Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.announce
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From: Patrick D'Cruze <pdcr...@orac.iinet.com.au>
Subject: ANNOUNCE: Configuration tools project
Message-ID: <ann-24271.768338009@cs.cornell.edu>
Followup-To: comp.os.linux.misc
Keywords: Configuration tools, Linux International
Sender: m...@cs.cornell.edu (Matt Welsh)
Reply-To: Patrick D'Cruze <pdcr...@orac.iinet.com.au>
Organization: None
Date: Sat, 7 May 1994 19:13:47 GMT
Approved: linux-annou...@tc.cornell.edu (Matt Welsh)
Lines: 92
Arguably, one of the biggest problem areas within Linux (and Unix in general)
is in the configuration of all aspects of the system. Many calls for help
stem from a lack of knowledge in configuring some part of the system or from
configuring it incorrectly. Often times, the answer to these calls for help
is to RTFM and then get out your trusty text editor and edit the configuration
files.
A large number of users however see a need for easy to use configuration tools
- tools that do not require users to read and reread man pages and do not
require users to fire up vi or emacs to effect some changes. Many people have
shown an interest in a set of X based GUI configuration packages - packages
that would present a more intuitive means of effecting changes. Something
similar to Window's Control Panel would be a nice start. These tools would be
used to configure things like:
- lpd setup
- kernel config
- nfs
- NetBios server
- TCP/IP
- sendmail (ugh!)
- and many many others
Linux International is very much interested in putting together a set of
configuration tools for Linux. Tools that will make it easier for existing
users to configure Linux and may also knock over one more hurdle preventing
other users from swicthing to Linux.
The purpose of this announcement is to announce the opening of a mailing list
which will be dedicated to coordinating the development of a set of
configuration packages for Linux. Everyone and anyone is free to join this
mailing list. In particular we'd like to hear from people interested in
volunteering some time in assisting in writing the necessary software and
those interested in discussing what needs to be included and how it should all
work.
The mailing list will be used to:
- firstly, discuss which parts of the system need to be configured in this
manner
- secondly, what are the requirements of such configuration tools
- and thirdly, to begin writing the software necessary to achieve the aims
and goals established on the list
This has the potential to be a very big project and one that has the
possibility of reducing a number of frequently asked questions in
comp.os.linux.help . Many users would love to have nice intuitive
configuration tools which would hopefully make Linux much easier to configure
and setup. With your help and participation we can make a start on this and
develop tools which will be of benefit to a large number of present and future
Linux users.
Hoping to see quite a few volunteers and participants on the mailing list.
Regards,
Patrick D'Cruze pdcr...@orac.iinet.com.au
Linux International
Details on joining the mailing list.
SUBSCRIBING
===========
To subscribe to li-config-tools, send the following in the body (not the
subject line) of an email message to "li-config-tools-requ...@orac.iinet.com.au
":
subscribe li-config-tools
This will subscribe the account from which you send the message to
the li-config-tools list.
If you wish to subscribe another address instead (such as a local
redistribution list), you can use a command of the form:
subscribe li-config-tools other-address@your_site.your_net
HELP
====
To find out more about the automated server and the commands it
understands, send the following command to "majord...@orac.iinet.com.au":
help
If you feel you need to reach a human, send email to
li-config-tools-appro...@orac.iinet.com.au
--
Mail submissions for comp.os.linux.announce to: linux-annou...@tc.cornell.edu
Be sure to include Keywords: and a short description of your software.
Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.announce
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From: Linux_I...@orac.iinet.com.au
Subject: Announce: Automatic Hardware Configuration project
Message-ID: <ann-2682.768866939@cs.cornell.edu>
Followup-To: comp.os.linux.misc
Keywords: Modular kernel development, hardware configuration mailing list
Sender: m...@cs.cornell.edu (Matt Welsh)
Reply-To: Linux_I...@orac.iinet.com.au
Organization: None
Date: Fri, 13 May 1994 22:09:16 GMT
Approved: linux-annou...@tc.cornell.edu (Matt Welsh)
Lines: 79
Recent developments in the Linux kernel have proved that many people find
the concept of a modular kernel popular. In particular many users are
making use of SLS 1.05 (or doing it themselves) and enjoying the benefits
of loading/unloading various kernel drivers. While not officially
sanctioned by Linus, many people find it useful and enjoy the benefits
this concept has to offer.
The next step following on from the loadable drivers, is to have the
kernel automatically configure itself at boot time. To be able to
correctly probe the computer and determine what cards, chipsets, etc
are installed and then use that info to correctly install all of the
necessary device drivers in the kernel. This would eliminate much of
the kernel compilation and reconfiguration time for end-users.
Linux International is interested in pursuing this next step. We have
established a mailing list for those interested in participating in
developing the necessary software to accomplish this. It must be
remembered of course that all kernel modifications are subject to
Linus's approval and so there are no guarantees that this software or
the loadable drivers will show up in the "official" kernel anytime soon.
Bearing that in mind, I think many people would be interested in an
autoconfiguring kernel. It hopefully will reduce kernel configuration
time to zero and relieve newbie users of one more thing to manage on
their Linux systems. Whether this is a good or bad thing is another
question.
A number of people have already expressed an interest in contributing to
this project and helping with the coding of the necessary software. If
you too would like to contribute time and energy into developing this
software, we would encourage you to join the mailing list. Anyone and
everyone is welcome to join, but we especially want to hear from people
willing to help develop this. Appended to this message are the details
for subscribing to the mailing list.
Looking forward to seeing quite a few people on the list.
Regards,
Patrick D'Cruze pdcr...@orac.iinet.com.au
Linux International
SUBSCRIBING
===========
To subscribe to the autoconfiguration project mailing list, send the
following in the body (not the subject line) of an email message to
"li-autoconfig-requ...@orac.iinet.com.au":
subscribe li-autoconfig
This will subscribe the account from which you send the message to
the li-autoconfig list.
If you wish to subscribe another address instead (such as a local
redistribution list), you can use a command of the form:
subscribe li-autoconfig other-address@your_site.your_net
HELP
====
To find out more about the automated server and the commands it
understands, send the following command to "majord...@orac.iinet.com.au":
help
If you feel you need to reach a human, send email to
li-autoconfig-appro...@orac.iinet.com.au
--
Mail submissions for comp.os.linux.announce to: linux-annou...@tc.cornell.edu
Be sure to include Keywords: and a short description of your software.
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From: pdcr...@iinet.com.au (Patrick D'Cruze)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.chips,comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.misc
Subject: Hardware experts wanted
Date: 20 May 1994 02:44:03 +0800
Organization: iiNET Technologies
Lines: 75
Message-ID: <2rgc1j$jln@classic.iinet.com.au>
NNTP-Posting-Host: classic.iinet.com.au
Summary: Hardware experts wanted in developing autoconfiguration software
Keywords: Autoconfiguration, hardware
X-Newsreader: NN version 6.5.0 #3 (NOV)
WANTED: people who are initimately familiar with the PC's hardware, BIOS,
and/or familiar with add-in cards.
Linux is a freeware operating system that is a very accurate clone of Unix.
It is widely used and enjoyed by many thousands of people who have recognised
the advantages this operating system has to offer. However, one of Linux's
disadvantages is that at present the user has to manually configure the
operatung system - specifying network cards, video drivers, sound cards,
interrupts for all of these, card addresses etc. While this is fairly easy to
do, many people are eager to have the operating system automatically detect
the computer's hardware configuration and make the appropriate software
changes automatically.
Hence, we are looking for people who have experience in dealing with the PCs
hardware and who would be willing to help us write the necessary software to
probe the hardware at boottime and derive the necessary information on the
hardware configuration which can then be used to configure the operating
system.
We already have a few volunteers who are willing to make a start on this but
there is a lot to do and we would be eager to hear from anyone interested in
helping us out.
A mailing list has been established to promote discussion and coordinate the
development in this endeavour. I have appended details on how to subscribe to
this mailing list to this post.
Continuing with the philosophy under which Linux has been developed, all
software written for this "project" will be released under the GNU GPL2
license - meaning that it will be made freely available to everyone. This is
not a commercial project - rather a group of volunteers who are eager to
develop this software which will benefit thousands of Linux users everywhere.
Even if you have no interest in writing software for Linux/Unix, we would be
eager to talk with anyone who maybe able to help us in writing this software.
Your knowledge would be invaluable to us.
Hoping to see many of you on the mailing list.
Regards,
Patrick D'Cruze pdcr...@orac.iinet.com.au
Linux International
SUBSCRIBING
===========
To subscribe to the autoconfiguration project mailing list, send the
following in the body (not the subject line) of an email message to
"li-autoconfig-requ...@orac.iinet.com.au":
subscribe li-autoconfig
This will subscribe the account from which you send the message to
the li-autoconfig list.
If you wish to subscribe another address instead (such as a local
redistribution list), you can use a command of the form:
subscribe li-autoconfig other-address@your_site.your_net
HELP
====
To find out more about the automated server and the commands it
understands, send the following command to "majord...@orac.iinet.com.au":
help
If you feel you need to reach a human, send email to
li-autoconfig-appro...@orac.iinet.com.au
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From: c...@titan.ucs.umass.edu (CHRISTOPHER M MAY)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.chips,comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.misc
Subject: Re: Hardware experts wanted
Followup-To: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.chips,comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.misc
Date: 20 May 1994 19:37:32 GMT
Organization: University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Lines: 36
Message-ID: <2rj3hs$9rq@nic.umass.edu>
References: <2rgc1j$jln@classic.iinet.com.au>
NNTP-Posting-Host: titan.ucs.umass.edu
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL2]
Patrick D'Cruze (pdcr...@iinet.com.au) wrote:
: WANTED: people who are initimately familiar with the PC's hardware, BIOS,
: and/or familiar with add-in cards.
I first wrote a long flame to this request, but since I am unclear as to
the commercial status of Linux International, I will postpone my flame
until I learn more. I fear that what you are doing is an attempt to
further fragment the linux efforts already underway.
Prove me wrong. Linux needs some development, but where are the PCI
drivers? Where is the Adaptec 27/2842 support? What's the status of
the WINE project? How is DOSEMU running these days?
Those are the real projects which will move Linux into the mainstream.
I think your AUTOconfiguration is premature when there are only a
relatively few pieces of hardware supported at this point.
Your Autoconfiguration project threatens people who honestly make
some income off of configuring linux systems for people. How well will
such software work? I wasn't impressed with Window's Chicago's attempt
at this, and I've never seen anyone else try it. It is just not
possible to detect every piece of hardware properly every time in all
systems. You may end up causing MORE people to have problems when
your program hangs on some improperly detected hardware. Of course
this is speculation, but it is my fear.
Why not work on the real drivers, instead of hiding the beauty of
a linux conifguration from the uninformed masses?
--
-Chris May, Computer Science, University of MA, Amherst
- Technical Assistant, P.C. Maintenance Lab
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From: pdcr...@iinet.com.au (Patrick D'Cruze)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.storage
Subject: Hardware experts wanted
Date: 20 May 1994 02:46:50 +0800
Organization: iiNET Technologies
Lines: 75
Message-ID: <2rgc6q$jnq@classic.iinet.com.au>
NNTP-Posting-Host: classic.iinet.com.au
Summary: Hardware experts wanted in developing autoconfiguration software
X-Newsreader: NN version 6.5.0 #3 (NOV)
WANTED: people who are initimately familiar with the PC's hardware, BIOS,
and/or familiar with add-in cards.
Linux is a freeware operating system that is a very accurate clone of Unix.
It is widely used and enjoyed by many thousands of people who have recognised
the advantages this operating system has to offer. However, one of Linux's
disadvantages is that at present the user has to manually configure the
operatung system - specifying network cards, video drivers, sound cards,
interrupts for all of these, card addresses etc. While this is fairly easy to
do, many people are eager to have the operating system automatically detect
the computer's hardware configuration and make the appropriate software
changes automatically.
Hence, we are looking for people who have experience in dealing with the PCs
hardware and who would be willing to help us write the necessary software to
probe the hardware at boottime and derive the necessary information on the
hardware configuration which can then be used to configure the operating
system.
We already have a few volunteers who are willing to make a start on this but
there is a lot to do and we would be eager to hear from anyone interested in
helping us out.
A mailing list has been established to promote discussion and coordinate the
development in this endeavour. I have appended details on how to subscribe to
this mailing list to this post.
Continuing with the philosophy under which Linux has been developed, all
software written for this "project" will be released under the GNU GPL2
license - meaning that it will be made freely available to everyone. This is
not a commercial project - rather a group of volunteers who are eager to
develop this software which will benefit thousands of Linux users everywhere.
Even if you have no interest in writing software for Linux/Unix, we would be
eager to talk with anyone who maybe able to help us in writing this software.
Your knowledge would be invaluable to us.
Hoping to see many of you on the mailing list.
Regards,
Patrick D'Cruze pdcr...@orac.iinet.com.au
Linux International
SUBSCRIBING
===========
To subscribe to the autoconfiguration project mailing list, send the
following in the body (not the subject line) of an email message to
"li-autoconfig-requ...@orac.iinet.com.au":
subscribe li-autoconfig
This will subscribe the account from which you send the message to
the li-autoconfig list.
If you wish to subscribe another address instead (such as a local
redistribution list), you can use a command of the form:
subscribe li-autoconfig other-address@your_site.your_net
HELP
====
To find out more about the automated server and the commands it
understands, send the following command to "majord...@orac.iinet.com.au":
help
If you feel you need to reach a human, send email to
li-autoconfig-appro...@orac.iinet.com.au