PLUG FAQs
Note: Our content is (eventually going to be) accessible to all versions of every browser. However, this browser may not support basic Web standards, preventing the display of our site's design details. We support the mission of the Web Standards Project in the campaign, encouraging users to upgrade their browsers. (Read More)
PLUG FAQs
Linux is an operating system kernel initially created in 1991 by Linus Torvalds (then a graduate student at the University of Helsinki in Finland). An operating system kernel acts as mediator for your programs (processes) and for your hardware. It takes care of memory management for all running processes, giving them access to processor cycles. The kernel also provides a standardized interface for processes to talk to your hardware.
To be fully useful in a modern computer system, a kernel typically requires the support of other software, such as libraries, compilers, editors and shells. One source of such software is the Free Software Foundation (FSF) that since 1983 has been working on the GNU Project, an effort to create a totally free operating system. When we speak of free software, we refer to freedom rather than price. Some free software actually costs money to acquire, but it always provides the recipient with important freedoms in how they can use, modify and share the software.
As Linus's kernel started to circulate, people began to collect all of the useful free software into a complete operating system. Such collections are called "distributions", and today come in many flavors: RedHat, Debian, Mandrake, Suse, etc. You can even construct your own from suitable parts. You will see the complete operating system referred to by various names, sometimes simply as "Linux", sometimes "GNU/Linux". The FSF might call the operating system simply "GNU", as it has largely fulfilled the GNU Project's original goals. What you choose to call it is not as important as recognizing the important freedoms that a complete free software operating system provides, nor as important as recognizing the contributions, simultaneously generous and immense, of the kernel authors, the GNU Project and all the myriad other projects, small and large that have made the system as useful as it is today.
There are many reasons to run Linux many of which you will discover as you use it, but some of the most important reasons to run Linux are because it is free, relatively secure, cost-effective, and fun.
While Linux is making inroads on the desktop and has attractive windowing systems available, its primary claim to fame is as a server OS. Linux -- running the Apache web server software -- is the most popular OS for web servers. Check out Netcraft to learn more about web servers currently serving the Web.
Although Linux is free, most users purchase a distribution whereby a distribution company bundles the Linux kernel, GNU software, other software, documentation, etc., together to form a distribution. You can purchase a distribution CD at most computer stores or you can download it for free from most distribution company's Web sites. There are a number of distributions, including, amoung the more popular, Debian GNU/Linux, Red Hat and Mandrake. There is a more comprehensive list of distributions in our local Linux distributions list.
We are a community of Linux and UNIX enthusiasts dedicated to teaching and learning about Linux and UNIX. Whether you are a novice or an expert, we welcome you to participate in our e-mail discussion list and to in our meetings and events. We don't have a formal membership process or membership dues.
We hold meetings at 7:00 PM on the first Thursday of every month in Room 296/298, Smith Memorial Center, Portland State University.
Meetings usually include a few minutes of group business, followed by a speaker. The speaker normally presents for about one-half hour followed by a question and answer session. The speakers are usually experts in some topic of interest to Linux users (e.g., security). If you want to learn about Linux, we highly recommend you attend these meetings. We announce the meetings to plug and plug-announce several days in advance.
After the official meeting some people go to the Lucky Labrador pub for micro-brew beer and conversation.
Through the plug e-mail list we help each other make better use of Linux at home and at work. If you are interested in learning more about Linux we recommend that you subscribe to the e-mail discussion list. Please note that the plug list includes a lot of discussion hence a large volume of e-mail. If you just want to receive just announcements of meetings and other events, then join the plug-announce e-mail list. Please go to http://lists.pdxlinux.org/ to subscribe to or unsubscribe from either list.
We have a number of other e-mail lists covering a variety of topics. Please go to http://lists.pdxlinux.org/ for a complete list and to subscribe to or unsubscribe from any of our e-mail lists.
If you have a question about Linux, changes are good that PLUG members have answered it. Go to http://lists.pdxlinux.org/lurker/ for archived emails back to the beginning of 2002.
The PLUG Linux Clinic provides an opportunity for you to get hands-on help with your system. If you are more experienced, it provides you an opportunity to help others with their systems. Those needing help can bring their systems to the clinic.
We hold the clinics on the third Sunday of the month at Free Geek. The coordinator of this event usually sends an announcement to plug and plug-announce during the week prior to the clinic.
PLUG for Education is an effort by PLUG members to assist K-12 schools in implementing Linux servers and workstations. Monthly events usually coincide with the Portland Linux Clinic. Please see the PLUG for Education Web site for more information.
Due to the abuse of email commonly known as spamming, the Webmaster has performed a simple form of munging to every email address on this website. So far, no one has complained about this step, so the Webmaster will continue this policy until either someone does complain, or he is replaced.
A useable email address may be created from the munged one by substituting " AT " with "@", and " DOT " with ".".
Naked Ape Consulting has been kind enough to host both PLUG's Web site and e-mail lists. A big thank you to the folks at Naked Ape!