<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?>
<!DOCTYPE sect1 PUBLIC "-//OASIS//DTD DocBook XML V4.4//EN"
  "http://www.oasis-open.org/docbook/xml/4.4/docbookx.dtd" [
  <!ENTITY % general-entities SYSTEM "../../general.ent">
  %general-entities;
]>

<sect1 id="pre-prerequisites">
  <?dbhtml filename="prerequisites.html"?>

  <title>Prerequisites</title>

  <para>Building an LFS system is not a simple task. It requires a certain
  level of existing knowledge of Unix system administration in order to
  resolve problems, and correctly execute the commands listed. In particular,
  as an absolute minimum, the reader should already have the ability to use
  the command line (shell) to copy or move files and directories, list
  directory and file contents, and change the current directory. It is also
  expected that the reader has a reasonable knowledge of using and installing
  Linux software.</para>

  <para>Because the LFS book assumes <emphasis>at least</emphasis> this basic
  level of skill, the various LFS support forums are unlikely to be able to
  provide you with much assistance; you will find that your questions regarding
  such basic knowledge will likely go unanswered, or you will simply be referred
  to the LFS essential pre-reading list.</para>

  <para>Before building an LFS system, we recommend reading the following
  HOWTOs:</para>

  <itemizedlist>
    <listitem>
      <para remap="verbatim">Software-Building-HOWTO
      <ulink url="http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/Software-Building-HOWTO.html"/></para>

      <para>This is a comprehensive guide to building and installing
      <quote>generic</quote> Unix software distributions under Linux.</para>
    </listitem>
    <listitem>
      <para remap="verbatim">The Linux Users' Guide
      <ulink url="http://www.linuxhq.com/guides/LUG/guide.html"/></para>

      <para>This guide covers the usage of assorted Linux software.</para>
    </listitem>
    <listitem>
      <para remap="verbatim">The Essential Pre-Reading Hint
      <ulink url="&hints-root;essential_prereading.txt"/></para>

      <para>This is an LFS Hint written specifically for users new to Linux.
      It includes a list of links to excellent sources of information on a
      wide range of topics. Anyone attempting to install LFS should have an
      understanding of many of the topics in this hint.</para>
    </listitem>
  </itemizedlist>

</sect1>
