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authorSamuel Thibault <samuel.thibault@ens-lyon.org>2013-03-15 15:09:52 +0100
committerSamuel Thibault <samuel.thibault@ens-lyon.org>2013-03-15 15:09:52 +0100
commit32c274982cd9b8a4b5b1135117a79ea3b5939cba (patch)
tree49bb433850dd0d2d6c1f6064ded959fbb9811dc4 /hurd
parentf5070694ed8a28fba1a0fff45c93b2ce43b823d1 (diff)
update faq
Diffstat (limited to 'hurd')
-rw-r--r--hurd/faq/old_faq.txt83
1 files changed, 27 insertions, 56 deletions
diff --git a/hurd/faq/old_faq.txt b/hurd/faq/old_faq.txt
index 617d7661..24127462 100644
--- a/hurd/faq/old_faq.txt
+++ b/hurd/faq/old_faq.txt
@@ -76,23 +76,23 @@ is similar to Linux except, there is no `s'. For instance, `hda1' would
become `hd0s1'.
GRUB, the boot loader, uses a completely different nomenclature: it
-probes the BIOS and appends each disk in turn to an array. Both disks
-and partitions are enumerated using zero based arrays. The format is:
-`hd (<disk>, <partition>)'. Thus, `hd (0, 1)' refers to the second
-partition on the first drive detected by the BIOS. As Grub now has tab
+probes the BIOS and appends each disk in turn to an array. Disks are enumerated
+using zero based arrays. GRUB 2 enumerates partitions from one, while GRUB 1
+used to enumerate them from zero.
+The format is:
+`hd (<disk>, <partition>)'. Thus, in GRUB 2 `hd (0, 1)' refers to the first
+partition on the first drive detected by the BIOS (or the second partition with
+GRUB 1). As Grub now has tab
completion, there is not a lot of guess work.
?? Can I use partitions larger than 2GB?
-{MB} No, not currently. The filesystem servers need to be changed to
-not map the whole store into memory, which is not too difficult. For
-large files, some interfaces need to be changed, which is a bit harder
-but still doable.
+{ST} Yes. Disk drivers however currently do not support more than 2^32 sectors, i.e.
+2TiB.
?? How much swap do I need?
-{NHW} Generally, a lot; once you run out, Mach panics. I have at least
-128MB of ram and 256MB of swap on all of machines running GNU/Hurd.
+{ST} The usual rule of thumb applies: the same amount as RAM, for instance.
?? Can I share swap space between GNU/Linux and GNU/Hurd?
@@ -216,18 +216,8 @@ prompt.
?? How do I use non-US keyboard bindings?
-{NHW,FH} Take a look at:
-
- http://www.xs4all.nl/~mgerards/xkb8.tar.gz
-
-If you want a Debian package, you can add to your
-'etc/apt/sources.list'
-
- deb http://debian.duckcorp.org/unstable/binary-hurd-i386/ ./
-
-and then run
-
- apt-get install console-driver-xkb.
+{ST} On Debian Hurd, you can configure the console layout from
+`/etc/default/hurd-console`.
?? How do I enable color on the console?
@@ -238,6 +228,9 @@ terminal to `mach-color'. For instance:
?? How can I enable virtual consoles?
+{ST} On Debian Hurd, it is already enabled by default, and configured from
+`/etc/default/hurd-console`.
+
{AMS} This can be done by running the following command:
console -d vga -d pc_kbd -d generic_speaker /dev/vcs
@@ -252,18 +245,12 @@ XFree86 4.0.2 is available, as are some of the v3 servers. Instructions
on how to use the packages are in the mailing list archive (link follow
later).
-?? Why does X not work?
-
-{MB} Try `export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/usr/X11R6/lib'. This is a linker
-issue. GNU/Hurd expects that `RPATH' is used, however, Debian takes
-certain measures to avoid this. Note that this does not cut it for suid
-binaries because of security implications. We expect to rectify this
-by using `RUNPATH', which is specified in the new ELF standard.
+?? What are these strange pids `0`, `2', `3', `4`, and `5`?
-?? What are these strange pids `2' and `3'?
-
-{MB} Two is the kernel, three is the default pager and four is the root
-filesystem.
+{MB,ST} Zero is the `proc` processus server (and thus does not really have a pid
+:) ) Two is the kernel, three is the root filesystem server, four is the `exec`
+server (which handles starting programs), five is the `auth` server (which
+handles user authentication).
?? Why does `ps aux' give me strange output?
@@ -284,22 +271,7 @@ that would require use of the message port.
?? Where are ...
-{MB} `fdisk' and `dmesg' are not yet ported.
-
-Instead of `free', use `vmstat' and `vminfo'.
-
-For kernel messages, read `/dev/klog' directly. Note, once you read
-this, it is gone forever.
-
-
-?? Is there a `/proc' filesystem?
-
-{MB} No. Maybe there will be an emulation filesystem someday for
-programs that rely it. If you are wondering about the empty `/proc'
-directory, this is a relict from a Debian GNU/Linux package
-(specifically, `base-files').
-
-You can probe for existing hardware devices with the devprobe utility.
+{MB} `dmesg' is not available. You can read `/var/log/dmesg` instead.
?? Why does the command `df' not work?
@@ -412,25 +384,23 @@ author that allocates memory dynamically.
?? How can I help?
-{NHW} A effort to compile all of the Debian packages is underway by Jeff
-Bailey. Take a look at:
-
- http://people.debian.org/~jbailey/oasis/group/Debian/index.html
-
-to see what has been done and how you can help.
+{ST} Please see the contributing page:
+http://www.gnu.org/software/hurd/contributing.html
? Compiling
?? Where can I get the source?
{AMS} Instructions on how to download the CVS tree from Savanah are
-avaiable at https://savannah.gnu.org/cvs/?group=hurd
+available at https://savannah.gnu.org/cvs/?group=hurd
{NHW} To get the source to the latest debian package, look on any
debian mirror.
?? Can I cross compile?
+{ST} To REDO.
+
{NHW} Yes. If you are running Debian GNU/Linux on IA32, this is quite
easy as there is a cheap cross compiler available; all that is required
is installing the gcc-i386-gnu and mig-i386-gnu Debian packages. When
@@ -560,3 +530,4 @@ Answers were given by (in chronological order):
* {OK} Ognyan Kulev <ogi@fmi.uni-sofia.bg>
* {FH} Frédéric Henry <neryel@reveries.info>
* {MM} Manuel Menal <mmenal@hurdfr.org>
+* {ST} Samuel Thibault <samuel.thibault@gnu.org>