Getting Linux from the Internet

Getting Starter Linux from the Internet

If you have access to the Internet, the easiest way to obtain Linux is via anonymous FTP.1 Appendix C lists a number of FTP archive sites which carry Linux software. One of these is sunsite.unc.edu, and the various Linux distributions can be found in the directory there.

/pub/Linux/distributions

Many distributions are released via anonymous FTP as a set of disk images. That is, the distribution consists of a set of files, and each file contains the binary image of a floppy. In order to copy the contents of the image file onto the floppy, you can use the RAWRITE.EXE program under MS-DOS. This program copies, block-for-block, the contents of a file to a floppy, without regard for disk format.2 

RAWRITE.EXE is available on the various Linux FTP sites, including sunsite.unc.edu in the directory

/pub/Linux/system/Install/rawwrite

Therefore, in many cases, you simply download the set of diskette images, and use RAWRITE.EXE with each image in turn to create a set of diskettes. You boot from the so-called “boot diskette” and you’re ready to roll. The software is usually installed directly from the floppies, although some distributions allow you to install from an MS-DOS partition on your hard drive. Some distributions allow you to install over a TCP/IP network. The documentation for each distribution should describe these installation methods if they are available.

Other Linux distributions are installed from a set ofMS-DOS format floppies. For example, the Slackware
distribution of Linux requires only the boot and root diskettes to be created using RAWRITE.EXE. The rest of the diskettes are copied toMS-DOS format diskettes using theMS-DOS COPY command. The system installs the software directly from theMS-DOS floppies. This saves you the trouble of having to use RAWRITE.EXE
for many image files, although it requires you to have access to an MS-DOS system to create the diskettes.
 Each distribution of Linux available via anonymous FTP should include a README file describing how
to download and prepare the diskettes for installation. Be sure to read all of the available documentation for
the release that you are using.

When downloading the Linux software, be sure to use binary mode for all file transfers (with most FTP clients, the command “binary” enables this mode).

 Add

1 If you do not have direct Internet access, you can obtain Linux via the ftpmail service, provided that you have the ability to exchange e-mail with the Internet. See Appendix C for details.

2 If you have access to a UNIX workstation with a floppy drive, you can also use the dd command to copy the file image directly to the floppy. A command such as “dd of=/dev/rfd0 if=foo bs=18k” will “raw write” the contents of the file foo to the floppy device on a Sun workstation. Consult your local UNIX gurus for more information on your system’s floppy devices and the use of dd.