Linux InstallFest VI
Date and Time
Saturday, October 09, 1999 from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm
Location
Bell Atlantic Engineering HeadquartersFrom the Mass Pike, take 495 Northbound to Route 20 West (Exit 24-B, marked “Northboro”). Almost immediately as you get off the highway, turn right onto Felton Street, just before the Shell station. Follow Felton Street straight to a set of lights, and cross the intersection and get onto Locke Drive. + There are TWO Bell Atlantic buildings on Locke Drive: the one at the very end is the Training Center at 280 Locke Drive. This is THE WRONG ONE! You'll turn right, just before the end of the road, at a sign that says “Bell Atlantic Engineering Headquarters - 251 Locke Drive”. It's just opposite a large “For Sale” sign on the other side of the street, marked “Plum Properties”.
Summary
Installing Linux on your PC
Abstract
On October 9th, we invite you to become a member of the Boston Linux & Unix user group and discover the operating system of the future. Let our volunteers help you install Linux on your own system.
What Linux is
You've probably seen Linux mentioned in places like The Wall Street Jounal: it's the free operating system that runs more than 50% of the world's World Wide Web servers and Internet Service Providers.
Linux is a UNIX-like operating system built around POSIX standards. From its inception less than eight years ago, it was developed over the Internet by a group of people who (for the most part) have never seen each other, and now runs on an (estimated) 1,500,000 computer systems.
The operating system (and the source code for it) is free to anyone who wants it. It has been ported to at least the following platforms:
- Intel
- SPARC
- Alpha
- MIPS
- PPC
- M68K.
This is probably the largest development project ever accomplished using the Internet.
Who can use Linux?
Linux is for you if:
- You have retired older machines such as Intel 486's, and would like to put them in service again.
- You're a student strapped for cash, and need a rock-solid operating system, word processors, Internet mail and browser software, and X-Windows environment, all without charge.
- You're a “power” PC user, and want to go beyond the limits of Windows or OS/2 while keeping your old software.
- You're a parent of two teenagers, and need a way to allow them both to use the Internet at the same time (without fighting over one machine).
- You have more PC's in your house than printers, and want to link them together with a network operating system that allows every PC to use any printer
- You're a systems administrator who's through with the hastle of abend calls and deciphering proprietary “standards”, and tired of paying license fees.
How do I get Linux?
- Read the Frequently Asked Questions list (the FAQ), referenced below.
- Find out if your PC is compatible with Linux (most are) by checking the list of compatible hardware in the Hardware HOWTO, referenced below.
- Let us know you'll be coming, and more or less when you'll be there, by sending email to Bill Horne at bhorne@banet.net.
- You come to the installfest!
- Bring your complete system including Monitor, Keyboard, Mouse, power strips.
- We'll load all needed software onto your hard drive
- You can buy a backup (CD-ROM) copy of Redhat Linux 6.0 at the fest (they cost $2.50 while supplies last).
- We standardize on Red Hat 6.0, but other distributions, such as Debian, SuSe and Caldera are ok.
Cost
It's free! However, we DO have expenses, and contributions are welcome. Since this is the first Installfest we're running without a fee, please consider contributing $25 per machine. If you can't afford it, that's fine. If you can afford more, please contribute what you can. THANK YOU!
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