% Linux Installation and Getting Started    -*- TeX -*-
% chap-install.tex
% Copyright (c) 1992-1994 by Matt Welsh <mdw@sunsite.unc.edu>
%
% This file is freely redistributable, but you must preserve this copyright 
% notice on all copies, and it must be distributed only as part of "Linux 
% Installation and Getting Started". This file's use is covered by the 
% copyright for the entire document, in the file "copyright.tex".

\chapter{Obtaining and Installing Linux}
\namedlabel{chap-install}{Obtaining and Installing Linux}
\label{chap-install-num}

\index{Linux!installing|(}
\index{installation|(}
In this chapter, we'll describe how to obtain the Linux software, in the
form of one of the various pre-packaged distributions, and how to install
the distribution that you choose. 

As we have mentioned, there
is no single ``official'' distribution of the Linux software; there are,
in fact, many distributions, each of which serves a particular purpose and
set of goals. These distributions are available via anonymous FTP from
the Internet, on BBS systems worldwide, and via mail on diskette, tape,
and CD-ROM. 

Here, we present a general overview of the installation process.
Each distribution has its own specific installation instructions,
but armed with the concepts presented here you should be able to feel
your way through any installation. Appendix~\ref{app-sources-num} lists
sources of information for installation instructions and other
help, if you're at a total loss.

\ifodd\igsslack
This book contains additional sections detailing the Slackware
distribution of Linux.
\fi

%% Input each section
\input{install/distributions} 
\input{install/preinstall}
\input{install/installing}
\input{install/postinstall}
\input{install/problems}

\index{Linux!installing|)}
\index{installation|)}
