This package contains the Linux kernel that is used to boot and run your system. It contains few device drivers for specific hardware. Most hardware is instead supported by modules loaded after booting.

kernel-headers -- (Version 2.0.36, 1,551K)

These are the C header files for the Linux kernel, which define structures and constants that are needed when building most standard programs under Linux, as well as to rebuild the kernel.

kernel-ibcs -- (Version 2.0.36, 219K)

This package allows you to run programs in the iBCS2 (Intel Binary Compatibility Standard, version 2) and related executable formats.

kernel-source -- (Version 2.0.36, 30,727K)

This is the source code for the Linux kernel. It is required to build most C programs as they depend on constants defined in here. You can also build a custom kernel that is better tuned to your particular hardware.

basesystem -- (Version 4.9, 0K)

While this package does not contain any files, it does perform an important function. It defines the components of a basic Red Hat system, as the package installation order to use during bootstrapping. It should be the first package installed on a system, and it should never be removed.

crontabs -- (Version 1.7, 4K)

The root crontab file is used to schedule execution of various programs.

dev -- (Version 2.5.9, 0K)

Unix and unix like systems (including Linux) use file system entries to represent devices attached to the machine. All of these entries are in the /dev tree (though they don't have to be), and this package contains the most commonly used /dev entries. These files are essential for a system to function properly.

etcskel -- (Version 1.3, 5K)

This is part of the Base Red Hat system. It contains the files that go in /etc/skel, which are in turn placed in every new user's home directory when new accounts are created.

filesystem -- (Version 1.3.2, 79K)

This package contains the basic directory layout for a Linux system, including the proper permissions for the directories. This layout conforms to the Linux Filesystem Standard (FSSTND) 1.3.

initscripts -- (Version 3.72, 94K)

This package contains the scripts use to boot a system, change run levels, and shut the system down cleanly. It also contains the scripts that activate and deactivate most network interfaces.

mailcap -- (Version 1.0, 29K)

This is the Red Hat Mailcap package. Installing it will allow programs like lynx to automatically use zgv to display pictures (provided zgv is installed).

pam -- (Version 0.64, 2,747K)

PAM (Pluggable Authentication Modules) is a powerful, flexible, extensible authentication system which allows the system administrator to configure authentication services individually for every pam-compliant application without recompiling any of the applications.

pamconfig -- (Version 0.51, 2K)

This package has been made obsolete by pam-0.56, and is provided for compatibility purposes only. If the command:

rpm -q --whatrequires pamconfig

returns no package names, you may remove this package with:

rpm -e pamconfig

passwd -- (Version 0.50, 17K)

This password-changing program uses PAM (Pluggable Authentication Modules) to set or change a password. Like all PAM-capable applications, it can be configured using a file in the /etc/pam.d/ directory.

pwdb -- (Version 0.54, 1,260K)

pwdb (Password Database Library) allows configurable access to and management of /etc/passwd, /etc/shadow, and network authentication systems including NIS and Radius.

redhat-release -- (Version 5.2, 0K)

Red Hat Linux release file

rootfiles -- (Version 5.2, 2K)

This package contains all the startup files for the root user. These are basically the same files that are in the etcskel package.

setup -- (Version 1.9.1, 8K)

This package contains a number of very important configuration and setup files, including the passwd, group, profile files, etc.

termcap -- (Version 9.12.6, 424K)

The /etc/termcap file is a database defining the capabilities of various terminals and terminal emulators. Programs use /etc/termcap to gain access to various features of terminals such as the bell, color, and graphics.