(HTML file) gets me truncated files. Up to general mail for 48 and only into help wanted for 47.

Pollywog <pollywog@shadypond.com> writes:

Hello,

Issue 48 of LG does not seem to appear in its entirety, though I was able to access it just a few days ago.

thanks
Andrew

[There are two issues here. We receive occasional complaints about both.
Not being able to connect to the FTP site at all:
Our FTP server allows connections only from clients whose forward and reverse domain names match. Is it possible your ISP doesn't have this set correctly? Our sysadmin insists this step is necessary for security. It was tightened down around issue 47, which may explain why some people used to be able to collect but not now.

Downloads aborting in the middle of a large file:
We have not been able to pinpoint the cause of this. It appears to be some peculiarity of how certain ISPs are set up in relation to our server.

In either case, please try a mirror site. Their servers will be configured differently, and possibly in a way that is more compatible with your computer. -Ed.]

Wed, 1 Dec 1999 13:22:48 +0800
From: Li Wei <leeway@kali.com.cn>
Subject: reply

In a etter published in December (LG#48), Li wrote:
the 47th issue is the most boring lg i ever read. in other lgs, i can always find some interesting articles.

The Editor responded:
Which kinds of articles do you consider "interesting" and "boring"?

Li wrote back:
i apologize if i offend you. i firmly believe that any word of any lg is of interest to all readers. i just wish lg could as fun as Linux Humour in 45th of lg. (i translate "If Operating Systems Ran The Airlines" to Chinese and email to several Chinese PC magzines and they publish it. thanks very much, lg editor and Mike Orr, the original author.)

The Editor writes:
I'm glad they liked the article. Note that I did not invent the joke; I only reprinted a contribution from Bruce Kingsland. As it says near the top of the article, "The original author is unknown." As for getting more humor into the Gazette, that depends on the authors. Authors, are you listening? :)

Wed, 1 Dec 1999 11:24:33 -0500
From: Gerard Beekmans <glb@dds.nl>
Subject: Distinguishing diff. files

[This is regarding the LG FTP files, and how to distinguish when one has been corrected/updated when the file modification times have been changed by a mirror or client PC. -Ed.]

Joachim responded:

maybe one solution could be an aditianal note apended to one of the files - or a new file with that. The result should be a different filesize of the newly created tar.gz.

Perhaps publishing the size of the old - and the size of the new file may help.

I agree. I personally don't look at timestamps when it concerns two versions of files. For all we know, the date on the computer it was created on or uploaded to was wrong. In cases like this I check out the filesize and see if there's a change in the size of the file on my harddisk and one of the other files.

[I always use the timestamps for this and get irritated when a computer changes them. However, I have made a listing of the latest filenames, modification times and file sizes of the FTP files, which can be found in ftpfiles.txt on the main site or on your mirror. At the top of the file is a timestamp.

I will experiment with providing a history of changes. If this is feasable, it will debut in the February issue. If not, I'll just leave it as a listing of the latest files.

Further suggestions regarding how to make this file more useful are welcome. -Ed.]

Wed, 15 Dec 1999 11:07:33 +0100
From: Davide Duran <davide@sitlab.com>
Subject: comliments

I like very much the new version of Linux Gazette....

IT'S SIMPLE AND EFFICIENT

VERY VERY VERY GOOD

THANKS A LOT

Fri, 17 Dec 1999 08:52:13 +0100
From: Pawel Moszumanski <Pawel.Moszumanski@sobieski.com.pl>
Subject: Translation of message posted to pl.comp.os.linux

I think it may be interested for all linux users.

This is a translation of letter posted to news group pl.comp.os.linux from 06.12.99 Message-ID: <944515958.158951857@129.0.0.231>

I would like to announce that as of 6 December 1999, the standard operating system of Jan III Sobieski Hotel (as per Manager's orders) is Linux and office software is StarOffice. As of now, all files will be delivered in the OS format using ISO8859-2 encoding. And now more seriously. As of today, the official operating system in Jan III Sobieski Hotel is Linux and SO. The system comprises 120 computers (servers, work stations, etc.) of which 9 in the BC and HR have Windows (payroll, HR - temporarily), Business Centre for guest convenience but Linux can also be used if requested. The installed software includes various releases from Linux, RedHat, SuSE, Mandrake, LX router, StarOffice, HS Partner and others. In order not to be accused of boasting, I would like to stress that a number of people made an enormous contribution to the project with me acting solely as the initial spark and the driving force behind their efforts. Apart from my closest colleagues, Piotr and Marek, the Linux project team in the hotel involved PKFL - Cezar with his "enlightened advice", HS PartnerProtest employees with Waldek and Piotr who acted as the fly-wheel behind the project, the invaluable Romek (I will always remember the 7 drivers of the apocalypse), Boczi who can work miracles with just one cable and two ports, Marcin, Maciek, Jacek Kijewski of Softomat, the CHIEF (spelled only in capitals) who is a walking encyclopedia of Linux knowledge and a master of black humour (such as we had sex today, but whatever we touched went f...ing wrong), Dooszek (the man of six dimensions - I have no idea how he does it, but he sees to the needs of ten users at a time) and Andrzej - the power of peace. I would like to apologise to all those I have not mentioned but who helped me tremendously - I had to keep the list short for lack of space. Last but not least, big thanks to all managers who trusted me and the penguin and to hotel employees who showed angelic patience when I experimented on them. Please forgive me for getting soppy, but I wanted to show you that our success had many fathers. Teamwork can work wonders if you have a clear goal, even a seemingly impossible one.

PS Special thanks to Dariusz Knocinski and Andrzej Pluta, they show me the way :).

Best regards from Poland. :)

Tue, 21 Dec 1999 09:02:58 -0500
From: Diego Andrés Zuluaga <dzuluaga.rc@interpla.net.co>
Subject: Congratulations

Linux Gazette is a very interesting magazine, thanks for the colaboration to the Linux comunity.

Diego Zuluag
Medellin / Colombia

Sun, 19 Dec 1999 16:07:22 +0100
From: Olle de Zwart <seal@rodds.net>
Subject: New design

Hi there I was looking at the gazzete site and I find it verry good, except the design. It looks like #^*@"%&*" And I am a free lance webdesigner and I thought why not do a freebee. Why not offer you to design you a new site for free.

Well hope to hear from you soon

[Hi. Thanks for your offer. We have also been thinking of ideas for improving the site, but have not finalized anything yet. Major changes will have to be agreed to not just by me, but by the entire company that produces the Gazette, with an eye toward consistency with our other web sites. So, it would be best if you could tell me your suggestions first, and then we can put them on our brainstorm list.

A few criteria we're keeping in mind:

Given this, if you have any particular suggestions, I'd be happy to hear them. -Ed.]

This page written and maintained by the Editor of the Linux Gazette. Copyright © 2000, gazette@ssc.com
Published in Issue 49 of Linux Gazette, January 2000

"Linux Gazette...making Linux just a little more fun!"

News Bytes

Contents:

January 2000 Linux Journal

The January issue of Linux Journal is on newsstands now. This issue focuses on networks and communication, and has 3-D images on the theme of World Domination.

Linux Journal has articles that appear "Strictly On-Line". Check out the Table of Contents at http://www.linuxjournal.com/issue69/index.html for articles in this issue as well as links to the on-line articles. To subscribe to Linux Journal, go to http://www.linuxjournal.com/subscribe/index.html.

For Subcribers Only: Linux Journal archives are available on-line at http://interactive.linuxjournal.com/

Distro News

BlueCat

Lynx Real-Time Systems, Inc., has announced an open-source product and support services initiative to extend Lynx into the emerging embedded Linux market space. Starting immediately, and through the coming year, Lynx will offer products and support services to address a broad range of embedded software development under the Linux operating system.

The Lynx Linux Initiative (L2I) is supported by five elements:

* BlueCat Linux, a version of Linux optimized for embedded applications developed by Lynx and offered to the open source community, available in January 2000.

* Version 4.0 of the LynxOS operating system with full binary compatibility with Linux, available in mid-2000.

* A Lynx open development environment for the Red Hat Linux host, available immediately.

* New technical support, consulting and training services for Linux developers working in embedded applications, available immediately.

* Endorsements from more than 20 software and hardware vendors in the embedded computing market.

The Lynx BlueCat Linux will be based on Red Hat Version 6.1, containing the Linux 2.2.5-15 kernel, and will be shipped with the Lynx open development environment capable of creating variations of the embedded Linux operating system, according to user requirements. The BlueCat Linux development environment will support cross development of Linux embedded applications using a PC running Red Hat Linux as the development host. Additionally, Lynx will extend Linux to include the industry-leading, high-availability technology currently available in Lynx solutions.

Corel

Ottawa, Canada - November 15, 1999 - Corel LINUX OS has been released. There are three versions of Corel LINUX OS: the no-charge download version, available today from Corel's Web site at www.corel.com; the Standard version, which will sell for a suggested retail price of US $59.95; and the Deluxe version, which will sell for a suggested retail price of US $89.95. The Standard and Deluxe English versions will start shipping in North America only on November 30, 1999 (international release dates to be announced later).

Corel LINUX OS Download version includes the Corel LINUX OS (based on Debian, www.debian.org, with the 2.2 Linux kernel); Enhanced KDE Desktop (www.kde.org) built on Qt (www.troll.no); Corel Install Express; Corel Update (formerly called Corel Package Manager); and Corel File Manager.

Corel LINUX OS Standard version includes three CDs. The main install CD includes everything in the Download version, plus Netscape Communicator; Adobe Acrobat Reader; Instant Messenger - ICQ compatible client; 20 Bitstream and Type 1 fonts; and Corel WordPerfect 8 for Linux (light version). The second CD is the open circulation CD, which contains those components from the main install CD that can be freely copied without the need to purchase additional licenses. The final CD is the open circulation source code CD. The Standard version also includes Corel LINUX OS User Guide and 30-day installation support (via email).

Corel LINUX OS Deluxe version includes everything in the Standard version, plus two additional CDs. The application CD includes BRU Backup software (personal edition) and Corel WordPerfect 8 clipart. The final CD contains Civilization: Call to Power game (limited edition). Both of these CDs contain proprietary applications that cannot be copied. The Deluxe verison also includes 200 Bitstream and Type 1 fonts; Corel WordPerfect 8 for Linux (full version); 30-day installation support (via email and phone); Corel WordPerfect 8 for Linux User Manual; eFax Plus Service (three months free); Enhanced OSS sound drivers (4Front Technologies); and a 3 ½-inch Linux penguin mascot.

Corel will also offer developer support for Corel LINUX OS from www.corel.com in the next few weeks. Details on this will be posted on this Web site shortly.

Debian

VA Linux To Help Bring Debian Package To Consumers. VA Linux Systems announced this week that it will tap Loki Entertainment Software to push the Debian GNU/Linux package to consumers through retail channels...

Red Hat

RH acquires Cygnus, names Matthew Szulik as president and CEO. Bob Young will remain as chairman.

Red Hat and Dell Pump Up Linux Agreement

Storm

Vancouver, Canada--December 15, 1999--Stormix Technologies, Inc. announces the release of Storm Linux 2000. Pre-orders are now being taken for the Standard Edition, which ships December 15, 1999 at a price of $49.95US. The download edition is available immediately at www.stormix.com . Retail packages will be available shortly from major distributors. Storm Linux 2000 builds on Debian GNU/Linux, an older version widely known for its comprehensive testing and stability.

The Standard Edition also includes 30 day telephone installation support and 120 day e-mail support. In addition, users can receive community support by joining the Stormix mailing lists at www.stormix.com/community.

Storm Linux 2000 Standard Edition also includes: Applixware Office 4.4.2 for Linux demo, PartitionMagic, VMware 1.1 (a virtual machine that allows the running of other operating systems, such as Windows, from within Linux), BRU Trial version (backup software), and Krilo (a strategy game by -BlackHoleSun Software, Inc.).

SuSE

Las Vegas, NV -- 15 November 1999 -- SuSE Linux 6.3 launches December 1 with a new graphic installation program, making it even easier to get into Linux now. With one DVD or six CD-ROMs, SuSE Linux provides a current and consistent Linux operating system with over 1500 application programs included. The cost is $US 49.95.

Users get a wealth of new software. SuSE Linux 6.3 includes 230 new programs and demos as well as 180 updated packages. Hummingbird Excced, the best X-server for Windows platforms, is included as a 60-day evaluation version for Windows 95/98. With Excced, you can run Linux programs under Windows on a Linux server. With the 30-day demo version of VMware 1.1.1., you can run programs from different operating systems on one computer - simultaneously. Users also get the demo versions of the popular games "Civilization - Call to Power" and "Railroad Tycoon II."

News in General

News from The Linux Bits

The Linux Bits is suspended for the holidays but will resume publication in January.

Upcoming conferences & events

8th International Python Conference for the Python programming language. January 24-27, 2000. Arlington, VA. http://www.python.org/workshops/2000-01/

LinuxWorld/Linux Expo (France). February 3, 2000. Paris, France. (URL unknown)

Software Development Conference & Expo. March 19-24, 2000. San Jose, CA. http://www.sdexpo.com

"Libre" Software Meeting #1 (Rencontres mondiales du logiciels libre), sponsored by ABUL (Linux Users Bordeaux Association). July 5-9, 2000. Bordeaux, France. French: http://www.abul.org/rmll1-fr.html. English: http://www.abul.org/rmll1-uk.html.

The latest updates are on the Linux Journal events page.

Frozen Linux (non-profit Linux directory)

I've created a linux directory site called frozenlinux at www.frozenlinux.com. It's (of course) non-profit and in need of help... mainly submissions. I believe all my cgi scripts and things like that work, and I have (I think) most of the categories that it'll need defined already... I just need people to submit sites to it. I have added some sites, but it's a very time consuming task and I can't really make a directory myself. I'd appreciate if you'd put a mention of it in your magazine or on your website, that would really help to get the ball rolling.

New Age Entertainment requests input from the Linux community

New Age Entertainment Inc.--Toronto, Dec. 24th, 1999-- The time has come that the world recognizes the value of Linux over Microsoft Operating Systems. We are creating a tightly integrated integrated Operating System / Office Application Suite that will replace MicroSoft as THE mainstream software company. The next step is to provide a viable alternative to front and back-office programs and applications for the desktop. Integration is the key word here. To New Age, integration means input from the Linux Community. Already, the business community has demonstrated considerable in this project. We value your input, opinions, and development skills. They are necessary in order to make this truley a Linux project rather than just a business deal. Voice your opinion, you will be heard! I am the project organizer, so contact me soon: kmastin@netcom.ca Keith Mastin <kmastin@netcom.ca>.

SGI - Itanium

SUPERCOMPUTING '99, PORTLAND, Ore. (Nov. 15, 1999) SGI (NYSE: SGI) today hosted a special session at the SuperComputing '99 conference on the future of high-performance computing and demonstrated the first-ever cluster based on the Intel IA-64 Itanium processor. The event featured speakers from the National Computational Science Alliance, Intel Corporation and SGI.

"The high-performance computing community is at a critical juncture in its history. The community will either continue down its familiar path of company proprietary software and RISC processor building blocks or begin to move toward a new model of high-performance computing based on commodity, high-volume parts and common software building blocks," said Larry Smarr, Director, National Computational Science Alliance and its leading-edge site, the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA). "The NCSA will aggressively pursue this new model."

Linux Links

If you haven't heard why VA Linux Systems' IPO made front-page news, see this short story. (Their ticker symbol "LNUX" raised some eyebrows in the Linux community. Remember, folks, VA is not Linux. They are just one company offering Linux-based products. On the other hand, perhaps they will act as a counterbalance to Red Hat, who also wants to see itself as synonymous with Linux in people's minds.)

Interview with Linus

Embedded Linux portal: news about Linux in embeddedd systems.

Progressive Systems Linux firewall is free for personal use and to Linux user groups.

The Hunger Site is a place where you can donate food to the needy just by clicking. The cost is paid by their advertisers.

Reference sites: www.linuxlinks.com www.firstlinux.com

Linux: Windows competitor ... NOT! USA Today article about the difficulties in using Linux.

www.programarama.com provides comparisions of commercial and open-source software items. "Before making that sometimes costly mistake of purchasing a software package you thought would solve your problems, do your research!" The site invites companies to list their Linux products at the site.

sourceXchange officially launched December 7. SourceXchange is a site which matches up open-source developers with those wishing to hire their services.

Software Announcements

LinuxCAD new features

As of 11/26/1999 , LinuxCAD development team rolles out the 1.99 release, in new release of LinuxCAD the following important features were added:

- XREFs or external references , a special kind of a block that may be located elsewhere in the filesystem as opposite to normal block that must be present in the drawing itself ;

- AutoLisp compatible tool has been added ;

- major improvements have been done in LinuxCAD ADS where more then 200 new functions were exposed for application developers ;

- LinuxCAD ADS already have been used to implement custom graphics and reporting (OLAP) tools on several Fortune 500 companies.

- Support for DWG format was significantly improved ;

- previously optional DXF import module was added in standard basic version of LinuxCAD.

Currently LinuCAD is one of the major Linux Application tools, it is used by thousands people worldwide.

PS. To your special consideration: it does not make sense to wait for release of real AutoCAD for Linux from Autodesk Inc. Autodesk Inc. has a strategic alliance with Microsoft and they will not do it , period. The best and the fastest way to make the Autodesk to reconsider their behaviour is to buy more copies of LinuxCAD !!!

Complete business solution - SITEFORUM Suite

SITEFORUM Suite is everything you could imagine you would like to do with your web, come to life. Unlimited, Forums, Chat, Contact Management, Shops, Catalogs and Shopping Carts (Jan1, 2000) and intelligent email system, with centralized development, administrative and access control functionality, all dynamic and database driven out of the box ready to run on nearly any server/OS platform including Windows and Linux. SITEFORUM Suite is complete and even includes its own Webserver and database software!

Can you imagine, having your website fill in your contact database automatically, replying to emails without your intervention or providing a self perpetuating client support base with discussion forums, building a community around your products and services? Engage in real time discussions with clients on your website with live chat, automatically process orders and sales and many more, distinctive features not available in any single solution, anywhere.

Thought-Treasure

WASHINGTON, DC - December 8, 1999 - Signiform today announced the release of ThoughtTreasure 0.00022, a new version of its comprehensive natural language/commonsense platform for building question answering services, information extraction systems, and world-aware applications. ThoughtTreasure 0.00022 contains a natural language parser and generator hooked up to a knowledge base and lexicon of 25,000 concepts, 55,000 English and French words and phrases, and 50,000 assertions.

New features of ThoughtTreasure 0.00022 include scripts, a web-enabled knowledge base, and easy-to-use knowledge base flat files. Scripts are machine-understandable representations of typical activities such as going swimming or making a dinner reservation.

For more information on ThoughtTreasure, please visit http://www.signiform.com/tt/htm/tt.htm

AVAILABILITY

The ThoughtTreasure server runs on Linux and supports Java and Python clients. To download a copy of the ThoughtTreasure 0.00022 distribution for noncommercial use, visit www.signiform.com/tt/htm/download.htm. For information about obtaining a commercial license, contact sales@signiform.com.

Other software

The Xi Graphics hardware-accelerated 3-D X-server supports more than thirty different 3D video cards.

HTMLDOC v1.8.2 produces indexed HTML, PDF and PostScript files. GPL. Commercial support available for $99.

ILOG has ported its entire line of embeddable optimization, visualization and rules engines in Java and C++ to Red Hat and SuSE Linux, for use in e-commerce applications.

Sun is releasing a version of the Java 2 Platform Standard Edition (J2SE) for Linux.

Quick Restore 2.6 is "the first enterprise-ready, heterogeneous, network backup and recovery solution for Linux servers".

This page written and maintained by the Editor of the Linux Gazette. Copyright © 2000, gazette@ssc.com
Published in Issue 49 of Linux Gazette, January 2000

"Linux Gazette...making Linux just a little more fun!"

(?) The Answer Guy (!)


By James T. Dennis, linux-questions-only@ssc.com
LinuxCare, http://www.linuxcare.com/

Contents:

(!)Greetings From Jim Dennis

(?)How do I do it? --or--
Installing to a 2nd HD
(?)Sendmail Startup --or--
Sendmail Takes a Long Startup Time
(?)Telnet not working on recent RedHat/Mandrake --or--
Incoming Telnet for and Mandrake Users
(?)Only see 16M of 64M in Compaq Prosignia 300 --or--
Linux only see 16 of 64 Mb of RAM
(?)NT 4.O Wkst + SP5 no dialup to RedHat 6.0/internet --or--
No Dialup to Internet from NT 4.0(sp5) through 6.0
(?)linux ether16 support --or--
Can't See Ethernet Card
(?)(No Subject) --or--
Disk Druid UI Failure? USE fdisk!
(?)Driver for Savage 4 pro --or--
Savage 4 Pro
(?)Recover password for SUN sparcstation --or--
Root Password Recovery on non-Linux UNIX Systems
(?)Windows 95 Connectivity --or--
Needs Samba Configuration Advice
I am new to Linux and I am attempting to setup the following system.
(?)HELP! --or--
Lost CMOS Password
(?)Lilo Woes --or--
More Problems with LILO
(?) xftp: (Proxy or "Third Party" FTP Requests
(?)Do you know where the include files are? --or--
Which RPM Provides A Given Set of Files?
(?)issue 46; networking docs --or--
Advanced Routing in the Linux Kernel
(?)Try & Buy wrapper technology for Linux apps --or--
Try & Buy Wrapper Technology for Commercial Linux apps

(!) Greetings from Jim Dennis

[Jim has the flu this month so he was unable to write his usual electrifying blurb. Get well soon, Jim. Also, The Answer Guy column is all one file this month because there was an upload corruption in the .tgz file, and I was unable to obtain a replacement by press time. -Ed.]

(?) Installing to a 2nd HD

From Eric Lindbloom on Wed, 01 Dec 1999

How do I install Linux on a second hard drive? I have the hard drive installed but have no idea how to access it and install the Linux os. Any ideas?

(!) Exact details of any Linux installation procedures depend quite a bit on which distribution and version you are using.
The basic installation process which is common to all PC based Linux distributions is:
  1. Boot
  2. Detect/Select Installation Source (Device/Medium/Method)
  3. Create/Select Target Devices/Partitions
  4. Make Filesystems & Choose Layout
  5. Select and Install (Unpack/Extract) Packages
  6. Configure Packages
  7. Write Boot Record (Make New OS Bootable)
  8. Reboot
  9. Have Fun!
Generally you boot PCs from floppy or CD-ROM. Some PCs and most other systems can be booted from network servers (usually using a bootp/tftpd combination). However, I'll assume that you will just be booting from diskette or disc.
It's also possible to "boot" Linux from an MS-DOS prompt. You do that using a program called LOADLIN.EXE (often called by a batch file named LINUX.BAT or even SETUP.BAT or INSTALL.BAT). This works from a DOS prompt because MS-DOS is more of a "program loader" than an "operating system." (Windows '9x might be considered to be a "re-hosted OS" which is (transparently) loaded through MS-DOS, much as Netware used to be). In any event, you might be able to start your Linux installation by simply inserting a CD in the drive and running a batch file.
Every Linux distribution has its own installation processs. These range from shell scripts, through elaborate GUIs. Most use fairly similar color/text dialogs (ncurses) which allow you to "fill in the blanks" and tab around to little checkboxes and "radio buttons" (which are selected using the space bar). This interface seems "intuitive" to people who've used MS-DOS or learned to drive MS-Windows programs with their keyboards.
I've found that Mac and SGI Irix users with no PC experience do NOT find the "text dialog" interface to be intuitive --- since the mouse typically doesn't work at this point. (The best bet for them is to use one of the recent Caldera, Corel, or Storm Linux distributions. Those newer distributions can be installed using a "GUI boot-to-grave" interface. Or they could learn how to handle keyboard driven text mode dialogs. Meanwhile the authors of these programs could provide more interactive and context sensitive help to explains these assumptions to new users).
After the boot is complete the installation routine will usually attempt to detect any hardware that's not detected by the kernel. Many distributions will also provide prompts/options to allow you to specify more information about your hardware (possibly offering to allow you to load kernel modules which may be needed to detect and support some of your additional hardware).
This can be important if your secondary hard drive is on some interface isn't linked directly into your distribution's kernel. For example, if you have your primary drive on an IDE controller and your second drive is attached to a SCSI host adapter or one of these Promise Ultra66 specialty IDE controllers then you may need to load an additional module through your distribution's installation interface. It's also possible that you might need to provide the kernel with some additional command line arguments to help it detect some device or controller that is in a non-standard location (assigned to unusual I/O or other addresses).
In the worst case you might have to build or download a custom kernel. If you already have Linux installed on another machine (at home or work), or if you have a friend who can build a new kernel for you, that can help with some of the more exotic hardware configurations that you might encounter.
Once the drive controller is recognized then you should be able to select that drive through your distribution's partitioning interface (step 3 above). If you don't see any option to do this, you can try to go to a shell prompt (try hitting [Alt]+[F2] then [Alt]+[F3] and so on until you see a screen with a # (hash) prompt). You can try various shell commands at that prompt. You might try the 'fdisk -l' command from there. This might give a list of all recognized drives --- or it might not (some distributions don't populate enough of a /dev directory in this mini-root RAM disk to allow the fdisk command to find your hard drives --- they "work magic" to get their fdisk to see the necessary drives).
I realize this is confusing. It all depends on which distribution you're using. As I say, with most of them all you have to do is read the screens and menus carefully. If it prompts you for fdisk parameters try /dev/hdb (the typical name for a secondary IDE disk drive), then /dev/hdc (primary drive on your secondary controller; sometimes a third drive or sometimes a second drive).
I should mention the normal Linux device naming conventions: 
		Primary IDE Controller:
			(Master) Drive:		/dev/hda
			(Slave) Drive:		/dev/hdb
		Secondary IDE Controller:
			(Master) Drive:		/dev/hdc
			(Slave) Drive:		/dev/hdd
		Tertiary IDE Controller:
			(Master) Drive:		/dev/hde
			(Slave) Drive:		/dev/hdf
... NOTE: Any of these: hdb, hdc, hcd, etc might be CD ROM drives, or LS-120 or other IDE block media. Any letters may refer to empty "slots" (cable connectors). 
		First IDE Tape Drive:		/dev/ht0

		SCSI Host Adapters:

			First  Hard Drive:	/dev/sda
			Second Hard Drive:	/dev/sdb
			Third  Hard Drive:	/dev/sdc

			First  CD Drive:	/dev/scd0
			Second CD Drive:	/dev/scd1

			First  Tape Drive:	/dev/st0
			Second Tape Drive:	/dev/st1

			First  "Generic Device":	/dev/sg0
			Second "Generic Device":	/dev/sg1
... etc
... NOTE: These are from the first detected SCSI adapter through the last. "Generic Devices" include the CDR recorder mechanisms (though the use of these as CD-ROM readers still goes through the scdX name/driver). (CDR drives are associated with scdX and different sgX names (device nodes)).
... Note the differences here. IDE drives are assigned names based on the controller/channel and the device. IDE CD-ROM drive names are indistinguishable from HD drives. For SCSI the drives are detected (enumerated) on each chain (host adapter) in order from lowest SCSI ID to highest. SCSI CD-ROM drives are give distinct names from the hard drives and other SCSI devices.
As you can see, the answer to your question also depends quite a bit on your hardware. If you have a typical IDE based PC with a hard drive on /dev/hda and a CD-ROM on /dev/hdc then your second hard drive migh be /dev/hdb or /dev/hdd. You might have reconfigured your CD-ROM drive (making it /dev/hdd or even /dev/hdb) leaving your new hard drive on /dev/hdc).
If this message (and the docs and help screens for your distribution) don't clarify the issue enough for you, then send another message with the following details:
Distribution and version Primary HD and OS Second HD (controller type, and "position" or ID) Output of fdisk -l (if possible)
Remember to look through the comp.linux.* newsgroups and copy/post further queries to ONE of them (read first, then choose carefully). There are lots of answer guys on those newsgroups.
Once you get some Linux partitions on your drive, then your distribution's installation should be able to make filesystems on them and install your software without too much trouble.
Finally, when it comes time to make your new OS bootable (step 7 from my list above) you have to consider some extra issues. Most PCs can only boot from the first and second drives on the primary controller. Thus you usually can't boot from /dev/hdc or /dev/hdd (they are on a secondary controller/channel) and you usually can't boot from any SCSI drive in a system with an IDE drive in the /dev/hda slot.
All of this depends completely on your BIOS. The BIOS must be able to find your device, partitions, boot loader/code and kernel in order for LILO (the most widely use Linux boot loader) to work. I've described LILO in many previous issues; and I've described a couple of alternatives to it on a number of occasions.
You can use LOADLIN.EXE (if you have DOS or Win '9x partition). You might have to boot into "safe mode" in order for LOADLIN.EXE to work. You can create a boot floppy (with just a kernel or with a boot loader and a kernel on it). If you use a boot floppy, use SYSLINUX (a floppy boot loader that works on MS-DOS formatted floppies but boots Linux kernels).
There are many ways to boot Linux. Fundamentally a Linux kernel doesn't "care" how it got loaded. Once you get the kernel into memory and jump into its entry code then the kernel can find any filesystem on any partition on any device that's linked into it. The kernel will have a default location to search for a root filesystem (and any Linux boot loader, like LILO, LOADLIN.EXE, or SYSLINUX will let you pass kernel parameters to over-ride that default and name the root fs directly.
Once a root fs is mounted, then the Linux kernel will search for a /dev/console device and a /sbin/init program, opening the one and executing the other. From there everything else will follow (read your /etc/inittab and each script that to which it refers for the gory details).
There are some other tricky bits about "initial RAM disks" (initrd) and "linuxrc" programs/scripts that might get involved in some installations. Most modern distributions will handle those details for you if they need them. I won't cover them here. However, I will leave you with a last summary of how a PC boots Linux:
... That's basically it. This last step continues until a shutdown command sends init a command to shut down and either reboot or halt. Obviously a hardware failure, reset switch or power outage can interrupt the process at any time.
I'm not sure of the exact order for some these steps. I'm still a bit unclear on exactly where the initrd is loaded (I've read that it's done by the boot loader, but I've seen boot parameter options that suggest that it might sometimes be done by the kernel).
The reason I give this list is to help people do their boot time (and installation) troubleshooting. When you understand the general sequence listed here, and you read the /etc/inittab and the various rc* files (and any man pages for the daemons and configuration utilities that these invoke) then you should be able to troubleshoot almost any boot time problem.

(?) Sendmail Takes a Long Startup Time

From Rich Hayden on Sun, 05 Dec 1999

Hi,

I was wondering why the "sendmail" app takes so long to configure itself during startup. I am using Ret Hat 6.1 (Cartman).

Any info you have would be greatly appreciated..

Thanks, Richard C Hayden Natex Communcations

(!) The delay is usually caused by loading sendmail while you're not connected to the net. It's trying to perform a reverse name lookup and you have no nameserver handy.
There are various ways around this. One is to remove the sendmail script's symlink from /etc/rc3.d and configure your /etc/ppp/ip-up and /etc/ip-down scripts to start and stop your sendmail daemon as your PPP link comes up and goes down. Another trick that helps is to put an IP address with your hostname into your /etc/hosts file.
If you have one or more ethernet addresses in addition to some intermittent connection to the Internet (and its nameservers) you can add /etc/hosts entries for each of them.
You may need to modify your /etc/nsswitch.conf (or /etc/hosts.conf for older libc5 based distributions/ installations). Be sure to lists "files" before "dns" on the hosts line, and you probably want to remove all references to nis and nisplus in the nsswitch.conf files or rearrange the service/module names on each line so that nis and nisplus come last and are preceded by "[notfound=return]" entries.
(You probaby aren't using NIS or NIS+ for name services or account management; you'd almost certainly know if you were). Red Hat's /etc/nsswitch.conf is configured all wrong for 90% of the users out there; though the errors just slows things down rather than actually causing failures.
Yet another thing you could do is run a nameserver on your system. There are some experimental nameserver daemons that are designed for use on systems with intermittent connections.
Unfortunately Linux (and UNIX in general) is still not well configured for intermittent connectivity. It can be done, but the defaults in all major distributions aren't suited to it. I used to use UUCP before I had a full-time DSL connection. This was a good way to queue up mail for scheduled/deferred delivery. However, finding UUCP neighbors has become difficult, and setting it up was never easy.
I don't have an example of it, but the preferred configuration of sendmail/named for intermittently connected hosts would be to have split DNS (your system's /etc/resolv.conf points at your own nameserver, which claims to be authoritative to the work but acts as a "slave" to outside domains), and has sendmail configured to "Hold Expensive" and then has an ip-up script that does queue runs to actually deliver the queued up mail.
Linux also supports dummy networks and reject routes which allow you to quickly "deny" traffic when the connection is down (your scripts lose these while the link is up).
As I say, I don't have some working configuration samples handy. Perhaps another reader will come through with a whole mini-HOWTO or a URL.

(?) Incoming Telnet for and Mandrake Users

From R. Smith on Sun, 05 Dec 1999

Sir,

I've seen a spurt of letters in "The Answer Guy" and elsewhere about telnet not working with recent versions of RedHat and Mandrake. I would like to point out that the rpm packages have been split into two, one for the telnet client and one for the server. When I installed Mandrake 6.1 the client package was installed but the server package wasn't. I guess this was done to improve security. When someone has problems with telneting into a 6.x RH/Mandrake linux box, they should make sure the server package is installed! I also would like to point out that you cannot telnet into a stock RedHat/Mandrake box as root.

(!) Good point. The telnetd (daemon/server) package is rightly separated from the telnet client. This is also true of Debian.
Actually I still have to suggest that people consider telnetd to be a deprecated service. Use ssh, STEL, ssltelnet, SRP or any service with strongly encrypted, authentication in lieu of it (or use FreeS/WAN IPSec underneath it).

(?) Linux only see 16 of 64 Mb of RAM

From Eric Yihching Tao on Sun, 05 Dec 1999

Windows 2000 sees all 64M and runs fine, but linux only sees 16M and runs horrorably slow, please help!

Eric

(!) What version of the kernel are you running?
What if you try adding the mem=64M to your kernel command line? (type that manually at the LILO prompt). If that works, then add a directive like:
append="mem=64M"
... to the appropriate "stanzas" of your /etc/lilo.conf (using a text editor, read the lilo.conf man page for details). You can put this line right after each of your "image=" directives).
This does sound very suspicious since Linux has always been pretty reliable at auto-detecting RAM upto about 64M. Newer (2.2 kernels and later) are pretty reliable at detecting memory above 64M. So I would expect that their is something else weird here. However, you don't say anything about what version of Linux you're running, or how you are see what memory is in use. What does the exact output of your 'free' command look like?

(?) Only see 16M of 64M in Compaq Prosignia 300

From Eric Yihching Tao on Mon, 6 Dec 1999

Thanks. You solved the problem for me, it works!
I inserted the line like you said and run
lilo -C /etc/lilo.conf
and reboot the system. It works great!

(?) No Dialup to Internet from NT 4.0(sp5) through 6.0

From JCCSystems on Sun, 05 Dec 1999

Hi, Odd problem here:

NT 4.0 workstation + SP5 will logon to a new Linux RedHat 6.0 ISP server via modem dialup.

(!) I assume you're saying that you can establish a PPP connection to your RH6 remote access server from your NT client/workstation.

(?) You can ping the server, but the Linux server will not register the NT 4.0 client on the internet.

(!) I don't know what this means. Register with what service? Are you saying that you can't route packets through the RH/Linux system to it?

(?) The server is also hosting a domain for the client.

(!) I presume you mean either that it is acting as a nameserver, a web server or both. That is to say, the Linux system is hosting some services for a domain.

(?) The Linux server will work well with a NT Workstation with SP3 installed. The account itself is fine with Win9x. dialup.

The NT 4.0 box is fine with any web server tried, EXCEPT the Linux RedHat 6.0 with the hosted domain.

TCP/ip is reinstalled dialup checked etc in the NT 4.0 client Service Pak 5 issue in NT 4.0? We are reluctant to reload NT 4.0 as the client has a large and complex batch of financial software.

Any ideas would be a help. This makes no sense to us other than it seems to be a TCP/IP issue.

Cordially, WDavis

(!) Your question makes no sense. Let me try to get the gist of it:
You have a Linux system with some sort of access to the Internet and a modem that's configured to allow dial-in.
What software is providing your dial-in on the Linux box? (Usually that would be a package called mgetty). How is that configured? (mgetty.config, /etc/login.config, or /etc/mgetty+sendfax/login.config or something like that).
(Don't scramble to debug your mgetty configuration. That sounds like it's working O.K. as is).
(Information about mgetty can be found at: http://alpha.greenie.net/mgetty)
How are your authenticating? Are you using AutoPPP (trying to use the Win '9x default ISP/RAS connection features)?
This is a fairly complex question. The traditional way for a client to log in to any dial-up server was through a simple text "chat script", which is the way that most Linux systems still act at PPP clients. PPP also allows PAP and CHAP authentication techniques. It's actually possible to use all three authentication methods for every single PPP connection (the user has to supply a username, a password, and their PPP daemon as to supply PAP and CHAP credentials). That would be silly, but it's possible. All of that is used for normal Linux/UNIX PPP connections and with any other OS.
To use these protocols and connection automation methods with Win '9x and NT you have to have one of the utilities from their "Plus Pack" (or some clone thereof). Otherwise you'd have to use an interactive terminal window.
To avoid the interactive terminal window (and automate the connection process) you can use "AutoPPP" which is a feature of mgetty that implements the same protocol that Microsoft uses for their MSN dialup (maybe they also use it for their normal RAS --- remote access server --- mechanism).
If your Win '9x and NT4.x(sp3) systems are already working with your Linux system (as you seem to say above) then you probably have mgetty with AutoPPP already working correctly.
So, now the question becomes, what isn't working. You say that the affected system can connect to the Linux system, and ping it. This suggests that the modems, PPP, IP addressing and routing are all working. You have transport.
However, you don't say what you mean by "register." Presumably some or of your applications layer protocols aren't working.
Can you telnet to the Linux box? Can you see web pages on the Linux box? (Is it running an httpd)? Can you ping something that's "behind/beyond" the Linux system (from the NT box)?
If you can't ping anything beyond the Linux box it might be that you aren't allowing IP_Forwarding. This is easy to overlook. You can fix that by adding the "ktune" directive to your /etc/ppp/options file on the Linux box, or by adding a command like:
echo 1 > /proc/sys/net/ipv4/ip_forward
... to one of your start up scripts. (There is an entry in one of the /etc/sysconfig/ files that Red Hat uses that does this for you. That's one of those things that every Linux distribution does slightly differently, which is one reason why Paul added the ktune directive to recent copies of pppd).
However, I'm not sure this is your problem. You seem to say that your Win'95 and NT4(sp3) (service pack 3) systems work fine. If that really is the case then the problem isn't on the Linux box at all. It would have to be something that Microsoft changed, or something that differs between your NT(sp3) and NT(sp4) systems. For that you should contact your NT support reps. Don't let them tell you that "connections to Linux systems are unsupported" or anything like that --- if you have one of them working and another failing, they should be able to help you isolate the problem. (Of course, these days you're probably paying for all of your NT support, so don't let them push you around about this).
Although I haven't read all of it, and it doesn't seem to be on the LDP mirrors, I did find the following link that might be helpful.
Modified Linux PPP/NT HOWTO
http://www.yps.org/~whorfin/PPP-NT-HOWTO/PPP-NT-HOWTO.html#inh5
I'm copying Siegfried Schoen, and Diederick van Dijk, (original author and current maintainer of this document respectively) to encourage them to submit their HOWTO to the LDP and to offer them a chance to correct me or expand on what I'm saying.
I'm also copying my co-worker at Linuxcare, Paul Mackerras (author and current maintainer of the Linux PPP daemon), and Gert Doering (author of mgetty) so they can also comment if they choose. (This is not to suggest that technical support questions should have gone to them, but rather to give them a chance to correct me so that they don't get questions from people who read this in the Linux Gazette).
I've recently started writing a completely new version of the PPP HOWTO. The one by Robert Hart hasn't been updated recently --- and I've gotten enough questions about it over the years that I've decided to start "tabula rasa" and see if a free approach will help.
If the suggestions here haven't helped, please be sure to let me know specifically which services aren't working and tell me more (much more) about your configuration.

(?) Can't See Ethernet Card

From Chuck Whinney on Sun, 05 Dec 1999

I cant seem to get my Linksys Ether16 LAN card to work under linux. I turned off the PnP liek teh linksys website said, and I turned the motherboard setting from PnP on that IRW to the ISA setting. Linux still never recognizes it.

Any ideas? Thanks! Chuck

(!) What error to you get? If it looks something like: 
 SIOCSIFADDR: No such device
 eth0: unknown interface: No such device
... then you're asking the right question. Some possible causes:
Some possible answers:
Neither of these lists is comprehensive. Their just some ideas. The idea of buying or even borrowing a different cheap ethernet card is useful, since getting any card working will give you a baseline to work towards.
On using the ether= parameter on our kernel command line (or on the insmod command line for your ether drivers) read your bootparam man page and/or the Linux BootPrompt-HOWTO (http://www.linuxdoc.org/HOWTO/BootPrompt-HOWTO.html)
There's a chance that the last of these tricks will hang your system, or that conflicts among the different ethernet drivers could cause problems. That's pretty rare, but it can happen. Try loading them by hand one at a time, until you've eliminated most of them.

(?) Disk Druid UI Failure? USE fdisk!

From Loki Cane on Sun, 05 Dec 1999

I need some help. When I get into Disk Druid, it shows me two partitions. They look like this: 

> <not set> hda1 1220M 1220M WIN 95 FAT 32
> <not set> hdb1 407M            Dos 16-bit>=32

> hda [621/64/63] 1222M 2M 1220M 99%
> hdb [899/15/62] 408M  1M  407M  99%

I've tried deleting one and both partitions to create the Linux, but when I do, I can not click on the next button. If you can take me through it, I would appreciate it, because the book didn't help any to figure this out.

(!) So, use fdisk instead of Disk Druid.
Personally I don't like Disk Druid. The thing has little bugs or quirks in it, and seems to cause more trouble then it solves most of the time.
So, go into fdisk. It looks like you have a 1.2 Gb drive and a 400Mb drive. That means you'll have to go into fdisk twice (once for /dev/hda and again for /dev/hdb).
There are several different partitioning packages for Linux. In addition to Disk Druid and the plain "shell" fdisk there's cfdisk (curses interface, no color), and sfdisk (scriptable version with advanced features). Mandrake uses an improved version of Disk Druid that they call DiskDrake *(http://www.linux-mandrake.com/diskdrake). There's another called gparted (GNU partition editor).
You can read more about partitioning in the Linux Partition (mini) HOWTO by Kristan Koehntopp (http://metalab.unc.edu/mdw/HOWTO/mini/Partition.html) (Although it would be nice to be add a section about partitioning tools; to that HOWTO).
You could do a Freshmeat search for more of them.

(?) Savage 4 Pro

From pot on Sun, 05 Dec 1999