Quoting [EMAIL PROTECTED] ([EMAIL PROTECTED]): > In a message dated 1/26/99 10:06:20 AM Central Standard Time, > [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > > > Every package in the base installation has to be potentially /necessary/ > > for the installation process itself, not just desirable, i.e. > > essential rather than important. For more details, see > > /usr/doc/debian-policy/policy.text.gz section 2.3.6 > > > > I installed my Debian system and it came complete with PPP, printer support, > PCMCIA support and ZIP drive support - how are all of those necessary for > installation?
PPP is essential if you install through a modem connection to the internet. PCMCIA is essential if that modem is a pcmcia card in a laptop. I use the ZIP drive support to save pumping floppies, but I only started doing this after it became necessary because I had to install linux on a machine with an LS120 drive (which can only read a floppy through the BIOS). I'm not sure where you got printer support from - the lpr package is not in the list, viz. ii lilo 20-0.1 LInux LOader - Loads Linux from ... ii login 980403-0.3 Sign on to the system. ii makedev 1.6-32 Creates special device files in ... ii mawk 1.3.3-2 a pattern scanning and text proc... Cheers, -- Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Tel: +44 1908 653 739 Fax: +44 1908 655 151 Snail: David Wright, Earth Science Dept., Milton Keynes, England, MK7 6AA Disclaimer: These addresses are only for reaching me, and do not signify official stationery. Views expressed here are either my own or plagiarised.