[linuxdc-cvs] CVS: docs/faq faq.inc.html,NONE,1.1

[Karl T. K. <ka...@us...>]

Update of /cvsroot/linuxdc/docs/faq
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<h1>The Dreamcast Linux FAQ</h1>


<h3>Q-1:Can I use your code to rip games ?</h3>
<p>A-1: Yes, as long as you have written permission from the original authors of the games.</p>

<h3>Q0:Where are the binaries ?</h3>
<p>A0: A compile away...</p>

<h3>Q1: Is this some kind of hoax?</h3>
<p>A1: Nope, no hoax, but this is work in progress. So don't expect everything to work straight out of the box.</p>

<h3>Q2: How far has the port come?</h3>
<p>A2: Good question, today there are at least four (4!) different ports of Linux for the DC. They are in various conditions, 
and lately some developers have joined forces on the <a href="http://www.dreamcastlinux.org">http://www.dreamcastlinux.org</a>
site (and its American counterpart  <a href="http://linuxdc.sourceforge.net">http://linuxdc.sourceforge.net</a>) to try to 
synchronize these ports into one. Check out the roadmap on either site to see the actual status.</p>


<br>
<h2>On the "pre" ports</h2>
<br>


<h3>Q2.1: What's a "pre" port?</h3>
<p>A2.1: It's a Linux port that was written before this project (Dreamcast Linux) got started.</p>

<h3>Q3: What ports where there before this project?</h3>
<p>A3: Until this site came along there were at least two known successful ports. And then there were some unofficial ones.
But so far none have been publicly available with source. However, we are trying to get hold of as many of these ports as 
we can, and if possible, integrate them into our project. Check out our <a href="http://www.dreamcastlinux.org">home page</a> 
for more information.</p>

<h3>Q3: I have downloaded a kernel that boots the DC with a frame buffer and been able to log in with the keyboard. 
But I can't find the source. Do you now where it is?</h3>
<p>A3: You probably have one of the "pre" ports. It has been wildly published on various home pages, among 
them SlashDot. As far as I know the source to that kernel hasn't been released to the public yet. And we don't know if it 
ever will be. <b>Note!</b> This binary is not ours. We, the Dreamcast Linux team didn't write it.</p>

<h3>Q4: So if you didn't develop it how did you get a hold of it then?</h3>
<p>A4: The kernel is part of an 300MB large ISO image that can be freely downloaded from the Internet.</p>

<h3>Q5: From where on the Internet can this ISO be downloaded?</h3>
<p>A5: Since the information of the kernel's whereabouts became known, without our knowledge or approval, we have been receiving a 
lot of traffic. Which of course is nice. But the original kernel is part of a 300MB large ISO image, and since we don't know the 
capacity of the original site, we are not going to link to it an send a zillon people there to download the 300M large file. There 
is good chance that the site would go down or become unavailable. But if we get an OK from those people we will of course link to it.
</p> 

<h3>Q6: OK so who wrote the kernel?</h3>
<p>A6: Well again I (Rene Malmgren) am not telling until I get an OK from the individual. I am not taking credit for his 
work, but right now he is in breach of the GPL, and perhaps more. So until the whole mess is sorted out I will remain 
silent. Hopefully he will release his code to this project and become a part of it. His contribution would of cause be 
very valuable.</p>


<br>
<h2>The project kernel</h2>
<br>


<h3>Q7: Is there an GPL kernel released for the DC?</h3>
<p>A4: Yes, check the the <a href="http://www.dreamcastlinux.org">home page</a>. But this kernel is not finished yet. So 
there is no keyboard or FB support. But we are working on it. We will shortly post a a HOWTO there on how installation is done.</p>

<h3>Q8: When will the kernel be finished ?</h3>
<p>A8a: First of May, two thousand and one, around tea time.</p>

<p>A8b: We don't know. Right now we think a realistic guess is that it will be ready with keyboard support and framebuffer in Q1 2001.
Perhaps even Ethernet support, if we can get a hold some NICs and its programming specs.</p>

<h3>Q9:What is "apocope" ?</h3>
<p>A9: A noun. It means the loss of one or more sounds from the end of a word.
Example: Modern English "sing" from Middle English "singen".</p>