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Diffstat (limited to 'docs/faq/Samba-meta-FAQ.sgml')
| -rw-r--r-- | docs/faq/Samba-meta-FAQ.sgml | 133 |
1 files changed, 130 insertions, 3 deletions
diff --git a/docs/faq/Samba-meta-FAQ.sgml b/docs/faq/Samba-meta-FAQ.sgml index ecaa1b267cd..377d81663d7 100644 --- a/docs/faq/Samba-meta-FAQ.sgml +++ b/docs/faq/Samba-meta-FAQ.sgml @@ -126,6 +126,17 @@ from...) information about client-side issues, includes a list of all clients that are known to work with Samba. +<item> <url url="samba-man-index.html" name="manual pages"> contains +descriptions of and links to all the Samba manual pages, in Unix man and +postscript format. + +<item> <url url="samba-txt-index.html"> has descriptions of and links to +a large number of text files have been contributed to samba covering +many topics. These are gradually being absorbed into the FAQs and HOWTOs +but in the meantime you might find helpful answers here. + +<item> + </itemize> <sect> General Information<p><label id="general_info"> @@ -172,9 +183,97 @@ must be made freely available. A copy of the GPL must always be included in any copy of the package. The primary creator of the Samba suite is Andrew Tridgell. Later -versions incorporate much effort by many helpers. The man pages +versions incorporate much effort by many net.helpers. The man pages and this FAQ were originally written by Karl Auer. +<sect1> What is the current version of Samba?<p><label id="current_version"> + +At time of writing, the current version was 1.9.17. If you want to be +sure check the bottom of the change-log file. <url url="ftp://samba.org/pub/samba/alpha/change-log"> + +For more information see <ref id="version_nums" name="What do the version numbers mean?"> + +<sect1> Where can I get it? <p><label id="WhereFrom"> + +The Samba suite is available via anonymous ftp from samba.org and +many <url url="../MIRRORS" name="mirror"> sites. You will get much +faster performance if you use a mirror site. The latest and greatest +versions of the suite are in the directory: + +/pub/samba/ + +Development (read "alpha") versions, which are NOT necessarily stable +and which do NOT necessarily have accurate documentation, are available +in the directory: + +/pub/samba/alpha + +Note that binaries are NOT included in any of the above. Samba is +distributed ONLY in source form, though binaries may be available from +other sites. Most Linux distributions, for example, do contain Samba +binaries for that platform. The VMS, OS/2, Netware and Amiga and other +ports typically have binaries made available. + +A special case is vendor-provided binary packages. Samba binaries and +default configuration files are put into packages for a specific +operating system. RedHat Linux and Sun Solaris (Sparc and x86) is +already included, and others such as OS/2 may follow. All packages are +in the directory: + +/pub/samba/Binary_Packages/"OS_Vendor" + +<sect1>What do the version numbers mean?<p><label id="version_nums"> + +It is not recommended that you run a version of Samba with the word +"alpha" in its name unless you know what you are doing and are willing +to do some debugging. Many, many people just get the latest +recommended stable release version and are happy. If you are brave, by +all means take the plunge and help with the testing and development - +but don't install it on your departmental server. Samba is typically +very stable and safe, and this is mostly due to the policy of many +public releases. + +How the scheme works: + +<enum> + +<item>When major changes are made the version number is increased. For +example, the transition from 1.9.16 to 1.9.17. However, this version +number will not appear immediately and people should continue to use +1.9.15 for production systems (see next point.) + +<item>Just after major changes are made the software is considered +unstable, and a series of alpha releases are distributed, for example +1.9.16alpha1. These are for testing by those who know what they are +doing. The "alpha" in the filename will hopefully scare off those who +are just looking for the latest version to install. + +<item>When Andrew thinks that the alphas have stabilised to the point +where he would recommend new users install it, he renames it to the +same version number without the alpha, for example 1.9.17. + +<item>Inevitably bugs are found in the "stable" releases and minor patch +levels are released which give us the pXX series, for example 1.9.17p2. + +</enum> + +So the progression goes: + +<verb> + 1.9.16p10 (production) + 1.9.16p11 (production) + 1.9.17alpha1 (test sites only) + : + 1.9.17alpha20 (test sites only) + 1.9.17 (production) + 1.9.17p1 (production) +</verb> + +The above system means that whenever someone looks at the samba ftp +site they will be able to grab the highest numbered release without an +alpha in the name and be sure of getting the current recommended +version. + <sect1> Where can I go for further information?<p><label id="more"> There are a number of places to look for more information on Samba, @@ -182,7 +281,7 @@ including: <itemize> -<item>The mailing lists devoted to discussion of Samba-related matters. +<item>Two mailing lists devoted to discussion of Samba-related matters. See below for subscription information. <item>The newsgroup comp.protocols.smb, which has a great deal of @@ -203,7 +302,35 @@ url="http://samba.org/samba/"> includes: <sect1>How do I subscribe to the Samba Mailing Lists?<p><label id="mailinglist"> -Surf to <url url="http://lists.samba.org/"> for an overview of all the mailing lists. +Send email to <htmlurl url="mailto:listproc@samba.org" +name="listproc@samba.org">. Make sure the subject line is blank, +and include the following two lines in the body of the message: + +<tscreen><verb> +subscribe samba Firstname Lastname +subscribe samba-announce Firstname Lastname +</verb></tscreen> + +Obviously you should substitute YOUR first name for "Firstname" and +YOUR last name for "Lastname"! Try not to send any signature, it +sometimes confuses the list processor. + +The samba list is a digest list - every eight hours or so it sends a +single message containing all the messages that have been received by +the list since the last time and sends a copy of this message to all +subscribers. There are thousands of people on this list. + +If you stop being interested in Samba, please send another email to +<htmlurl url="mailto:listproc@samba.org" name="listproc@samba.org">. Make sure the subject line is blank, and +include the following two lines in the body of the message: + +<tscreen><verb> +unsubscribe samba +unsubscribe samba-announce +</verb></tscreen> + +The <bf>From:</bf> line in your message <em>MUST</em> be the same +address you used when you subscribed. <sect1> Something's gone wrong - what should I do?<p><label id="wrong"> |