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

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");

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
===========================================================================

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 

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

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.

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:

• The Gazette is unique because of its distributed nature: it has to be readable on a wide variety of mirrors and CD-ROMs whose hardware and OSes we do not control.
• Many of our readers pay by the minute for their online time, so even adding a megabyte to the size of the Gazette (e.g., lots of additional graphics) is a major expense for them.
• Readers use a wide variety of browsers, including older versions. Browsers include Netscape, IE, Opera, lynx, emacs, kfm, Mozilla, all the experimental free browsers, etc, etc.
• Thus, we want to stick really close to standard HTML as the least common denominator. One day we will switch to style sheets, but not in the near future, because we don't want to fight with the browsers and how they mis-apply styles. (We have seen some spectacular examples of unusable pages due to styles.) We are also resistant to Javascript for the same reason.
• We also stay away from depending on CGI, because it would require special setup on the mirrors' part, and couldn't run at all on CD-ROMs. We have allowed a few CGI scripts to sneak in (the search engine, the mirror mail-in form), but these work only on the main site, and we want to keep CGI scripts to a minimum. We have considered going to an all-dynamic site (e.g., Zope-powered), but again that does not seem feasable at present without destroying the Gazette's distribution infrastructure, which is what makes the Gazette unique as well as so widely read, and which allows the Gazette to be included in the Linux Documentation Project mirrors.
• The Gazette is quite popular as it is, and we don't want to lose that readership by making changes they might not like. Thus, we prefer to make changes incrementally rather than all at once. One recent change I did was to put the navigation bar both at the top and bottom of the article, rather than just at the bottom. Besides that, most of my work recently has been behind the scenes, making the Gazette easier to generate, using, e.g., configuration files and Python scripts to generate the article headers and the table of contents rather than doing it all by editing HTML. Which makes building the Gazette more fun and also minimizes dead links when typos appear.

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