This is release 2.04 of Linux FreeS/WAN, our freely-redistributable IPsec implementation. See http://www.freeswan.org for current news and pointers to more recent releases (if any). The BUGS file lists bugs that we consider major, and the CHANGES file lists the major things that have been done since the last release; READ BOTH before installing. The current development and target system for FreeS/WAN is Red Hat 8.0/9 with either a current Red Hat kernel or 2.4.21. We do not test with 2.0 kernels earlier than 2.0.39. We do not support obsolete kernels (e.g. 2.2.xx, xx < 20), and using them is generally a bad idea anyway. It's likely to work with other Linux distributions using 2.2.xx or 2.4.xx kernels; if modifications are necessary, please tell us details, and we'll try to fix it so it'll drop in cleanly in future. Other systems are a lower priority but we'd still like to hear details if you try it. Several high-level documents are in the doc directory. Most are in HTML format; do lynx doc/index.html (or use your own favorite HTML reader) to read them. See doc/README for two methods of getting plain-text versions if needed. See doc/roadmap.html for a guide to what's where in this distribution. Unpacking the distribution needs about 20MB, and compiling it perhaps another 10-20MB. For setup procedures, start at doc/intro.html; the INSTALL file is now intended for experts only. Please also see doc/makecheck.html for information on automated regression testing. Feedback is welcome, preferably (for legal reasons, among others) to the users mailing list (see http://www.freeswan.org/mail.html to subscribe). (Caution: that mailing list goes all over the world. If you are located in the US, or are a US citizen, read doc/politics.html before sending mail!) If you're reporting a problem with the software, we ask that you read doc/trouble.html first. The form "ipsec send-pr" may be used to report bugs directly to our tracking system. You may review tham at http://bugs.freeswan.org:81/ Bug reports SHOULD include a reference to the output of "ipsec barf" (it is big, so put it on a stable web site), and way to reproduce the bug. If the bug can not be reproduced, we are unlikely to even reply. The bulk of this software is under the GNU General Public License; see COPYING. Some parts of it are not; see CREDITS for the details. Michael Richardson (technical lead) Richard Guy Briggs (KLIPS) D. Hugh Redelmeier (Pluto) Claudia Schmeing (user support, documentation) Sam Sgro (user support + build manager) Our thanks to Sandy Harris (former documentation) Henry Spencer (former technical lead) P.S. This file is RCSID $Id: README,v 1.88.12.1 2003/11/10 09:33:01 sam Exp $. Bet you were just dying to know that.