[aclug-L] Re: Terminology

[Steven Saner <ssaner@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Tue, Nov 23, 1999 at 07:19:38PM -0600, L. Adrian Griffis wrote:
> On Tue, 23 Nov 1999, Ryan Rupert wrote:
> > My apologies (where applicable) for a message sent from MS Outlook:
> > 
> > Can anyone give me a URL to any site with a useful glossary of terms
> > covering Linux and the like?
> > I have checked out many HOW-TO's and other online resources to no avail.
> > I.e Query for a formal definition of KDE or GNOME and the term is "not
> > available".
> > 
> > Also, a newbie question using lpr and lpd as an example.
> > 
> > What is the (8) or (1) when a HOW-TO talks about lpd(8) or lpr(1)?
> 
> It refers to the "volume" number in the man pages.  There is, for 
> example, a mount(2) function call which is distinct from (although
> functionally related to) the mount(1s) command.  It is common
> within the man pages to reference other man pages this way, and
> it is also common outside the man pages to use this notation as
> a clue that this object is the subject of a man page, somewhere,
> even if is is not always necessary to know which volume contains
> the page in question.
> 
> Adrian
> 

To add to this, the man page are divided into volumes based on the
type of information. Volume 1 is the Reference Manual. Volume 3 is the
Programmers Manual. Volume 8 is the System Managers Manual. And so
on. If you want to specify which manual volume to look at, put the
volume number after the man command as follows:

man 8 mount

-- 
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Steven Saner                            SouthWind Internet Access, Inc.
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