Hi, all! Finally, here it comes: The Linux Network Administrators' Guide! Although it is far from perfect, I feel that it's high time to release a version to the public. This Guide has been written in cooperation with the Linux Documentation Project, and covers both TCP/IP-based as well as UUCP networking. The document is available in DVI, Postscript, and Latex source. ASCII support is also provided, giving a version that can be processed by groff. It may be far from perfect, but at least it's there :-) If desired, I can also make a GNU info version of the book. What is the Network Administrators' Guide? ------------------------------------------ This is version 0.4 ALPHA of my networking guide for Linux. I still call it an ALPHA release because NET-2 is still changing so quickly; furthermore some chapters will need serious rewriting. The Networking Guide is written for people who want to use their Linux system in a networked environment, relying either on TCP/IP or UUCP. When writing it I tried to put in enough information so that people who know next to nothing about networking can get their machine working nevertheless (at least in theory... :-) Features: * Includes an extensive introduction to TCP/IP covering the whole thing from the physical layer up to the application layer. * Covers NET-2 setup, including hardware setup (Ethernet, SLIP, PLIP), IP interface setup, and building of static routing tables with route(8). NOTE: I have been away for the last two weeks, so I don't know if I missed any important developments in from NET-2 department. This chapter is the next candidate for revision. * Explains the most important TCP/IP applications along with their config files: inetd, tcpd, the r* clients, RPC, NFS, and FTP server setup. * Covers setup of Taylor UUCP (compiled for BNU configuration). * Explains basic concepts of email, and covers setup of smail and sendmail. * Setup of Cnews and assorted newsreaders * Has three fancy pictures :-) * TeXinfo and roff versions available. Misfeatures: * The Guide still has gaping holes in some places: There is no remote printing, no BOOTP setup, no automounter, etc. See the TODO file for what's not yet in. * I'm not yet content with the sendmail chapter. Same applies to the newsreader section. Suggestions on what to include and omit are welcome. * Needs more pictures. * TeXinfo and roff versions don't look too nice. Networking Guide Distribution ----------------------------- The NAG comes in a number of formats. You may either retrieve the complete LaTeX source, or any preconverted version. They may currently be found at tsx-11.mit.edu:/pub/linux/docs/LDP or sunsite.unc.edu:/pub/Linux/docs/LDP or nic.funet.fi:/pub/OS/Linux/doc/LDP The different packages are: netguide-0.4.src.tgz: The complete source, together with the files needed for generating the other formats (except for the texify tool). netguide-0.4.dvi.tgz: DVI version netguide-0.4.ps.tgz: Postscript version netguide-0.4.roff.tgz: roff version. This was generated from the TeXinfo version using texi2roff. It is not very satisfactory yet, but then, I've no idea of roff. I converted it to use the ms macro package, because the commands looked vaguely familiar to me. To show it on the screen, type groff -mgs nag.roff | less Some day in the future I may turn to mm macros instead, because they have good cross-references etc. Source Notes ------------ The pictures in this book have been produced with xfig, and translated to eepic/Latex input. You need the epic and eepic style files for this. Since they are not incorporated in the SLS release of TeX (at least not the one I've got), I have included them here. If your dvi printer filter doesn't recognize the graphic specials, you may have to use the Postscript version. Either get the Posscript version or convert the dvi file to Postscript. Simply type 'make net.ps'. Note that this will use dvips, because I know that dvitops does _not_ understand the eepic graphics specials. If this still won't work, you have to wait until I upload the FIG versions of the pictures (I lost the FIG version of one of these images :-() and convert these to Postscript as well. The pictures are also there in the ASCII version. If you know what they are meant to show, you can even see it. Formatting now looks quite well in most places (thanks to Michael K. Johnson's work!), but there are still a few overfull hboxes. These come from {\tt very/long/file/names} and the like. They will be dealt with once we have a fixed version. Author's Blurb -------------- Last not least, some personal words: As I said when volunteering for this job, my knowledge of TCP/IP networking is a bit on the theoretical side. On my Linux box, I do everything in loopback mode, and in terms of UUCP connectivity, I only run a leaf site. Thus I can't claim too much first-hand experience. So if you find anything you think is wrong or ambiguous, don't hesitate to point this out. Thanks a lot. If you have suggestions/comments/complaints, mail me at okir@monad.swb.de. Yours, Olaf Copyright Notice ---------------- The Linux Network Administrators' Guide is Copyright (C) by Olaf Kirch. See the file COPYING for your rights in copying and printing it.