The new version of SLS (Softlanding Linux System) is now available on tsx-11. Features of this upgrade include: - A single unified boot disk (again) - Linux 99 alpha p11 - libc 4.4.1 and gcc 2.4.5 - net 2 support - XFree 386 1.3 (with shadow xlock and xdm) - Tcl/Tk (this replaces the IV libs) - rebuilt versions of idraw and doc - First cut of Windows3 API (based on Tk) - mailx - Quotas - Eric Youngdale's ELF support for SVR4 binaries - national video font support - the new mitsumi driver - ifs and loop fs - selection - clean up of man pages and duplicate binaries, etc - fixed version of bash - enhanced installation Also a set of boot time configuration options have been to the kernel, such as forcing the hard drive params (for PS/VP) and forcing the net card, and busmouse params. The install program automatically sets up lilo with these parameters at install time. Lilo now uses the root partition rather than the boot partition. The SLS install program, doinstall, now fully automates installs, including setting up swap, running "fdisk", and using "mke2fs" automatically, if you omit the parameters. The syssetup script has been extended so that it now sets up your tcpip for your hostname, ipaddr, nameserver, etc. Mail is now setup with this info, for internet based nodes. Peter --------------------------------------------------------------------- Softlanding CDROM Info: The SLS CDROM is $99 for the single, or $199 for the Quarterly subscription. Add $15 for S&H (all prices in US funds). It contains: - the SLS 1.02 packages (features 99p9 kernel and libc 4.3.3) - SLS 1.02 unpacked and pre-installed - the SLS source tree - Werner's Inherited File System (IFS) - mit and contrib X dists - misc X windows srcs (like interviews and the TK X tool kit) - sources for non-SLS things (like snd-kit and rlab) - unsupported Linux patches (like Xenix fs and kdebug) - two boot disks (3 & 5) - at least 1 patch floppy (contains updates) - the booklet, Using SLS The above list is not meant to be comprehensive. Things such as multimedia (sound and graphics support) are a given. Just a few words are in order for a couple of the contents: The first item, the SLS 1.02 distribution, is included in both packed and unpacked form. The unpacked form, of course, allows access to all the distribution contents without having to install the entire system onto a hard drive. Infrequently used man pages and executables may best be used directly from the CD. Inclusion of the packaged release serves several purposes. It allows installing from the CD. It also permits the floppy distribution to be easily generated from the CD, even from DOS! This means that each SLS CD is a miniture floppy distribution producing facility. More importantly, it also means that, even if Linux does not currently have a device driver for your particular CDROM drive, you can still install and use SLS on your hard drive, by copying the files either to DOS floppies or to a DOS hard drive partition, and then installing from there. All that is required is a DOS device driver for your particular CDROM drive. The inherited file system, IFS, is the key to the effective use of the online source and data for read-only media such as CDROM. It allows a read-only directories to be mapped over by a writable directory, such that only the modified files occupy space in the writable directory. Gross networks of symbolic links are unecessary. Complete directory heirarchies are mapped at a stroke, rather than just the contents of one directory at a time. The booklet, Using SLS, has several parts. The first, describes the various installation procedures and options at your disposal, and gives example installs. The second section is of the format "A Day In The Life Of The Linux Hacker". It depicts a somewhat contrived session that attempts to take the user on as complete a tour through the SLS system and it's facilities as possible. Pains are taken not only to describe what kinds of problems are met, but also how and where answers to these problems are found. We end up with a survey of the major subsystems of SLS, touching briefly on topics such as using GhostScript, GCC, term and TeX. The goal of this guide is brevity rather than comprehensiveness, which is better handled by online documentation. ------------------------------------------------------------- AVAILABILITY SLS is available from the address below for a $3.50/disk US ($4.50/disk Canadian) copying charge. Add $1.00/disk for 3 1/2" disks, and $15.00 for shipping and handling. Mail payment, either cheque or money order, in advance, to Softlanding. Visa and Mastercard are now also accepted, Because people keep asking about prices, Softlanding has provided this commonly ordered configurations price sheet: NAME #DISKS SERIES 5 1/4 DISKS 3 1/2 DISKS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TINY 4 a US $29.00 (CDN $33.00) US $33.00 (CDN $37.00) BASE 17 a,b,c,d,s US $74.50 (CDN $91.50) US $91.50 (CDN $108.50) MAIN 24 a,b,c,x US $99.00 (CDN $123.00) US $123.00 (CDN $147.00) FULL 30 a,b,c,x,d,s,t US $120.00 (CDN $150.00) US $150.00 (CDN $180.00) When ordering, ensure that you specify the bootdisk type (3 1/2 or 5 1/4). Softlanding is also now offering support subscriptions for SLS. Individual support, (one user, one machine) is $100.00 per year. Group support, primarily for resellers and corporate sites is $1000.00 per year. CDROM ($99) and QIC-150 tape ($150) also available. Softlanding Software 910 Lodge Ave. Victoria, B.C., Canada V8X-3A8 (604) 360-0188, FAX (604) 385-1292 See Softlanding for a gentle touch down from a DOS bailout.