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## 2. Software requirements

You need:

- a fully working Linux system (any version should be OK);
- the common `gzip` compression utility, or alternatively `bzip2` that you find on ftp://sunsite.unc.edu:/pub/Linux/utils/compress; this tool compresses better than `gzip`, but it's also a wee bit slower and consumes a lot of memory;
- the `upx` executable compressor, whose home page is at http://cdata.tvnet.hu/~ml/upx.html and http://wildsau.idv.uni-linz.ac.at/mfx/upx.html;
- the `zlibc` package, available on ftp://sunsite.unc.edu:/pub/Linux/libs/compression. It's called `zlibc-X.X.tar.gz`, where `X.X` is the latest version.

There are other executable compressors. One is `gzexe` (forget it), while `tcx` was probably the best before `upx` became available; yet another is `tzx`, in theory better than `tcx`. The thing is, it screwed everything up when I tried it on a spare PC, though I'm not sure if I did something wrong. You had better stick with `upx`: it's reliable, efficient, and very handy.

There are kernel patches that provide transparent file system compression a la Stacker, but as of this writing none of them has yet a reputation for stability and reliability. For safety's sake, steer clear.

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