Subject: Linux-Misc Digest #909
From: Digestifier <[email-masked]>
To: [email-masked]
Date: Sun, 9 Oct 94 21:13:12 EDT

Linux-Misc Digest #909, Volume #2                 Sun, 9 Oct 94 21:13:12 EDT

Contents:
  Re: Newest Linux Journal? (Steve DuChene)
  Re: Yggdrasil Linux Plug and Play CD ver1.1 ? (Paul Bash)
  Re: Word (Text) processors for Linux? (Mark A. Davis)
  Re: Does all SCO software run on Linux (Mark A. Davis)
  Re: Telnet & ftp freeze! (System Administrator)
  GNU libc extensions (readline) - How to link? ([email-masked])
  Re: Processing power vs. Ram/Video.. (Stormy Henderson)
  Re: Yggdrasil Fall 1994: buyers be aware (Jeff Kesselman)
  VLSI design tools for LINUX?????? (Gregory E Gelles)
  Re: [Q] SW Technology, How to reach SWT?it (lmr)
  Re: QNX, Linux, or 386BSD? (James Lummel)
  Re: Configuring 1.1.8 Kernel error (Thomas Quinot)
  Re: Security hole in smail - be careful! (Christopher Oliver)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: [email-masked] (Steve DuChene)
Subject: Re: Newest Linux Journal?
Date: 8 Oct 1994 18:14:02 -0400

Lewis Tanzos ([email-masked]) wrote:
: In article <[email-masked]> [email-masked] (Kevin K. Lewis) writes:
: >Can anyone tell me if they've received the newest (November?) issue of
: >Linux Journal, yet?

: I just got the October issue 2 days ago (Tuesday, October 4), somewhat
: battered and with several of the back pages slightly torn.

        Maybe your postman likes to read it too!
-- 
| Steven A. DuChene   [email-masked]  or  [email-masked]      
| Youngstown State University  | Computer Science / Math / Mech. Eng.
|-------------------------------------------------------------------
|       Friends don't let friends do DOS

------------------------------

From: [email-masked] (Paul Bash)
Subject: Re: Yggdrasil Linux Plug and Play CD ver1.1 ?
Date: Fri, 7 Oct 1994 03:38:27 GMT

In article <[email-masked]>, Peter Reilley <[email-masked]> wrote:
>
>       The formatting of SCSI disks is handled entirely by the drive.
>The controller only issues a format command and waits for completion.
>The data pattern remaining after format will be different on different
>drives.   Some of these patterns can be confused with a partition table.
>The linux partition utility needs to have the ability to initialize
>a partition table on command from the user.   There is obviously some
>danger in this but it is the only way to handle the case of certain
>format patterns as well as corrupted partition tables.   The DOS fdisk
>needs it too.
>

I could see how this might happen in some cases, but in my particular
one, the disk has been partitioned and formatted for several years. I 
was attempting to install Yggdrasil into a partition where Slackware had
been running for a year or so. Currently, there are OS/2, DOS/Windows
and, until I started playing with Yggdrasil, Slackware installed on the
disk and none of them have had any problem with its formatting.

It certainly looks like the problem is a bug with the Yggdrasil fdisk.

After my post about this, it occurred to me that the problem may also
have to do with either 1) a virus in the master boot record or 2) an
anti-viral (a benign virus? :-) program in the boot record. Both would
change the format of the boot record such that it didn't match a
normal one.

I don't think there is a virus in my boot record, but several months ago
I installed Norton Desktop for Windows in my DOS partition. This package
has an anti-viral program that _does_ do some mucking around with the 
master boot record. I think this is so it can get control very early and
try to detect and foil boot record viruses in the partitions. Maybe this
is confusing things?

-- 
Paul Bash                                                   Techware Design 
[email-masked]                                              Boulder, CO  U.S.A.
"The Net interprets censorship as damage and routes around it" -- John Gilmore

------------------------------

From: [email-masked] (Mark A. Davis)
Subject: Re: Word (Text) processors for Linux?
Date: Sat, 08 Oct 1994 04:23:10 GMT

[email-masked] (Mark Krischer) writes:

>if you want to do WORD processing and not TEXT editing, and you don't want to use something
>like latex or troff--personally, i don't like them--you might try using a combination of
>DOSEMU and WordPerfect for DOS.  i've gotten WPDos6.0 running in graphics mode.  i haven't
>given it a good workout yet to test its stability, but it looks nice.  and DOSEMU just keeps
>getting better.

That is an aweful suggestion.  If you want to run WordPerfect, then **RUN
IT UNDER LINUX**** using IBCS and Unix WordPerfect 5.1 or 6.0 for SCO.

>if you've already got WP its worth a try

If you already own the MS-"DOS" version, you can upgrade for peanuts.

>  WP5.1 might be more stable, but it's without the
>added graphics editing mode which i really like.

The Unix version of WordPerfect 5.1 includes both a GUI/X version AND
a text based version.  Use either or both, or both at the same time, or
run the text based in an xterm, or in a console window, or on a serial
terminal, or over a modem, or multiuser,  or the X version on a remote
machine, or an Xterminal, or ,or    or      (isn't Unix software neat)
-- 
  /--------------------------------------------------------------------------\
  | Mark A. Davis     | Lake Taylor Hospital | Norfolk,VA (804)-461-5001x431 |
  | Director/SysAdmin | Information Systems  |    [email-masked]       |
  \--------------------------------------------------------------------------/

------------------------------

Crossposted-To: comp.os.linux.help
From: [email-masked] (Mark A. Davis)
Subject: Re: Does all SCO software run on Linux
Date: Sat, 08 Oct 1994 04:26:59 GMT

[email-masked] (Sebastian W. Bunka) writes:

>C.W. Southern ([email-masked]) wrote:
>: With the proper drivers install into the kernel, does most of SCO's
>: software run on a Linux box.  I hear all the time of Wordperfect
>: running what about other software for SCO.
>Truely *NOT* all (see the iBCS2 documentation).
>WP works, and also xess3 (a SCO spreadsheet prog -> amazing fast!
>get the demo from ftp.uu.net /vendors/auis...); stupid, but
>working: Mosaic and xarchie for SCO...

There are many, many others..... add Island Write/Draw/Paint, SCO
Professional, Lotus 123.

These should also work, but I haven't tested them yet-

ClockWise, Foxbase+, FoxPro, Dbase, Applixware,  Grammatik

I have heard of yet many others which have worked.
-- 
  /--------------------------------------------------------------------------\
  | Mark A. Davis     | Lake Taylor Hospital | Norfolk,VA (804)-461-5001x431 |
  | Director/SysAdmin | Information Systems  |    [email-masked]       |
  \--------------------------------------------------------------------------/

------------------------------

From: [email-masked] (System Administrator)
Crossposted-To: comp.os.linux.help,comp.os.linux.development,comp.os.linux.admin
Subject: Re: Telnet & ftp freeze!
Date: 7 Oct 1994 21:14:06 GMT

Peter H. Lemieux ([email-masked]) wrote:
: In article <[email-masked]>, [email-masked] (Ralph Sims) says:
: >
: >Other things that run are Sendmail+IDA as a daemon, xntpd, and
: >CERN's web server.  The ftp session definitely takes over the system.
: >

: Remember that FTP is running two simultaneous sessions with the other host, 
: a data channel and a control channel.  With only a standard two-wire modem,
: the line must be repeatedly turned around from TX to RX and back again.
: (Four wire, dedicated-line modems are pricey.)  Services like news and
: the web have little upstream traffic, mostly downstream, since they
: have no control channel.

Pardon, but I don't think this is correct.  Most 2 wire modems multiplex
the bandwidth and *do* allow simultaneous bi-directional data flow.  You
may be thinking of some data protocols that require packets to be
acknowledged by the receiving end before sending additonal ones, but this
has nothing really to do with what is flowing on the line itself.  I
haven't seen real 'line-turn around' modems since dealing with some
ancient Burroughs stuff nearly 20 years ago.  And even then the more
common 300 bps 2 wire modems *most* people were using were bi-directional,
using 4 tones, 1 pair to code 1's and 0's going one way, and the other
pair for data going the other.  

George Nemeyer        ([email-masked])
System Administrator
Tigerden.com

------------------------------

From: [email-masked]
Subject: GNU libc extensions (readline) - How to link?
Date: 8 Oct 1994 06:39:35 GMT

I decided to write some C code using the GNU libc extension, readline.          
But when I compile (even with -lgcc as the last arg on cmd-line):               
poly-render.c:75 (/tmp/cca004401.o): Undefined symbol _getline                  
 referenced text segment                                                        
So I tried "cd /usr/lib; nm lib* | grep readline" and it wasn't there.          
It would seem readline (and other GNU libc extensions) aren't in the            
standard shared libs?  I have Slackware 1.2.1 - soon to be upgraded,            
but that's where my D series came from - 1.1.51 kernel and sundry other         
upgrades too :)save                                                             
 
Is there a way to include the symbol without linking?  I was able to            
create a .o file without difficulty.  It wasn't in the GCC-FAQ, so              
I ask :)                                                                        
 
Do Enjoy!                                                                       
--                                                                              
Christopher J. Fearnley       |   UNIX SIG Leader at PACS                       
[email-masked]        |   (Philadelphia Area Computer Society)          
[email-masked]          |   Design Science Revolutionary                  
[email-masked]  |   Explorer in Universe                          
503 S 44th ST                 |   Linux Advocate                                
Philadelphia PA 1914-3907     |   (215)349-9681                                 

------------------------------

From: [email-masked] (Stormy Henderson)
Subject: Re: Processing power vs. Ram/Video..
Date: 9 Oct 1994 21:12:56 GMT
Reply-To: [email-masked]

Derrik Walker II wrote:

   Would it be better to get a 486dx-33 or 486sx-33 with 16megs of ram and a 
   good video card, or should I get a 486dx2-66 with 8 megs and a crapola 
   video card to run Linux on?

If you plan to use Xwindow, get the slower machine with 16meg ram.  If you 
are happy with text mode, and don't plan to do anything memory intensive,
you'll probably be happier with 8meg.

I have a 486.33 with 8 meg ram, I write software as a hobby, and compiling
while in Xwindow is far too slow to be usable, so I stick with text mode, and
have no problems with slowdown while compiling.

   While I'm mentioning, is there any real advantage to getting a system 
   from Dell, or Gateway or some there "Name Brand" as aposed to a system 
   that will cost a LOT LESS from a no name copany like Cybermax, or 
   Profesional Somthing or another?

In my opinion, Dell and Zeos charge far too much for what they offer, I am
typing this on a Gateway 486.33, I'm happy with their machine (cept for the
15" CrystalSCan 1572FS monitor, made by Mag, which is dying) and the price
I paid for it.

Be happy...

- Stormy the happinator     "The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ
                             Moves on: nor all your Piety nor Wit
  Reply to:                  Shall lure it back to cancel half a line, 
  [email-masked]    Nor all your Tears wash out a Word of it."

------------------------------

Crossposted-To: comp.os.linux.help
From: [email-masked] (Jeff Kesselman)
Subject: Re: Yggdrasil Fall 1994: buyers be aware
Date: Sun, 9 Oct 1994 19:52:10 GMT

In article <[email-masked]>,
Yan Xiao <[email-masked]> wrote:
>
>We purchased Yggdrasil Fall 1994 Plug-and-Play recently,
>and here are some of the problems we`ve encountered so far:
>
>1. Im-Pass-word: User cannot change password.
>    If you change password as a user, you will receive:
>          Can't open /etc/ptmp, can't update password
>

Can't you just use chmod here and change your permissions?

>2. More than you asked for:   'more' behaves strangely: 
>    in console (non-X), you'll get segmentation fault.
>    in X's xterm, you'll have trouble scrolling.
>    The problem also affects 'appropos'.

I don't use X so I can't comments on that, but more and aporpos work fine 
for me in colsole mode.  I know the 'it works on my machine' isn't a 
great answer, but I find it exceedingly strange that this fails reliably 
for you and never for me...

>
>3. Plug-and-Play, no-plug, no-play:  waning CD-ROM can be a challenge
>    We didn't install everything (has anyone?), thus we picked
>    packages we wanted from control-panel.  Guess what, we still
>    have pointers to CD-ROM, such as /usr/X386/lib/libX11*.
>

Did you follow the erratta and install usrbin first from the command line 
before you used the X based installer?  I've instaleld all m ystuff from 
the commadn lien and so far haven't found anything thatw asn't loaded 
('course again, i don't use X...)

>
>As a posting earlier noted, unless you have only 10MB
>on the hard disk, you may want to stay away from the
>Plug-and-Play.  It appears that yggdrasil (not entirely
>improper) has spent much energy in creating a
>Plug-and-Play, and much less so in creating a well- (or
>ever-) tested Linux package.
>
>The current yggdrasil CD is our second buy, and I can
>see the decline in quality. 

Hmm. I found a quality improvement myself (better command line based 
install options, they fixed the Xinit script bug for the ps/2 mouse...)
Maybe we have differnt experiences because we use the product diffrently...

>I sincerely hope that folks
>at yggdrasil keep up the spirit of Plug-'n-Play, while
>at the same time improve quality. 

Have you sent them a bug-list?  They'ld probobly appreciate that.

JK

------------------------------

From: [email-masked] (Gregory E Gelles)
Subject: VLSI design tools for LINUX??????
Date: 9 Oct 1994 18:43:50 GMT

QUESTION:
Does anyone if I can get BDSYN and OCTTOOLS for
Linux?  I know that magic has been ported for linux, but
I have not seen any design tools.  

Any help will be greatly appreciated,
Greg Gelles

------------------------------

From: [email-masked] (lmr)
Crossposted-To: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.systems,comp.os.linux.help
Subject: Re: [Q] SW Technology, How to reach SWT?it
Date: 8 Oct 1994 23:25:55 -0400

Because so may happy people around, I am considering to buy something from
SW. But how can I reach them (any 1-800 number, and where are they?

I requested a catalog from Fintronic and had problem to figure out
what they have.
-- 
Liming Ren                       |
Dept. of Mathematics             |  231 West 18th Avenue
The Ohio State University        |  Columbus, Ohio43210

------------------------------

Crossposted-To: comp.os.qnx,comp.os.386bsd.misc
From: [email-masked] (James Lummel)
Subject: Re: QNX, Linux, or 386BSD?
Date: Tue, 4 Oct 1994 07:51:28 GMT

Rob Carnegie ([email-masked]) wrote:
: In article <[email-masked]>, [email-masked] (Po-Han Lin) says:
: >
: >If one has a pc compatible with a 486, which OS is the best unix
: >operating system?  QNX, Linux, or 386BSD?  

: QNX is an operating system that is optimized for real time
: applications.  Most commercial products made for it are
: real time oriented (eg. process control etc.). For general
: purpose computing, I would give it a pass in favour of
: something more widely used for G.P. computing.

I wouldn't.  Telnet to caprica.com sometime and login as 'guest'.  You'll 
be pleased to see QNX in a GP role.

--

    James Lummel - [email-masked]

********************************************************
*            Caprica Telecomputing Resources           *
*  Serving the LA Basin area with Commercial Internet  *
*     Voice: (213) 266-0822   Data: (213) 526-1195     *
*                 All lines 14.4K Baud!                *
********************************************************

------------------------------

From: [email-masked] (Thomas Quinot)
Crossposted-To: comp.os.linux.admin
Subject: Re: Configuring 1.1.8 Kernel error
Date: 8 Oct 1994 15:13:35 +0100

Le Prostetnic Vogon John Behneman écrit :

> fs/fs.o: Undefined symbol  _ext_read_super referenced from text segment
>                            _ifs_read_super referenced from text segment
> make *** [ tool/zSystem ] Error

Be sure to build your kernel from a clean and well-configured source tree.
In order to do that your best bet is to untar (or copy) a fresh source tree
from your CD. Then run "make config;make dep;make clean;make zImage" in the
top directory and everything should go fine.

For further enlightenment about kernel compiling, you should have a look at
the kernel sources' README.

(please note Followup changed)
-- 
Thomas QUINOT                       |  "Un roi sans divertissement est un
<[email-masked]>      |             homme plein de misère."
Linux - choice of a GNU generation  |                          Jean GIONO

------------------------------

Crossposted-To: comp.mail.smail,comp.os.linux.announce
From: [email-masked] (Christopher Oliver)
Subject: Re: Security hole in smail - be careful!
Reply-To: [email-masked] (Christopher Oliver)
Date: Fri, 7 Oct 1994 18:29:05 GMT

=====BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE=====

Martin Bartosch ([email-masked]) wrote:
> Hi,

> last night I discovered a potential danger to all sites that run smail.
> A quick check on some other sites (thanks to the folks on #linux)
> revealed that most systems are affected by this.

> Essentially, the smail bug will allow ordinary users to create files
> anywhere they want to:

  I confirmed this bug both under linux and Solaris 2.3.  This bug allows
a user to append data to an arbitrary file.

  I have written a source patch to remove this bug.  I have sent the
diff to the the original authors as well.  I have removed the method of
exploition which was included in the original post, but I suggested that
the author should write CERT.  The patch follows:

*** main.c.orig Fri Oct  7 04:31:28 1994
- --- main.c      Fri Oct  7 04:05:32 1994
***************
*** 333,338 ****
- --- 333,339 ----
      }

      if (config_file != save_config_file || arg_second_config_file ||
+         arg_debug_file ||
        arg_director_file || arg_router_file || arg_transport_file ||
        arg_qualify_file || arg_retry_file || arg_smail_lib_dir ||
        arg_alias_file || operation_mode == REBUILD_ALIASES)

To obtain my key, either finger [email-masked] or use a
key server such as pgp.ai.mit.edu.

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-- 
Christopher Oliver                              Computer Science Office
Concurrent Computations Research Center  __o    Friedmann Hall
Internet: [email-masked]          _`\<,_   Western Michigan University
                                      (_)/ (_)  Kalamazoo, Michigan, 49008-5021

--
Send submissions for comp.os.linux.announce to: [email-masked]
Be sure to include Keywords: and a short description of your software.

------------------------------

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End of Linux-Misc Digest
******************************