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% Copyright (c) 1992, 1993 by Matt Welsh <mdw@sunsite.unc.edu>
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\chapter*{Preface}
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{\em ``You are in a maze of twisty little passages, all alike.''}

Before you looms one of the most complex and utterly intimidating 
systems ever written. Linux, the free UNIX clone for the personal computer,
produced by a mishmash team of UNIX gurus, hackers, and the occasional loon. 
The system itself reflects this complex heritage, and although the development 
of Linux may appear to be a disorganized volunteer effort, the system is 
powerful, fast, and free. It is a true 32-bit operating system solution.

My own experiences with Linux began several years ago, when I sat
down to figure out how to install the only ``distribution'' available at
the time---a couple of diskettes made available by H.J. Lu. I downloaded
a slew of files and read pages upon pages of loosely-organized installation
notes. Somehow, I managed to install this basic system and get everything
working together. This was long before you could buy the Linux software on
CD-ROM from worldwide distributors; before, in fact, Linux even knew how to 
access a CD-ROM drive. This was before XFree86, before Emacs, before 
commercial software support, and before Linux became a true rival to
MS-DOS, Microsoft Windows, and OS/2 in the personal computer market.

You hold in your very hands the map and guidebook to the world of Linux. 
It is my hope that this book will help you to get rolling with what I 
consider to be the fastest, most powerful operating system for the personal 
computer. Setting up your own Linux system can be a great deal of fun---so 
grab a cup of coffee, sit back, and read on. 

Grab a cup for me, too, while you're at it. I've been up hacking Linux for 
days.

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Matt Welsh\\
13 January 1994
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