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<title>The Debian GNU/Linux FAQ</title>

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<link href="ch-basic_defs.en.html" rel="chapter" title="1 Definitions and overview">
<link href="ch-getting.en.html" rel="chapter" title="2 Getting and installing Debian GNU/Linux">
<link href="ch-choosing.en.html" rel="chapter" title="3 Choosing a Debian distribution">
<link href="ch-compat.en.html" rel="chapter" title="4 Compatibility issues">
<link href="ch-software.en.html" rel="chapter" title="5 Software available in the Debian system">
<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html" rel="chapter" title="6 The Debian FTP archives">
<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html" rel="chapter" title="7 Basics of the Debian package management system">
<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html" rel="chapter" title="8 The Debian package management tools">
<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html" rel="chapter" title="9 Keeping your Debian system up-to-date">
<link href="ch-kernel.en.html" rel="chapter" title="10 Debian and the kernel">
<link href="ch-customizing.en.html" rel="chapter" title="11 Customizing your installation of Debian GNU/Linux">
<link href="ch-support.en.html" rel="chapter" title="12 Getting support for Debian GNU/Linux">
<link href="ch-contributing.en.html" rel="chapter" title="13 Contributing to the Debian Project">
<link href="ch-redistrib.en.html" rel="chapter" title="14 Redistributing Debian GNU/Linux in a commercial product">
<link href="ch-nexttime.en.html" rel="chapter" title="15 Changes expected in the next major release of Debian">
<link href="ch-faqinfo.en.html" rel="chapter" title="16 General information about the FAQ">
<link href="ch-basic_defs.en.html#s-whatisfaq" rel="section" title="1.1 What is this FAQ?">
<link href="ch-basic_defs.en.html#s-whatisdebian" rel="section" title="1.2 What is Debian GNU/Linux?">
<link href="ch-basic_defs.en.html#s-linux" rel="section" title="1.3 OK, now I know what Debian is... what is Linux?!">
<link href="ch-basic_defs.en.html#s-non-linux" rel="section" title="1.4 Does Debian just do GNU/Linux?">
<link href="ch-basic_defs.en.html#s-difference" rel="section" title="1.5 What is the difference between Debian GNU/Linux and other Linux distributions? Why should I choose Debian over some other distribution?">
<link href="ch-basic_defs.en.html#s-gnu" rel="section" title="1.6 How does the Debian project fit in or compare with the Free Software Foundation's GNU project?">
<link href="ch-basic_defs.en.html#s-pronunciation" rel="section" title="1.7 How does one pronounce Debian and what does this word mean?">
<link href="ch-getting.en.html#s-version" rel="section" title="2.1 What is the latest version of Debian?">
<link href="ch-getting.en.html#s-updatestable" rel="section" title="2.2 Are there package upgrades in `stable'?">
<link href="ch-getting.en.html#s-boot-floppies" rel="section" title="2.3 Where/how can I get the Debian installation disks?">
<link href="ch-getting.en.html#s-cdrom" rel="section" title="2.4 How do I install the Debian from CD-ROMs?">
<link href="ch-getting.en.html#s-cdimage-symlinks" rel="section" title="2.5 Why does the official stable released CD-ROM contain symlinks for `frozen' and `unstable'? I thought this CD contains just `stable'!">
<link href="ch-getting.en.html#s-remoteinstall" rel="section" title="2.6 Can I get and install Debian directly from a remote Internet site?">
<link href="ch-getting.en.html#s-alternativebootinstaller" rel="section" title="2.7 Are there any alternative strategies for booting the system installer?">
<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1" rel="section" title="3.1 Which Debian distribution (stable/testing/unstable) is better for me?">
<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.2" rel="section" title="3.2 But what about Knoppix, Linex, Ubuntu, and others?">
<link href="ch-compat.en.html#s-arches" rel="section" title="4.1 On what hardware architectures/systems does Debian GNU/Linux run?">
<link href="ch-compat.en.html#s-kernels" rel="section" title="4.2 What kernels does Debian GNU/Linux run?">
<link href="ch-compat.en.html#s-otherdistribs" rel="section" title="4.3 How compatible is Debian with other distributions of Linux?">
<link href="ch-compat.en.html#s-otherunices" rel="section" title="4.4 How source code compatible is Debian with other Unix systems?">
<link href="ch-compat.en.html#s-otherpackages" rel="section" title="4.5 Can I use Debian packages (&quot;.deb&quot; files) on my Red Hat/Slackware/... Linux system? Can I use Red Hat packages (&quot;.rpm&quot; files) on my Debian GNU/Linux system?">
<link href="ch-compat.en.html#s-non-debian-programs" rel="section" title="4.6 How should I install a non-Debian program?">
<link href="ch-compat.en.html#s-termcap" rel="section" title="4.7 Why can't I compile programs that require libtermcap?">
<link href="ch-compat.en.html#s-accelx" rel="section" title="4.8 Why can't I install AccelX?">
<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-apps" rel="section" title="5.1 What types of applications and development software are available for Debian GNU/Linux?">
<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-softwareauthors" rel="section" title="5.2 Who wrote all that software?">
<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-pkglist" rel="section" title="5.3 How can I get a current list of programs that have been packaged for Debian?">
<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-buildenv" rel="section" title="5.4 How can I install a developer's environment to build packages?">
<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-missing" rel="section" title="5.5 What is missing from Debian GNU/Linux?">
<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-no-devs" rel="section" title="5.6 Why do I get &quot;ld: cannot find -lfoo&quot; messages when compiling programs? Why aren't there any libfoo.so files in Debian library packages?">
<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-java" rel="section" title="5.7 (How) Does Debian support Java?">
<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-isitdebian" rel="section" title="5.8 How can I check that I am using a Debian system, and what version is it?">
<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-nonenglish" rel="section" title="5.9 How does Debian support non-English languages?">
<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-pine" rel="section" title="5.10 Where is pine?">
<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-qmail" rel="section" title="5.11 Where is qmail/ezmlm/djbdns?">
<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-flash" rel="section" title="5.12 Where is a player for Flash (SWF)?">
<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-googleearth" rel="section" title="5.13 Where is Google Earth?">
<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-voip" rel="section" title="5.14 Where is VoIP software?">
<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-nonfreewireless" rel="section" title="5.15 I have a wireless network card which doesn't work with Linux. What should I do?">
<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-dists" rel="section" title="6.1 How many Debian distributions are there?">
<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-codenames" rel="section" title="6.2 What are all those names like etch, lenny, etc.?">
<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-sid" rel="section" title="6.3 What about &quot;sid&quot;?">
<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-stable" rel="section" title="6.4 What does the stable directory contain?">
<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-testing" rel="section" title="6.5 What does the testing distribution contain?">
<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-unstable" rel="section" title="6.6 What does the unstable distribution contain?">
<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-dirtree" rel="section" title="6.7 What are all those directories at the Debian FTP archives?">
<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-archsections" rel="section" title="6.8 What are all those directories inside dists/stable/main?">
<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-source" rel="section" title="6.9 Where is the source code?">
<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-pools" rel="section" title="6.10 What's in the pool directory?">
<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-incoming" rel="section" title="6.11 What is &quot;incoming&quot;?">
<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-ownrepository" rel="section" title="6.12 How do I set up my own apt-able repository?">
<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-package" rel="section" title="7.1 What is a Debian package?">
<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-deb-format" rel="section" title="7.2 What is the format of a Debian binary package?">
<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-pkgname" rel="section" title="7.3 Why are Debian package file names so long?">
<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-controlfile" rel="section" title="7.4 What is a Debian control file?">
<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-conffile" rel="section" title="7.5 What is a Debian conffile?">
<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-maintscripts" rel="section" title="7.6 What is a Debian preinst, postinst, prerm, and postrm script?">
<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-priority" rel="section" title="7.7 What is an Essential, Required, Important, Standard, Optional, or Extra package?">
<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-virtual" rel="section" title="7.8 What is a Virtual Package?">
<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-depends" rel="section" title="7.9 What is meant by saying that a package Depends, Recommends, Suggests, Conflicts, Replaces, Breaks or Provides another package?">
<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-pre-depends" rel="section" title="7.10 What is meant by Pre-Depends?">
<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-pkgstatus" rel="section" title="7.11 What is meant by unknown, install, remove, purge and hold in the package status?">
<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-puttingonhold" rel="section" title="7.12 How do I put a package on hold?">
<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-sourcepkgs" rel="section" title="7.13 How do I install a source package?">
<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-sourcebuild" rel="section" title="7.14 How do I build binary packages from a source package?">
<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-creatingdebs" rel="section" title="7.15 How do I create Debian packages myself?">
<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-pkgprogs" rel="section" title="8.1 What programs does Debian provide for managing its packages?">
<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-updaterunning" rel="section" title="8.2 Debian claims to be able to update a running program; how is this accomplished?">
<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-whatpackages" rel="section" title="8.3 How can I tell what packages are already installed on a Debian system?">
<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-listfiles" rel="section" title="8.4 How to display the files of a package installed?">
<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-filesearch" rel="section" title="8.5 How can I find out what package produced a particular file?">
<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-datapackages" rel="section" title="8.6 Why doesn't get `foo-data' removed when I uninstall `foo'? How do I make sure old unused library-packages get purged?">
<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-howtocurrent" rel="section" title="9.1 How can I keep my Debian system current?">
<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-upgradesingle" rel="section" title="9.2 Must I go into single user mode in order to upgrade a package?">
<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-savedebs" rel="section" title="9.3 Do I have to keep all those .deb archive files on my disk?">
<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-keepingalog" rel="section" title="9.4 How can I keep a log of the packages I added to the system? I'd like to know when which package upgrades and removals have occured!">
<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-autoupdate" rel="section" title="9.5 Can I automatically update the system?">
<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-aptproxy" rel="section" title="9.6 I have several machines how can I download the updates only one time?">
<link href="ch-kernel.en.html#s-non-debian-kernel" rel="section" title="10.1 Can I install and compile a kernel without some Debian-specific tweaking?">
<link href="ch-kernel.en.html#s-customkernel" rel="section" title="10.2 What tools does Debian provide to build custom kernels?">
<link href="ch-kernel.en.html#s-custombootdisk" rel="section" title="10.3 How can I make a custom boot floppy?">
<link href="ch-kernel.en.html#s-modules" rel="section" title="10.4 What special provisions does Debian provide to deal with modules?">
<link href="ch-kernel.en.html#s-removeoldkernel" rel="section" title="10.5 Can I safely de-install an old kernel package, and if so, how?">
<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-papersize" rel="section" title="11.1 How can I ensure that all programs use the same paper size?">
<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-hardwareaccess" rel="section" title="11.2 How can I provide access to hardware peripherals, without compromising security?">
<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-consolefont" rel="section" title="11.3 How do I load a console font on startup the Debian way?">
<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-appdefaults" rel="section" title="11.4 How can I configure an X11 program's application defaults?">
<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-booting" rel="section" title="11.5 Every distribution seems to have a different boot-up method. Tell me about Debian's.">
<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-custombootscripts" rel="section" title="11.6 What other facilities are provided to customize the boot process besides rc.local?">
<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-interconffiles" rel="section" title="11.7 How does the package management system deal with packages that contain configuration files for other packages?">
<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-divert" rel="section" title="11.8 How do I override a file installed by a package, so that a different version can be used instead?">
<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-localpackages" rel="section" title="11.9 How can I have my locally-built package included in the list of available packages that the package management system knows about?">
<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-diverse" rel="section" title="11.10 Some users like mawk, others like gawk; some like vim, others like elvis; some like trn, others like tin; how does Debian support diversity?">
<link href="ch-support.en.html#s-debiandocs" rel="section" title="12.1 What other documentation exists on and for a Debian system?">
<link href="ch-support.en.html#s-onlineresources" rel="section" title="12.2 Are there any on-line resources for discussing Debian?">
<link href="ch-support.en.html#s-searchtools" rel="section" title="12.3 Is there a quick way to search for information on Debian GNU/Linux?">
<link href="ch-support.en.html#s-buglogs" rel="section" title="12.4 Are there logs of known bugs?">
<link href="ch-support.en.html#s-bugreport" rel="section" title="12.5 How do I report a bug in Debian?">
<link href="ch-contributing.en.html#s-contrib" rel="section" title="13.1 How can I become a Debian software developer?">
<link href="ch-contributing.en.html#s-contribresources" rel="section" title="13.2 How can I contribute resources to the Debian project?">
<link href="ch-contributing.en.html#s-supportingorganizations" rel="section" title="13.3 How can I contribute financially to the Debian project?">
<link href="ch-redistrib.en.html#s-sellcds" rel="section" title="14.1 Can I make and sell Debian CDs?">
<link href="ch-redistrib.en.html#s-packagednonfree" rel="section" title="14.2 Can Debian be packaged with non-free software?">
<link href="ch-redistrib.en.html#s-childistro" rel="section" title="14.3 I am making a special Linux distribution for a &quot;vertical market&quot;. Can I use Debian GNU/Linux for the guts of a Linux system and add my own applications on top of it?">
<link href="ch-redistrib.en.html#s-commercialdebs" rel="section" title="14.4 Can I put my commercial program in a Debian &quot;package&quot; so that it installs effortlessly on any Debian system?">
<link href="ch-nexttime.en.html#s-hardening" rel="section" title="15.1 Hardening the system">
<link href="ch-nexttime.en.html#s-i18n" rel="section" title="15.2 Extended support for non-English users">
<link href="ch-nexttime.en.html#s-dependencybasedboot" rel="section" title="15.3 Faster booting: Dependency based boot sequence">
<link href="ch-nexttime.en.html#s-di" rel="section" title="15.4 Improvements in the Debian Installer">
<link href="ch-nexttime.en.html#s-morearches" rel="section" title="15.5 More architectures">
<link href="ch-nexttime.en.html#s-morekernels" rel="section" title="15.6 More kernels">
<link href="ch-faqinfo.en.html#s-authors" rel="section" title="16.1 Authors">
<link href="ch-faqinfo.en.html#s-feedback" rel="section" title="16.2 Feedback">
<link href="ch-faqinfo.en.html#s-latest" rel="section" title="16.3 Availability">
<link href="ch-faqinfo.en.html#s-docformat" rel="section" title="16.4 Document format">
<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.1" rel="subsection" title="3.1.1 You asked me to install stable, but in stable so and so hardware is not detected/working. What should I do?">
<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.2" rel="subsection" title="3.1.2 Will there be different versions of packages in different distributions?">
<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.3" rel="subsection" title="3.1.3 The stable distributions really contains outdated packages. Just look at Kde, Gnome, Xorg or even the kernel. They are very old. Why is it so?">
<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.4" rel="subsection" title="3.1.4 If I were to decide to change to another distribution, Can I do that?">
<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.5" rel="subsection" title="3.1.5 Could you tell me whether to install stable, testing or unstable?">
<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.6" rel="subsection" title="3.1.6 You are talking about testing being broken. What do you mean by that?">
<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.7" rel="subsection" title="3.1.7 Why is it that testing could be broken for months? Won't the fixes introduced in unstable flow directly down into testing?">
<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.8" rel="subsection" title="3.1.8 From an administrator's point of view, Which distribution requires more attention?">
<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.9" rel="subsection" title="3.1.9 What happens when a new release is made?">
<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.10" rel="subsection" title="3.1.10 I have a working Desktop/cluster with Debian installed. How do I know which distribution I am running?">
<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.11" rel="subsection" title="3.1.11 I am currently tracking stable. Can I change to testing or unstable? If so, How?">
<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.12" rel="subsection" title="3.1.12 I am currently tracking testing (stretch). What will happen when a release is made? Will I still be tracking testing or will my machine be running the new stable distribution?">
<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.13" rel="subsection" title="3.1.13 I am still confused. What did you say I should install?">
<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.2.1" rel="subsection" title="3.2.1 I know that Knoppix/Linex/Ubuntu/... is Debian-based. So after installing it on the hard disk, can I use 'apt' package tools on it?">
<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.2.2" rel="subsection" title="3.2.2 I installed Knoppix/Linex/Ubuntu/... on my hard disk. Now I have a problem. What should I do?">
<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.2.3" rel="subsection" title="3.2.3 I'm using Knoppix/Linex/Ubuntu/... and now I want to use Debian. How do I migrate?">
<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-oldcodenames" rel="subsection" title="6.2.1 Which other codenames have been used in the past?">
<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-sourceforcodenames" rel="subsection" title="6.2.2 Where do these codenames come from?">
<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-frozen" rel="subsection" title="6.5.1 What about &quot;testing&quot;? How is it `frozen'?">
<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-dpkg" rel="subsection" title="8.1.1 dpkg">
<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-apt-get" rel="subsection" title="8.1.2 APT">
<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-aptitude" rel="subsection" title="8.1.3 aptitude">
<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-synaptic" rel="subsection" title="8.1.4 synaptic">
<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-tasksel" rel="subsection" title="8.1.5 tasksel">
<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-dpkg-extra" rel="subsection" title="8.1.6 Other package management tools">
<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-dselect" rel="subsection" title="8.1.6.1 dselect">
<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-dpkg-deb" rel="subsection" title="8.1.6.2 dpkg-deb">
<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-dpkg-split" rel="subsection" title="8.1.6.3 dpkg-split">
<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-aptitude-upgrade" rel="subsection" title="9.1.1 aptitude">
<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-apt" rel="subsection" title="9.1.2 apt-get, dselect and apt-cdrom">
<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-mirror" rel="subsection" title="9.1.3 mirror">
<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-dpkg-mountable" rel="subsection" title="9.1.4 dpkg-mountable">
<link href="ch-support.en.html#s12.2.1" rel="subsection" title="12.2.1 Mailing lists">
<link href="ch-support.en.html#s-mailinglistconduct" rel="subsection" title="12.2.1.1 What is the code of conduct for the mailing lists?">
<link href="ch-support.en.html#s12.2.2" rel="subsection" title="12.2.2 Web forums">
<link href="ch-support.en.html#s12.2.3" rel="subsection" title="12.2.3 Wiki">
<link href="ch-support.en.html#s12.2.4" rel="subsection" title="12.2.4 Maintainers">
<link href="ch-support.en.html#s12.2.5" rel="subsection" title="12.2.5 Usenet newsgroups">
<link href="ch-contributing.en.html#s-SPI" rel="subsection" title="13.3.1 Software in the Public Interest">
<link href="ch-contributing.en.html#s-TrustedOrgs" rel="subsection" title="13.3.2 Other organizations">

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[ <a href="ch-faqinfo.en.html">previous</a> ]
[ <a href="#contents">Contents</a> ]
[ <a href="ch-basic_defs.en.html">1</a> ]
[ <a href="ch-getting.en.html">2</a> ]
[ <a href="ch-choosing.en.html">3</a> ]
[ <a href="ch-compat.en.html">4</a> ]
[ <a href="ch-software.en.html">5</a> ]
[ <a href="ch-ftparchives.en.html">6</a> ]
[ <a href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html">7</a> ]
[ <a href="ch-pkgtools.en.html">8</a> ]
[ <a href="ch-uptodate.en.html">9</a> ]
[ <a href="ch-kernel.en.html">10</a> ]
[ <a href="ch-customizing.en.html">11</a> ]
[ <a href="ch-support.en.html">12</a> ]
[ <a href="ch-contributing.en.html">13</a> ]
[ <a href="ch-redistrib.en.html">14</a> ]
[ <a href="ch-nexttime.en.html">15</a> ]
[ <a href="ch-faqinfo.en.html">16</a> ]
[ <a href="ch-basic_defs.en.html">next</a> ]
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<hr>

<h1>
The Debian GNU/Linux FAQ
<br></h1>

<hr>

<h2 id="abstract">Abstract</h2>

<p>
This document answers questions frequently asked about Debian GNU/Linux.
</p>

<hr>

<h2 id="copyright">Copyright Notice</h2>

<p>
Copyright &copy; 1996-2013 by Software in the Public Interest, portions copyright &copy; 2004, 2005, 2006 Kamaraju Kusumanchi
</p>

<p>
Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of this document
provided the copyright notice and this permission notice are preserved on all
copies.
</p>

<p>
Permission is granted to copy and distribute modified versions of this document
under the conditions for verbatim copying, provided that the entire resulting
derived work is distributed under the terms of a permission notice identical to
this one.
</p>

<p>
Permission is granted to copy and distribute translations of this document into
another language, under the above conditions for modified versions, except that
this permission notice may be included in translations approved by the Free
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<hr>

<h2 id="contents">Contents</h2>

<ul>
<li><a href="ch-basic_defs.en.html">1 Definitions and overview</a>
  <ul>
  <li><a href="ch-basic_defs.en.html#s-whatisfaq">1.1 What is this FAQ?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-basic_defs.en.html#s-whatisdebian">1.2 What is Debian GNU/Linux?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-basic_defs.en.html#s-linux">1.3 OK, now I know what Debian is... what is Linux?!</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-basic_defs.en.html#s-non-linux">1.4 Does Debian just do GNU/Linux?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-basic_defs.en.html#s-difference">1.5 What is the difference between Debian GNU/Linux and other Linux distributions? Why should I choose Debian over some other distribution?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-basic_defs.en.html#s-gnu">1.6 How does the Debian project fit in or compare with the Free Software Foundation's GNU project?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-basic_defs.en.html#s-pronunciation">1.7 How does one pronounce Debian and what does this word mean?</a>
  </ul></li>
<li><a href="ch-getting.en.html">2 Getting and installing Debian GNU/Linux</a>
  <ul>
  <li><a href="ch-getting.en.html#s-version">2.1 What is the latest version of Debian?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-getting.en.html#s-updatestable">2.2 Are there package upgrades in `stable'?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-getting.en.html#s-boot-floppies">2.3 Where/how can I get the Debian installation disks?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-getting.en.html#s-cdrom">2.4 How do I install the Debian from CD-ROMs?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-getting.en.html#s-cdimage-symlinks">2.5 Why does the official stable released CD-ROM contain symlinks for `frozen' and `unstable'? I thought this CD contains just `stable'!</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-getting.en.html#s-remoteinstall">2.6 Can I get and install Debian directly from a remote Internet site?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-getting.en.html#s-alternativebootinstaller">2.7 Are there any alternative strategies for booting the system installer?</a>
  </ul></li>
<li><a href="ch-choosing.en.html">3 Choosing a Debian distribution</a>
  <ul>
  <li><a href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1">3.1 Which Debian distribution (stable/testing/unstable) is better for me?</a>
    <ul>
    <li><a href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.1">3.1.1 You asked me to install stable, but in stable so and so hardware is not detected/working. What should I do?</a></li>
    <li><a href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.2">3.1.2 Will there be different versions of packages in different distributions?</a></li>
    <li><a href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.3">3.1.3 The stable distributions really contains outdated packages. Just look at Kde, Gnome, Xorg or even the kernel. They are very old. Why is it so?</a></li>
    <li><a href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.4">3.1.4 If I were to decide to change to another distribution, Can I do that?</a></li>
    <li><a href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.5">3.1.5 Could you tell me whether to install stable, testing or unstable?</a></li>
    <li><a href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.6">3.1.6 You are talking about testing being broken. What do you mean by that?</a></li>
    <li><a href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.7">3.1.7 Why is it that testing could be broken for months? Won't the fixes introduced in unstable flow directly down into testing?</a></li>
    <li><a href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.8">3.1.8 From an administrator's point of view, Which distribution requires more attention?</a></li>
    <li><a href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.9">3.1.9 What happens when a new release is made?</a></li>
    <li><a href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.10">3.1.10 I have a working Desktop/cluster with Debian installed. How do I know which distribution I am running?</a></li>
    <li><a href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.11">3.1.11 I am currently tracking stable. Can I change to testing or unstable? If so, How?</a></li>
    <li><a href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.12">3.1.12 I am currently tracking testing (stretch). What will happen when a release is made? Will I still be tracking testing or will my machine be running the new stable distribution?</a></li>
    <li><a href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.13">3.1.13 I am still confused. What did you say I should install?</a>
    </ul></li>
  <li><a href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.2">3.2 But what about Knoppix, Linex, Ubuntu, and others?</a>
    <ul>
    <li><a href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.2.1">3.2.1 I know that Knoppix/Linex/Ubuntu/... is Debian-based. So after installing it on the hard disk, can I use 'apt' package tools on it?</a></li>
    <li><a href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.2.2">3.2.2 I installed Knoppix/Linex/Ubuntu/... on my hard disk. Now I have a problem. What should I do?</a></li>
    <li><a href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.2.3">3.2.3 I'm using Knoppix/Linex/Ubuntu/... and now I want to use Debian. How do I migrate?</a>
    </ul></li>
  </ul></li>
<li><a href="ch-compat.en.html">4 Compatibility issues</a>
  <ul>
  <li><a href="ch-compat.en.html#s-arches">4.1 On what hardware architectures/systems does Debian GNU/Linux run?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-compat.en.html#s-kernels">4.2 What kernels does Debian GNU/Linux run?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-compat.en.html#s-otherdistribs">4.3 How compatible is Debian with other distributions of Linux?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-compat.en.html#s-otherunices">4.4 How source code compatible is Debian with other Unix systems?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-compat.en.html#s-otherpackages">4.5 Can I use Debian packages (&quot;.deb&quot; files) on my Red Hat/Slackware/... Linux system? Can I use Red Hat packages (&quot;.rpm&quot; files) on my Debian GNU/Linux system?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-compat.en.html#s-non-debian-programs">4.6 How should I install a non-Debian program?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-compat.en.html#s-termcap">4.7 Why can't I compile programs that require libtermcap?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-compat.en.html#s-accelx">4.8 Why can't I install AccelX?</a>
  </ul></li>
<li><a href="ch-software.en.html">5 Software available in the Debian system</a>
  <ul>
  <li><a href="ch-software.en.html#s-apps">5.1 What types of applications and development software are available for Debian GNU/Linux?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-software.en.html#s-softwareauthors">5.2 Who wrote all that software?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-software.en.html#s-pkglist">5.3 How can I get a current list of programs that have been packaged for Debian?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-software.en.html#s-buildenv">5.4 How can I install a developer's environment to build packages?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-software.en.html#s-missing">5.5 What is missing from Debian GNU/Linux?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-software.en.html#s-no-devs">5.6 Why do I get &quot;ld: cannot find -lfoo&quot; messages when compiling programs? Why aren't there any libfoo.so files in Debian library packages?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-software.en.html#s-java">5.7 (How) Does Debian support Java?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-software.en.html#s-isitdebian">5.8 How can I check that I am using a Debian system, and what version is it?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-software.en.html#s-nonenglish">5.9 How does Debian support non-English languages?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-software.en.html#s-pine">5.10 Where is pine?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-software.en.html#s-qmail">5.11 Where is qmail/ezmlm/djbdns?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-software.en.html#s-flash">5.12 Where is a player for Flash (SWF)?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-software.en.html#s-googleearth">5.13 Where is Google Earth?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-software.en.html#s-voip">5.14 Where is VoIP software?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-software.en.html#s-nonfreewireless">5.15 I have a wireless network card which doesn't work with Linux. What should I do?</a>
  </ul></li>
<li><a href="ch-ftparchives.en.html">6 The Debian FTP archives</a>
  <ul>
  <li><a href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-dists">6.1 How many Debian distributions are there?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-codenames">6.2 What are all those names like etch, lenny, etc.?</a>
    <ul>
    <li><a href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-oldcodenames">6.2.1 Which other codenames have been used in the past?</a></li>
    <li><a href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-sourceforcodenames">6.2.2 Where do these codenames come from?</a>
    </ul></li>
  <li><a href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-sid">6.3 What about &quot;sid&quot;?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-stable">6.4 What does the stable directory contain?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-testing">6.5 What does the testing distribution contain?</a>
    <ul>
    <li><a href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-frozen">6.5.1 What about &quot;testing&quot;? How is it `frozen'?</a>
    </ul></li>
  <li><a href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-unstable">6.6 What does the unstable distribution contain?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-dirtree">6.7 What are all those directories at the Debian FTP archives?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-archsections">6.8 What are all those directories inside <samp>dists/stable/main</samp>?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-source">6.9 Where is the source code?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-pools">6.10 What's in the <samp>pool</samp> directory?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-incoming">6.11 What is &quot;incoming&quot;?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-ownrepository">6.12 How do I set up my own apt-able repository?</a>
  </ul></li>
<li><a href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html">7 Basics of the Debian package management system</a>
  <ul>
  <li><a href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-package">7.1 What is a Debian package?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-deb-format">7.2 What is the format of a Debian binary package?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-pkgname">7.3 Why are Debian package file names so long?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-controlfile">7.4 What is a Debian control file?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-conffile">7.5 What is a Debian conffile?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-maintscripts">7.6 What is a Debian preinst, postinst, prerm, and postrm script?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-priority">7.7 What is an <em>Essential</em>, <em>Required</em>, <em>Important</em>, <em>Standard</em>, <em>Optional</em>, or <em>Extra</em> package?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-virtual">7.8 What is a Virtual Package?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-depends">7.9 What is meant by saying that a package <em>Depends</em>, <em>Recommends</em>, <em>Suggests</em>, <em>Conflicts</em>, <em>Replaces</em>, <em>Breaks</em> or <em>Provides</em> another package?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-pre-depends">7.10 What is meant by Pre-Depends?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-pkgstatus">7.11 What is meant by <em>unknown</em>, <em>install</em>, <em>remove</em>, <em>purge</em> and <em>hold</em> in the package status?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-puttingonhold">7.12 How do I put a package on hold?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-sourcepkgs">7.13 How do I install a source package?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-sourcebuild">7.14 How do I build binary packages from a source package?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-creatingdebs">7.15 How do I create Debian packages myself?</a>
  </ul></li>
<li><a href="ch-pkgtools.en.html">8 The Debian package management tools</a>
  <ul>
  <li><a href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-pkgprogs">8.1 What programs does Debian provide for managing its packages?</a>
    <ul>
    <li><a href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-dpkg">8.1.1 dpkg</a></li>
    <li><a href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-apt-get">8.1.2 APT</a></li>
    <li><a href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-aptitude">8.1.3 aptitude</a></li>
    <li><a href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-synaptic">8.1.4 synaptic</a></li>
    <li><a href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-tasksel">8.1.5 tasksel</a></li>
    <li><a href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-dpkg-extra">8.1.6 Other package management tools</a>
    </ul></li>
  <li><a href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-updaterunning">8.2 Debian claims to be able to update a running program; how is this accomplished?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-whatpackages">8.3 How can I tell what packages are already installed on a Debian system?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-listfiles">8.4 How to display the files of a package installed?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-filesearch">8.5 How can I find out what package produced a particular file?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-datapackages">8.6 Why doesn't get `foo-data' removed when I uninstall `foo'? How do I make sure old unused library-packages get purged?</a>
  </ul></li>
<li><a href="ch-uptodate.en.html">9 Keeping your Debian system up-to-date</a>
  <ul>
  <li><a href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-howtocurrent">9.1 How can I keep my Debian system current?</a>
    <ul>
    <li><a href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-aptitude-upgrade">9.1.1 aptitude</a></li>
    <li><a href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-apt">9.1.2 apt-get, dselect and apt-cdrom</a></li>
    <li><a href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-mirror">9.1.3 mirror</a></li>
    <li><a href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-dpkg-mountable">9.1.4 dpkg-mountable</a>
    </ul></li>
  <li><a href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-upgradesingle">9.2 Must I go into single user mode in order to upgrade a package?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-savedebs">9.3 Do I have to keep all those .deb archive files on my disk?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-keepingalog">9.4 How can I keep a log of the packages I added to the system? I'd like to know when which package upgrades and removals have occured!</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-autoupdate">9.5 Can I automatically update the system?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-aptproxy">9.6 I have several machines how can I download the updates only one time?</a>
  </ul></li>
<li><a href="ch-kernel.en.html">10 Debian and the kernel</a>
  <ul>
  <li><a href="ch-kernel.en.html#s-non-debian-kernel">10.1 Can I install and compile a kernel without some Debian-specific tweaking?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-kernel.en.html#s-customkernel">10.2 What tools does Debian provide to build custom kernels?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-kernel.en.html#s-custombootdisk">10.3 How can I make a custom boot floppy?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-kernel.en.html#s-modules">10.4 What special provisions does Debian provide to deal with modules?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-kernel.en.html#s-removeoldkernel">10.5 Can I safely de-install an old kernel package, and if so, how?</a>
  </ul></li>
<li><a href="ch-customizing.en.html">11 Customizing your installation of Debian GNU/Linux</a>
  <ul>
  <li><a href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-papersize">11.1 How can I ensure that all programs use the same paper size?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-hardwareaccess">11.2 How can I provide access to hardware peripherals, without compromising security?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-consolefont">11.3 How do I load a console font on startup the Debian way?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-appdefaults">11.4 How can I configure an X11 program's application defaults?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-booting">11.5 Every distribution seems to have a different boot-up method. Tell me about Debian's.</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-custombootscripts">11.6 What other facilities are provided to customize the boot process besides <samp>rc.local</samp>?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-interconffiles">11.7 How does the package management system deal with packages that contain configuration files for other packages?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-divert">11.8 How do I override a file installed by a package, so that a different version can be used instead?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-localpackages">11.9 How can I have my locally-built package included in the list of available packages that the package management system knows about?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-diverse">11.10 Some users like mawk, others like gawk; some like vim, others like elvis; some like trn, others like tin; how does Debian support diversity?</a>
  </ul></li>
<li><a href="ch-support.en.html">12 Getting support for Debian GNU/Linux</a>
  <ul>
  <li><a href="ch-support.en.html#s-debiandocs">12.1 What other documentation exists on and for a Debian system?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-support.en.html#s-onlineresources">12.2 Are there any on-line resources for discussing Debian?</a>
    <ul>
    <li><a href="ch-support.en.html#s12.2.1">12.2.1 Mailing lists</a></li>
    <li><a href="ch-support.en.html#s12.2.2">12.2.2 Web forums</a></li>
    <li><a href="ch-support.en.html#s12.2.3">12.2.3 Wiki</a></li>
    <li><a href="ch-support.en.html#s12.2.4">12.2.4 Maintainers</a></li>
    <li><a href="ch-support.en.html#s12.2.5">12.2.5 Usenet newsgroups</a>
    </ul></li>
  <li><a href="ch-support.en.html#s-searchtools">12.3 Is there a quick way to search for information on Debian GNU/Linux?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-support.en.html#s-buglogs">12.4 Are there logs of known bugs?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-support.en.html#s-bugreport">12.5 How do I report a bug in Debian?</a>
  </ul></li>
<li><a href="ch-contributing.en.html">13 Contributing to the Debian Project</a>
  <ul>
  <li><a href="ch-contributing.en.html#s-contrib">13.1 How can I become a Debian software developer?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-contributing.en.html#s-contribresources">13.2 How can I contribute resources to the Debian project?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-contributing.en.html#s-supportingorganizations">13.3 How can I contribute financially to the Debian project?</a>
    <ul>
    <li><a href="ch-contributing.en.html#s-SPI">13.3.1 Software in the Public Interest</a></li>
    <li><a href="ch-contributing.en.html#s-TrustedOrgs">13.3.2 Other organizations</a>
    </ul></li>
  </ul></li>
<li><a href="ch-redistrib.en.html">14 Redistributing Debian GNU/Linux in a commercial product</a>
  <ul>
  <li><a href="ch-redistrib.en.html#s-sellcds">14.1 Can I make and sell Debian CDs?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-redistrib.en.html#s-packagednonfree">14.2 Can Debian be packaged with non-free software?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-redistrib.en.html#s-childistro">14.3 I am making a special Linux distribution for a &quot;vertical market&quot;. Can I use Debian GNU/Linux for the guts of a Linux system and add my own applications on top of it?</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-redistrib.en.html#s-commercialdebs">14.4 Can I put my commercial program in a Debian &quot;package&quot; so that it installs effortlessly on any Debian system?</a>
  </ul></li>
<li><a href="ch-nexttime.en.html">15 Changes expected in the next major release of Debian</a>
  <ul>
  <li><a href="ch-nexttime.en.html#s-hardening">15.1 Hardening the system</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-nexttime.en.html#s-i18n">15.2 Extended support for non-English users</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-nexttime.en.html#s-dependencybasedboot">15.3 Faster booting: Dependency based boot sequence</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-nexttime.en.html#s-di">15.4 Improvements in the Debian Installer</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-nexttime.en.html#s-morearches">15.5 More architectures</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-nexttime.en.html#s-morekernels">15.6 More kernels</a>
  </ul></li>
<li><a href="ch-faqinfo.en.html">16 General information about the FAQ</a>
  <ul>
  <li><a href="ch-faqinfo.en.html#s-authors">16.1 Authors</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-faqinfo.en.html#s-feedback">16.2 Feedback</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-faqinfo.en.html#s-latest">16.3 Availability</a></li>
  <li><a href="ch-faqinfo.en.html#s-docformat">16.4 Document format</a></li>
  </ul></li>
</ul>

<hr>

<p>
[ <a href="ch-faqinfo.en.html">previous</a> ]
[ <a href="#contents">Contents</a> ]
[ <a href="ch-basic_defs.en.html">1</a> ]
[ <a href="ch-getting.en.html">2</a> ]
[ <a href="ch-choosing.en.html">3</a> ]
[ <a href="ch-compat.en.html">4</a> ]
[ <a href="ch-software.en.html">5</a> ]
[ <a href="ch-ftparchives.en.html">6</a> ]
[ <a href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html">7</a> ]
[ <a href="ch-pkgtools.en.html">8</a> ]
[ <a href="ch-uptodate.en.html">9</a> ]
[ <a href="ch-kernel.en.html">10</a> ]
[ <a href="ch-customizing.en.html">11</a> ]
[ <a href="ch-support.en.html">12</a> ]
[ <a href="ch-contributing.en.html">13</a> ]
[ <a href="ch-redistrib.en.html">14</a> ]
[ <a href="ch-nexttime.en.html">15</a> ]
[ <a href="ch-faqinfo.en.html">16</a> ]
[ <a href="ch-basic_defs.en.html">next</a> ]
</p>

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<p>
The Debian GNU/Linux FAQ
</p>

<address>
version 8.0ubuntu1, 29 December 2015<br>
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Authors are listed at <a href="ch-faqinfo.en.html#s-authors">Debian FAQ Authors</a><br>
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