Path: sparky!uunet!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!darwin.sura.net!europa.asd.contel.com!
awds.imsd.contel.com!news!nic.cerf.net!richter
From: rich...@nic.cerf.net (Adam J. Richter)
Newsgroups: comp.os.linux,alt.os.linux,comp.unix.pc-clone.32bit,comp.unix.wizards,
comp.unix.misc,gnu.misc.discuss
Subject: ANNOUNCEMENT: Alpha release Linux/GNU/X unix clone on CDROM for PC's
Message-ID: <3814@news.cerf.net>
Date: 25 Nov 92 04:46:44 GMT
Sender: n...@news.cerf.net
Followup-To: comp.os.linux
Organization: Yggdrasil Computing, Incorporated
Lines: 180
Nntp-Posting-Host: nic.cerf.net
I am now taking orders for the alpha release of my company's
Linux/GNU/X distribution on CDROM. Linux is an AT&T-free unix clone
for 386/486-class PC compatibles. The CDROM is an ISO-9660 filesystem,
so you can look at it from DOS, other unix boxes, and even Macintoshes.
The distribution includes:
o Linux 0.98.1 kernel,
o X windows (v11r5) for VGA displays with support
for higher resolutions such as 1024x768 256 colors using
the ET4000, ET3000, Paradise, or Genoa chip sets,
and the standard Xlib/Xt development environment,
o GNU utilities, including GNU C and C++, the GNU
debugger, bison, flex, GNU make,
o TeX and groff typesetting packages,
o Ghostscript: a postscript interpreter that can drive
a variety of printers and also display in an X
window,
o elvis and GNU emacs text editors,
o kermit 5A telecommunications program, and
o an installation script that uses the extended
filesystem, which supports long filenames and
symbolic links just like the BSD file system,
o iso9660 filesystem with support for the Rock Ridge
extensions for reading CDROM's (used by this
CDROM distribution),
o lots of other useful programs too numerous to mention.
The alpha distribution consists the CDROM, and 3.5" and 5.25"
high density bootable filesystem floppies, and installation notes.
This should be sufficient to install the system directly on a new
computer or on an unused partition on your hard disk.
You need a 386/486-class CPU, 8MB RAM, high density floppy,
100MB of IDE, SCSI or ESDI disk (200MB w/sources), SCSI CDROM drive
with an Adaptec 1542B, Ultrastor 14F, Future Domain TMC-1660/1680,
Seagate ST01/02, or Western Digital 7000fasst SCSI controller. I
don't think that Microchannel machines (e.g., PS/2's) will work, but
I'd be interested in hearing from anybody who tries installing on one.
If you can't make the CDROM distribution work, then you may
return it within 30 days for a refund of the purchase price and any
sales tax, provided that you delete any files copied from the CDROM.
In such cases, please call in advance for return authorization. If
you are experiencing a problem which is supposed to be solved in a
subsequent release, you will be allowed to wait for that release
before having to decide whether or not you want to exercise your
refund option.
Bear in mind that this is an alpha release. If you experience
problems, be prepared to do a certain amount of detective work to try
to narrow the problem down to certain hardware or software components.
If you can debug and fix the problem, that's even better. I have only
tested the distribution on a couple of machines, all of which had
ET4000-based VGA cards, various IDE hard disks, and an Adaptec 1542B
SCSI controller. However, I am not aware of anyone being unable to
get Linux working on any other supported hardware.
The price of the CDROM distribution does not include support.
If you or your company are interested in providing support for this
CDROM distribution, give me a call at (510) 526-7531, 9am-5pm pacific
time. I want to make the availability of third party support an
important selling point of the production releases.
If you or your company wants to resell the these releases,
that can be arranged. In order for these distributions to be
perceived as a viable alternative to Destiny and Solaris, I want there
to be a single standard for these CD's, which means making sure that
reselling is a more attractive alternative than developing a competing
CD. To that end, deep wholesale discounts will be available for very
high quantity resellers who don't need return privileges. In the
interest of having knowledgeable resellers, Linux developers will be
able to qualify for these deals at somewhat lower quantities.
Of course, I'm also interested in improving the software on
the CDROM. I intend to reinvest heavily in continuing free software
development. In the mean time, if you are currently the principal
maintainer of a program, device driver or other module of the CDROM
distribution, I'll send you a complimentary copy.
I have attached an order form for people in the United States
and Canada who want to order the CDROM now. Once the advance orders
have been shipped, I will make another posting that will hopefully
include information on foreign shipping and other payment methods such
as credit cards and purchase orders. The CD is being replicated now
and shipping of advance orders should be completed by Tuesday,
December 8th.
The $99 price includes free copies of the beta and production
releases. The beta release should ship in January and the production
release should ship in February under a catchier trademarked name.
Subsequent releases will be issued quarterly at $99 each. You'll also
be able to get the CD's as a subscription at $60 per quarter with
automatic billing available (minimum subscription: 2 quarters). If
you buy the alpha or beta release, you will be able to convert to the
subscription service and have your $99 and your copy of the production
release counted as part of the subscription, so you will not be
penalized for buying before the availability of subscriptions.
Legalities:
1. Any offers or prices are subject to change at any
time without notice.
2. THERE IS NO WARRANTY FOR ANY OF THIS SOFTWARE
(not the alpha distribution, not the beta
distribution, and not even the production
distributions). THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS"
WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR
IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
IMPLIED WARRANTIES OR MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS
FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
This will be the first free operating system CDROM ever. It is
remotely conceivable that I may be flooded with email and telephone calls
tomorrow. If you send me questions by email, I may not be able to
respond immediately. Instead, I may post a list of common questions
and answers to the newsgroups to which this announcement is posted.
Adam J. Richter
President
Yggdrasil Computing, Incorporated
------------------------------ CUT HERE ------------------------------
ADVANCE ORDER FORM
Linux/GNU/X CDROM alpha distribution
SHIP TO: ______________________________ DAYTIME PHONE: ________________
______________________________ EMAIL: ________________________
______________________________
______________________________
(USA and Canada only)
Unit price
Item Quantity (US dollars)
Linux+GNU+X alpha release _____ X $99 = $________
(beta and production release
will be sent to you free)
California residents add 8.25% sales tax $________
Shipping (flat fee, independent of quantity) $ 5.00
Total $________
Enclose money order or check payable in US dollars to
"Yggdrasil Computing, Incorporated" and mail to:
Yggdrasil Computing, Incorporated
CDROM sales
PO Box 8418
Berkeley, CA 94707-8418
If this order form is received after the beta release has
begun, you will only receive the beta release and the production
release. If this order form is received after the production release
has been made, you will receive only the most current production
release. This order form expires after March 1, 1993.
Call (510)526-7531 for a new order form after that date. You
may also call that number after December 8th for information on
orders outside of the United States and Canada.
Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.announce,comp.newprod,alt.cdrom,comp.unix.pc-clone.32bit,
gnu.misc.discuss
Path: sparky!uunet!mcsun!news.funet.fi!hydra!klaava!wirzeniu
From: y...@netcom.com (Yggdrasil Computing, Incorporated)
Subject: Linux/GNU/X UNIX(R) clone for PC's: beta CDROM now available
Message-ID: <1993Feb21.074333.16350@klaava.Helsinki.FI>
Followup-To: comp.os.linux
Summary: turnkey system, complete source, tcp/ip, multimedia + X11 contrib tree
Keywords: Yggdrasil Linux GNU X Networking TCP/IP TeX X-windows
Sender: wirze...@klaava.Helsinki.FI (Lars Wirzenius)
Organization: Yggdrasil Computing, Incorporated
Date: Sun, 21 Feb 1993 07:43:33 GMT
Approved: linux-annou...@tc.cornell.edu (Lars Wirzenius)
Lines: 343
THE YGGDRASIL LINUX/GNU/X OPERATING SYSTEM DISTRIBUTION
BETA CDROM
CONTENTS:
Executive summary
Contents of the beta release
How to get more information
Hardware requirements
How to get a free copy
How to buy a copy
Reseller list
Service vendors
Direct sales order form
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 18 February 1993
Yggdrasil Computing, Incorporated is now shipping a beta CDROM
release of a bootable Linux/GNU/X-based UNIX(R) clone for PC
compatibles, tentatively named LGX. The system uses version 0.99.5 of the
Linux kernel, which is being developed from scratch by Linus Torvalds
and an international group of skilled contributors working over the
internet to complete the GNU project.
LGX beta is the first PC UNIX(R) clone to include multimedia
facilities as part of its base configuration. The beta release also
features X-windows, networking, a complete source tree (including X
windows and TeX), a demonstration facility, an easy installation
mechanism, and the ability to run directly from the CDROM.
Some of the otherwise unused space on the CDROM has been used
to distribute other interesting software. On the beta release, this
space holds a copy of the X11R5 MIT contrib tree with an updated
version of the Andrew multimedia system. Future releases will include
different things in the otherwise unused CDROM space.
The LGX beta CDROM is in standard ISO-9660 format with
Rockridge extensions, so it can easily be browsed from other types of
computers or other operating systems.
Yggdrasil is greatly indebted to the many free software
developers whose efforts have made this release possible. As a token
of appreciation, anyone who has made a major contribution to the LGX
beta software can get a free copy, which includes the CD, manual, and
boot floppies. Otherwise, the price is $60. The beta release plus
the first production release can be purchased together for $99. You
can order directly from Yggdrasil or through a reseller in the United
States or Europe.
For more information, call (510) 526-7531 or send mail to
yggdra...@netcom.com. Reseller and service vendor inquiries welcome.
UNIX is a registered trademark of Unix System Laboratories, Inc.
Yggdrasil Computing, Incorporated has no affiliation with Unix System
Laboratories, Inc.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
CONTENTS OF THE BETA RELEASE
Almost every piece of software on the distribution has been
updated since the previous December 8th alpha release. The 34,557
files on this plug-and-play CDROM include:
SOURCE CODE
o Complete source tree, including X (with Xfree86 1.1
code) and TeX sources. You cannot yet do a complete
build from the top of this tree, but you should be able
to easily find the source code for any binary on the CD.
o SPECIAL FOR THE BETA RELEASE: the complete X11R5 MIT contrib
tree with the Andrew 5.0 tree replaced by a snapshot of an
Andrew 5.1 tree in the process of being ported to Linux
(this is not automatically installed as part of any
installation, but it makes the CD useful for reference even
after the beta release has been superseded),
USER INTERFACE FACILITIES: X-WINDOWS AND MULTIMEDIA
o X windows (X11R5) for S3, 8514/A and VGA displays using
ET4000, ET3000, Paradise, Trident 8900c, Genoa, or
ATI VGA Wonder chipsets. (NOTE: due to trade secrecy
Diamond Stealth is not supported),
o The full motion video (MPEG) viewer from Professor
Larry Rowe's research group at UC Berkeley.
o Sound players and Hannu Savolainen's drivers for the
AdLib, SoundBlaster 1.0-2.0 (and compatibles including
ThunderBoard and Ati Stereo F/X), SoundBlaster Pro,
and ProAudioSpectrum 16. (ProAudioSpectrum+ is not
supported yet. The original ProAudioSpectrum is not
supported nor is it likely to be supported the near
future.)
o CD audio support,
o Tcl, Tk, wish and expect. Tcl is a scripting language
("tool command language") written by Professor
John Ousterhout at UC Berkeley. Tk is a toolkit that
allows one to quickly write X-windows programs in Tcl.
Wish is a Tk/Tcl interpretter. The beta distribution
includes versions of wish with support for "drag and drop"
applications, and compound documents and hypertext. Expect
is a system written in Tcl Don Libes that "performs
programmed dialogue with other interactive programs."
ETHERNET NETWORKING: TCP/IP and NFS
o simple installation script,
o clients: finger, ftp, nslookup and its cousins, ping, rcp,
rlogin, rsh, talk, telnet, tftp.
o daemons: fingerd, ftpd, inetd, ntalkd, rshd, telnetd, tftpd,
o name server support,
o ethernet card drivers which support the following cards and
their clones:
- 3Com 3c503, 3c503/16
- NE1000, NE2000, National Semiconductor, Cabletron
- Western Digital WD8003, WD8013, SMC elite
- Western Digital wd8003/wd8013
o user-level NFS daemon,
o support for mounting NFS filesystems,
SYSTEM V/SCO-RELATED FEATURES
o System V primitives for interprocess communication and
shared memory,
o the Xenix file system support,
o MS-DOS filesystem (usable on both floppy disks and
hard disk partitions),
o a BIOS emulator that can run DOS,
DOCUMENT PREPARATION
o ghostscript: a postscript interpreter for X windows,
faxes and a variety of printers,
o TeX and groff typesetting packages with X previewers,
DEVELOPMENT ENVIRONMENT
o elvis and GNU emacs text editors,
o the standard Xlib/Xt X windows libraries,
o the GNU C and C++ compilers
o f2c FORTRAN-to-C translator,
o GNU debugger
o GNU make,
o bison and flex
FILESYSTEMS
o a BSD-like filesystem with long file names, symbolic links,
and FIFO's,
o iso9660 CDROM filesystem, plus Rockridge support,
o MINIX filesystem,
o DOS and Xenix fileystems (mentioned above)
MISCELLANEOUS
o Support for the Sony CDU31A (non-scsi) CDROM drive,
o kermit and Z-modem telecommunications programs.
HOW TO GET MORE INFORMATION
The anonymous FTP area netcom.com:pub/yggdrasil contains more
information, including an "ls -RC" listing of the CD's contents,
reseller information, and copies of the manual in texinfo, DVI and
postscript. If you want to view the DVI version of the manual with
xdvi, you can go to the table of contents with the command "84g".
If you have questions, you can call (510) 526-7531, fax (510)
528-8508, or send mail to yggdra...@netcom.com.
REQUIRED HARDWARE
CPU: Any 386/486-class CPU
RAM: 8 megabytes
CDROM drive (only required for installation):
Sony CDU-31A with its standard controller, or a SCSI CDROM
drive attached to one of the following controllers.
Adaptec 1542B or 1740
Future Domain TMC-1660 or TMC-1680
Ultrastor 14F or 34F
Western Digital 7000faast
HARD DISK SPACE
LGX can share your hard disk with DOS or another
operating system. The beta release can be configured to
use approximately 5MB (by running system programs directly
from the CDROM), 100MB (source tree remains on the CDROM),
250MB (everything is installed on the hard disk).
You can use MFM, RLL, IDE, ESDI or SCSI hard disks. If
you use a SCSI hard disk, then you have to use one of the
SCSI controllers listed above or a Seagate ST-01, ST-02,
Future Domain TMC-88x series or other SCSI controller
based on the Future Domain TMC-950 chip for your hard disk
only, but you cannot use these additional cards to control
a CDROM drive.
SUPPORTED HARDWARE
ETHERNET CARDS
- 3Com 3c503, 3c503/16
- NE1000, NE2000, National Semiconductor, Cabletron
- Western Digital WD8003, WD8013, SMC elite
- Western Digital wd8003/wd8013
SOUND CARDS
- AdLib
- SoundBlaster 1.0-2.0 (and compatibles including
ThunderBoard and Ati Stereo F/X)
- SoundBlaster Pro,
- ProAudioSpectrum 16. (ProAudioSpectrum+ is not
supported yet. The original ProAudioSpectrum is not
supported nor is it likely to be supported the near
future.)
MULTIPORT SERIAL CARDS
- AST Fourport
- Accent Async 4 driver is included, but not compiled in.
You cannot currently use an Ultrastor SCSI controller
with the Accent Async 4 drive compiled in.
SERVICE VENDORS
The LGX beta manual lists a small number of vendors offering
support services related to the Yggdrasil Linux/GNU/X distribution.
If you or your business would like to offer a service related to LGX,
send a description of your business and contact information to
yggdra...@netcom.com. There may also be an advertising section in the
production release manuals if there is interest. It would be nice to
have a longer list of support vendors to disseminate in the publicity
for the production release. If you have ideas for cooperation that
you'd like explore, please get in touch.
HOW TO GET A FREE COPY
If you are a principal maintainer or author of any software or
documentation in the distribution, or if you are making some other
major contribution that supports the development of the software on
this CD (e.g., you organize an FTP site, run a BBS, etc.), then you
can get a free copy of the beta release by sending mail to
yggdar...@netcom.com with your name, your postal mailing address and a
pointer to your contribution.
HOW TO BUY A COPY
The beta release is $60, or you can save money and
buy the beta release plus the production release when it ships for
$99. You can buy a copy from Yggdrasil or from one of the resellers
listed below. Yggdrasil's shipping charges and money-back guarantee
are described on the direct sales order form below. Resellers have
their own shipping charges and return procedures. Yggdrasil does not
take credit cards, but most of the resellers do.
RESELLER LIST
MAIL ORDER, EUROPE:
Wasaware Oy CD-ROM Mail Order
Palosaarentie 31 Karl-Marx-Ring 148
SF-65200 VAASA 8000 Munich 83
FINLAND GERMANY
phone/fax: +358 61 173365 phone: ++49 89 6378421
MAIL ORDER, UNITED STATES:
Austin Code Works InfoMagic, Inc. Walnut Creek CDROM
11100 Leafwood Lane Post Office Box 338 1547 Palos Vendes Mall, Suite 260
Austin, Texas 78750 Pennington NJ 08534 Walnut Creek, California 94596
(512) 258-0785 (609) 683-5501 (510) 674-0783
fax (512) 258-1342 fax (609) 683-1342 fax (510) 674-0821
COMPUTER STORES (SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA):
Quality Computers Positive Solutions
2435 Channing Way 10032 San Pablo Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94704 El Cerrito, CA 94530
(510) 548-2245 (510) 527-6908
fax (510) 548-0442 fax (510) 527-3823
DIRECT SALES ORDER FORM:
-------------------------------CUT HERE-------------------------------------
ORDER FORM
Yggdrasil Linux/GNU/X Operating System, Beta Release CDROM
SHIP TO: ______________________________ DAYTIME PHONE: ________________
______________________________ EMAIL: ________________________
______________________________
______________________________
Item Quantity (US dollars)
Linux/GNU/X beta release (includes _____ X $60 = $________
CDROM, 3.5" and 5.25" boot floppies
and manual)
Linux/GNU/X beta release + 1st production _____ X $99 = $________
release (includes CDROM, 3.5" and 5.25"
boot floppies for both releases)
California residents add 8.25% sales tax $________
Shipping & handling (US & Canada: $5 flat fee; other $________
countries: $15 per shipment--i.e., $30 for the
$99 beta + 1st production release offer).
Optional tax deductible contribution $________
to the Free Software Foundation
Total $________
Enclose money order, international money order (available at the
post office in your country) or check drawn on a US or Canadian bank,
payable in US dollars, to "Yggdrasil Computing, Incorporated" and mail to:
Yggdrasil Computing, Incorporated
CDROM sales
PO Box 8418
Berkeley, CA 94707-8418
If this order is received after the production release has
been made, you will receive only the most current production release.
This order form expires on March 22, 1993. Call (510)526-7531 or fax
(510) 528-8508 for a new order form after that date.
All offers and prices are subject to change at any time without notice.
If you have a problem with this software, you can return it within 30
days for a full refund. Beyond that, THERE IS NO OTHER WARRANTY FOR
ANY OF THIS SOFTWARE (not the beta distribution, and not even the
production distributions). THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT
WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OR MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR
A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.