Topics of Current Interest.

Linux Frequently Asked Questions with Answers
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# 2. Topics of Current Interest.

## 2.1. What Is the Best Way to Respond to Anti-Linux FUD?

Basically, ignore it. When confronted with anti-Linux misinformation (FUD; or Fear, Uncertaintly, and Doubt), respond with information about Linux that correlates with its actual capabilities, not advertising hype and buzzwords.

This FAQ adheres to several simple guidelines for non-Linux content, which are briefly described in an article written by the FAQ Maintainer: `http://www.mainmatter.com/fud.txt`, reprinted from Linux Today.

## 2.2. What Are the Reasons to Upgrade to the Version 2.4 Kernel?

The kernel 2.4 source code, the product of countless hours of coding, testing, and re-coding, by dogged kernel hackers, is being upgraded with patches and bug fixes.

Among the new kernel's features are: support for the IBM S/390, the Logical Volume Manager, NFS Version 3 servers, PCMCIA CardBus devices, USB peripherals, the Device File System, 64 GB of RAM (yes, that's memory, not disk space), Itanium and MMX processors, drivers for many additional hardware devices, greater maximum file sizes, and vastly improved Symmetric Multiprocessing capabilities, at least for certain processors.

The changes are more significant for non-i386 platforms, although developers on i386 platforms can make use of the improvements— and stumble over the incompatibilities—of the new kernel as well.

If there's a compelling reason to upgrade, the source code is available, in the tar archive: `linux-2.4.`x`.tar.gz`. (Refer to: ``Where Is the Latest Kernel Version on the Internet?,'' below.) It will likely be several months at least before the commercial vendors upgrade their distributions to the new kernel.

## 2.3. When Is It a Good Idea To Use the Red Hat 7.0 `kgcc` Compiler?

Red Hat Linux 7.0 ships with two compilers, GCC 2.96, and KGCC, a.k.a, EGCS 1.1.2, a.k.a GCC 2.91.66. Confusing? You bet it is. It's probably better to use one of the standard GCC releases. The Free Software Foundation says that GCC 2.96, contains extensions that produce object code which is not compatible with previous versions of GCC, in addition to the normal bugs found in development software. The FSF changed the version number of their current development compiler to 2.97 to distinguish them. The FSF's statement is at `http://www.fsf.org/software/gcc/gcc-2.96.html`.

You can determine the compiler version numbers by typing ```gcc --version`'' and ```kgcc --version`.'' The latest stable GCC release is 2.95.2.

Any recent, officially released GNU C compiler from versions 2.7.2 onward should compile the generic kernel source code, unless it's the Version 2.4 kernel, in which case you'll need GCC 2.91.66 (EGCS 1.1.2). Don't expect any support from the kernel developers if you're using an earlier compiler.

Does that clarify everything?

You can download source code distributions from one of the `kernel.org` mirror sites. (Refer to: ``Where Is the Latest Kernel Version on the Internet?,'' below.) The kernel source code included with Red Hat 7.0 is kernel version 2.2.16, and is archived generically as `linux-2.2.16.tar.gz`.

## 2.4. What Resources Are There for Linux DeCSS and Other Open Source DVD Software?

There is a DeCSS Resource Site at `http://www.pzcommunications.com/main.htm`. A site with DeCSS code is at: `http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/DeCSS/Gallery/`. For information about the legal action to bar distributing DeCSS code and information, refer also to 2600's Web site: `http://www.2600.com/`, and the Electronic Frontier Foundation, `http://www.eff.org/`.

## 2.5. Where Is Information About Electronic Privacy Laws that Affect ISP's?

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has issued a report to Congress that recommends regulations to guarantee privacy for customers of Internet Service Providers. The text of the report is at `http://www.ftc.gov/acoas/papers/finalreport.htm`. The FTC E-commerce site is at `http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/menu-internet.htm/`

The New York Times on the Web has a page of electronic privacy information resources at `http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/reference/index-privacy.html` Access is free but requires registration.

The Electronic Privacy Information Center maintains a Web page at `http://www.epic.org/`. The site also has pointers to information about international laws that affect cryptographic software.

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