Matt Welsh has released a new version of his Installation and Getting Started guide, version 2.1.1. Also, the Linux Documentation Project (the LDP) has put out several other books in various states of completion, and these are available at sunsite.unc.edu:/pub/Linux/docs/LDP. Stay tuned to comp.os.linux.announce. The Linux Documentation Project home page is at http://sunsite.unc.edu/LDP
At least the following anonymous ftp sites carry Linux.
Textual name Numeric address Linux directory
============================= =============== ===============
tsx-11.mit.edu 18.172.1.2 /pub/linux
sunsite.unc.edu 152.2.22.81 /pub/Linux
ftp.funet.fi 128.214.248.6 /pub/OS/Linux
net.tamu.edu 128.194.177.1 /pub/linux
ftp.mcc.ac.uk 130.88.203.12 /pub/linux
src.doc.ic.ac.uk 146.169.2.1 /packages/linux
fgb1.fgb.mw.tu-muenchen.de 129.187.200.1 /pub/linux
ftp.informatik.tu-muenchen.de 131.159.0.110 /pub/comp/os/linux
ftp.dfv.rwth-aachen.de 137.226.4.111 /pub/linux
ftp.informatik.rwth-aachen.de 137.226.225.3 /pub/Linux
ftp.Germany.EU.net 192.76.144.75 /pub/os/Linux
ftp.ibp.fr 132.227.60.2 /pub/linux
ftp.uu.net 137.39.1.9 /systems/unix/linux
wuarchive.wustl.edu 128.252.135.4 mirrors/linux
ftp.win.tue.nl 131.155.70.100 /pub/linux
ftp.stack.urc.tue.nl 131.155.2.71 /pub/linux
srawgw.sra.co.jp 133.137.4.3 /pub/os/linux
cair.kaist.ac.kr /pub/Linux
ftp.denet.dk 129.142.6.74 /pub/OS/linux
NCTUCCCA.edu.tw 140.111.1.10 /Operating-Systems/Linux
nic.switch.ch 130.59.1.40 /mirror/linux
cnuce_arch.cnr.it 131.114.1.10 /pub/Linux
ftp.monash.edu.au 130.194.11.8 /pub/linux
ftp.dstc.edu.au 130.102.181.31 /pub/linux
ftp.sydutech.usyd.edu.au 129.78.192.2 /pub/linux
tsx-11.mit.edu and fgb1.fgb.mw.tu-muenchen.de are the official sites for Linux' GCC. Some sites mirror other sites. Please use the site closest (network-wise) to you whenever possible.
At least sunsite.unc.edu and ftp.informatik.tu-muenchen.de offer ftpmail services. Mail ftpmail@sunsite.unc.edu or ftp@informatik.tu-muenchen.de for help.
If you are lost, try looking at sunsite.unc.edu:/pub/Linux/distributions/, where several distributions are offered. Red Hat Linux, Debian, and Slackware appear to be the most popular distributions at the moment.
Most people now install Linux from CDROM's. The distributions have grown to hundreds of MBs of Linux software, and downloading that over even a 28.8 modem takes a long time.
There are essentially two ways to purchase a Linux distribution on CDROM: as part of an archive of FTP sites, or directly from the manufacturer. If you purchase an archive, you will almost always get several different distributions to choose from, but usually support is not included. When you purchase a distribution directly from the vendor, you usually only get one distribution, but you usually get some form of support, usually installation support.
There are many BBS's that have Linux files. A list of them is occasionally posted to comp.os.linux.announce. Ask friends and user groups, or order one of the commmercial distributions. A list of these is contained in the Linux distribution HOWTO, available as sunsite.unc.edu:/pub/Linux/docs/HOWTO/distribution-HOWTO, and posted regularily to the comp.os.linux.announce newsgroup.