Subject: Entry for the Distribution-HOWTO

From: [email-masked] (Martin Schulze)
Date: Sun, 16 Jun 96 10:11 MET DST

Good morning guys,

this is the recent version of the entry concerning Debian Linux for
the Distribution-HOWTO.  I have mentioned all corrections and hints
that I have received.  Please read the text carefully and send my your
notes.

-- Begin Text ---------------------------------------------------------------
  4.3.  Debian Linux Distribution

     Distributor:
        The Debian Linux Association
        Software in the Public Interest
        P.O. Box 70152
        Pt. Richmond CA 94807-0152

        Net: [email-masked]
        WWW:  <http://www.debian.org/>
        FTP:  <ftp://ftp.debian.org/debian/>

     Provider's Description:
        Debian Linux is the result of a volunteer effort to create a
        high-quality non-commercial Linux distribution.  Debian Linux
        1.1 is a complete and fully-functional Unix-compatible operating
        system for the personal computer.  The system uses ELF
        executables, but also includes optional packages you can install
        to fully support development and maintenance of a.out programs.
        Presently Debian Linux is available for the IBM PC architecture
        (386/486/Pentium) with versions for Sparc, m68k and Alpha
        architectures well under way.

        Debian Linux is an easy-to-upgrade distribution that mostly
        consists of freely redistributable software from a number of
        different sources and systems.  Non-free packages and optional
        support for shadow passwords are also available, making Debian a
        well-rounded system.

        The benefits of Debian Linux are its upgradability, well-defined
        dependencies between packages, and its open development.  It is
        the only distribution of Linux that is being developed co-
        operatively by many individuals through the Internet, in the
        same spirit as Linux and other Free Software.  More than 100
        package maintainers are working on about 500 packages and
        improving Debian Linux.  A sophisticated bug tracking system
        allows users to easily report bugs and security concerns which
        are quickly dealt with by the Debian community.  A new release
        of the package will soon occur on well-known ftp archives.

        Debian Linux is a very dynamic distribution.  Snap-shot releases
        are made about every three months, the ftp archives are updated
        daily.

        For more information about Debian Linux, please refer to the
        files at  <ftp://ftp.debian.org/debian/doc/> or visit our World
        Wide Web page at  <http://www.debian.org/>.

     Internet Access:
        Debian Linux is available via anonymous FTP from
        <ftp://ftp.debian.org/debian/> and on a mirror near to you.

     Entry last modified:
        13 June 1996

     Editor's comments:
        If you're interested in joining this project you are invited to
        subscribe to either [email-masked] or debian-
        [email-masked] by sending a mail to debian-user-
        [email-masked] (or debian-devel-request respectively)
        with the word "help" in the subject line.
-- End Text ---------------------------------------------------------------

All the best,

	Joey

-- 
  / Martin Schulze  *  [email-masked]  *  26129 Oldenburg /
 /                                     http://home.pages.de/~joey/
/ The only stupid question is the unasked one                   /

---

From: Marek Michalkiewicz <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 17 Jun 1996 01:20:39 +0200 (MET DST)

Hi,

>         support for shadow passwords are also available, making Debian a

It might be a good idea to call the support for shadow passwords
"experimental" or "beta" just to be safe (not all packages support
them yet).  I'll try to help to make it fully working and better
integrated with the rest of Debian for the next release.

Also, mentioning non-free packages and shadow passwords in one sentence
might suggest to someone that shadow passwords are still non-free...

I'd suggest something like the following:

Optional support for shadow passwords is available, although it should
be considered experimental in the 1.1 release.

(and then write something about non-free packages)

Regards,

Marek