FAQ
Here are frequently asked questions including the answers regarding RSC Linux.
What is RSC Linux?
For answering this question, please have a look to the "Homepage".
Where can I get RSC Linux?
At present it is nowhere public available, because traffic is expensive and I also don't want to have rummaged out and downloaded my rpm repository by dumb bots and robots that never heard something about meta tags and other restrictions.
What's up with security and updates?
The delay from getting acquainted of a security issue until the update is public available, is very short. The time is maximal a bit over that one, the Fedora Project needs. Most of the time, I try to develop the patches myself and submitting the solution after some testing to the Fedora Project.
What's up with Quality Assurance (QA)?
Well, there is. As long as most of the packages are ported from the development tree of the Fedora Project, there is enough testing and bug reporting available. At least I'm also testing the packages myself...
Which application area is RSC Linux optimized for?
It's optimized for my personal use (and that of friends) at a dedicated server. I know that sounds strange, but it is so. Widely you can say, RSC Linux is optimized for smaller web hosting appliances, because it includes web, mail, ftp, and mysql server.
Which hardware platforms are supported?
Intel and AMD platform at 32 bit with single and multiple CPUs, also x86. Kernel packages are available for i686 and athlon, of course also as SMP rebuilds; but i585 is only as single CPU system supported. i586 normally is an AMD K6 between 300 and 500 MHz which has annoying NPTL problems.
Which hardware is supported?
I don't know exactly, sorry. There isn't (and won't be) support for exotic hardware and TV tuners or special cards aren't supported, too. The system is developed for smaller text based web hosting appliances, so only the basic hardware needed for this is supported. Most of the hardware, the current Fedora version supports by the latest kernel package is working fine.
Which repositories do exist?
One - the present RSC Linux tree exists, which also includes all available stable updates. Another repository is "pending" called and contains - as the name says - pending packages from development or packages currently in testing.
Why don't you sign your rpm packages?
Why not?! For me there are no good reasons to sign my rpm packages which are most of the time used by me or some friends. There are no public mirrors available where villains could try to manipulate them. In the rpm package itself, signature support is disabled to avoid warnings with signed packages, if no gpg key is available.
Has RSC Linux (un)paid support?
No, you've got to know what you do. There's also no official support from the Fedora Project or the prominent North American enterprise Linux vendor of any kind, but as long as RSC Linux is compatible to both you can use common manuals, documentations and chat rooms in the Internet - but be careful.
Why aren't NTFS, ReiserFS, JFS, HFS, XFS and NFS supported?
Why not?! Who really needs that stuff (at a web hosting appliance)? I don't need it, so it isn't delivered. That's maybe hard, but still true.
Which network types are supported?
The network types Ethernet (ethX devices) and sitX (normally used for IPv6 support) are supported with static IPv4 and IPv6 addresses. There's no support for PPP, WLAN or other network types. Fibre channel cards aren't also supported.
How does the development run off?
I try to rebuild new packages from the development tree of the Fedora Project at my system. If rebuilding works and don't get any problems, everything is fine. If it isn't, I try to track out the problem, try to write a patch and report the issue back to the project. If the issue is accepted (and a maybe available patch is merged), the world is okay. Otherwise the change is only kept in RSC Linux.
Do you have too much time?
Yes, seems so. Currently RSC Linux is a casually running hobby for me like my work as Fedora and EPEL maintainer.