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diff --git a/share/FAQ/FreeBSD-1.X/FreeBSD-1.1.FAQ b/share/FAQ/FreeBSD-1.X/FreeBSD-1.1.FAQ new file mode 100644 index 0000000..bdaf736 --- /dev/null +++ b/share/FAQ/FreeBSD-1.X/FreeBSD-1.1.FAQ @@ -0,0 +1,987 @@ + + FreeBSD + Frequently Asked Questions + For Versions 1.1 and below + +Please mail all suggestions and additions to <FreeBSD-FAQ@FreeBSD.ORG> + + +Revision: $Id: FreeBSD-1.1.FAQ,v 1.5 1994/11/23 10:21:59 gclarkii Exp $ + +All entries are assumed to be relevant to both FreeBSD 1.1 and FreeBSD 1.1.5, +unless otherwise noted. + + +Table of Contents +----------------- + +0 Preface +1 Installation +2 Hardware Compatibility +3 Commercial applications +4 User Applications +5 Miscellaneous Questions +6 Kernel Configuration +7 System Administration +8 Networking +9 Serial Communications + + + +0 Preface +--------- + +Welcome to the FreeBSD 1.1 FAQ! This document tries to answer some of +the most frequently asked questions about FreeBSD 1.1 (or later, +unless specifically indicated). If there's something you're having +trouble with and you just don't see it here, then please send mail to: + + <questions@FreeBSD.ORG> + + +Some of the instructions here will also refer to auxiliary utilities +in the /usr/src/share/FAQ directory. CDROM purchasers and net folks +who've grabbed the FreeBSD current `srcdist' will have these files. If +you don't have the source distribution, then you can either grab the +whole thing from: + + ftp.FreeBSD.ORG:pub/FreeBSD/FreeBSD-current/src + +0.1: What is FreeBSD? + +FreeBSD is a UN*X type operating system based on William Jolitz's port +of U.C. Berkeley's Networking Release 2 to the i386, 386BSD. It is no +longer correct to say that FreeBSD is only 386BSD with the patchkit +applied! There have been many additions and bug fixes made throughout +the entire system, some of the highlights of which are: + + More robust and extensive PC device support + System V-style IPC, messaging and semaphores + Shared Libraries + Much improved virtual memory code + Better console driver support + Network booting (diskless) support + /proc filesystem + Yellow Pages support + `LDT' support for WINE (primitive but developing Windows emulation) + Too many additional utilities and applications to mention + + +0.2: My friends told me that FreeBSD was illegal and I shouldn't use it. + Is this really true? + +FreeBSD versions up to and including 1.1 have included code from +Berkeley's Net/2 distribution. UNIX Systems Laboratories (now Novell) +sued Berkeley claiming that Net/2 included some code that belonged to +USL. In February of 1994, USL and Berkeley announced a settlement in +which neither side admitted to doing anything wrong, but UCB agreed to +stop distributing the disputed software. + +Since Berkeley will no longer defend this code, we have been requested +to stop distributing it, and will be integrating all the improvements +we have made in the VM system and i386-specific code into Berkeley's +4.4-Lite distribution; the result will form the basis of FreeBSD 2.0. +We expect the integration to take place over a period of three to six +months, during which time we will have to stop work on 1.1 and +concentrate all our efforts on the merge, and we expect to make more +information available on the status of the merge effort as the situation +progresses. + +However, to answer the question, "No. FreeBSD is not illegal." We +have been allowed by USL to distribute 1.1 as the last Net/2 derived +version, after which we have committed to move to 4.4 as previously +stated. + +We expect to make more information available on the status of the +merge effort as the situation progresses. + +0.3: What are the FreeBSD mailing lists, and how can I get on them? + +The following mailing lists are provided for FreeBSD users and +developers. For more information, send to +<majordomo@FreeBSD.ORG> and include a single line saying +``help'' in the body of your message. + +announce: For announcements about or on FreeBSD. +hackers: Useful for persons wishing to work on the internals. +questions: General questions on FreeBSD. +bugs: Where bugs should be sent. +commit: This list carries the commit messages for freefall. Useful + for tracking ongoing work. +SCSI: Mailing list for SCSI developers. +current: This list is for persons wishing to run FreeBSD-current + and carries announcements and discussions on current. +ports: Discussion of "/usr/ports" +hardware: Types of hardware FreeBSD runs on +security: Security issues +platforms: Porting to non-Intel platforms + +Please see also the FreeBSD mailing list FAQ in: + + /usr/src/share/FAQ/FreeBSD.mailing-list.FAQ + +0.4: What are the various FreeBSD news groups? + +While there are no groups currently dedicated to FreeBSD, you may find +the following groups useful. + +comp.os.386bsd.announce: For announcements +comp.os.386bsd.apps: For applications +comp.os.386bsd.questions: For questions +comp.os.386bsd.development: For working on the internals +comp.os.386bsd.bugs: About bugs +comp.os.386bsd.misc: For items that don't fit anywhere else + +NOTE: These groups cover all the *BSDs (FreeBSD, NetBSD, 386BSD). + + + +1 Installation +-------------- + +1.1: I just installed my system and rebooted. Now I can't find the + extract or configure programs, where did they go? + +These two commands are just shell functions defined in /.profile. To +get these back, boot FreeBSD with a `-s' at the boot prompt. + + +1.2: I want to install FreeBSD onto a SCSI disk that has more than + 1024 cylinders. How do I do it? + +This depends. If you don't have DOS (or another operating system) on +the system, you can just keep the drive in native mode and simply make +sure that your root partition is below 1024 so the BIOS can boot the +kernel from it. It you also have DOS/some other OS on the drive then +your best bet is to find out what parameters that it thinks you have +before installing FreeBSD. When FreeBSD's installation procedure +prompts you for these values, you should then enter them rather than +simply going with the defaults. + +There is a freely available utility distributed with FreeBSD called +`pfdisk' (located in the tools/ subdirectory) which can be used for +this purpose. + + +1.3: When I boot FreeBSD it says ``Missing Operating System''. + +See question 1.2. This is classically a case of FreeBSD and DOS or +some other OS conflicting over their ideas of disk geometry. You will +have to reinstall FreeBSD, but obeying the instructions given above +will almost always get you going. + + +1.4: I have an IDE drive with lots of bad blocks on it and FreeBSD doesn't + seem to install properly. + +FreeBSD's bad block (bad144) handling is still not 100% (to put it +charitably) and it must unfortunately be said that if you've got an +IDE or ESDI drive with lots of bad blocks, then FreeBSD is probably +not for you! That said, it does work on thousands of IDE based +systems, so you'd do well to try it first before simply giving up. + +IDE drives are *supposed* to come with built-in bad-block remapping; +if you have documentation for your drive, you may want to see if this +feature has been disabled on your drive. However, ESDI, RLL, and +ST-506 drives normally do not do this. + +<1.1.5> +FreeBSD-current has better bad block handling due to improvments made +to the wd driver. + +1.5: I have 32MB of memory, should I expect any special problems? + +If you have an IDE controller, no. Likewise, if you have a full EISA +system with EISA disk controller or a working local bus controller +(read further) you'll have no problems. If you have an ISA system, or +an EISA system with an ISA disk controller then you will most +certainly have problems with the upper 16MB of memory due to the ISA +24 bit DMA limitation (which ISA cards in EISA systems will also +exhibit). If you have a local bus disk controller, then you should be +OK, UNLESS it's a Buslogic Bt445S with a revision less than `D' (BIOS +3.36 or earlier). + +<1.1.5> +1.1.5 has bounce-buffer support that make all of the above scenarios work +with a full 32MB of memory or more. You are therefore advised to simply pull +16MB of memory out, install, and then see about upgrading to FreeBSD 1.1.5 +so that you can put it back. + + +1.6: Do I need to install the complete sources? + +In general, no. However, we would strongly recommend that you +install, at a minimum, the `base' source kit, which includes several +of the files mentioned here, and the `sys' (kernel) source kit, which +includes sources for the kernel. There is nothing in the system which +requires the presence of the sources to operate, however, except for +the kernel-configuration program config(8). With the exception of the +kernel sources, our build structure is set up so that you can +read-only mount the sources from elsewhere via NFS and still be able +to make new binaries. (Because of the kernel-source restriction, we +recommend that you not mount this on /usr/src directly, but rather in +some other location with appropriate symbolic links to duplicate the +top-level structure of the source tree.) + +Having the sources on-line and knowing how to build a system with them +will make it much easier for you to upgrade to future releases of +FreeBSD. + +1.7: DES encryption software can not be exported from the United + States. If I live outside the US, how can I encrypt passwords? + +Since the DES encryption algorithm, which is used by passwd(1) and +friends to encrypt passwords cannot legally be exported from the US, +non-US users should not download this software from US FTP sites. + +There is however a replacement libcrypt available, based on sources +written in Australia by David Burren. This code is now available on +some non-US FreeBSD mirror sites. Sources for the unencumbered +libcrypt, and binaries of the programs which use it, can be obtained +from the following FTP sites: + + South Africa: braae.ru.ac.za:/pub/FreeBSD/securedist/ + owl.und.ac.za (currently uncertain) + Iceland: ftp.veda.is:/pub/crypt/FreeBSD/ + +The non-US securedist can be used as a direct replacement for the +encumbered US securedist. This securedist package is installed the +same way as the US package (see installation notes for details). If +you are going to install DES encryption, you should do so as soon as +possible, before installing other software. + +Non-US users should please not download any encryption software from +the USA. This can get the maintainers of the sites from which the +software is downloaded into severe legal difficulties. + +A non-US distribution of Kerberos is also being developed, and current +versions can generally be obtained by anonymous FTP from +braae.ru.ac.za. + +There is also a mailing list for the discussion of non-US encryption +software. For more information, send an email message with a single +line saying ``help'' in the body of your message to +<majordomo@braae.ru.ac.za>. + +1.8 HELP! My keyboard locked up during the install! + +Some keyboard controllers are not a friend to FreeBSD. Among these are +those on certain models of Gateway, IBM and AST machines. The most frequent +symptom encountered in such cases is that the keyboard refuses to respond +to input when at the `kcopy>' prompt in the second phase of bootstrapping +FreeBSD. Fortunately, there is a work-around that may get you all the +way home. Reset the machine and boot the kcopy floppy again, but this +time, as the kernel is booting, tap periodically on the num-lock key +until the kcopy prompt appears. Your keyboard should respond properly. + +Once your system is on the hard disk the problem generally goes away. +Some folks for whom the problem persists even after this stage find +relief in switching to the SYSCONS console driver (see /sys/i386/conf/SYSCONS), +which is in any case far more featureful than pccons and a recommended +upgrade. + + + +2 Hardware compatibility +------------------------ + +2.1: What kind of hard drives does FreeBSD run on? + +FreeBSD supports ST-506 (sometimes called ``MFM''), RLL, and ESDI +drives, which are usually connected to WD-1002, WD-1003, or WD-1006 +controllers (although clones should also work). FreeBSD also supports +IDE and SCSI hard drives. + +2.2: What SCSI controllers are supported? + +FreeBSD supports the following SCSI controllers: + +Adaptec AH-1542 Series <ISA> + AH-1742 Series <EISA> +Buslogic BT-445 Series <VLB> (but see section 1.5) + BT-545 Series <ISA> + BT-742 Series <EISA> + BT-747 Series <EISA> +Future Domain TMC-8XX/950 Series <ISA> (1.1.5 ONLY) +Seagate ST-01/02 Series <ISA> (1.1.5 ONLY) +UltraStor UH-14f Series <ISA> + UH-34f Series <EISA/VLB> + +There is supposed to be a UltraStor 24f driver floating around, but +we're not sure where (could someone please point us at it?). + +2.3: What CD-ROM drives are supported by FreeBSD? + +Any SCSI drive connected to a supported controller. Mitsumi +LU002(8bit), LU005(16bit) and FX001D(16bit 2x Speed). + +FreeBSD does NOT support drives connected to a Sound Blaster or +non-SCSI SONY or Panasonic drives. A general rule of thumb when +selecting a CDROM drive for FreeBSD use is to buy a very standard SCSI +model; they cost more, but deliver very solid performance in return. +Do not be fooled by very cheap drives that, in turn, deliver VERY LOW +performance! As always, you get what you pay for. + +The Mitsumi driver is known to be extremely slow compared to SCSI +drives. + + +2.4: What multi-port serial cards are supported by FreeBSD? + +AST/4 and BOCA 4/8/16 port cards. Some unnamed clone cards have also +been known to work, especially those that claim to be AST compatible. +Check the sio(4) man page to get more information on configuring such +cards. + + +2.5: Does FreeBSD support the AHA-2742 SCSI adapter from Adaptec? + +No, FreeBSD does not. This is due to Adaptec's unwillingness to +supply programming information under other than non-disclosure. This +is unfortunate, but there's nothing we can do about it. + + +2.6: I have a Mumbleco bus mouse. Is it supported and if so, how do I set + it up for XFree86? + +FreeBSD supports the Logitech and ATI Inport bus mice. You need to +add the following line to the kernel config file and recompile for the +Logitech and ATI mice: + + device mse0 at isa? port 0x23c tty irq6 vector mseintr + + +2.7: I have a PS/2 mouse (`keyboard' mouse) [Alternatively: I have a + laptop with a track-ball mouse]. How do I use it? + +<1.1.5>: The PS/2 mouse is part of the system. See the psm0 driver +description in /sys/doc/options.doc. + + +2.8: What types of tape drives are supported under FreeBSD? + +FreeBSD supports SCSI, QIC-02 and QIC-40/80 (Floppy based) tape +drives. This includes 8-mm (aka Exabyte) and DAT drives. + + +2.9: What sound cards are supported by FreeBSD? + +FreeBSD supports the SoundBlaster, SoundBlaster Pro, Pro Audio +Spectrum 16, AdLib and Gravis UltraSound sound cards. There is also +limited support for MPU-401 and compatible MIDI cards. The +SoundBlaster 16 and SoundBlaster 16 ASP cards are not yet supported. +NOTE: This is only for sound! This driver does not support CD-ROMs, +SCSI or joysticks on these cards. + + +2.10: What network cards does FreeBSD support? + +There is support for the following cards: + +`ed' driver: + NE2000 and 1000 + WD/SMC 8003, 8013 and Elite Ultra (8216) + 3Com 3c503 + And clones of the above + +`ie' driver: + AT&T EN100/StarLAN 10 + +`is' driver: + Isolan AT 4141-0 + Isolink 4110 + +`ep' driver: + 3com 3c509 (*) + + +(*)The `ep' driver is known to have some problems; see the +/usr/src/KNOWNBUGS file for more details. + + +2.11: I have a 386/486sx/486SLC machine without a math co-processor. + Will this cause me any problems? + +Generally no, but there are circumstances where you will take a hit, +either in performance or accuracy of the math emulation code (see +section 4.1). In particular, drawing arcs in X will be VERY slow. It +is highly recommended that you lay out the $50 or so for a math +co-processor; it's well worth it. NOTE: Some math co-processors are +better than others. It pains us to say it, but nobody ever got fired +for buying Intel. Unless you're sure it works with FreeBSD, beware of +clones. + +2.12: I am about to buy a new machine to run FreeBSD on and + want an idea of what other people are running. Is there list + of other systems anywhere? + +Yes. Please look at the file FAQ/Systems-1.1.FAQ. This file +is a listing of hardware that people are running in their machines. +Please note, this is a raw listing of equipment that other users +have sent in. + + + +3 Commercial Applications +------------------------- + +Note: This section is still very sparse, though we're hoping, of +course, that companies will add to it! :) The FreeBSD group has no +financial interest in any of the companies listed here but simply +lists them as a public service (and feels that commercial interest in +FreeBSD can have very positive effects on FreeBSD's long-term +viability). We encourage commercial software vendors to send their +entries here for inclusion. + + +3.1: Where can I get Motif for FreeBSD? + +Sequoia International provides commercial quality Motif 1.2.3 +development kits for FreeBSD 1.1 (with full shared library support) +under the product name of `SWiM'. Due to licensing restrictions from +the OSF, and the fact that Sequoia needs to make a living, these are +NOT FREE, but nonetheless quite reasonably priced in comparison to +many other commercial Motif distributions. Send electronic mail to +<info@seq.com> for further information. + +3.2: What about other commercial quality development systems for FreeBSD? + +ParcPlace Systems, Inc., who currently provides their excellent +`Object Interface & Object Builder' GUI development environment free +of charge to Linux users, is considering the the FreeBSD platform and +will make their intentions known fairly shortly. + + + +4 User Applications +------------------- + +4.1: I want to run X, how do I go about it? + +First, get the XFree86 distribution of X11R5 from XFree86.cdrom.com. +The version you want for FreeBSD 1.1 and later is XFree86 2.1. Follow +the instructions for installation carefully. You may then wish to read +the documentation for the ConfigXF86 tool, which assists you in +configuring XFree86 for your particular graphics card/mouse/etc. + + +4.1: I've been trying to run ghostscript on a 386 (or 486sx) with no + math co-processor and I keep getting errors. What's up? + +<1.1.5>: For 1.1.5 you may add the following to your kernel config file and +it will be compiled in. +options GPL_MATH_EMULATE + +NOTE: You will need to remove the MATH_EMULATE option when you do this. + + +4.2: If I want something like seyon, term, Kermit, emacs or any one of + hundreds of popular freeware utilities, is there a good place to + search through first? + +Yes, the FreeBSD `ports collection' was put together for just that +purpose. It contains some of the most often requested languages, +editors, mail and news reading programs, network software and many +many megabytes of other types of useful goodies. CDROM people will +probably have the ports collection already in /usr/ports, other folks +can get at the latest snapshot of the entire collection in: + + ftp.FreeBSD.ORG:pub/FreeBSD/FreeBSD-current/ports + +Note that this FTP server permits getting entire directories as one +(optionally gzipped or compressed) tar file. Read the FTP welcome +banner carefully for details. + + +4.3: I want all this neat software, but I haven't got the space or + CPU power to compile it all myself. Is there any way of getting + binaries? + +Yes. We support the concept of a `package', which is essentially a +gzipped binary distribution with a little extra intelligence embedded +in it for doing any custom installation work required. Packages can +also be installed or deinstalled again easily without having to know +the gory details. CDROM people will have a packages/ directory on +their CD, others can get the currently available packages from: + + ftp.FreeBSD.ORG:pub/FreeBSD/packages-1.1 + +Note that all ports may not be available as packages, and that new +packages are constantly being added. It is always a good idea to +check periodically to see which packages are available. A README file +in the packages directory provides more details on the care and +feeding of the package software, so no explicit details will be given +here. + +4.4: I'm trying to get Perl to work properly, but I keep getting + errors about dbm failures when I test it. How can I fix this? + +The problem here is that the tests are written for an older version of +the dbm code. There is nothing wrong with perl and the errors can +be ignored. + +4.5: I've been trying to get GCC 2.6.0 running on my system and it + keeps bombing. What can I do about? + +Due to problems with 2.6.0 and the advent of FreeBSD 2.0, we do not +support GCC 2.6.0 and suggest that you wait for 2.0. + + + +5 Miscellaneous Questions +---------------- + +5.1: I've heard of something called FreeBSD-current. How do I run it, and + where can I get more information? + +Read the file /usr/src/share/FAQ/FreeBSD.current.policy, +it will tell you all you need to know. + + +5.2: What is this thing called `sup', and how do I use it? + +SUP stands for Software Update Protocol, and was developed by CMU for +keeping their development trees in sync. We use it to keep remote +sites in sync with our central development sources. + +To use it, you need to have direct internet connectivity (not just +mail or news). First, pick up the sup_bin.tgz package from: + + ftp.FreeBSD.ORG:pub/FreeBSD/packages-1.1 + +Second, read the file /usr/src/share/FAQ/FreeBSD.sup.faq. + +This file describes how to setup sup on your machine. You may also +want to look at /usr/src/contrib/FAQ/FreeBSD.*.supfile, +which are a set of supfiles for supping from FreeBSD.ORG + + +5.3: How do I create customized installation disks that I can give + out to other people at my site? + +The entire process of creating installation disks and source and +binary archives is automated by various targets in +/usr/src/etc/Makefile. The information there should be enough to get +you started. + +5.4: How do I re-build my system without clobbering the existing + installed binaries? + +If you define the environment variable DESTDIR while running `make +world' or `make install', the newly-created binaries will be deposited +in a directory tree identical to the installed one, rooted at +${DESTDIR}. Some random combination of shared libraries modifications +and program rebuilds can cause this to fail in `make world', however. + + +5.5: When my system booted, it told me that ``(bus speed defaulted)''. + What does that mean? + +The Adaptec 1542 SCSI host adapters allow the user to configure their +bus access speed in software. Previous versions of the 1542 driver tried +to determine the fastest usable speed and set the adapter to that. We +found that this breaks some users' systems, so you now have to define +the ``TUNE_1542''' kernel configuration option in order to have this +take place. Using it on those systems where it works may make your +disks run faster, but on those systems where it doesn't, your data could +be corrupted. + +5.6: I would like to track changes to current and do not have net access. + Is there any way besides downloading the whole tree? + +Yes, Poul-Henning has set up a source tracking list. Please email +majordomo@ref.tfs.com with a body of "get ctm-src-cur README" for +futher information. + +5.7: How do I split up large binary files into smaller 240k files + like the distribution does? + +Newer BSD based systems have a "-b" option to split that allows them to +split files on arbitary byte bondaries. + +Here is an example from /usr/src/Makefile. +bin-tarball: + (cd ${DISTDIR}; \ + tar cf - . \ + gzip --no-name -9 -c | \ + split -b 240640 - \ + ${RELEASEDIR}/tarballs/bindist/bin_tgz.) + +5.8: I'm running Syscons and every morning my console locks up. What + is going on here? + +This sounds like the "kill -1 syslogd" problem. Make sure that the +following is correct on your system. +1. The attributes of the following nodes are correct. +/dev/console +crw------- 1 root 0, 0 May 23 15:32 /dev/console +/dev/ttyv0 +crw------- 1 root 12, 0 May 23 15:32 /dev/ttyv0 +The part you are concerned with are the major and minor device numbers. + +2. Make sure that getty is running on ttyv0 and NOT console. + +3. If /dev/vga exists that it is a symlink to /dev/ttyv0. + +5.9: I've had a couple of system panics and would like to be able + browse the system dumps. The normal kernel is stripped and + I don't want to run a bloated kernel. What can I do? + +Please retrieve the file FAQ/FreeBSD.kdebug.FAQ. This +file covers the instructions for looking at system dumps. + +5.10: I've got a Buslogic BT-946c with an Intel motherboard and + right after the kernel probes, my system hangs. How do I + fix it? + +Two things here. +1. Some intel motherboards have fixed PCI INT pins and you will have + to match the BT-946c's INT to match the motherboards. +2. FreeBSD 1.1.5.1 expects the INT on a non-standard pin and you + will have to also match this one. + + +6 Kernel Configuration +---------------------- + +6.1: When I compile a kernel with multi-port serial code, it tells me + that only the first port is probed and the rest skipped due to + interrupt conflicts. How do I fix this? + +The problem here is that FreeBSD has code built-in to keep the kernel +from getting trashed due to hardware or software conflicts. The way +to fix this is to leave out the IRQ settings on other ports besides +the first. Here is a example: + +# +# Multiport high-speed serial line - 16550 UARTS +# +device sio2 at isa? port 0x2a0 tty irq 5 flags 0x501 vector siointr +device sio3 at isa? port 0x2a8 tty flags 0x501 vector siointr +device sio4 at isa? port 0x2b0 tty flags 0x501 vector siointr +device sio5 at isa? port 0x2b8 tty flags 0x501 vector siointr + + +6.2: FreeBSD is supposed to come with support for QIC-40/80 drives but + when I look, I can't find it. + +You need to uncomment the following line in the generic config file +(or add it to your config file) and recompile. + +controller fdc0 at isa? port "IO_FD1" bio irq 6 drq 2 vector fdintr +disk fd0 at fdc0 drive 0 +disk fd1 at fdc0 drive 1 +#tape ft0 at fdc0 drive 2 +^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ + +You will have a device called /dev/ft0, which you can write to through +a special program to manage it called `ft' - see the man page on ft for +further details. Versions previous to -current also had some trouble dealing +wiht bad tape media; if you have trouble where ft seems to go back and forth +over the same spot, try grabbing the latest version of ft from /usr/src/sbin/ft +in current and try that. + + +6.3: Does FreeBSD support IPC primitives like those in System V? + +Yes, FreeBSD supports System V-style IPC. This includes shared +memory, messages and semaphores. You need to add the following lines +to your kernel config to enable them. + +options SYSVSHM +options "SHMMAXPGS=64" # 256Kb of sharable memory +options SYSVSEM # enable for semaphores +options SYSVMSG # enable for messaging + +Recompile and install. + + +6.4: Are there any utilities that make configuring a kernel easier? + +Well, yes and no. Look in /sys/i386/doc/options.doc (/sys/doc on post +1.1 systems) for a list of kernel options you can set, and what they +do. For a friendlier front-end to the process, see +/usr/src/contrib/configit + + +6.5: Will FreeBSD ever support other architectures? + +Several different groups have expressed interest in working on +multi-architecture support for FreeBSD. If you are interested in +doing so, please contact the developers at +<hackers@FreeBSD.ORG> for more information on our +strategy for porting. + + +6.6: I just wrote a device driver for a Foobar Systems, Inc. + Integrated Adaptive Gronkulator card. How do I get the + appropriate major numbers assigned? + +This depends on whether or not you plan on making the driver publicly +available. If you do, then please send us a copy of the driver source +code, plus the appropriate modifications to files.i386, a sample +configuration file entry, and the appropriate MAKEDEV code to create +any special files your device uses. If you do not, or are unable to +because of licensing restrictions, then character major number 32 and +block major number 8 have been reserved specifically for this purpose; +please use them. In any case, we'd appreciate hearing about your +driver on <hackers@FreeBSD.ORG>. + +6.7: I'm wanting to switch console drivers to Syscons. I changed my + kernel config file to run Syscons, but when I reboot the system + locks up! How do I fix it? + +There are four things that need to be done to properly install syscons +on a system. +1. Add the following line to your kernel config file while deleting the + line for pccons. +device sc0 at isa? port "IO_KBD" tty irq 1 vector scintr +(Note the changed vector 'scintr'. It is a common error to change the +device name but NOT the vector. + +2. Add the following option to your config file. +options "NCONS=6" # Change to reflect the number of consoles + +3. Modify /etc/ttys to enable gettys on ttyv0 - ttyv??. Here is an +example line. +ttyv0 "/usr/libexec/getty Pc" Pc3 on secure +Please make sure that you have disabled the getty on /dev/console. + +4. Create the device nodes in /dev. This is done useing the MAKEDEV +script located in that directory. Here is a command line that will create +6 virtual consoles. +MAKEDEV vty6 +If /dev/vga exists, it should now be a symlink to /dev/ttyv0. + +NOTE: If you are going to be running X, you will need an unused vty that + has no getty running on it. + + + +7 System Administration +----------------------- + +7.1: How do I add a user easily? I read the man page and am more confused + than ever! [Alternatively: I didn't read the man page, I never read + man pages! :-) ] + +Look at Gary Clark's Perl package ``AddIt'', which may be found in +/usr/src/contrib/adduser. This is a first attempt at solving the +problem and may be replaced with a more complex but capable solution +later. + + +7.2: I'm trying to use my printer and keep running into problems. I tried + looking at /etc/printcap, but it's close to useless. Any ideas? + +Yes, you can pick up Andreas Klemm's apsfilter package from: + +ftp.germany.eu.net:pub/comp/i386/Linux/Local.EUnet/People/akl/apsfilter-1.11.gz + +This is a complete package for printing text, PS and DVI files. It +requires ghostscript and dvips. + +If you are looking for a simple printcap just for PS and text files, +try picking up the printcap01 sources in: + + /usr/src/contrib/FAQ/code/printcap01 + +NOTE: We're looking for printcap entries for all printers. If you +have one, or a filter for one, please send it or mail us a pointer to +<FreeBSD-FAQ@FreeBSD.ORG>. Thanks! + +7.3: Help! I've lost my root password! How do I log in now? + Alternatively: I botched something bad in my root partition + that keeps me from booting, how do I fix it!? + +Follow these steps: + +1. First off, you need to boot the system single-user: Do this by rebooting +or resetting the machine, and when you come to the very first boot prompt +(the one you probably generally just hit `return' at or wait for it to +time-out) type: + + 386bsd -s + +This will send the `-s' flag to init(1) telling it to not bring you up all +the way into multi-user mode. The system should come up single-user and +present you with a simple `#' prompt. + +2. Now is probably a good time to type `fsck' and make sure your filesystems +are alright. If problems on your root filesystem are found and fixed, I would +recommend hitting the reset switch again and going back to step 1. Your +filesystems should all check fine the second time. + +3. At this point, your root filesystem is mounted *read only* for safety. +If the problems you must fix are not on the root fs then I recommend that +you simply leave it this way and fix the other problems. If you need to +write to the root fs (fixing passwords requires this, for one thing) and +you're using SCSI for your root fs then type: + + mount -u /dev/sd0a / + +If you're using IDE/ESDI for your rootfs, then instead type: + + mount -u /dev/wd0a / + +This will remount your root filesystem read/write and allow you to make +your changes. Once you have done so, I recommend another reboot. -Jordan + + +8 Networking +------------ + +8.1: Where can I get information booting FreeBSD `diskless', that is + booting and running a FreeBSD box from a server rather than having + a local disk? + +Please read /sys/i386/netboot/netboot.doc. + + +8.2: I've heard that you can use a FreeBSD box as a dedicated network + router - is there any easy support for this? + +Internet standards and good engineering practice prohibit us from +providing packet forwarding by default in FreeBSD. You can enable +this support by adding `options GATEWAY' to your kernel configuration +file and recompiling. In most cases, you will also need to run a +routing process to tell other systems on your network about your +router; FreeBSD comes with the standard BSD routing daemon routed(8), +or for more complex situations you may want to try GateD (available by +FTP from gated.Cornell.edu). FreeBSD is supported as of 3_5Alpha7. + +It is our duty to warn you that, even when FreeBSD is configured in +this way, it does not completely comply with the Internet standard +requirements for routers; however, it comes close enough for ordinary +usage. + +There is a standard `router floppy' that you can boot on a FreeBSD +machine to configure it as a network router. Please look in: + + freefall.cdrom.com:pub/incoming/freertr + +and follow the instructions. + + +8.3: Does FreeBSD support SLIP and PPP? + +Yes. See the man pages for slattach(8) and/or pppd(8) if you're using +FreeBSD to connect to another site. If you're using FreeBSD as a +server for other machines, look at the man page for sliplogin(8). +You may also want to take a look at the slip FAQ in: + FAQ/FreeBSD.slip.dialup.faq + +8.4: How do I set up NTP? + +NTP configuration is so complex and widely variable from site to site +that it would be impossible to make a blanket statement here. Your +best bet is to ask whoever's in charge of NTP at your site or network +provider; chances are that they are running a similar version of NTP +to the one that we provide, and they can probably provide you with the +right configuration files to get things going. + +If you can't find anyone in charge, you should examine the files in +/usr/src/contrib/xntpd/doc and see if they help any. If not, you +could ask on the comp.protocols.time.ntp newsgroup, or the +<ntp@ni.umd.edu> mailing-list. + +8.5: How do I get my network set up? I don't see how to make my + /dev/ed0 device! + +In the Berkeley networking framework, network interfaces are only +directly accessible by kernel code. Please see the /etc/netstart file +and the manual pages for the various network programs mentioned there +for more information. If this leaves you totally confused, then you +should pick up a book describing network administration on another +BSD-related operating system; with few significant exceptions, +administering networking on FreeBSD is basically the same as on SunOS +4.0 or Ultrix. + +8.6: How do I get my 3C503 to use the other network port? + +Use `ifconfig ed0' to see whether the ALTPHYS flag is set, and then +use either `ifconfig ed0 altphys' if it was off, or `ifconfig ed0 +-altphys' if it was on. + +8.7: I'm having problems with NFS to/from FreeBSD and my Wuffotronics + Workstation / generic NFS appliance, where should I look first? + +Certain PC network cards are better than others (to put it mildly) and +can sometimes cause problems with network intensive applications like +NFS. See /usr/src/share/FAQ/NFS.FAQ for more information on this +topic. + +8.8: I want to enable IP multicast support on my FreeBSD box, how do I do it? + [Alternatively: What the heck IS multicasting and what applications + make use of it?] + +First off, to you'll need to rebuild a kernel with multicast support in it. +This requires that you have the sources to at least the kernel and the config +utility. See /usr/src/sys/i386/conf/LINT for its comments on multicast; you'll +need to set the MROUTING and MULTICAST options as shown there. + +Further reading/exploration for those interested in multicast: + +Product Description Where +--------------- ----------------------- --------------------------------------- +faq.txt Mbone FAQ ftp.isi.edu:/mbone/faq.txt +imm/immserv IMage Multicast ftp.hawaii.edu:/paccom/imm.src.tar.Z + for jpg/gif images. +nv Network Video. ftp.parc.xerox.com: + /pub/net-reseach/exp/nv3.3alpha.tar.Z +vat LBL Visual Audio Tool. ftp.ee.lbl.gov: + /conferencing/vat/i386-vat.tar.Z +wb LBL White Board. ftp.ee.lbl.gov: + /conferencing/wb/i386-wb.tar.Z +mmcc MultiMedia Conference ftp.isi.edu: + Control program /confctrl/mmcc/mmcc-intel.tar.Z +rtpqual Tools for testing the ftp.psc.edu:/pub/net_tools/rtpqual.c + quality of RTP packets. +vat_nv_record Recording tools for vat ftp.sics.se:archive/vat_nv_record.tar.Z + and nv. + +[Many thanks to Jim Lowe for providing multicast support for FreeBSD, and this +information] + + +9 Serial Communications +----------------------- + +9.1: When I do a set line in Kermit it locks up, what's the problem? + +The problem here is that FreeBSD thinks it's talking to a incoming +modem connection, and is waiting for carrier to come up on it before +completing the open. To disable modem control, do an: + + stty -f /dev/ttyXX clocal + +(Where `ttyXX' is the tty port you're using). If you use a given port +only for outgoing connections, you may wish to put this command in +your /etc/rc.local to avoid having to do it every time you reboot your +system. + + +NOTE: Anyone wishing to submit a FAQ entry on how to get tip and cu working + would have it much appreciated! We all use Kermit over here! :-) + +----------------------------------------------------------------------------- +If you see a problem with this FAQ, or wish to submit an entry, please +mail us at <FreeBSD-FAQ@FreeBSD.ORG>. We appreciate your +feedback, and cannot make this a better FAQ without your help! + + + FreeBSD Core Team + +----------------------------------------------------------------------------- + +ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: + +Gary Clark II - Our head FreeBSD FAQ maintenance man +Jordan Hubbard - Janitorial services (I don't do windows) +Garrett Wollman - Networking and formatting +Robert Oliver, Jr. - Ideas and dumb questions (That made me think) +Ollivier Robert - Invaluable feedback and contributions +The FreeBSD Team - Kvetching, moaning, submitting data + +And to any others we've forgotten, apologies and heartfelt thanks! + |