Belgian HOWTO by Dag Wieërs, dag@mind.be v1.0.29, 15 October 2000 This document describes how to tweak Linux for Belgian users and lists Linux user groups, businesses and other resources in Belgium. ______________________________________________________________________ Table of Contents 1. Introduction 1.1 Why this document? 1.2 New versions of this document 1.3 Translated versions 1.4 Contributions 1.5 Feedback 1.6 Legal stuff 1.7 Todo 2. Configuration 2.1 Keyboard setup 2.1.1 Console 2.1.2 XFree86 2.2 Display and applications 2.2.1 Using the ISO-8859-1 font in console 2.2.2 Support for the Euro symbol 2.3 Time zone 2.4 Locale support 2.4.1 Dutch 2.4.2 French 2.4.3 German 2.4.4 Walloon 2.5 Native language support and codepages 3. Setting up Internet (Belgian ISP information) 3.1 Dialing in with your modem (PPP) 3.1.1 Configuring the modem 3.1.2 Installing pppd 3.1.3 pap-secrets / chap-secrets 3.1.4 Network 3.1.5 File permissions 3.1.6 Dial + Hangup 3.1.7 ISP-dependant information 3.2 Dialing in with your ISDN-modem 3.2.1 Updating the kernel 3.2.2 ISDN4Linux toolkit 3.2.3 Configuring the interface 3.2.4 pap-secrets / chap-secrets 3.2.5 Network 3.2.6 File permissions 3.2.7 Dial + Hangup 3.3 Cablemodem (DHCP) 3.4 ADSL 4. Belgian Linux user groups 4.1 ALLIN Linux User Group 4.2 Antwerp Linux User Group (ALUG) 4.3 Brussels Linux User Group (BeLUGa) 4.4 HCC Limburgse Linux Gebruikers Groep (HLLGG) 4.5 HCC Linux Gebruikers Groep Leuven 4.6 Independent Group of Unix-Alikes and Network Activists (IGUANA) 4.7 Infogroep (IGWE) 4.8 Leuvense Linux Users (L2U) 4.9 Limburgse Linux User Group (LILUG) 4.10 Linux.be vzw/asbl 4.11 Linux Belgian Team 4.12 Linux Gebruikers Oost-Vlaanderen (LGOVL) 4.13 Linux User Group De Bruxelles (BxLUG) 4.14 Linux User Group De Namur 4.15 Linux User Group Mons 4.16 Linux User Movement Underground Mad Belgian Aliens (LUMUMBA) 4.17 linuxbe.org 4.18 Louvain-Li-nux (LLN) 4.19 Open Technology Assembly Linux Special Interest Group 4.20 Python Blanc Blue Belge (P3B) 4.21 Student Information Networking (SIN) 4.22 TINA 4.23 Unix Lovers Yield Student Services & Internet Support (ULYSSIS) 4.24 Zeus WPI - Werkgroep Informatica RUG 5. Belgian Linux businesses 5.1 aDOC Services 5.2 Arafox 5.3 Aragne 5.4 Better Access N.V. 5.5 BIOS Consulting sa/nv 5.6 D. Connect 5.7 Double Barrel Consultancy and Productions 5.8 grmbl productions 5.9 LIFE bvba 5.10 Mind Linux Solutions 5.11 Phidani Software SPRL 5.12 Spier BVBA 5.13 VirgoPlus sprl 6. Belgian Linux resources 6.1 Websites 6.1.1 Linux in Belgium 6.1.2 Dutch Linux-sites 6.1.3 French Linux-sites 6.1.4 Mirrors in Belgium 6.2 HOWTO 6.2.1 Web 6.2.2 FTP 6.3 HOWTO translations 6.3.1 Dutch 6.3.2 French 6.3.3 German 6.4 FTP 6.4.1 Kernel-sources 6.4.2 Distributions 6.4.3 Software 6.5 Usenet 6.6 Mailinglists 6.6.1 Linux in Belgium 6.6.2 Linux user groups 6.7 IRC ______________________________________________________________________ 1. Introduction 1.1. Why this document? Since there was no information anywhere on the net for Belgian Linux users, we started to collect stuff that we thought could be important. This HOWTO aims to be the definitive list of all Belgian-related Linux information. If you think not, you have no excuse to complain and certainly not to not contribute. ;) 1.2. New versions of this document If you need to know more about the Linux Documentation Project or about Linux HOWTO's, feel free to contact the supervisor Tim Bynum linux-howto@sunsite.unc.edu. Tim Bynum will post the listing to several national and international newsgroups on a monthly basis. In addition, the Belgian HOWTO can be found on the World Wide Web at New versions of the Belgian HOWTO are always placed at this site first, so please be sure to check if the copy you are reading is still up to date! 1.3. Translated versions This document is currently translated in 3 languages (English, Dutch and French), we're trying to keep all three of them in sync, but the English version is the source-document! The English and Dutch version are maintained by Dag Wieërs dag@mind.be and is found at: . The French version is maintained by Dany Vanderroost danyv@euronet.be and is found at: . 1.4. Contributions A few people mailed us their suggestions and improvements, thanks go to: · Wim Vandeputte wvdeputte@reptile.rug.ac.be · Pablo Saratxaga srtxg@ping.be · Christophe Lambin clambin@skynet.be · Geert Uytterhoeven geert@linux-m68k.org Many thanks go to Ivo Clarysse soggie@iguana.be who started something similar earlier () and his project helped us a lot to get this document online. 1.5. Feedback If some information seems to be wrong, deceptive or missing, we'd appreciate if you mailed us the improvements. Since we're just human this document isn't bug-free, but your contribution can and will make a difference. To add yourself to the Linux user groups or businesses, collect all necessary information and mail it to us. 1.6. Legal stuff Trademarks are owned by their owners. Although the information given in this document is believed to be correct, the author will accept no liability for the content of this document. Use the tips and examples given herein at your own risk. Copyright © 1998, 1999, 2000 by Dag Wieers. This document may be distributed only subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the LDP license. 1.7. Todo There are some things I'm planning to add to this document, if you're interested be sure you're reading the most current version of this document. (This todo-list is only a reminder to myself, it is not in the translated documents!) · Make a distinction between Linux-distributors, Linux-training and Linux-companies · · , , , , IBM, SGI · Integrate LinBel some more (should have done this a long time ago) · Describe possible ways to get a cheap recent Linux-distribution in your neighbourhood · Add details about how to get Ispell-software for your own language · Add information about translating programs · Add more information about ADSL/DANA · Translate it to DocBook DTD · Link it from inside the Linux.be website at (database-driven) 2. Configuration 2.1. Keyboard setup Linux provides 2 ways to set up your keyboard. At the console you can use loadkeys and under XFree86 you can use xmodmap. 2.1.1. Console To use the keytable for a Belgian keyboard you can use loadkeys be2-latin1 or loadkeys be-latin1 The only difference between the two is that be2-latin1 add support for twosuperior and threesuperior (keycode 41) and grave (keycode 43). Usually loadkeys is started at boottime from the scripts located somewhere in /etc/rc.d Different distributions handle it differentely. But most distributions have a simple program (like kbdconfig in RedHat or yast in SuSE) to change the scripts. 2.1.2. XFree86 To set your keyboard properly under XFree86 you've got more choices. By running Xconfigurator (or a similar program) a config-file for XFree86 is created (with some standard content). This file is called XF86Config and is usually located in /etc or /etc/X11 Make sure (and change otherwise) that something similar to this is given under the Keyboard Section. Section "Keyboard" Protocol "Standard" XkbRules "xfree86" XkbModel "pc101" XkbLayout "be" EndSection If you own a 'microsoft' keyboard (or the less-known penguin keyboards ;p) you can enable those extra 3 keys by changing the "pc101" into "pc104". (I use the extra keys as meta-keys in my windowmanager so some shortcuts doesn't conflict with the internal ones of my wm). To get the AltGr key to work under XFree86 simply add in the Keyboard Section: RightAlt ModeShift To get some key-combinations working under X11, you might want to change in file /usr/X11R6/lib/X11/xkb/symbols/be: key { [ dead_circumflex, diaeresis ], [ bracketleft ] }; key { [ ugrave, percent ], [ quoteright ] }; key { [ mu, sterling ], [ quoteleft ] }; key { [ equal, plus ], [ asciitilde ] }; by key { [ dead_circumflex, dead_diaeresis ], [ bracketleft ] }; key { [ ugrave, percent ], [ dead_acute ] }; key { [ mu, sterling ], [ dead_grave ] }; key { [ equal, plus ], [ dead_tilde ] }; Some people prefer to use a 'compose'-key to enter their special characters, like: 'e => é /o => ø c, => ç co => © ss => ß Solution: xmodmap -e "keycode xx = Multi_key" or xmodmap -e "keysym yy = Multi_key" and 'xx' is the keycode and 'yy' the kesym of the key you choose to be the 'compose'-key. (use xev to get these values) Alternatively you can add keycode xx = Multi_key to your /.xmodmaprc. This way it happens automagically. 2.2. Display and applications Some applications have to be compiled as 8-bit clean to work well with the European characterset. Others like to be told in advance. 2.2.1. Using the ISO-8859-1 font in console You can load the ISO-8859-1 font by typing the following in console: setfont lat1u-16.psf mapscrn trivial echo -ne '\033(K' To be able to use ë, è, é or ç in console, you might want to add these to your /.inputrc: set meta-flag on set convert-meta off set output-meta on (this must be done for every user, if you want this to be default for all users you can either add this file to /etc/skel/ or you could add these lines to /etc/inputrc and add the following line to /etc/bashrc, export INPUTRC=/etc/inputrc ) Note: this is only useful to programs that use readline (like bash) Also set the following environment variables: LC_CTYPE=iso-8859-1 SYSFONT=lat1u-16.psf SYSTERM=linux 2.2.2. Support for the Euro symbol Since Europe had to invent a new character, the Euro, there's a new standard. It's called ISO-8859-15 (aka Latin-9 or Latin-0). To add support you need both a new font and new keymaps. This is part of every major distribution nowadays, if you have an older distributions you probably need a newer console-tools package. The changes in the keymap-file consist of the following lines: keycode 18 = +e +E currency keycode 46 = +c +C cent And the following environment-variable should be set: SYSFONT=lat0-16.psf to make sure you're using the right font. 2.3. Time zone Since Belgium is located in the Central European Time zone (aka MET) which (in the winter) is equivalent to the Greenwhich Mean Time plus 1 (GMT+1), you can simply link /usr/lib/zoneinfo/localtime/MET to /etc/localtime symbolicly like: ln -sf /usr/lib/zoneinfo/MET /etc/localtime or ln -sf /usr/lib/zoneinfo/Europe/Brussels /etc/localtime This automagically sets Daylight Savings (which is GMT+2 in the sum­ mer). Note: that different distributions have different paths, zoneinfo can be located in /usr/share or such... Note2: RedHat uses a tool called timeconfig, SuSE uses yast To change the CMOS clock and then synchronize the system time with the CMOS clock, do something like this: hwclock --set --date="Feb 25 03:38" clock -u -s If your clock is set to local time (which is discouraged but if you have other OS's installed a must), you can do: hwclock --set --date="Feb 25 04:38" clock -s [Noticed the 1 hour difference ? ;p] 2.4. Locale support Not much programs support locale yet, if you want to know more about locale or how to write your own programs to support it, check: [put the damn url here ;p] Be aware that locale makes it harder to resolve problems as less people can help you !! You might understand a problem when it's in technical English, but what if it's translated in some obscure French ?!? Some obviously won't understand both. ;p 2.4.1. Dutch To enable support for the Dutch locale in Belgium on a system with locale support you just have to set the following environment variables: LANG=nl LANGUAGE=nl_BE Try nl_BE.ISO_8859-1 if nl_BE does not work. 2.4.2. French If you want French locale support in Belgium, set the following environment variabels: LANG=fr LANGUAGE=fr_BE Try fr_BE.ISO_8859-1 if fr_BE does not work. 2.4.3. German If you want instead German locale support in Belgium, set the following environment variabels: LANG=de LANGUAGE=de_BE Try de_BE.ISO_8859-1 if de_BE does not work. 2.4.4. Walloon For Walloon locale support you can find files and information at: . To use it set: LANG=wa LANGUAGE=wa_BE:fr_BE Try wa_BE.ISO_8859-1 if wa_BE does not work. 2.5. Native language support and codepages These options add support for the Belgian characterset and codepages. If you'd like to have these, compile a kernel with these options put on. They only apply to some filesystems (FAT-based, ISO9660, ...). < > Codepage 850 (Europe) < > NLS ISO 8859-1 (Latin 1; Western European Languages) < > NLS ISO 8859-15 (Latin 9; Western European Languages with Euro) Located in Filesystems > Native Language Support If your kernel is a modular kernel that came with your distribution (=you never compiled a kernel before), then you might want to type: insmod nls_cp850 insmod nls_iso8859_1 insmod nls_iso8859_15 3. Setting up Internet (Belgian ISP information) 3.1. Dialing in with your modem (PPP) To configure PPP correctly, you should check the PPP-HOWTO . I try to explain it briefly, but if you have any questions or problems, read the HOWTO very carefully. 3.1.1. Configuring the modem To configure your modem, you can alter the initstring of your modem. To learn more about your modem, check Ask Mr. Modem . Beware: if you have a winmodem you will probably not get it to work. More information about winmodems is at: . Work is underway, but winmodems are not as good as real modems. 3.1.2. Installing pppd Now, you need to have the ppp-package installed (check this by typing pppd --version), make sure you have a recent one. Then you have to make sure you've got these files: /usr/local/bin/ppp #!/bin/sh case $1 in on|start) TELEPHONE='555-1212' # The telephone number for the connection ACCOUNT='your_login' # The account name for logon (as in 'George Burns') PASSWORD='your_pass' # The password for this account (and 'Gracie Allen') INITSTRING='AT&F&C1&D2Z'# Modem initstring IPLOCAL=0.0.0.0 # Local IP address if known. Dynamic = 0.0.0.0 IPREMOTE=0.0.0.0 # Remote IP address if desired. Normally 0.0.0.0 DEVICE=/dev/ttyS1 # Serial Device com1=ttyS0, com2=ttyS1,... SPEED=57600 # 19200, 38400 or 57600 (don't try something different) export TELEPHONE ACCOUNT PASSWORD INITSTRING exec /usr/sbin/pppd $DEVICE $SPEED $IPLOCAL:$IPREMOTE \ user $ACCOUNT connect /etc/ppp/ppp-on-dialer ;; off|stop) if [ -r /var/run/ppp0.pid ]; then kill -INT `cat /var/run/ppp0.pid` if [ ! "$?" = "0" ]; then rm -f /var/run/ppp0.pid echo "ERROR: Removed stale pid file" exit 1 fi exit 0 fi echo "ERROR: PPP link is not active on ppp0" exit 1 ;; info|status) /usr/sbin/pppstats ;; *) echo "Usage: ppp on|off|info|start|stop|status"; ;; esac /etc/ppp/ppp-on-dialer #!/bin/sh exec /usr/sbin/chat -v \ REPORT CONNECTION \ REPORT CARRIER \ TIMEOUT 10 \ ABORT '\nBUSY\r' \ ABORT '\nNO ANSWER\r' \ ABORT '\nNO CARRIER\r' \ ABORT '\nNO DIALTONE\r' \ ABORT '\nRINGING\r\n\r\nRINGING\r' \ ABORT 'Invalid Login' \ ABORT 'Login incorrect' \ '' "\r$INITSTRING\r" \ 'OK-+++\c-OK' 'ATH0' \ TIMEOUT 45 \ OK "ATDT$TELEPHONE" \ CONNECT '\d\c' \ ogin:--ogin: "$ACCOUNT" \ ord: "$PASSWORD" You can remove the -v once everything looks normal. The pppd command uses /etc/ppp/options to list its options, change these options to whatever fits. These defaults normally work in most cases. asyncmap 20a0000 crtscts debug default-mru defaultroute detach escape 11,13,ff hide-password ipcp-accept-local ipcp-accept-remote lcp-echo-failure 4 lcp-echo-interval 400 lock modem mtu 1500 netmask 255.255.255.0 noipdefault passive #idle 300 #kdebug 0 #-vj Once dialing in works like a charm, you can leave debug out. Beware: it is important to emphasize that every special character, thus every character that is not [a-ZA-Z0-9] and '_', should be escaped by preceding it with a '\'-character. Thus "e!b$l+" would become "e\!b\$l\+". Try it if you are having troubles ! 3.1.3. pap-secrets / chap-secrets If your ISP requires CHAP or PAP, you need one of these files with their proper username and password: /etc/ppp/pap-secrets or /etc/ppp/chap-secrets #client server secret IP your_login * your_pass * 3.1.4. Network To configure your nameservers, change /etc/resolv.conf. If dialing in is succesfull, but you can't get it to connect to URL's: this is probably the cause. domain domain_of_your_isp nameserver your_primary_nameserver nameserver your_secondary_nameserver 3.1.5. File permissions Before you can run a (shell)script, it must be set executable. Be sure that you set the permissions so that other users cannot see the passwords stored in the files. If you want other users to be able to dial in, you might want to consider using sudo. You might want to do the following: chmod u+rw og-rwx -R /etc/ppp chmod u+x /etc/ppp/ppp-on-dialer /usr/local/bin/ppp 3.1.6. Dial + Hangup Then if /usr/local/bin is in your PATH, you can easily dial in with: ppp on and hangup with: ppp off and to get some statistics, you do: ppp status 3.1.7. ISP-dependant information Digibel: Authentication: PAP Nameservers: 194.119.240.62 Web: Support: DMA: Authentication: text-based Nameservers: 195.13.24.1 Web: Support: FreeBel: Authentication: PAP Nameservers: 194.149.160.9, 194.149.160.1 Web: Support: no official Linux support yet Tiscalinet (Freegates): Authentication: text-based ? Nameservers: 212.35.2.1, 212.35.2.2 Web: Support: no official Linux support yet KPN Belgium (Eunet): Authentication: text-based Extra options: proxyarp Nameservers: 193.74.208.135 Web: Support: Online / TijdNet: Authentication: text-based / PAP Extra options: noccp Nameservers: 62.112.0.7, 194.88.127.7 Web: Support: no official Linux support yet Ping: Authentication: text-based Web: Support: Planet Internet: Authentication: CHAP Nameservers: 194.119.232.3, 194.119.232.2 Web: Support: no official Linux support yet Skynet (Belgacom): Authentication: PAP Extra options: defaultroute Nameservers: 195.238.2.21, 195.238.2.22 Web: Support: no official Linux support yet UUNet: Authentication: PAP Nameservers: 194.7.1.4, 194.7.15.70 Web: Support: no official support yet VT4: Authentication: PAP Web: Support: no official Linux support yet Wanadoo (Euronet): Authentication: text-based / PAP Nameservers: 195.74.193.12, 194.134.0.12 Web: Support: World Online: Authentication: CHAP Nameservers: 212.233.1.34, 212.233.2.34 Web: Support: no official Linux support yet XS4ALL: Authentication: PAP Nameservers: 194.109.6.66, 194.109.9.99 Web: Support: Yucom: Authentication: CHAP Web: Support: no official Linux support yet 3.2. Dialing in with your ISDN-modem Contributed by Christophe Lambin clambin@skynet.be This section does not aim to be a definitive guide on ISDN for Linux. For a more detailed discussion on the topic, see Paul Slootman's ISDN4Linux HOWTO and ISDN4Linux-FAQ. 3.2.1. Updating the kernel If you're using a 2.2 kernel, it's recommended to get an updated version of the ISDN code. You can retrieve the CVS at . For more information, check: Warning: if you've recently purchased an Eicon Diva 2.0 PCI (eg, via Belgacom), there's a good chance you've actually got a Diva 2.01.In this case, you must get a version dated 1 July 1999 or later ! Once the ISDN is in place, you can start up the driver. Eg: modprobe hisax type=11 protocol=2 Refer to the Readme's for the right parameters and values for your card. 3.2.2. ISDN4Linux toolkit Next, you'll need the ISDN4Linux toolkit. You can retrieve the latest version of the toolkit at: 3.2.3. Configuring the interface With the tools installed and configured, write a script to configure the interface, to be used for the ISDN connection. As always in Linux, there's no one correct way of doing this. I've put these in a script /etc/rc.d/rc.isdn: #!/bin/sh MSNREMOTE='555-1212' # Phone number of ISP MSNLOCAL='555-1313' # my number, without 0, with areacode ACCOUNT='george' # The account for logon (as 'George Burns') IPLOCAL=10.0.0.2 # my fixed IP (use 10.0.0.2 if no fixed) IPREMOTE=0.0.0.0 # IP number of ISP INTERFACE=ippp0 /sbin/modprobe hisax type=11 protocol=2 /sbin/isdnctrl verbose 3 system on /sbin/isdnctrl addif $IF /sbin/isdnctrl secure $IF on /sbin/isdnctrl addphone $IF out $MSNREMOTE /sbin/isdnctrl eaz $IF $MSNLOCAL /sbin/isdnctrl huptimeout $IF 300 /sbin/isdnctrl l2_prot $IF hdlc /sbin/isdnctrl l3_prot $IF trans /sbin/isdnctrl encap $IF syncppp # /sbin/isdnctrl dialmode $IF auto /sbin/ifconfig $IF $IPLOCAL pointopoint $IPREMOTE -arp -broadcast /sbin/ipppd /dev/ippp0 user $ACCOUNT $IPLOCAL:$IPREMOTE To start this at boot time, make it executable and append the following to /etc/rc.d/rc.local: if [ -x /etc/rc.d/rc.isdn ]; then . /etc/rc.d/rc.isdn fi The ipppd command gets its parameters passed through a file, /etc/ppp/ioptions: -ac -bsdcomp debug defaultroute ipcp-accept-local ipcp-accept-remote mru 1524 mtu 1500 noipdefault -pc useifip -vj -vjccomp #idle 360 #persistent Warning: do NOT specify +pap or +chap in this file. This specifies the authentication that ipppd should use for an INCOMING client. If you were to use this to connect to your ISP, ipppd would wait for the ISP to authenticate itself using the specified protocol. Beware: it is important to emphasize that every special character, thus every character that is not [a-ZA-Z0-9] and '_' should be escaped by preceding it with a '\'-character. Thus 'e!b$l+' would become 'e\!b\$l\+'. Try it if you are having troubles ! Finally, create /etc/ppp/ip-down.local to handle the shutdown of the interface: #!/bin/sh /sbin/ifconfig $1 down sleep 1 /sbin/ifconfig $1 10.0.0.2 pointopoint Note: this is to handle some problems with routes on shutdowns. Anyone know of a clean(er) solution ? 3.2.4. pap-secrets / chap-secrets If your ISP uses PAP or CHAP, create a file /etc/ppp/pap-secrets or /etc/ppp/chap-secrets. Its format is: #client server secret IP your_login * your_pass * 3.2.5. Network Not really related to ISDN, but a lot of people forget this step (too eager to try out all the stuff they typed in above ? :-)). Anyway, you need to configure the DNS, by creating a file /etc/resolv.conf: domain your_domain_of_your_isp nameserver your_primary_nameserver nameserver your_secondary_nameserver 3.2.6. File permissions Before you can run a (shell)script, it must be set executable. Be sure that you set the permissions so that other users cannot see the passwords stored in the files. If you want other users to be able to dial in, you might want to consider using sudo. You might want to do the following: chmod u+rw og-rwx -r /etc/ppp chmod u+x /etc/rc.d/rc.isdn /etc/ppp/ip.down-local /usr/local/bin/isdn 3.2.7. Dial + Hangup Finally, you can write a little wrapper to start and stop the ISDN connection. I've put this as /usr/local/bin/isdn: #!/bin/bash case $1 in on|start) /sbin/isdnctrl dial ippp0 ;; off|stop) /sbin/isdnctrl hangup ippp0 ;; info|status) /sbin/isdnctrl list ippp0 ;; *) echo "Usage: isdn on|off|info|start|stop|status" ;; esac Then if /usr/local/bin is in your PATH, you can easily dial in with: isdn on and hangup with: isdn off 3.3. Cablemodem (DHCP) DHCP was designed to make life easier, and most of the times it does ;) More information to set up your DHCP client can be found at: and a list of Frequently Asked Questions at: which describes everything you need to know. Along with the information in the Cable- Modem HOWTO ( ). Lots of people want to connect a whole network to their cablemodem, that's not a problem. You'll need IP-Masquerading ( ) and make sure the interface (that speaks to the cablemodem) has the right MAC- address !! Another solution (in case of problems) is to reset your cablemodem. UPC Belgium (Chello/TVD): Web: Support: no official support yet More information: Pandora (Telenet): Automatic proxy: http://pac.pandora.be:8080 HTTP proxy: export http_proxy="http://proxy.pandora.be:8080/" Web: Support: no official support yet More information: 3.4. ADSL Easynet: Web: Support: Turboline (Belgacom): Web: Support: no official support yet More information: and 4. Belgian Linux user groups More information can be found in the User Group HOWTO located at: A complete list of Linux User Groups is at: and at: 4.1. ALLIN Linux User Group Mechelbaan 260 B-3130 Begijnendijk Email: allin@linuxfreak.com Web: Contact: Paul Terweduwe paul@faes.be Last modified: 13 April 1999. 4.2. Antwerp Linux User Group (ALUG) Van Luppenstraat 70 B-2018 Antwerp Phone: +32 3 218 63 54 Email: fv.alug@advalvas.be Web: Contact: Patrick Op de Beeck alug@pandora.be Last modified: 26 December 1999. 4.3. Brussels Linux User Group (BeLUGa) Brussels Linux User Group (BeLUGa) Infogroep, Building F, room 218 Vrije Universiteit Brussel Pleinlaan 2 B-1050 Brussel Email: johanb@linux.rave.org Web: Last modified: 25 February 2000. 4.4. HCC Limburgse Linux Gebruikers Groep (HLLGG) HCC Limburgse Linux Gebruikers Groep Email: Linuxgg@hotmail.com Web: Contact: Andy Peeters & Bruno Tony Last modified: 31 May 1999. 4.5. HCC Linux Gebruikers Groep Leuven Diegemstraat 61 B-1930 Zaventem Email: Yvo.Dries@village.uunet.be Web: Contact: Yvo Dries Yvo.Dries@village.uunet.be Last modified: 2 August 1999. 4.6. Independent Group of Unix-Alikes and Network Activists (IGUANA) Milcampslaan 101 B-1040 Schaarbeek Phone: +32 2 657 77 36 Fax: +32 2 657 77 38 Email: info@iguana.be Web: Last modified: 5 March 1999. 4.7. Infogroep (IGWE) Pleinlaan 2, 5F218 (building F) B-1050 Brussels Phone: +32 2 629 33 56 Fax: +32 2 629 33 89 Email: ig@igwe.vub.ac.be Web: Last modified: 6 July 1999. 4.8. Leuvense Linux Users (L2U) Leuvense Linux Users (L2U) Email: darkcompanion@village.uunet.be Web: Last modified: 28 November 1999. 4.9. Limburgse Linux User Group (LILUG) Limburgse Linux User Group (LILUG) Email: frank.eersels@ping.be Web: Contact: Frank Eersels frank.eersels@ping.be Last modified: 6 May 1999. 4.10. Linux.be vzw/asbl Linux.be vzw/asbl Non-proft organization to promote Linux in Belgium Email: info@linux.iguana.be Web: Last modified: 23 September 1999. 4.11. Linux Belgian Team Rue d'Aineffe 4 B-4317 Borlez Faimes Email: manu@rtfm.be Web: Contact: Alexandre J.D. Dulaunoy adulau@rtfm.be Last modified: 25 February 1999. 4.12. Linux Gebruikers Oost-Vlaanderen (LGOVL) Linux Gebruikers Oost-Vlaanderen Email: dennis@lgovl.freeservers.com Web: Last modified: 25 February 1999. 4.13. Linux User Group De Bruxelles (BxLUG) Linux User Group De Bruxelles (BxLUG) Email: bxl_information@linuxbe.org Web: Contact: Raphael Bauduin bxl_information@linuxbe.org Last modified: 17 July 1999. 4.14. Linux User Group De Namur Linux User Group De Namur Email: namur@linuxbe.org Web: Last modified: 17 July 1999. 4.15. Linux User Group Mons Linux User Group Mons Email: webmaster@linuxwallonie.org Web: Last modified: 26 May 1999. 4.16. Linux User Movement Underground Mad Belgian Aliens (LUMUMBA) Universiteitslaan 1, Filii Lamberti 3590 Diepenbeek Email: helpdesk@lumumba.luc.ac.be Web: Last modified: 25 February 1999. 4.17. linuxbe.org linuxbe.org Email: team@linuxbe.org Web: Contact: Cedric Gavage niddle@linuxbe.org Last modified: 7 February 2000. 4.18. Louvain-Li-nux (LLN) Louvain-Li-nux (LLN) Louvain-la-neuve Linux User Group Place des paniers 5/014 B-1348 Louvain-La-neuve Phone: +32 10 45 47 61 Email: lln@udev.org Web: Contact: Benjamin Henrion benjamin.henrion@linuxbe.org Last modified: 15 October 2000. 4.19. Open Technology Assembly Linux Special Interest Group Kruipstraat 14 B-1850 Grimbergen Phone: +32 11 27 58 98 Fax: +32 11 27 03 89 Email: info@ota.be Web: Contact: Jan Vanhercke jan.vanhercke@c-cure.be Last modified: 4 March 1999. 4.20. Python Blanc Blue Belge (P3B) Python Blanc Blue Belge (P3B) Web: Last modified: 15 October 2000. 4.21. Student Information Networking (SIN) Kleinhoefstraat 4 B-2440 Geel Email: sin@sin.khk.be Web: Last modified: 12 June 1999. 4.22. TINA Contact: Tina gebruikers vraagtina@digibel.org Web: Last modified: 25 February 2000. 4.23. Unix Lovers Yield Student Services & Internet Support (ULYSSIS) Blijde Inkomsstraat 21, lokaal 01.17 B-3000 Leuven Phone: +32 16 32 48 61 Email: ulyssis@ulyssis.student.kuleuven.ac.be Web: Last modified: 25 February 1999. 4.24. Zeus WPI - Werkgroep Informatica RUG Krijgslaan 281 S9 B-9000 Gent Phone: +32 09 264 47 51 Email: info@zeus.rug.ac.be Web: Comment: Restricted to RUG students Last modified: 22 June 1999. 5. Belgian Linux businesses The Linux Documentation Project contains worldwide lists of Linux businesses, Linux Consultants HOWTO and V.A.R. HOWTO, and can be found at: . 5.1. aDOC Services Avenue du Pesage, 31-33 B-1050 Brussels Phone: +32 2 646 00 76 Email: sales@adoc-services.com Web: Last modified: 25 February 1999. 5.2. Arafox Avenue Joseph Wybranlaan 40 B-1070 Brussels Phone: +32 2 529 59 91 Fax: +32 2 529 59 92 Email: info@arafox.com Web: Last modified: 11 February 2000. 5.3. Aragne Aragne Email: contact@aragne.com Web: Last modified: 15 October 2000. 5.4. Better Access N.V. Geldenaakse Vest 6 3000 Leuven Phone: +32 16 29 80 45 Fax: +32 16 29 80 46 Email: info@ba.be Web: Type of support: After an onsite installation, we mainly support our customers with SSH remote administration. Most problems are reported by E- mail or by the inhouse-developped webbased supportsystem. This doesn't mean that once in a while a supportcall comes in. Special expertise: Security, systemadministration and setups, security (firewalling, tigerteaming, VPN, etc.) Networkdesign, wireless networking, Troubleshooting, product development, etc. Please visit http://www.ba.be for more info. Last modified: 7 March 1999. 5.5. BIOS Consulting sa/nv Chée de Neerstalle 240 B-1190 Bruxelles Phone: +32 (0)2 376 61 97 Fax: +32 (0)2 376 23 99 Email: info@biosconsulting.com Web: Last modified: 27 June 2000. 5.6. D. Connect Av. Van Goidtsnoven 33 B-1180 Uccle Email: webmaster@dconnect.be Web: Last modified: 25 February 1999. 5.7. Double Barrel Consultancy and Productions Sportstraat 28 B-9000 Gent Phone: +32 9 222 77 64 Fax: +32 9 222 49 76 Email: mvergall@double-barrel.be Web: Contact: Michael C. Vergallen mvergall@double-barrel.be Type of support: phone, email remote network admin, inhouse, onsite. Special expertise: installation, system admin. internet and intranet connectivity, sendmail, firewalls, proxys, nameservers, troubleshooting software & hardware. Last modified: 5 March 1999. 5.8. grmbl productions Korte Vuldersstraat B-8000 Brugge Phone: +32 50 344366 Email: info@grmbl.com Web: Last modified: 2 March 1999. 5.9. LIFE bvba Mgr. Vanwaeyenberglaan 6/10 B-3000 Leuven Phone: +32 477 57 50 71 Email: info@life.be Web: Contact: Jasper Nuyens jasper@life.be Type of support: LIFE is the first company in Europe to provide 24/7 professional support for Linux in Europe. LIFE also provides server and desktop installation services, educational services and fixed price development. Exclusive on the Linux operating system. Special expertise: Kernel driver development, database interconnectivity (VPN, wireless networking), security auditing (firewall, VPN, ethical hacking), e-commerce. See our website for more. Last modified: 20 April 1999. 5.10. Mind Linux Solutions Vaartstraat 12 B-3000 Leuven Phone: +32 (0)16 309 666 or +32 (0)478 274 069 Fax: +32 (0)16 309 644 Email: info@mind.be Web: Contact: Peter Vandenabeele peter@mind.be Type of support: Installation & configuration, auditing & consultancy, support & maintenance, training & education, research & development. Special expertise: We are specialised in installing Linux servers for various purposes (Web-, File-, Print- or Mailservers, Routers, Firewalls, VPN, ...) in heterogenous networks. We provide support and training for Linux and Open Source products and we develop custom Linux solutions for our customers. Last modified: 23 April 2000. 5.11. Phidani Software SPRL Rue de l'autonomie 1 B-1070 Brussels Email: info@phidani.be Web: Last modified: 25 February 1999. 5.12. Spier BVBA Knaptandstraat 96-98 B-9100 Sint-Niklaas Email: info@spier,be Web: Last modified: 02 March 1999. 5.13. VirgoPlus sprl Rue Dartois 1 B-4000 Liège Phone: +32 4 253 00 59 Fax: +32 4 253 00 49 Email: contact@virgoplus.com Web: Contact: Bruno Mairlot bruno@virgoplus.com Type of support: By phone, email, or remote networked administration, inhouse, onsite Special expertise: Installation, configuration, administration of Linux, internet connection, intranet developpment, firewalls, samba, netatalk, firewalls, proxys, DNS, web server (Apache), mod_perl, MySQL, Gui interface developpment (GTK+). We have acquired a special expertise with the Red Hat distributions. Last modified: 28 June 1999. 6. Belgian Linux resources 6.1. Websites 6.1.1. Linux in Belgium · Linux in Belgium · Belgian HOWTO 6.1.2. Dutch Linux-sites · · Nederlandstalige Linux Documentatie Project · Linux Support Website · EToS: Educatieve Toepassingen van Open Software · Beginnen met Linux · Installatie Handleiding RedHat 5.2 6.1.3. French Linux-sites · LinuxBe.Org · Belgian HOWTO in french · Portail LinuxBe.Org · linux-france.org 6.1.4. Mirrors in Belgium · Freshmeat at Chello (TVD) · Linuxberg at Wallonie Internet · Linuxberg at Online · Linuxberg at Pandora (Telenet) · Linux Gazette at Belnet · Linux Gazette at Linuxbe · LinuxFocus · Linux France 6.2. HOWTO The most important collection of Linux information on the net. Please if you encounter erroneous information in one of them, do contact the author. Only that way it will be corrected and we all stand together ;) 6.2.1. Web · HOWTO's at KULeuven · HOWTO's at LinkLine · HOWTO's at Double-Barrel · HOWTO's at SIN · HOWTO's at Linuxbe.org 6.2.2. FTP · HOWTO's at Belnet 6.3. HOWTO translations As Dutch is less wide-spread, it is the least supported. But work is being done to resolve this ;) (and maybe *you* can help ?!?) French and German translations obviously are already taken care of. 6.3.1. Dutch A succesfull initiative is making progress, but there's still a lot to do. If you want to help, start translating and send it there. Check: . 6.3.2. French French translations of HOWTO's can be found at: 6.3.3. German German translations of HOWTO's can be found at: 6.4. FTP Most of the times, it doesn't matter where you got it from, as long as it works. But to save you some time and save us some bandwidth, it's much better to get it near you ;) Naturally I forgot some, please send your additions or corrections. 6.4.1. Kernel-sources · Official Mirror kernel-sources at Chello (TVD) · Mirror kernel-sources at linux.be.eu.org 6.4.2. Distributions · Red Hat · Official Mirror at Belnet ftp://ftp.belnet.be/mirror/ftp.redhat.com/pub/redhat/redhat- version/arch · Mirror at Chello (TVD) ftp://ftp.chello.be/mirror/ftp.redhat.com/redhat/redhat- version/arch · Mirror at linux.be.eu.org · Mirror at Pandora (Telenet) ftp://mirrors.pandora.be/mirrors/ftp.redhat.com/redhat/redhat- version/arch · Debian · Official Mirror at KULeuven · Official Mirror at spnet · Mirror at EUnet · Mirror at Pandora (Telenet) · Mandrake · Mirror at Belnet · Mirror at Chello (TVD) · SuSE · Mirror at Belnet · Mirror at Pandora (Telenet) · Slackware · Mirror at Globe 6.4.3. Software · Mirrors at Belnet · Mirrors at Chello (TVD) · Mirrors at linux.be.eu.org · Mirrors at Pandora (Telenet) 6.5. Usenet · at Linux.iguana.be · at WebWatch 6.6. Mailinglists 6.6.1. Linux in Belgium · info@linux.iguana.be · discussions@linux.iguana.be · builders@linux.iguana.be · lugs@linux.iguana.be 6.6.2. Linux user groups · BLUG Mailinglist · L2U Mailinglist · LILUG Mailinglist 6.7. IRC The fastest medium to get support is IRC, but beware. Because IRC is rather anonymous it's also easy to fool people. On IRCnet there's a channel called #linux.be that is closely related to bcol and the Belgian Linux-scene. The channel is still small, but it surely will grow in time. To get help in English, there's only one place #linux. Also Dalnet has a #linux.be channel.