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diff --git a/includes/squeeze/common/doc/FAQ/html/ch-ftparchives.en.html b/includes/squeeze/common/doc/FAQ/html/ch-ftparchives.en.html new file mode 100644 index 0000000..71b92a5 --- /dev/null +++ b/includes/squeeze/common/doc/FAQ/html/ch-ftparchives.en.html @@ -0,0 +1,756 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0//EN"> + +<html> + +<head> + +<meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> + +<title>The Debian GNU/Linux FAQ - The Debian FTP archives</title> + +<link href="index.en.html" rel="start"> +<link href="ch-software.en.html" rel="prev"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html" rel="next"> +<link href="index.en.html#contents" rel="contents"> +<link href="index.en.html#copyright" rel="copyright"> +<link href="ch-basic_defs.en.html" rel="chapter" title="1 Definitions and overview"> +<link href="ch-getting.en.html" rel="chapter" title="2 Getting and installing Debian GNU/Linux"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html" rel="chapter" title="3 Choosing a Debian distribution"> +<link href="ch-compat.en.html" rel="chapter" title="4 Compatibility issues"> +<link href="ch-software.en.html" rel="chapter" title="5 Software available in the Debian system"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html" rel="chapter" title="6 The Debian FTP archives"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html" rel="chapter" title="7 Basics of the Debian package management system"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html" rel="chapter" title="8 The Debian package management tools"> +<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html" rel="chapter" title="9 Keeping your Debian system up-to-date"> +<link href="ch-kernel.en.html" rel="chapter" title="10 Debian and the kernel"> +<link href="ch-customizing.en.html" rel="chapter" title="11 Customizing your installation of Debian GNU/Linux"> +<link href="ch-support.en.html" rel="chapter" title="12 Getting support for Debian GNU/Linux"> +<link href="ch-contributing.en.html" rel="chapter" title="13 Contributing to the Debian Project"> +<link href="ch-redistrib.en.html" rel="chapter" title="14 Redistributing Debian GNU/Linux in a commercial product"> +<link href="ch-nexttime.en.html" rel="chapter" title="15 Changes expected in the next major release of Debian"> +<link href="ch-faqinfo.en.html" rel="chapter" title="16 General information about the FAQ"> +<link href="ch-basic_defs.en.html#s-whatisfaq" rel="section" title="1.1 What is this FAQ?"> +<link href="ch-basic_defs.en.html#s-whatisdebian" rel="section" title="1.2 What is Debian GNU/Linux?"> +<link href="ch-basic_defs.en.html#s-linux" rel="section" title="1.3 OK, now I know what Debian is... what is Linux?!"> +<link href="ch-basic_defs.en.html#s-non-linux" rel="section" title="1.4 Does Debian just do GNU/Linux?"> +<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?"> +<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?"> +<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?"> +<link href="ch-getting.en.html#s-version" rel="section" title="2.1 What is the latest version of Debian?"> +<link href="ch-getting.en.html#s-updatestable" rel="section" title="2.2 Are there package upgrades in `stable'?"> +<link href="ch-getting.en.html#s-boot-floppies" rel="section" title="2.3 Where/how can I get the Debian installation disks?"> +<link href="ch-getting.en.html#s-cdrom" rel="section" title="2.4 How do I install the Debian from CD-ROMs?"> +<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'!"> +<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?"> +<link href="ch-getting.en.html#s-alternativebootinstaller" rel="section" title="2.7 Are there any alternative strategies for booting the system installer?"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1" rel="section" title="3.1 Which Debian distribution (stable/testing/unstable) is better for me?"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.2" rel="section" title="3.2 But what about Knoppix, Linex, Ubuntu, and others?"> +<link href="ch-compat.en.html#s-arches" rel="section" title="4.1 On what hardware architectures/systems does Debian GNU/Linux run?"> +<link href="ch-compat.en.html#s-otherdistribs" rel="section" title="4.2 How compatible is Debian with other distributions of Linux?"> +<link href="ch-compat.en.html#s-otherunices" rel="section" title="4.3 How source code compatible is Debian with other Unix systems?"> +<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?"> +<link href="ch-compat.en.html#s-non-debian-programs" rel="section" title="4.5 How should I install a non-Debian program?"> +<link href="ch-compat.en.html#s-termcap" rel="section" title="4.6 Why can't I compile programs that require libtermcap?"> +<link href="ch-compat.en.html#s-accelx" rel="section" title="4.7 Why can't I install AccelX?"> +<link href="ch-compat.en.html#s-motifnls" rel="section" title="4.8 Why do my old XFree 2.1 Motif applications crash?"> +<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?"> +<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-softwareauthors" rel="section" title="5.2 Who wrote all that software?"> +<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?"> +<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-buildenv" rel="section" title="5.4 How can I install a developer's environment to build packages?"> +<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-missing" rel="section" title="5.5 What is missing from Debian GNU/Linux?"> +<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?"> +<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-java" rel="section" title="5.7 (How) Does Debian support Java?"> +<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?"> +<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-nonenglish" rel="section" title="5.9 How does Debian support non-English languages?"> +<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-pine" rel="section" title="5.10 Where is pine?"> +<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-qmail" rel="section" title="5.11 Where is qmail/ezmlm/djbdns?"> +<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-flash" rel="section" title="5.12 Where is a player for Flash (SWF)?"> +<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-googleearth" rel="section" title="5.13 Where is Google Earth?"> +<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-voip" rel="section" title="5.14 Where is VoIP software?"> +<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?"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-dists" rel="section" title="6.1 How many Debian distributions are there?"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-codenames" rel="section" title="6.2 What are all those names like etch, lenny, etc.?"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-sid" rel="section" title="6.3 What about "sid"?"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-stable" rel="section" title="6.4 What does the stable directory contain?"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-testing" rel="section" title="6.5 What does the testing distribution contain?"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-unstable" rel="section" title="6.6 What does the unstable distribution contain?"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-dirtree" rel="section" title="6.7 What are all those directories at the Debian FTP archives?"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-archsections" rel="section" title="6.8 What are all those directories inside <samp>dists/stable/main</samp>?"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-source" rel="section" title="6.9 Where is the source code?"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-pools" rel="section" title="6.10 What's in the <samp>pool</samp> directory?"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-incoming" rel="section" title="6.11 What is "incoming"?"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-ownrepository" rel="section" title="6.12 How do I set up my own apt-able repository?"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-package" rel="section" title="7.1 What is a Debian package?"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-deb-format" rel="section" title="7.2 What is the format of a Debian binary package?"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-pkgname" rel="section" title="7.3 Why are Debian package file names so long?"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-controlfile" rel="section" title="7.4 What is a Debian control file?"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-conffile" rel="section" title="7.5 What is a Debian conffile?"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-maintscripts" rel="section" title="7.6 What is a Debian preinst, postinst, prerm, and postrm script?"> +<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?"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-virtual" rel="section" title="7.8 What is a Virtual Package?"> +<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?"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-pre-depends" rel="section" title="7.10 What is meant by Pre-Depends?"> +<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?"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-puttingonhold" rel="section" title="7.12 How do I put a package on hold?"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-sourcepkgs" rel="section" title="7.13 How do I install a source package?"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-sourcebuild" rel="section" title="7.14 How do I build binary packages from a source package?"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-creatingdebs" rel="section" title="7.15 How do I create Debian packages myself?"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-pkgprogs" rel="section" title="8.1 What programs does Debian provide for managing its packages?"> +<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?"> +<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?"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-listfiles" rel="section" title="8.4 How to display the files of a package installed?"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-filesearch" rel="section" title="8.5 How can I find out what package produced a particular file?"> +<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?"> +<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-howtocurrent" rel="section" title="9.1 How can I keep my Debian system current?"> +<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?"> +<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?"> +<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!"> +<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-autoupdate" rel="section" title="9.5 Can I automatically update the system?"> +<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?"> +<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?"> +<link href="ch-kernel.en.html#s-customkernel" rel="section" title="10.2 What tools does Debian provide to build custom kernels?"> +<link href="ch-kernel.en.html#s-custombootdisk" rel="section" title="10.3 How can I make a custom boot floppy?"> +<link href="ch-kernel.en.html#s-modules" rel="section" title="10.4 What special provisions does Debian provide to deal with modules?"> +<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?"> +<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?"> +<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-hardwareaccess" rel="section" title="11.2 How can I provide access to hardware peripherals, without compromising security?"> +<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?"> +<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-appdefaults" rel="section" title="11.4 How can I configure an X11 program's application defaults?"> +<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."> +<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?"> +<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?"> +<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?"> +<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?"> +<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?"> +<link href="ch-support.en.html#s-debiandocs" rel="section" title="12.1 What other documentation exists on and for a Debian system?"> +<link href="ch-support.en.html#s-onlineresources" rel="section" title="12.2 Are there any on-line resources for discussing Debian?"> +<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?"> +<link href="ch-support.en.html#s-buglogs" rel="section" title="12.4 Are there logs of known bugs?"> +<link href="ch-support.en.html#s-bugreport" rel="section" title="12.5 How do I report a bug in Debian?"> +<link href="ch-contributing.en.html#s-contrib" rel="section" title="13.1 How can I become a Debian software developer?"> +<link href="ch-contributing.en.html#s-contribresources" rel="section" title="13.2 How can I contribute resources to the Debian project?"> +<link href="ch-contributing.en.html#s-supportingorganizations" rel="section" title="13.3 How can I contribute financially to the Debian project?"> +<link href="ch-redistrib.en.html#s-sellcds" rel="section" title="14.1 Can I make and sell Debian CDs?"> +<link href="ch-redistrib.en.html#s-packagednonfree" rel="section" title="14.2 Can Debian be packaged with non-free software?"> +<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?"> +<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?"> +<link href="ch-nexttime.en.html#s-i18n" rel="section" title="15.1 Extended support for non-English users"> +<link href="ch-nexttime.en.html#s-dependencybasedboot" rel="section" title="15.2 Faster booting: Dependency based boot sequence"> +<link href="ch-nexttime.en.html#s-di" rel="section" title="15.3 Improvements in the Debian Installer"> +<link href="ch-nexttime.en.html#s-morearches" rel="section" title="15.4 More architectures"> +<link href="ch-nexttime.en.html#s-morekernels" rel="section" title="15.5 More kernels"> +<link href="ch-faqinfo.en.html#s-authors" rel="section" title="16.1 Authors"> +<link href="ch-faqinfo.en.html#s-feedback" rel="section" title="16.2 Feedback"> +<link href="ch-faqinfo.en.html#s-latest" rel="section" title="16.3 Availability"> +<link href="ch-faqinfo.en.html#s-docformat" rel="section" title="16.4 Document format"> +<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?"> +<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?"> +<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?"> +<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?"> +<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?"> +<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?"> +<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?"> +<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?"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.9" rel="subsection" title="3.1.9 What happens when a new release is made?"> +<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?"> +<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?"> +<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?"> +<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?"> +<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?"> +<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?"> +<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?"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-oldcodenames" rel="subsection" title="6.2.1 Which other codenames have been used in the past?"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-sourceforcodenames" rel="subsection" title="6.2.2 Where do these codenames come from?"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-frozen" rel="subsection" title="6.5.1 What about "testing"? How is it `frozen'?"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-dpkg" rel="subsection" title="8.1.1 dpkg"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-apt-get" rel="subsection" title="8.1.2 APT"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-aptitude" rel="subsection" title="8.1.3 aptitude"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-synaptic" rel="subsection" title="8.1.4 synaptic"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-tasksel" rel="subsection" title="8.1.5 tasksel"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-dpkg-extra" rel="subsection" title="8.1.6 Other package management tools"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-dselect" rel="subsection" title="8.1.6.1 dselect"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-dpkg-deb" rel="subsection" title="8.1.6.2 dpkg-deb"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-dpkg-split" rel="subsection" title="8.1.6.3 dpkg-split"> +<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-aptitude-upgrade" rel="subsection" title="9.1.1 aptitude"> +<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-apt" rel="subsection" title="9.1.2 apt-get, dselect and apt-cdrom"> +<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-update_aptitude" rel="subsection" title="9.1.3 aptitude"> +<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-mirror" rel="subsection" title="9.1.4 mirror"> +<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-dpkg-mountable" rel="subsection" title="9.1.5 dpkg-mountable"> +<link href="ch-support.en.html#s12.2.1" rel="subsection" title="12.2.1 Mailing lists"> +<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?"> +<link href="ch-support.en.html#s12.2.2" rel="subsection" title="12.2.2 Web forums"> +<link href="ch-support.en.html#s12.2.3" rel="subsection" title="12.2.3 Wiki"> +<link href="ch-support.en.html#s12.2.4" rel="subsection" title="12.2.4 Maintainers"> +<link href="ch-support.en.html#s12.2.5" rel="subsection" title="12.2.5 Usenet newsgroups"> +<link href="ch-contributing.en.html#s-SPI" rel="subsection" title="13.3.1 Software in the Public Interest"> +<link href="ch-contributing.en.html#s-FSF" rel="subsection" title="13.3.2 Free Software Foundation"> + +</head> + +<body> + +<p><a name="ch-ftparchives"></a></p> +<hr> + +<p> +[ <a href="ch-software.en.html">previous</a> ] +[ <a href="index.en.html#contents">Contents</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-basic_defs.en.html">1</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-getting.en.html">2</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-choosing.en.html">3</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-compat.en.html">4</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-software.en.html">5</a> ] +[ 6 ] +[ <a href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html">7</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-pkgtools.en.html">8</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-uptodate.en.html">9</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-kernel.en.html">10</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-customizing.en.html">11</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-support.en.html">12</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-contributing.en.html">13</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-redistrib.en.html">14</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-nexttime.en.html">15</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-faqinfo.en.html">16</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html">next</a> ] +</p> + +<hr> + +<h1> +The Debian GNU/Linux FAQ +<br>Chapter 6 - The Debian FTP archives +</h1> + +<hr> + +<h2><a name="s-dists"></a>6.1 How many Debian distributions are there?</h2> + +<p> +There are three major distributions: the "stable" distribution, the +"testing" distribution, and the "unstable" distribution. +The "testing" distribution is sometimes `frozen' (see <a +href="#s-frozen">What about "testing"? How is it `frozen'?, Section +6.5.1</a>). Next to these, there is the "oldstable" distribution +(that's just the one from before "stable"), and the +"experimental" distribution. +</p> + +<p> +Experimental is used for packages which are still being developed, and with a +high risk of breaking your system. It's used by developers who'd like to study +and test bleeding edge software. Users shouldn't be using packages from here, +because they can be dangerous and harmful even for the most experienced people. +</p> + +<p> +See <a href="ch-choosing.en.html">Choosing a Debian distribution, Chapter 3</a> +for help when choosing a Debian distribution. +</p> + +<hr> + +<h2><a name="s-codenames"></a>6.2 What are all those names like etch, lenny, etc.?</h2> + +<p> +They are just "codenames". When a Debian distribution is in the +development stage, it has no version number but a codename. The purpose of +these codenames is to make easier the mirroring of the Debian distributions (if +a real directory like <samp>unstable</samp> suddenly changed its name to +<samp>stable</samp>, a lot of stuff would have to be needlessly downloaded +again). +</p> + +<p> +Currently, <samp>stable</samp> is a symbolic link to <samp>etch</samp> (i.e. +Debian GNU/Linux 4.0) and <samp>testing</samp> is a symbolic link to +<samp>lenny</samp>. This means that <samp>etch</samp> is the current stable +distribution and <samp>lenny</samp> is the current testing distribution. +</p> + +<p> +<samp>unstable</samp> is a permanent symbolic link to <samp>sid</samp>, as +<samp>sid</samp> is always the unstable distribution (see <a href="#s-sid">What +about "sid"?, Section 6.3</a>). +</p> + +<hr> + +<h3><a name="s-oldcodenames"></a>6.2.1 Which other codenames have been used in the past?</h3> + +<p> +Other codenames that have been already used are: <samp>buzz</samp> for release +1.1, <samp>rex</samp> for release 1.2, <samp>bo</samp> for releases 1.3.x, +<samp>hamm</samp> for release 2.0, <samp>slink</samp> for release 2.1, +<samp>potato</samp> for release 2.2, <samp>woody</samp> for release 3.0, +<samp>sarge</samp> for release 3.1, and <samp>etch</samp> for release 4.0. +</p> + +<hr> + +<h3><a name="s-sourceforcodenames"></a>6.2.2 Where do these codenames come from?</h3> + +<p> +So far they have been characters taken from the movie "Toy Story" by +Pixar. +</p> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +<em>buzz</em> (Buzz Lightyear) was the spaceman, +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +<em>rex</em> was the tyrannosaurus, +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +<em>bo</em> (Bo Peep) was the girl who took care of the sheep, +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +<em>hamm</em> was the piggy bank, +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +<em>slink</em> (Slinky Dog (R)) was the toy dog, +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +<em>potato</em> was, of course, Mr. Potato (R), +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +<em>woody</em> was the cowboy, +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +<em>sarge</em> was the sergeant of the Green Plastic Army Men, +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +<em>etch</em> was the toy blackboard (Etch-a-Sketch (R)), +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +<em>lenny</em> was the binoculars. +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +<em>sid</em> was the boy next door who destroyed toys. +</p> +</li> +</ul> + +<hr> + +<h2><a name="s-sid"></a>6.3 What about "sid"?</h2> + +<p> +<em>sid</em> or <em>unstable</em> is the place where most of the packages are +initially uploaded. It will never be released directly, because packages which +are to be released will first have to be included in <em>testing</em>, in order +to be released in <em>stable</em> later on. sid contains packages for both +released and unreleased architectures. +</p> + +<p> +The name "sid" also comes from the "Toy Story" animated +motion picture: Sid was the boy next door who destroyed toys :-) +</p> + +<p> +[<a href="footnotes.en.html#f2" name="fr2">2</a>] +</p> + +<hr> + +<h2><a name="s-stable"></a>6.4 What does the stable directory contain?</h2> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +stable/main/: This directory contains the packages which formally constitute +the most recent release of the Debian GNU/Linux system. +</p> + +<p> +These packages all comply with the <code><a +href="http://www.debian.org/social_contract#guidelines">Debian Free Software +Guidelines</a></code>, and are all freely usable and distributable. +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +stable/non-free/: This directory contains packages distribution of which is +restricted in a way that requires that distributors take careful account of the +specified copyright requirements. +</p> + +<p> +For example, some packages have licenses which prohibit commercial +distribution. Others can be redistributed but are in fact shareware and not +free software. The licenses of each of these packages must be studied, and +possibly negotiated, before the packages are included in any redistribution +(e.g., in a CD-ROM). +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +stable/contrib/: This directory contains packages which are DFSG-free and +<em>freely distributable</em> themselves, but somehow depend on a package that +is <em>not</em> freely distributable and thus available only in the non-free +section. +</p> +</li> +</ul> + +<hr> + +<h2><a name="s-testing"></a>6.5 What does the testing distribution contain?</h2> + +<p> +Packages are installed into the `testing' directory after they have undergone +some degree of testing in <a href="#s-unstable">unstable</a>. +</p> + +<p> +They must be in sync on all architectures where they have been built and +mustn't have dependencies that make them uninstallable; they also have to have +fewer release-critical bugs than the versions currently in testing. This way, +we hope that `testing' is always close to being a release candidate. +</p> + +<p> +More information about the status of "testing" in general and the +individual packages is available at <code><a +href="http://www.debian.org/devel/testing">http://www.debian.org/devel/testing</a></code>. +</p> + +<hr> + +<h3><a name="s-frozen"></a>6.5.1 What about "testing"? How is it `frozen'?</h3> + +<p> +When the "testing" distribution is mature enough, the release manager +starts `freezing' it. The normal propagation delays are increased to ensure +that as little as possible new bugs from "unstable" enter +"testing". +</p> + +<p> +After a while, the "testing" distribution becomes truly `frozen'. +This means that all new packages that are to propagate to the +"testing" are held back, unless they include release-critical bug +fixes. The "testing" distribution can also remain in such a deep +freeze during the so-called `test cycles', when the release is imminent. +</p> + +<p> +We keep a record of bugs in the "testing" distribution that can hold +off a package from being released, or bugs that can hold back the whole +release. For details, please see <code><a +href="http://www.debian.org/releases/testing/">current testing release +information</a></code>. +</p> + +<p> +Once that bug count lowers to maximum acceptable values, the frozen +"testing" distribution is declared "stable" and released +with a version number. +</p> + +<p> +With each new release, the previous "stable" distribution becomes +obsolete and moves to the archive. For more information please see <code><a +href="http://www.debian.org/distrib/archive">Debian archive</a></code>. +</p> + +<hr> + +<h2><a name="s-unstable"></a>6.6 What does the unstable distribution contain?</h2> + +<p> +The `unstable' directory contains a snapshot of the current development system. +Users are welcome to use and test these packages, but are warned about their +state of readiness. The advantage of using the unstable distribution is that +you are always up-to-date with the latest in GNU/Linux software industry, but +if it breaks: you get to keep both parts :-) +</p> + +<p> +There are also main, contrib and non-free subdirectories in `unstable', +separated on the same criteria as in `stable'. +</p> + +<hr> + +<h2><a name="s-dirtree"></a>6.7 What are all those directories at the Debian FTP archives?</h2> + +<p> +The software that has been packaged for Debian GNU/Linux is available in one of +several directory trees on each Debian mirror site. +</p> + +<p> +The <samp>dists</samp> directory is short for "distributions", and it +is the canonical way to access the currently available Debian releases (and +pre-releases). +</p> + +<p> +The <samp>pool</samp> directory contains the actual packages, see <a +href="#s-pools">What's in the <samp>pool</samp> directory?, Section 6.10</a>. +</p> + +<p> +There are the following supplementary directories: +</p> +<dl> +<dt><em>/tools/</em>:</dt> +<dd> +<p> +DOS utilities for creating boot disks, partitioning your disk drive, +compressing/decompressing files, and booting Linux. +</p> +</dd> +</dl> +<dl> +<dt><em>/doc/</em>:</dt> +<dd> +<p> +The basic Debian documentation, such as this FAQ, the bug reporting system +instructions, etc. +</p> +</dd> +</dl> +<dl> +<dt><em>/indices/</em>:</dt> +<dd> +<p> +various indices of the site (the Maintainers file and the override files). +</p> +</dd> +</dl> +<dl> +<dt><em>/project/</em>:</dt> +<dd> +<p> +mostly developer-only materials and some miscellaneous files. +</p> +</dd> +</dl> + +<hr> + +<h2><a name="s-archsections"></a>6.8 What are all those directories inside <samp>dists/stable/main</samp>?</h2> + +<p> +Within each of the major directory trees[<a href="footnotes.en.html#f3" +name="fr3">3</a>], there are three sets of subdirectories containing index +files. +</p> + +<p> +There's one set of <samp>binary-<var>something</var></samp> subdirectories +which contain index files for binary packages of each available computer +architecture, for example <samp>binary-i386</samp> for packages which execute +on Intel x86 PC machines or <samp>binary-sparc</samp> for packages which +execute on Sun SPARCStations. +</p> + +<p> +The complete list of available architectures for each release is available at +<code><a href="http://www.debian.org/releases/">the release's web +page</a></code>. For the current release, please see <a +href="ch-compat.en.html#s-arches">On what hardware architectures/systems does +Debian GNU/Linux run?, Section 4.1</a>. +</p> + +<p> +The index files in binary-* are called Packages(.gz, .bz2) and they include a +summary of each binary package that is included in that distribution. The +actual binary packages reside in the top level <a +href="#s-pools"><samp>pool</samp> directory</a>. +</p> + +<p> +Furthermore, there's a subdirectory called source/ which contains index files +for source packages included in the distribution. The index file is called +Sources(.gz, .bz2). +</p> + +<p> +Last but not least, there's a set of subdirectories meant for the installation +system index files, they are at +<samp>debian-installer/binary-<var>architecture</var></samp>. +</p> + +<hr> + +<h2><a name="s-source"></a>6.9 Where is the source code?</h2> + +<p> +Source code is included for everything in the Debian system. Moreover, the +license terms of most programs in the system <em>require</em> that source code +be distributed along with the programs, or that an offer to provide the source +code accompany the programs. +</p> + +<p> +The source code is distributed in the <samp>pool</samp> directory (see <a +href="#s-pools">What's in the <samp>pool</samp> directory?, Section 6.10</a>) +together with all the architecture-specific binary directories. To retrieve +the source code without having to be familiar with the structure of the FTP +archive, try a command like <samp>apt-get source mypackagename</samp>. +</p> + +<p> +Some packages are only distributed as source code due to the restrictions in +their licenses. Notably, one such package is <samp>pine</samp>, see <a +href="ch-software.en.html#s-pine">Where is pine?, Section 5.10</a> for more +information. +</p> + +<p> +Source code may or may not be available for packages in the "contrib" +and "non-free" directories, which are not formally part of the Debian +system. +</p> + +<hr> + +<h2><a name="s-pools"></a>6.10 What's in the <samp>pool</samp> directory?</h2> + +<p> +Packages are kept in a large `pool', structured according to the name of the +source package. To make this manageable, the pool is subdivided by section +(`main', `contrib' and `non-free') and by the first letter of the source +package name. These directories contain several files: the binary packages for +each architecture, and the source packages from which the binary packages were +generated. +</p> + +<p> +You can find out where each package is placed by executing a command like +<samp>apt-cache showsrc mypackagename</samp> and looking at the `Directory:' +line. For example, the <samp>apache</samp> packages are stored in +<samp>pool/main/a/apache/</samp>. +</p> + +<p> +Additionally, since there are so many <samp>lib*</samp> packages, these are +treated specially: for instance, libpaper packages are stored in +<samp>pool/main/libp/libpaper/</samp>. +</p> + +<p> +[<a href="footnotes.en.html#f4" name="fr4">4</a>] +</p> + +<hr> + +<h2><a name="s-incoming"></a>6.11 What is "incoming"?</h2> + +<p> +After a developer uploads a package, it stays for a short while in the +"incoming" directory before it is checked that it's genuine and +allowed into the archive. +</p> + +<p> +Usually nobody should install things from this place. However, in some rare +cases of emergency, the incoming directory is available at <code><a +href="http://incoming.debian.org/">http://incoming.debian.org/</a></code>. You +can manually fetch packages, check the GPG signature and MD5sums in the +.changes and .dsc files, and then install them. +</p> + +<hr> + +<h2><a name="s-ownrepository"></a>6.12 How do I set up my own apt-able repository?</h2> + +<p> +If you have built some private Debian packages which you'd like to install +using the standard Debian package management tools, you can set up your own +apt-able package archive. This is also useful if you'd like to share your +Debian packages while these are not distributed by the Debian project. +Instructions on how to do this are given in the <code><a +href="http://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/repository-howto/repository-howto">Debian +Repository HOWTO</a></code>. +</p> + +<hr> + +<p> +[ <a href="ch-software.en.html">previous</a> ] +[ <a href="index.en.html#contents">Contents</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-basic_defs.en.html">1</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-getting.en.html">2</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-choosing.en.html">3</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-compat.en.html">4</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-software.en.html">5</a> ] +[ 6 ] +[ <a href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html">7</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-pkgtools.en.html">8</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-uptodate.en.html">9</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-kernel.en.html">10</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-customizing.en.html">11</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-support.en.html">12</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-contributing.en.html">13</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-redistrib.en.html">14</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-nexttime.en.html">15</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-faqinfo.en.html">16</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html">next</a> ] +</p> + +<hr> + +<p> +The Debian GNU/Linux FAQ +</p> + +<address> +version 4.0.4+nmu1, 3 January 2010<br> +<br> +Authors are listed at <a href="ch-faqinfo.en.html#s-authors">Debian FAQ Authors</a><br> +<br> +</address> +<hr> + +</body> + +</html> + |