"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 [email protected]. 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.

Viddy these well, little bruthers, viddy well. It would seem that our friends 'ere, like, ave a problem with their Linux boxes. If thou woulds't be so kind as to, like, give them a little 'and, I'm sure they would love it, real horror-show like. But first me little droogies, an introduction mabye in the necessary. My name is and I live in the UK (Wales). As of now, I will be helping to format the mailbag's columns. What's with all the blurb you ask? Do we all speak like that it Wales. No! I'm actually basing my character on Alex from "A Clockwork Orange".

Fri, 5 May 2000 12:49:43 +0200

From: Joseph Simushi <>
Subject: New User - Help

Hi,
I am a new user of Linux and is running Red hat version 6.1.1 operating system. I am asking for your help in finding Materials (Books, websites, CD-write-ups) on Linux to help me in the Administering of this system. Regards,

Simushi Joseph
LAN Administrator
PULSE Project
P.O. Box RW 51269
Lusaka
Zambia.

Fri, 5 May 2000 15:24:48 +1000

From: Eellis <>
Subject: Prepress Rip software

Hi i like to find out is there any 3rd party or shareware rip-software to use on postscript and pdf files instead of using scitex or adobe rip.

Many Thanks From Down under.

Ezra Ellis

Thu, 04 May 2000 20:35:28 -0400
From: Raul Claros Urey <>
Subject: Help

I'm using linux red hat, kernel 2.5.5 and when it is booting this report the fallowing errors:

RPC: sendmesg return error 105
Unable to send; errno = no buffer space available
NFS mountd: neighbour table overflow
Unable to register (mountd, 1, udp)
portmap: server localhost not responding, time out

And I can't do anything the message "neighbour table overflow" appears every time. do you know something about it?

Atte.
Raul Claros Urey

Thu, 4 May 2000 04:34:58 EDT
From: <>
Subject: Password recovery for equinox database

Do you know if I can find a software which recovered my password on a equinox database?

Mon, 01 May 2000 20:22:18 +0800
From: 61002144 <>
Subject: resolution

My comuter under linux redhat xwindow will only run 300x200 graphics. Even if I hit CTRL ALT + , it wont change. I have a SiS620 Card with 8mb. Can you please help. I have spent a lot of time on the internet, It seems other people have the same problem but no one can help.

Rudy Martignago

Sat, 29 Apr 2000 01:09:12 +0100
From: Andy Blanchard <>
Subject: Help wanted - updating a Linux distro's ISO image

While downloading the newly posted kernel updates to RedHat 6.2 the following question arose in my mind the answer to which might be of use to anyone who has to build numerous Linux boxes. If one were to replace arbitrary RPM (or DEB, or ...) files on the distro with updated versions and burn a new CDROM - would it still install cleanly? If I understand this correctly the answer to this is "yes" if the installer runs:

rpm -install kernel-doc

rpm -install kernel-doc-2.2.14-12.i386.rpm

Sat, 6 May 2000 13:08:20 +0200
From: Drasko Saric <>
Subject: trouble with full partitions...

Hi, I have a problem and I hope you'll help me. I have Linux SuSe 6.1 and WIN98 on one machine. Linux partition of 800MB is full now, and I wish to add (if it's possible) an extra 800 MB to my exisiting Linux partition from WIN98part, but I don't know how. Can you help me?

Thanx in advance. Drasko,
Belgrade, Yugoslavia

Sun, 07 May 2000 00:35:12 -0500
From: edge or <>
Subject: Help in setting up Red Hat as a dial-up server -- LG#53

I have searched and searched for 2 months now and can not get any info on how to set up a server for customers to dial into and access the internet with mail accounts and such. I have been to every news group and discussion I can find. No one will give any information on how to set this up. The ONLY help or answer I get is...:"why do you want to be an ISP,
they are to expensive to set up?" Please have a "How-To" for the beginner
to set up an ISP for the first time?

Thanks in advance.

A reader writes:

First, I hope you've received better answers in the meantime. Second, I
hope the following links helps (apologies for the mailcity redirection
stuff):

http://alpha.greenie.net/mgetty/

Notice about midway down the page there are links specifically related to
your question. This will get your callers connected to your box.

http://www.tuxedo.org/~esr/fetchmail/index.html

This is nice for grabbing the mail and handing it off to sendmail for
local delivery.

As for sendmail configuration, I'm clueless.

Alex comments:

You could also check out the this howto http://www.linuxdocs.org/ISP-Setup-RedHat.html. It's meant for Red Hat systems, but I'm sure it could easily be adapted for another distribution with little difficulty.

Mon, 8 May 2000 11:22:19 +0100
From: Steven Cowling <>
Subject: bread in fat_access not found (error from Redhat 6)

The following error was scrolled down the screen:

bread in fat_access not found 

We are running Redhat version 6 on a PC and it has been running fine for about 6 months. The latest work done has been to start using CVS which was installed with the initial installation of Redhat. CVS has been working fine for about a week. Since the bread error appeared we are unable to login either at the console or remotely using telnet from windows. Every time we try to login the "login incorrect" error appears. We have tried all user names and root. The strange thing is that we can still use CVS from our Windows machines using WinCVS 1.0.6 to login and check files in and out. Basically we can't login normally at all. Has any body seen this before? Or know what 'bread' is? Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Steve Cowling

Mon, 8 May 2000 13:50:15 -0500
From: <>
Subject: High Availability Hosting

In you latest issue of Linux Gazette you have an article titled "Penguin power credited for 100.000% network availability". This article mentions about different Classes of Web Hosting based on Uptime. Where on the net can I find a definitive source for these different classes?

Thanks,
Steve.

Wed, 10 May 2000 09:49:25 -0400
From: Ruven Gottlieb <>
Subject: Redirecting kdm output from console to file

Hi,

I've been trying to figure out how to redirect console output from tty1 to a file when starting kdm.

I use an alias:

startx="startx >& /root/startx.txt"

Tue, 09 May 2000 23:22:52 +0530
From: "pundu" < >
Subject: calculate cpu load

Hi,

I would like to know how one can calculate cpu load and memory used by processes as shown by 'top' command. It would be nice if anyone can explain me how you could do these by writing your own programs, or by any other means.

Mon, 8 May 2000 10:32:25 +0000 (GMT)
From: Jimmy O'Regan <>
Subject: Is There a Version of PC/NFS for Linux?


I have the O'Reilly book Managing NFS and NIS and there is a section in the back of the book called PC/NFS describing a Unix utility that enables a PC DOS machine to access a Unix machine using the NFS file system as an extended DOS file system. I am wondering if there is a Linux version of this available?

J.

[As far as I was aware, that program is an NFS client for the PC - it runs
on DOS, and lets you use NFS from a remote UNIX box. If I'm right, the
standard version should work with Linux.

You'd be better off setting up Samba though. It does what you're looking
for - makes Linux look like an MS server. This would be better for Ghost,
as Ghost works on MS shares. -Alex.]

Mon, 1 May 2000 08:57:32 -0700
From: lisa simpson <>
Subject: Mandrake and tab

When you hit the TAB key under a shell in Mandrake, it gives a list instantly unlike in Redhat where you have to hit tab twice, if there are several similar entries. How do I disable that behavior?

[Look in the shell manual page under the options section. There are
options you can set that control this behavior. I don't remember
the names offhand, and it's different for each shell. -Ed.]

Thu, 11 May 2000 08:47:38 -0700
From: <>
Subject: Installation of Linux using an HP 486/25NI

Hello,
I hope that you can help me, I´m new to linux and I´m trying to install it using an HP 486 25 MHz.
The BIOS does not has the capability to recognize a second IDE drive. (I have upgraded the BIOS to the latest available version from HP website support)
The Motherboard has an integrated NIC, (I also have a 3COM 3c509).
I can not find the way to start the installation, since I have Linux Mandrake as well as Turbolinux on CDROM.
I have tried doing it using the CDROM of my second PC running windows 98, with cisco TFTP server and a local LAN between both PC´s using a coax. 10 base2 cable.
Where can I find a detailed explanation with some suggestions to my problem? The manuals included with my linux flavours are not detailed enough, they assume that I have a CDROM for linux installation
How about an installation from a FTP site?, where can I find some DETAILED information about that?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Sincerely,

Alex

Thu, 11 May 2000 08:36:27 -0700
From: NANCY Philippe <>
Subject: Energy star support

Last year I bought one of these cheap(er) east-asian PC computers (like many of us ?) with the Energy Star feature (i.e. No more need to press any button to power off).

But this feature is implemented with M$ Win... and I've no idea of the
way they manage the hardware behind this process.

So, as I recently installed a Corel distribution, I would like to know if there is any mean to power off directly from Linux, and not Shutdown-And-Restart, Open-M$Windows and Quit-From-There (and Decrease-My-Coffee-Stock ;-} )

Thank you for your help.

Fri, 12 May 2000 07:02:37 -0700 (PDT)
From: Surfer PR <>
Subject: Help with Voodoo3

I have followed every instruction I could find on how to install the voodoo3 and MESA and all the 3d tests run just fine... but when I try to run any game that uses glide or mesa (quakeII) I try all the renderes but it does not work and continues to use the very lame software.... I have all my resolutions set... I am mainly having problems with the glide2x.so or something like that.. everything else in Linux (Mandrake 7.0) is fine...

Please help me.

Mon, 15 May 2000 08:53:49 -0700
From: "VanTuyl, George" <>
Subject: Backup to a CD- Re-Writeable drive

I have been asked to put together a backup strategy for the company's Red Hat 6.1 Linux gateway server. The backup medium chosen "not by this individual" is a HP 9200I parallel port CD re-writeable drive /burner.

I would like to here some reflections and recommendations on this strategy please.

Thanks gvt.

Mon, 15 May 2000 12:33:44 +0100
From: <>
Subject: image

Hi,

Do you know where I can get the "Dont fear the Penguis" logo names : linux-dont-f.jpg Or can you send it me...

cu

Wed, 17 May 2000 13:15:28 -0400
From: "Jeff Houston" <>
Subject: Video help

Howdy I have 2 problems. First and foremost I believe is when I boot up linux none of my window managers will work. In my old computer they did but not in my new one. I think it is because my graphics card is not compatible but not sure about that I know that it is not listed in setup but neither was my graphics card in my other computer. Anyway I went to the website of my graphics card and they had a file to supposedly add support for my card to linux but how do i go about installing it? It is gzipped and to be honest I have no clue where I am or what I am doing once I get logged in to linux without any of the window managers. I have only had redhat about 3 days now:) Anyway I have the file I supposedly need on a floppy, but dont have any idea what to do with it now. Alos after I installed RedHat for some reason Win98 became EXTREMELY slow and is giving me probs and a lot of programs not responding any idea why this is?
Thanks for any and all help you can give me.

signed, NEWBIE

[It would seem that you are -extremely- confused here Jeff. It would appear you have no idea how to use the BASH prompt. Obviously, you need to read up upon the subject - http://www.linuxdoc.org has a variety of tutorials and howtos for Linux. Have you tried running 'Xconfigurator' (remember folks, it's case sensative)? See if your graphics card is listed there. To unzip a file that's gzipped, use the 'gunzip' command. That's about as much as I can tell you, since you do not provide enough information. As for your Win98 slowdown problem, I really see no link between installing Linux and that type of problem. Mabye I'm wrong, or mabye it's just you being a bit paranoid :) -Alex.]

Wed, 17 May 2000 10:12:38 -0700
From: "Jeffrey X" <>
Subject: "run of input data" error

I recently compiled the RedHat kernel 2.2.12-20. Everything
went well and I can start new kernel from lilo. Lilo.conf
looks like: ....<

image=/boot/vmlinuz
label=linux
root=/dev/hda5


image=/usr/src/linux/arch/i386/boot/bzImage
label=new
root=/dev/hda5
....

"Loading linux....."
"Uncompressing Linux......"
ran out of imput data"
"-- System halted"

17 May 2000 13:12:55 -0000
From: "narender malhan" <>
Subject: linuxsoftwareraid HELP

Dear Sir,

I want to configure my linux box for mirroring(RAID1) with SCSI cards. I
want help or HOWTO documents regarding this.

Hope u 'll reply soon,

waiting for an early reply,

yours,
singh.

Mon, 22 May 2000 11:56:08 +0200
From: REVET Bernard <>
Subject: VIRUSES on the Net !!!

Many articles have been written in the press concerning the virus "I love You " and similar one
It would be appreciated to have a general article in the Linux Gazette about the problem of viruses as many computers have both Microsoft Windows and Linux installed . What are the protections of Linux against virus intrusions ? What
differentiates Microsoft OS from Linux concerning this problem? Is it safe or reasonable to continue to use Microsoft Windows as it costs so much to the community to get rid of these viruses? To these financial worries one can add updating systems 95 Versions, 98, Millenium , plus WWW browser plus bugs plus plus.

Bernard

[I'm sure it's been said before, many, many times. But, just for the point of clarity, I'l say it again. Virii (viruses) are virtually a non-issue in Linux, especially those like the love bug. I myself have never expereinced that particular virus, but I've read about Linux users who have, and, after using a bit of common sense, I've come to the conclusion that it could not affect a Linux box. Why? The love bug is a Visual BASIC script designed to run on Windows computers. Under Linux, you could just download the script and read it, without it doing any damage to your system. Most virii will have little affect on Linux, most are Windows-centric, and only designed to run under the aforementioned GUI. There are virus scanners available for Linux, and true, there are Linux specific Virii. However, I wouldn't waste the time of the download if I was you - the odds of you getting one are -extremely low-. Thankyou, and goodnight. -Alex.]

Sat, 20 May 2000 12:02:59 -0500 (COT)
From: Servicios Telematicos <>
Subject: Missing root password

Hello
I use linux red hat 6.1 but my friend Fabian change the lilo configurations and the root password. Please help me.

I need change the lilo configuration and root password.

Thanks,

victoriano sierra
Barranquilla
Colombia

Thu, 11 May 2000 13:19:41 -0500
From: Juan Pablo <>
Subject: Linux

Hello, I want to know if there is books, texts, etc. of linux in spanish . Where explains HOW TO USE it? Thanks!!!

[See below about an upcoming Spanish translation of the Gazette. Also, the Linux Journal site has a section listing the Linux Users Groups in many countries. Perhaps you can find one near you. Where are you located? http://www.linuxjournal.com/glue . -Ed.]

Thu, 11 May 2000 13:19:41 -0500
From: Warren <>
Subject: Spiro Linux

Were you ever contacted by someone at Spiro Linux? I am searching for information on the distribution, but the published website, http://www.spiro-linux.com, is not answering.

The Editor wrote:

No, I haven't. The domain doesn't exist now. You can try a search engine. I'm printing this in case one of our readers knows.

Warren responded:

I called the number for SPIRO-Linux, +1 (402) 375-4337, and an automated attendent identified the company as "Inventive Communications".

Web searches turn up a lot of reviews, but no news on what happened to the company.

Thu, 11 May 2000 13:19:41 -0500
From: <>
Subject: Windoze 98 under WINE

I know wine is meant for running windows applications, but is it also possible to just run windows 98 from within linux using Wine? I tried to run win.com with wine, but i got a dosmod error of some sort. If it is possible to run windoze 98 under linux WINE then please tell me how; thanx in advance.

Thu, 11 May 2000 13:19:41 -0500
From: Eric Ford <>
Subject: read-only -> read/write

Back when I ran NetBSD, there was a way I could mount (or link?) a directory from a read-only medium (CD-ROM, NFS that I only have read permission for, etc.) to a directory on my hard disk as read-write. If I added a file to the directory, it would be stored on my hd. If I modified a file, then it would save my version on my hd and transparently use that version rather the version on the ro medium. If I deleted a file, it stored something locally so it knew to make it appear as if that file wasn't there.

Can I do this in Linux? If so, how?

Thu, 11 May 2000 13:19:41 -0500
From: Amrit Rajbansh <>
Subject: remote login methods

My workstation has presently a damaged hard disk is there any provision that i can directly boot from the server using a linux bootable floppy,instead of installing a new hardisk in the work station

waiting eagerly for your reply

Sat, 29 Apr 2000 13:02:46 +0200
From: Jan-Hendrik Terstegge <>
Subject: Linux Gazette - German translation

Hi folks.

I love the Linux Gazette, but the last time I think there are more and more Linux users in Germany who didn't speak english (yes it's possible to use Linux without speaking English. The SuSE does a very good translation) or have really problems to speak it. I think most of them want to learn a lot about Linux, but there are not so much german-languaged Pages. So I think if would be nice if there are some guys speaking english and german very well who help me to translate the Linux Gazette.

[As you know, we very much like to see versions of the Gazette in other languages. If you can translate a few articles per issue and put them up on a web site, that will be a start. Perhaps seeing the articles there will encourage some other people to offer to help. Remember to add your site to our mirrors list using the form at the bottom of http://www.linuxgazette.com/mirrors.html-Ed.]

Wed, 3 May 2000 08:33:41 -0700
From: Karin Bakker
Subject: Re: Linux gazette in a German version How can I get the gazette in a German version ?

[A German-speaking reader or group will have to translate it and host it on their web site. This is how all our foreign-language mirrors work.

Just this week I get a letter from somebody who may be willing to translate part of it but he's looking for others to do some of the work. Let's see if I can find his e-mail address... Here it is: Jan-Hendrik Terstegge <>

Would you like to speak with him and see if you guys can figure out how to get a translation off the ground? -Ed.]

Sun, 30 Apr 2000 10:14:36 -0400
From: usrloco <>
Subject: userlocal.com

I just wanted to thank you for listing my site (userlocal.com) in the May issue of Linux Gazette.

Mon, 1 May 2000 21:58:34 -0500
From: Brad Schrunk <>
Subject: SuSE Linux and Microsoft medialess OS

Dear Linux Supporters:

I have started playing around with SuSE Linux and am impressed with the product. I have been a died in the wool Microsoft user for the last eight years. I have seen them step on a lot of folks and that is part of business. I have also put up with their mindless CD keys that make a network administrators life miserable. Not copy protected is what it said on all of their software. That was until they controlled the market now everything is copy protected.

But the latest rumor or plan that Microsoft has put me over the edge. I read the an article in the May 1, 2000 issue of INFO WORLD that Microsoft now wants to jam a "medialess OS" down our throats. The article is entitled "Users find Microsoft's medialess anti piracy play hard to swallow" explains their latest attempt to stop software piracy. This is it for me.

I have been an ardent supporter up till this. I want to convert to something else. The problems are my word, access and other apps that use MS apps. Is there a way to continue to use these apps without Microsoft OS. Or is there a way to emulate win apps or is there other apps that transparently use their files? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Wed, 3 May 2000 21:02:05 +0200
From: Alan Ward <>
Subject: RE: Here comes another article

Just a line to mention I liked a lot the new look. You also did well to put the programs in separate files.

Sat, 06 May 2000 01:53:15 -0400
From: Charlie Robinson <>
Subject: New Logo

Sir,

I am very excited about Linux and the work that you and your staff perform. Because I am very much a "newbie", I turn to your web site religiously every month. Thanks for all of the hand holding and the impressive looking new logo - I like it.

Thu, 18 May 2000 11:28:04 +0100
From: Paul Sims <>
Subject: new logo

Nice new logo - well done!

Mon, 08 May 2000 16:42:12 +1200
From: Linux Gazette <>
Subject: Rsync Ewen McNeill <> and others wrote in about difficulties mirroring LG after we installed wu-ftpd. In response, we have installed anonymous rsync also. Many people find rsync more convenient to use than mirror, and it also has the advantage that it transfers only the changed portions of files, saving bandwidth.

Hints for using rsync with Linux Gazette are in the LG FAQ, question 14. -Ed.

Tue, 09 May 2000 01:46:50 -0500
From: Felipe E. Barousse <>
Subject: Spanish translation of Linux Gazette

Sirs:

I noticed on your mirrors list that there are "none known" translations to Spanish of Linux Gazette.

We are a Linux consulting firm based in Mexico City and with operations all across Latin America and the Caribbean.

We would like to take the task of translating LG into Spanish. We are able to coordinate a team of technical translators, Linux / Unix specialized and, eventually, when translated, host those pages in our web site.

I would like to know your opinion about this idea and, if approved, make all required arrangements for this to happen. We are also open to discuss any other outstanding issues to accomplish this project.

Hoping to hear from you soon.

[The translation is expected to go live on June 1 at http://www.piensa.com. The site has been added to the mirrors list. -Ed.]

Wed, 10 May 2000 13:50:05 -0400
From: Aurelio_Martínez_Dalis <>
Subject: Suscribing Information

My Name is Aurelio Martinez ([email protected]).I am a linux beginner, and I have access to Internet only by e-mail. Is it possible to receive Linux Gazzete in HTML format by e-mail ? Thanks.

[Quoting from the LG FAQ:

The Gazette is too big to send via e-mail. Issue #44 is 754 KB; the largest issue (#34) was 2.7 MB. Even the text-only version of #44 is 146 K compressed, 413 K uncompressed. If anybody wishes to distribute the text version via e-mail, be my guest. There is an announcement mailing list where I announce each issue; e-mail [email protected] with "subscribe" in the message body to subscribe. Or read the announcement on comp.os.linux.announce.

You'll have to either read the web version or download the FTP files.

I asked our sysadmin whether we could set up a mailing list for the Gazette issues themselves, and he was unwilling, again because of the size issue. Many mail transport systems are configured to reject messages larger than 1 or 1.5 MB. "And I don't want my sysadmin mailbox stuffed chock full of bounced 4M emails."

Note to mirrors:

We receive at least one request a month to send the Gazette via e-mail. So there is definitely reader demand for it. If you wish to offer Gazette via e-mail, you would need to send out the current issue's FTP file along with lg-base-new (the changed shared files) every month. Users would somehow need access to lg-base (all the shared files) when they subscribe and whenever they reinstall the Gazette. I don't know how you would handle changes to the FTP files later (i.e., corrections to back issues). -Ed.]

Wed, 17 May 2000 10:23:37 +0300
From: Shelter-Afrique <>
Subject: Compliments

Thanks 4 maintaining this great magazine - its been really helpful!

D. S. Daju

[Thanks for the vote of encouragement. -Ed.]

Mon, 22 May 2000 09:11:22 EDT
From: <>
Subject: Kudo's

Hello! My name is Linc Fessenden and I first want to congratulate you on an outstanding magazine! I also happen to run a Linux User Group (Lehigh Valley Linux User Group) in eastern Pennsylvania. We were wondering if you might be willing to donate any promotional item(s) that we could give away at a meeting to help increase Linux enthusiasm and awareness, and also to promote the Gazette? Please let me know, and keep up the great work!

[Thanks for the feedback. We do not currently have any Gazette-specific merchandise. I have forwarded your request to our GLUE coordinator (GLUE = Groups of Linux Users Everywhere, http://www.linuxjournal.com/glue) who can give you further info. -Ed.]

Sat, 20 May 2000 12:55:34 +0200
From: Maciej Jablonski <>
Subject: a comment about page

On Polish version version of on-line Linux Gazette there are empty sides, for example: Accessing Linux from DOS!?

[Could you please send me some URLs that have the wrong behavior so I can see what the problem is? The master copy (all the way back in issue #1) is coming up fine.

Each mirror is responsible for its own site. We do not update the mirrors centrally. -Ed.]

Sun, 30 Apr 2000 06:14:54 +0200
From: Meino Cramer <>
Subject: Moonlight-Atelier 3D ... sigh

Dear Editor!

In on one of the articles of issue 53 of the Linux Gazette Moonlight Atelier 3D is mentioned as a 3D-modeller and raytracer.

Unfortunately this program has been taken from the WEB for what reason ever.

Please take a look at www.moonlight3D.org.

I have used this program before its "shutdown" and I am really sad, that there is neither suppport nor any updates any more.

May be you can achieve some informations about this case ?

Thank you very much for your help and for the Linux Gazette!

This page written and maintained by the Editor of the Linux Gazette. Copyright © 2000,
Published in Issue 54 of Linux Gazette, June 2000