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<title>The Debian GNU/Linux FAQ - Definitions and overview</title>
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<link href="ch-basic_defs.en.html" rel="chapter" title="1 Definitions and overview">
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<link href="ch-getting.en.html" rel="chapter" title="2 Getting and installing Debian GNU/Linux">
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<link href="ch-choosing.en.html" rel="chapter" title="3 Choosing a Debian distribution">
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<link href="ch-compat.en.html" rel="chapter" title="4 Compatibility issues">
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<link href="ch-software.en.html" rel="chapter" title="5 Software available in the Debian system">
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<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html" rel="chapter" title="6 The Debian FTP archives">
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<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html" rel="chapter" title="7 Basics of the Debian package management system">
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<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html" rel="chapter" title="8 The Debian package management tools">
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<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html" rel="chapter" title="9 Keeping your Debian system up-to-date">
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<link href="ch-kernel.en.html" rel="chapter" title="10 Debian and the kernel">
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<link href="ch-customizing.en.html" rel="chapter" title="11 Customizing your installation of Debian GNU/Linux">
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<link href="ch-support.en.html" rel="chapter" title="12 Getting support for Debian GNU/Linux">
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<link href="ch-contributing.en.html" rel="chapter" title="13 Contributing to the Debian Project">
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<link href="ch-redistrib.en.html" rel="chapter" title="14 Redistributing Debian GNU/Linux in a commercial product">
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<link href="ch-nexttime.en.html" rel="chapter" title="15 Changes expected in the next major release of Debian">
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<link href="ch-faqinfo.en.html" rel="chapter" title="16 General information about the FAQ">
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<link href="ch-basic_defs.en.html#s-whatisfaq" rel="section" title="1.1 What is this FAQ?">
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<link href="ch-basic_defs.en.html#s-whatisdebian" rel="section" title="1.2 What is Debian GNU/Linux?">
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<link href="ch-basic_defs.en.html#s-linux" rel="section" title="1.3 OK, now I know what Debian is... what is Linux?!">
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<link href="ch-basic_defs.en.html#s-non-linux" rel="section" title="1.4 Does Debian just do GNU/Linux?">
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<link href="ch-basic_defs.en.html#s-difference" rel="section" title="1.5 What is the difference between Debian GNU/Linux and other Linux distributions? Why should I choose Debian over some other distribution?">
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<link href="ch-basic_defs.en.html#s-gnu" rel="section" title="1.6 How does the Debian project fit in or compare with the Free Software Foundation's GNU project?">
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<link href="ch-basic_defs.en.html#s-pronunciation" rel="section" title="1.7 How does one pronounce Debian and what does this word mean?">
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<link href="ch-getting.en.html#s-version" rel="section" title="2.1 What is the latest version of Debian?">
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<link href="ch-getting.en.html#s-updatestable" rel="section" title="2.2 Are there package upgrades in `stable'?">
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<link href="ch-getting.en.html#s-boot-floppies" rel="section" title="2.3 Where/how can I get the Debian installation disks?">
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<link href="ch-getting.en.html#s-cdrom" rel="section" title="2.4 How do I install the Debian from CD-ROMs?">
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<link href="ch-getting.en.html#s-cdimage-symlinks" rel="section" title="2.5 Why does the official stable released CD-ROM contain symlinks for `frozen' and `unstable'? I thought this CD contains just `stable'!">
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<link href="ch-getting.en.html#s-remoteinstall" rel="section" title="2.6 Can I get and install Debian directly from a remote Internet site?">
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<link href="ch-getting.en.html#s-alternativebootinstaller" rel="section" title="2.7 Are there any alternative strategies for booting the system installer?">
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<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1" rel="section" title="3.1 Which Debian distribution (stable/testing/unstable) is better for me?">
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<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.2" rel="section" title="3.2 But what about Knoppix, Linex, Ubuntu, and others?">
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<link href="ch-compat.en.html#s-arches" rel="section" title="4.1 On what hardware architectures/systems does Debian GNU/Linux run?">
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<link href="ch-compat.en.html#s-otherdistribs" rel="section" title="4.2 How compatible is Debian with other distributions of Linux?">
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<link href="ch-compat.en.html#s-otherunices" rel="section" title="4.3 How source code compatible is Debian with other Unix systems?">
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<link href="ch-compat.en.html#s-otherpackages" rel="section" title="4.4 Can I use Debian packages (".deb" files) on my Red Hat/Slackware/... Linux system? Can I use Red Hat packages (".rpm" files) on my Debian GNU/Linux system?">
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<link href="ch-compat.en.html#s-non-debian-programs" rel="section" title="4.5 How should I install a non-Debian program?">
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<link href="ch-compat.en.html#s-termcap" rel="section" title="4.6 Why can't I compile programs that require libtermcap?">
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<link href="ch-compat.en.html#s-accelx" rel="section" title="4.7 Why can't I install AccelX?">
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<link href="ch-compat.en.html#s-motifnls" rel="section" title="4.8 Why do my old XFree 2.1 Motif applications crash?">
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<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-apps" rel="section" title="5.1 What types of applications and development software are available for Debian GNU/Linux?">
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<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-softwareauthors" rel="section" title="5.2 Who wrote all that software?">
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<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-pkglist" rel="section" title="5.3 How can I get a current list of programs that have been packaged for Debian?">
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<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-buildenv" rel="section" title="5.4 How can I install a developer's environment to build packages?">
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<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-missing" rel="section" title="5.5 What is missing from Debian GNU/Linux?">
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<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-no-devs" rel="section" title="5.6 Why do I get "ld: cannot find -lfoo" messages when compiling programs? Why aren't there any libfoo.so files in Debian library packages?">
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<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-java" rel="section" title="5.7 (How) Does Debian support Java?">
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<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-isitdebian" rel="section" title="5.8 How can I check that I am using a Debian system, and what version is it?">
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<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-nonenglish" rel="section" title="5.9 How does Debian support non-English languages?">
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<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-pine" rel="section" title="5.10 Where is pine?">
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<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-qmail" rel="section" title="5.11 Where is qmail/ezmlm/djbdns?">
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<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-flash" rel="section" title="5.12 Where is a player for Flash (SWF)?">
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<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-googleearth" rel="section" title="5.13 Where is Google Earth?">
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<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-voip" rel="section" title="5.14 Where is VoIP software?">
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<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-nonfreewireless" rel="section" title="5.15 I have a wireless network card which doesn't work with Linux. What should I do?">
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<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-dists" rel="section" title="6.1 How many Debian distributions are there?">
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<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-codenames" rel="section" title="6.2 What are all those names like etch, lenny, etc.?">
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<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-sid" rel="section" title="6.3 What about "sid"?">
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<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-stable" rel="section" title="6.4 What does the stable directory contain?">
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<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-testing" rel="section" title="6.5 What does the testing distribution contain?">
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<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-unstable" rel="section" title="6.6 What does the unstable distribution contain?">
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<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-dirtree" rel="section" title="6.7 What are all those directories at the Debian FTP archives?">
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<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-archsections" rel="section" title="6.8 What are all those directories inside <samp>dists/stable/main</samp>?">
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<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-source" rel="section" title="6.9 Where is the source code?">
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<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-pools" rel="section" title="6.10 What's in the <samp>pool</samp> directory?">
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<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-incoming" rel="section" title="6.11 What is "incoming"?">
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<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-ownrepository" rel="section" title="6.12 How do I set up my own apt-able repository?">
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<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-package" rel="section" title="7.1 What is a Debian package?">
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<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-deb-format" rel="section" title="7.2 What is the format of a Debian binary package?">
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<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-pkgname" rel="section" title="7.3 Why are Debian package file names so long?">
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<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-controlfile" rel="section" title="7.4 What is a Debian control file?">
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<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-conffile" rel="section" title="7.5 What is a Debian conffile?">
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<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-maintscripts" rel="section" title="7.6 What is a Debian preinst, postinst, prerm, and postrm script?">
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<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-priority" rel="section" title="7.7 What is an <em>Essential</em>, <em>Required</em>, <em>Important</em>, <em>Standard</em>, <em>Optional</em>, or <em>Extra</em> package?">
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<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-virtual" rel="section" title="7.8 What is a Virtual Package?">
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<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-depends" rel="section" title="7.9 What is meant by saying that a package <em>Depends</em>, <em>Recommends</em>, <em>Suggests</em>, <em>Conflicts</em>, <em>Replaces</em> or <em>Provides</em> another package?">
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<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-pre-depends" rel="section" title="7.10 What is meant by Pre-Depends?">
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<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-pkgstatus" rel="section" title="7.11 What is meant by <em>unknown</em>, <em>install</em>, <em>remove</em>, <em>purge</em> and <em>hold</em> in the package status?">
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<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-puttingonhold" rel="section" title="7.12 How do I put a package on hold?">
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<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-sourcepkgs" rel="section" title="7.13 How do I install a source package?">
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<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-sourcebuild" rel="section" title="7.14 How do I build binary packages from a source package?">
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<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-creatingdebs" rel="section" title="7.15 How do I create Debian packages myself?">
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<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-pkgprogs" rel="section" title="8.1 What programs does Debian provide for managing its packages?">
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<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-updaterunning" rel="section" title="8.2 Debian claims to be able to update a running program; how is this accomplished?">
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<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-whatpackages" rel="section" title="8.3 How can I tell what packages are already installed on a Debian system?">
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<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-listfiles" rel="section" title="8.4 How to display the files of a package installed?">
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<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-filesearch" rel="section" title="8.5 How can I find out what package produced a particular file?">
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<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-datapackages" rel="section" title="8.6 Why doesn't get `foo-data' removed when I uninstall `foo'? How do I make sure old unused library-packages get purged?">
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<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-howtocurrent" rel="section" title="9.1 How can I keep my Debian system current?">
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<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-upgradesingle" rel="section" title="9.2 Must I go into single user mode in order to upgrade a package?">
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<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-savedebs" rel="section" title="9.3 Do I have to keep all those .deb archive files on my disk?">
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<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-keepingalog" rel="section" title="9.4 How can I keep a log of the packages I added to the system? I'd like to know when which package upgrades and removals have occured!">
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<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-autoupdate" rel="section" title="9.5 Can I automatically update the system?">
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<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-aptproxy" rel="section" title="9.6 I have several machines how can I download the updates only one time?">
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<link href="ch-kernel.en.html#s-non-debian-kernel" rel="section" title="10.1 Can I install and compile a kernel without some Debian-specific tweaking?">
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<link href="ch-kernel.en.html#s-customkernel" rel="section" title="10.2 What tools does Debian provide to build custom kernels?">
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<link href="ch-kernel.en.html#s-custombootdisk" rel="section" title="10.3 How can I make a custom boot floppy?">
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<link href="ch-kernel.en.html#s-modules" rel="section" title="10.4 What special provisions does Debian provide to deal with modules?">
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<link href="ch-kernel.en.html#s-removeoldkernel" rel="section" title="10.5 Can I safely de-install an old kernel package, and if so, how?">
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<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-papersize" rel="section" title="11.1 How can I ensure that all programs use the same paper size?">
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<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-hardwareaccess" rel="section" title="11.2 How can I provide access to hardware peripherals, without compromising security?">
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<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-consolefont" rel="section" title="11.3 How do I load a console font on startup the Debian way?">
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<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-appdefaults" rel="section" title="11.4 How can I configure an X11 program's application defaults?">
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<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-booting" rel="section" title="11.5 Every distribution seems to have a different boot-up method. Tell me about Debian's.">
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<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-custombootscripts" rel="section" title="11.6 It looks as if Debian does not use <samp>rc.local</samp> to customize the boot process; what facilities are provided?">
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<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-interconffiles" rel="section" title="11.7 How does the package management system deal with packages that contain configuration files for other packages?">
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<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-divert" rel="section" title="11.8 How do I override a file installed by a package, so that a different version can be used instead?">
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<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-localpackages" rel="section" title="11.9 How can I have my locally-built package included in the list of available packages that the package management system knows about?">
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<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-diverse" rel="section" title="11.10 Some users like mawk, others like gawk; some like vim, others like elvis; some like trn, others like tin; how does Debian support diversity?">
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<link href="ch-support.en.html#s-debiandocs" rel="section" title="12.1 What other documentation exists on and for a Debian system?">
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<link href="ch-support.en.html#s-onlineresources" rel="section" title="12.2 Are there any on-line resources for discussing Debian?">
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<link href="ch-support.en.html#s-searchtools" rel="section" title="12.3 Is there a quick way to search for information on Debian GNU/Linux?">
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<link href="ch-support.en.html#s-buglogs" rel="section" title="12.4 Are there logs of known bugs?">
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<link href="ch-support.en.html#s-bugreport" rel="section" title="12.5 How do I report a bug in Debian?">
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<link href="ch-contributing.en.html#s-contrib" rel="section" title="13.1 How can I become a Debian software developer?">
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<link href="ch-contributing.en.html#s-contribresources" rel="section" title="13.2 How can I contribute resources to the Debian project?">
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<link href="ch-contributing.en.html#s-supportingorganizations" rel="section" title="13.3 How can I contribute financially to the Debian project?">
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<link href="ch-redistrib.en.html#s-sellcds" rel="section" title="14.1 Can I make and sell Debian CDs?">
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<link href="ch-redistrib.en.html#s-packagednonfree" rel="section" title="14.2 Can Debian be packaged with non-free software?">
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<link href="ch-redistrib.en.html#s-childistro" rel="section" title="14.3 I am making a special Linux distribution for a "vertical market". Can I use Debian GNU/Linux for the guts of a Linux system and add my own applications on top of it?">
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<link href="ch-redistrib.en.html#s-commercialdebs" rel="section" title="14.4 Can I put my commercial program in a Debian "package" so that it installs effortlessly on any Debian system?">
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<link href="ch-nexttime.en.html#s-i18n" rel="section" title="15.1 Extended support for non-English users">
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<link href="ch-nexttime.en.html#s-dependencybasedboot" rel="section" title="15.2 Faster booting: Dependency based boot sequence">
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<link href="ch-nexttime.en.html#s-di" rel="section" title="15.3 Improvements in the Debian Installer">
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<link href="ch-nexttime.en.html#s-morearches" rel="section" title="15.4 More architectures">
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<link href="ch-nexttime.en.html#s-morekernels" rel="section" title="15.5 More kernels">
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<link href="ch-faqinfo.en.html#s-authors" rel="section" title="16.1 Authors">
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<link href="ch-faqinfo.en.html#s-feedback" rel="section" title="16.2 Feedback">
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<link href="ch-faqinfo.en.html#s-latest" rel="section" title="16.3 Availability">
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<link href="ch-faqinfo.en.html#s-docformat" rel="section" title="16.4 Document format">
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<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.1" rel="subsection" title="3.1.1 You asked me to install stable, but in stable so and so hardware is not detected/working. What should I do?">
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<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.2" rel="subsection" title="3.1.2 Will there be different different versions of packages in different distributions?">
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<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.3" rel="subsection" title="3.1.3 The stable distributions really contains outdated packages. Just look at Kde, Gnome, Xorg or even the kernel. They are very old. Why is it so?">
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<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.4" rel="subsection" title="3.1.4 If I were to decide to change to another distribution, Can I do that?">
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<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.5" rel="subsection" title="3.1.5 Could you tell me whether to install testing or unstable?">
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<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.6" rel="subsection" title="3.1.6 You are talking about testing being broken. What do you mean by that?">
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<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.7" rel="subsection" title="3.1.7 Why is it that testing could be broken for months? Wont the fixes introduced in unstable flow directly down into testing?">
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<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.8" rel="subsection" title="3.1.8 From an administrator's point of view, Which distribution requires more attention?">
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<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.9" rel="subsection" title="3.1.9 What happens when a new release is made?">
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<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.10" rel="subsection" title="3.1.10 I have a working Desktop/cluster with Debian installed. How do I know which distribution I am running?">
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<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.11" rel="subsection" title="3.1.11 I am currently tracking stable. Can I change to testing or unstable? If so, How?">
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<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.12" rel="subsection" title="3.1.12 I am currently tracking testing (lenny). What will happen when a release is made? Will I still be tracking testing or will my machine be running the new stable distribution?">
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<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.13" rel="subsection" title="3.1.13 I am still confused. What did you say I should install?">
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<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.2.1" rel="subsection" title="3.2.1 I know that Knoppix/Linex/Ubuntu/... is Debian-based. So after installing it on the hard disk, can I use 'apt' package tools on it?">
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<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.2.2" rel="subsection" title="3.2.2 I installed Knoppix/Linex/Ubuntu/... on my hard disk. Now I have a problem. What should I do?">
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<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.2.3" rel="subsection" title="3.2.3 I'm using Knoppix/Linex/Ubuntu/... and now I want to use Debian. How do I migrate?">
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<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-oldcodenames" rel="subsection" title="6.2.1 Which other codenames have been used in the past?">
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<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-sourceforcodenames" rel="subsection" title="6.2.2 Where do these codenames come from?">
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<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-frozen" rel="subsection" title="6.5.1 What about "testing"? How is it `frozen'?">
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<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-dpkg" rel="subsection" title="8.1.1 dpkg">
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<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-apt-get" rel="subsection" title="8.1.2 APT">
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<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-aptitude" rel="subsection" title="8.1.3 aptitude">
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<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-synaptic" rel="subsection" title="8.1.4 synaptic">
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<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-tasksel" rel="subsection" title="8.1.5 tasksel">
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<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-dpkg-extra" rel="subsection" title="8.1.6 Other package management tools">
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<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-dselect" rel="subsection" title="8.1.6.1 dselect">
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<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-dpkg-deb" rel="subsection" title="8.1.6.2 dpkg-deb">
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<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-dpkg-split" rel="subsection" title="8.1.6.3 dpkg-split">
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<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-aptitude-upgrade" rel="subsection" title="9.1.1 aptitude">
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<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-apt" rel="subsection" title="9.1.2 apt-get, dselect and apt-cdrom">
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<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-update_aptitude" rel="subsection" title="9.1.3 aptitude">
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<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-mirror" rel="subsection" title="9.1.4 mirror">
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<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-dpkg-mountable" rel="subsection" title="9.1.5 dpkg-mountable">
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<link href="ch-support.en.html#s12.2.1" rel="subsection" title="12.2.1 Mailing lists">
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<link href="ch-support.en.html#s-mailinglistconduct" rel="subsection" title="12.2.1.1 What is the code of conduct for the mailing lists?">
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<link href="ch-support.en.html#s12.2.2" rel="subsection" title="12.2.2 Web forums">
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<link href="ch-support.en.html#s12.2.3" rel="subsection" title="12.2.3 Wiki">
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<link href="ch-support.en.html#s12.2.4" rel="subsection" title="12.2.4 Maintainers">
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<link href="ch-support.en.html#s12.2.5" rel="subsection" title="12.2.5 Usenet newsgroups">
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<link href="ch-contributing.en.html#s-SPI" rel="subsection" title="13.3.1 Software in the Public Interest">
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<link href="ch-contributing.en.html#s-FSF" rel="subsection" title="13.3.2 Free Software Foundation">
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<p><a name="ch-basic_defs"></a></p>
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[ <a href="index.en.html#contents">Contents</a> ]
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[ <a href="ch-getting.en.html">2</a> ]
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The Debian GNU/Linux FAQ
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<br>Chapter 1 - Definitions and overview
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<h2><a name="s-whatisfaq"></a>1.1 What is this FAQ?</h2>
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This document gives frequently asked questions (with their answers!) about the
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Debian distribution (Debian GNU/Linux and others) and about the Debian project.
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If applicable, pointers to other documentation will be given: we won't quote
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large parts of external documentation in this document. You'll find out that
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some answers assume some knowledge of Unix-like operating systems. We'll try
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to assume as little prior knowledge as possible: answers to general beginners
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questions will be kept simple.
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If you can't find what you're looking for in this FAQ, be sure to check out <a
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href="ch-support.en.html#s-debiandocs">What other documentation exists on and
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for a Debian system?, Section 12.1</a>. If even that doesn't help, refer to <a
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href="ch-faqinfo.en.html#s-feedback">Feedback, Section 16.2</a>.
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<h2><a name="s-whatisdebian"></a>1.2 What is Debian GNU/Linux?</h2>
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Debian GNU/Linux is a particular <em>distribution</em> of the Linux operating
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system, and numerous packages that run on it.
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<strong>full featured</strong>: Debian includes more than 18200 software
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packages at present. Users can select which packages to install; Debian
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provides a tool for this purpose. You can find a list and descriptions of the
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packages currently available in Debian at any of the Debian <code><a
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href="http://www.debian.org/distrib/ftplist">mirror sites</a></code>.
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<strong>free to use and redistribute</strong>: There is no consortium
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membership or payment required to participate in its distribution and
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development. All packages that are formally part of Debian GNU/Linux are free
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to redistribute, usually under terms specified by the GNU General Public
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The Debian FTP archives also carry approximately 560 software packages (in the
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<samp>non-free</samp> and <samp>contrib</samp> sections), which are
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distributable under specific terms included with each package.
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<strong>dynamic</strong>: With about 1060 volunteers constantly contributing
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new and improved code, Debian is evolving rapidly. The FTP archives are
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updated twice every day.
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Most Linux users run a specific <em>distribution</em> of Linux, like Debian
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GNU/Linux. However, in principle, users could obtain the Linux kernel via the
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Internet or from elsewhere, and compile it themselves. They could then obtain
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source code for many applications in the same way, compile the programs, then
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install them into their systems. For complicated programs, this process can be
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not only time-consuming but error-prone. To avoid it, users often choose to
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obtain the operating system and the application packages from one of the Linux
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distributors. What distinguishes the various Linux distributors are the
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software, protocols, and practices they use for packaging, installing, and
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tracking applications packages on users' systems, combined with installation
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and maintenance tools, documentation, and other services.
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Debian GNU/Linux is the result of a volunteer effort to create a free,
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high-quality Unix-compatible operating system, complete with a suite of
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applications. The idea of a free Unix-like system originates from the GNU
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project, and many of the applications that make Debian GNU/Linux so useful were
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developed by the GNU project.
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For Debian, free has the GNUish meaning (see the <code><a
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href="http://www.debian.org/social_contract#guidelines">Debian Free Software
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Guidelines</a></code>). When we speak of free software, we are referring to
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freedom, not price. Free software means that you have the freedom to
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distribute copies of free software, that you receive source code or can get it
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if you want it, that you can change the software or use pieces of it in new
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free programs; and that you know you can do these things.
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The Debian Project was created by Ian Murdock in 1993, initially under the
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sponsorship of the Free Software Foundation's GNU project. Today, Debian's
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developers think of it as a direct descendent of the GNU project.
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Although Debian GNU/Linux itself is free software, it is a base upon which
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value-added Linux distributions can be built. By providing a reliable,
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full-featured base system, Debian provides Linux users with increased
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compatibility, and allows Linux distribution creators to eliminate duplication
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of effort and focus on the things that make their distribution special. See <a
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href="ch-redistrib.en.html#s-childistro">I am making a special Linux
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distribution for a "vertical market". Can I use Debian GNU/Linux for
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the guts of a Linux system and add my own applications on top of it?, Section
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14.3</a> for more information.
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<h2><a name="s-linux"></a>1.3 OK, now I know what Debian is... what is Linux?!</h2>
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In short, Linux is the kernel of a Unix-like operating system. It was
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originally designed for 386 (and better) PCs; today Linux also runs on a dozen
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of other systems. Linux is written by Linus Torvalds and many computer
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scientists around the world.
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Besides its kernel, a "Linux" system usually has:
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a file system that follows the Linux Filesystem Hierarchy Standard <code><a
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href="http://www.pathname.com/fhs/">http://www.pathname.com/fhs/</a></code>.
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a wide range of Unix utilities, many of which have been developed by the GNU
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project and the Free Software Foundation.
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The combination of the Linux kernel, the file system, the GNU and FSF
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utilities, and the other utilities are designed to achieve compliance with the
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POSIX (IEEE 1003.1) standard; see <a href="ch-compat.en.html#s-otherunices">How
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source code compatible is Debian with other Unix systems?, Section 4.3</a>.
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For more information about Linux, see <code><a
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href="http://www.linux.org/info/">What is Linux</a></code> by <code><a
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href="http://www.linux.org/">Linux Online</a></code>.
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<h2><a name="s-non-linux"></a>1.4 Does Debian just do GNU/Linux?</h2>
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Currently, Debian is only available for Linux, but with Debian GNU/Hurd and
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Debian on BSD kernels, we have started to offer non-Linux-based OSes as a
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development, server and desktop platform, too. However, these non-linux ports
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are not officially released yet.
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The oldest porting effort is Debian GNU/Hurd.
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The Hurd is a set of servers running on top of the GNU Mach microkernel.
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Together they build the base for the GNU operating system.
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href="http://www.gnu.org/software/hurd/">http://www.gnu.org/software/hurd/</a></code>
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for more information about the GNU/Hurd in general, and <code><a
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href="http://www.debian.org/ports/hurd/">http://www.debian.org/ports/hurd/</a></code>
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for more information about Debian GNU/Hurd.
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A second effort is the port to a BSD kernel. People are working with both the
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NetBSD and the FreeBSD kernels.
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href="http://www.debian.org/ports/#nonlinux">http://www.debian.org/ports/#nonlinux</a></code>
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for more information about these non-linux ports.
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<h2><a name="s-difference"></a>1.5 What is the difference between Debian GNU/Linux and other Linux distributions? Why should I choose Debian over some other distribution?</h2>
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These key features distinguish Debian from other Linux distributions:
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As stated in the <code><a href="http://www.debian.org/social_contract">Debian
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Social Contract</a></code>, Debian will remain 100% free. Debian is very
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strict about shipping truly free software. The guidelines used to determine if
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a work is "free" are provided in <code><a
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href="http://www.debian.org/social_contract#guidelines">The Debian Free
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<dt>The Debian package maintenance system:</dt>
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The entire system, or any individual component of it, can be upgraded in place
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without reformatting, without losing custom configuration files, and (in most
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cases) without rebooting the system. Most Linux distributions available today
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have some kind of package maintenance system; the Debian package maintenance
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system is unique and particularly robust (see <a
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href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html">Basics of the Debian package management system,
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<dt>Open development:</dt>
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Whereas other Linux distributions are developed by individuals, small, closed
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groups, or commercial vendors, Debian is the only major Linux distribution that
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is being developed cooperatively by many individuals through the Internet, in
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the same spirit as Linux and other free software.
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More than 1060 volunteer package maintainers are working on over 18200 packages
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and improving Debian GNU/Linux. The Debian developers contribute to the
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project not by writing new applications (in most cases), but by packaging
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existing software according to the standards of the project, by communicating
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bug reports to upstream developers, and by providing user support. See also
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additional information on how to become a contributor in <a
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href="ch-contributing.en.html#s-contrib">How can I become a Debian software
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developer?, Section 13.1</a>.
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<dt>The Universal Operating System:</dt>
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Debian comes with <code><a href="http://packages.debian.org/stable/">more than
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18200 packages</a></code> and runs on <code><a
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href="http://www.debian.org/ports/">11 architectures</a></code>. This is far
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more than is available for any other GNU/Linux distribution. See <a
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href="ch-software.en.html#s-apps">What types of applications and development
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software are available for Debian GNU/Linux?, Section 5.1</a> for an overview
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of the provided software and see <a href="ch-compat.en.html#s-arches">On what
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hardware architectures/systems does Debian GNU/Linux run?, Section 4.1</a> for
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a description of the supported hardware platforms.
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<dt>The Bug Tracking System:</dt>
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The geographical dispersion of the Debian developers required sophisticated
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tools and quick communication of bugs and bug-fixes to accelerate the
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development of the system. Users are encouraged to send bugs in a formal
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style, which are quickly accessible by WWW archives or via e-mail. See
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additional information in this FAQ on the management of the bug log in <a
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href="ch-support.en.html#s-buglogs">Are there logs of known bugs?, Section
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<dt>The Debian Policy:</dt>
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Debian has an extensive specification of our standards of quality, the Debian
519
Policy. This document defines the qualities and standards to which we hold
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For additional information about this, please see our web page about <code><a
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href="http://www.debian.org/intro/why_debian">reasons to choose
533
<h2><a name="s-gnu"></a>1.6 How does the Debian project fit in or compare with the Free Software Foundation's GNU project?</h2>
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The Debian system builds on the ideals of free software first championed by the
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<code><a href="http://www.gnu.org/">Free Software Foundation</a></code> and in
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particular by <code><a href="http://www.stallman.org/">Richard
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Stallman</a></code>. FSF's powerful system development tools, utilities, and
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applications are also a key part of the Debian system.
544
The Debian Project is a separate entity from the FSF, however we communicate
545
regularly and cooperate on various projects. The FSF explicitly requested that
546
we call our system "Debian GNU/Linux", and we are happy to comply
551
The FSF's long-standing objective is to develop a new operating system called
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GNU, based on <code><a
553
href="http://www.gnu.org/software/hurd/">Hurd</a></code>. Debian is working
554
with FSF on this system, called <code><a
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href="http://www.debian.org/ports/hurd/">Debian GNU/Hurd</a></code>.
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<h2><a name="s-pronunciation"></a>1.7 How does one pronounce Debian and what does this word mean?</h2>
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The project name is pronounced Deb'-ee-en, with a short e in Deb, and emphasis
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on the first syllable. This word is a contraction of the names of Debra and
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Ian Murdock, who founded the project. (Dictionaries seem to offer some
566
ambiguity in the pronunciation of Ian (!), but Ian prefers ee'-en.)
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[ <a href="index.en.html">previous</a> ]
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[ <a href="index.en.html#contents">Contents</a> ]
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[ <a href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html">7</a> ]
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[ <a href="ch-pkgtools.en.html">8</a> ]
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[ <a href="ch-kernel.en.html">10</a> ]
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[ <a href="ch-customizing.en.html">11</a> ]
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[ <a href="ch-support.en.html">12</a> ]
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The Debian GNU/Linux FAQ
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version 4.0.3, 6 August 2008<br>
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Authors are listed at <a href="ch-faqinfo.en.html#s-authors">Debian FAQ Authors</a><br>
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