Here we are with another edition of Ask the Geek. If you thought you missed the last edition two weeks ago, don't worry -- you didn't. I got the flu in early January, which threw off my entire schedule, not to mention my ability to communicate in more than one syllable at a time. This caused the unfortunate demise of the Geek's article last time. However, like a bright light in the darkness, the Linux community has yet again come to the rescue.
This edition of Ask the Geek is a compilation of questions and answers from members of the Ask the Geek discussion forum that I moderate. I would like to take a moment to thank those who participated for saving my butt in a time of high fever and much mucus.
The questions and answers have been edited for readability.
Limits of FTP
"xguo" asks: I have been attempting to transfer a 4 GB QuickTime movie file to Linux over FTP from an NT (or Solaris) box to a Red Hat Linux 7.0 box. However, it stopped after 2 GB of data was transferred. Is there a size limitation on FTP file transfers with Redhat 7.0? Please help me to figure out this issue.
The Geek answers: Although the ext2 filesystem does support files larger than 2 GB, the 2.2 kernel does not. This limitation has been eliminated in the 2.4 kernel. A kernel upgrade should do the trick.
X font server error
"sameersabharwal" asks: Help! X server error. I installed Netscape 6 on my Red Hat Linux 6.1 machine. Initially, the installation went on fine, but when I tried to close the program it wouldn't close. I logged out of X and attempted to restart. Since then, I can't seem to get Xwindows (KDE) running. A blank screen is followed by this error message:
Failed to set default font path 'unix/:-1'. Fatal server error. Couldn't open default font 'fixed' I believe it may have something to do with the fixed font.
Being new to the platform, I've done all I can think of -- checked out XF86Config and kderc files and altered the font (wherever it said fixed-ISO-, I replaced it with courier). I even tried to add FontPaths to the .Xdefaults file, but nothing's worked.
Forum user "krassy" answers: This message means that you have something wrong with your X font server (xfs). You can check if it is running by typing ps -e | grep xfs. If it is not running, you can try to run it (as root) by typing xfs. If it then displays an error message, you can check in /etc/fs/config or in /etc/X11/fs/config (this is the configuration file of the font server and its location depends on your distribution) if font paths are correct. You can also disable the font server and edit XF86Config directly by adding all your font directories and disabling the font path unix/:-1 -- this is the font server.
Sometimes there is a problem in the font directory -- you may be missing a font or have a wrong fonts.dir file. You can recreate the fonts.dir file by running mkfontdir in the font directory (probably in your case this is the directory with the miscellaneous fonts). Please note that I'm not sure of the exact name of "mkfontdir" command but you can check in /usr/X11R6/bin directory. (The Geek notes that mkfontdir is the correct command.)
For more help, read the man page of xfs. Note also that the directory with miscellaneous fonts is very important and you probably cannot run X if there is something wrong with it, for example, if X gets its cursor from there.
Linux doesn't like PCI modems
"EcoR1" asks: Is there any way to get this darned 3Com 2976 56k v.90 PCI modem to work with Linux? I've tried using
setserial /dev/ttys1 irq 11 port 0xE400 autoconfig skip_test, which should be the correct irq and port for the modem, but
kPPP doesn't see a modem on
ttyS1. Any ideas?
The Geek answers: Unfortunately, Linux and PCI modems don't get along very well due to the way PCI handles shared memory, and sometimes because it was designed specifically for use with Windows drivers (e.g., "Win Modems"). Your best bet is to get yourself an external or ISA modem.
Newbie resources
"thetech" asks: As the ultimate newbie (I know nothing), I need some suggestions as to where to find the most basic info (commands, etc.). I will purchase a book called "Running Linux" from O'Reilly, but other information sources would help. I think I want to run Win98SE inside Linux to eliminate the instability inherent in Windows. Any ideas?
Forum user "cls134" answers: I am still a bit green with Linux but have been at it for about eight months now. I have tried to compile and categorize a list of URLs for Linux. I have about 100 links on my site, The Upstairs Room. There is a newbies category, which lists some great sites as well.
The Geek adds: Regarding running Windows within Linux, you might want to take a look at LinuxWorld.com articles on a program called Win4Lin. (see Resources)
Kernel panic
"dsduquet" asks: Kernel panic?
Kernel panic: VFS: Unable to mount root fs on 03:01 is the last line I get during boot-up. Things were working great when I shut it down using the stop sequence on my Red Hat 6.0 with GNOME installation. There is one customer file on this disk that I would truly love to have. I booted with a different boot disk and got this message:
Warning unable to open an initial console. Kernel panic: No init found. Try passing
init= option to kernel? How does one pass
init= to the kernel if it doesn't boot?
Forum user "guyrand" answers: All is not lost! The last time I got this message was yesterday. I built a new kernel and I forgot one driver for my hard drive. Oops. Anyway, the kernel is telling you that it doesn't know how to read your root fs, or your files. They're still there, and probably unharmed. Try to recall what you might have changed in your setup. Use a boot disk -- it sounds like Red Hat booted fine but then something changed on it. Give the boot disk a try and then reinstall the kernel (keeping backups, of course) and all of your driver modules (kept in /lib/modules/2.2*).
The kernel, in case you're wondering, is usually called something like vmlinuz and is often kept in /boot. The program linuxconf should be able to help you out with most of this.
I hope that helps point you in the right direction. Don't worry, it gets much easier.
(The Geek is feeling much better now, thank you. So, if you have more questions, post them in the Ask The Geek discussion forum or drop me a line at Ask the Geek. I will do my best to answer.)
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