Welcome to BasicLinux
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BasicLinux is a compact, multi-purpose Linux.  It provides a 2.2.16 kernel,
a glibc2.1 library, a real BASH shell and a useful assortment of utilities.  
In particular, BasicLinux makes a good network client -- it includes a web 
browser, mail handler, telnet, tftp, wget, dhcp and dial-up ppp.  BasicLinux 
is compatible with Slackware 7.1 and additional components can be downloaded 
from a Slackware mirror (a list of mirrors is at the BasicLinux site).

Minimum requirements
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pentium or 486DX    
8mb RAM             
DOS or Windows      
                    
Starting BasicLinux 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
Unzip BL2.zip to a convenient directory on your harddrive.  If you are in
DOS, type BOOT and press the ENTER key.  If you are in Windows 95/98, shut
down to DOS mode and then execute BOOT.  If you are in Windows NT/2000/XP,
you will not be able to execute BOOT directly -- you must use the floppy
version of BasicLinux (see instructions below).

Networking
~~~~~~~~~~
BasicLinux has good networking capabilities.  To help you configure your 
network interface, BasicLinux includes a file called "netsetup", which
outlines the steps to follow.  Just edit "netsetup" to match your situation
and execute it.

If you have a suitable modem, you can run pppsetup to configure a connection
to your Internet Service Provider.  However, unfortunately, many of the 
modems in Windows computers are designed to work only with Windows.  They 
do not work with BasicLinux. 

Booting Basic Linux from floppies
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You need two 1.44mb floppy disks.  Delete all files from the floppies.
Unzip MAKE_FD.ZIP (in same directory where you unzipped BL2.ZIP), type 
MAKE_FD and then press ENTER.  This must be done from the command-line 
(the C: prompt).  Clicking MAKE_FD.BAT with the mouse does not work.


Disclaimer
~~~~~~~~~~
BasicLinux is free software.  I have done my best to make it error-free, 
but there is no guarantee regarding its fitness for any purpose.  You 
use it at your own risk.  If you find any bugs, please report them to
baslinux@ibiblio.org
