http://www.linuxorbit.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=545&page=1
Linux Forum Posting HOWTO For Newbies (And Not-So-Newbies): Version
1.0[73] Register for your 30-Day Free trial
(893 total words in this text)
(1139 Reads) [74] Printer friendly page
Published by LinuxOrbit.com: January 08, 2003
by Rob Bochan
Have you ever wondered why you can find Linux help sites all over, but
you can never seem to get your questions answered when you post to
their help forums? In this HOWTO, we'd like to show you 10 easy steps
to take to get better responses to your questions online. Hopefully
these might be of some use to folks - and help those that try to
answer questions.
From the home office in Louisville, Kentucky, here are our top 10 ways
to get better and faster answers to your questions on [75]Linux help
forums.
Number 10!
Be sure to post which Linux distribution and version you are using.
Even if you have 1000 posts to your credit - don't expect people to
remember what distribution everyone is using. (Helpful hint:: you can
even add it to your signature to make sure).
In addition, remember that more info is good:
* Knowing which version of the Linux kernel wouldn't hurt (command:
uname -a).
* Knowing which GUI (KDE2.2.2, KDE3.0, Gnome1.4, Blackbox, etc.)
could be helpful as well.
Number 9!
If you're having a hardware problem, don't forget to include the
hardware make/model in question. If you know what kernel module it's
associated with, that info wouldn't hurt either.
Number 8!
Is it a software problem? If at all possible, include the version
number of the software in question.
To find out the version:
For rpm based distributions, it's as simple as issuing the command:
rpm -qa |grep <name of program>
For Debian based distributions, it's as simple as issuing the command:
dpkg --list '<name of program>'
If it is a GUI application, look for the Help or About buttons in the
GUI menus, these usually contain the version numbers.
Number 7!
Please do not cross post your question (post the same question to
multiple forum sections). It's just not necessary and in general it's
considered rude. People can read all new posts in a fairly short visit
- so don't worry, your post will be seen!
Number 6!
Don't be afraid to ask what you might think of as a "dumb question",
there's no such thing. Everyone was a newbie once, and everyone had
questions which now, would seem very simple. As one of my best high
school teachers once told me "The only truly dumb questions are the
ones you don't ask".
Number 5!
Learn to use at least one console/terminal based text editor (and
stick with it!). Be it vi, emacs, joe, pico or whatever - rest
assured, you will be using one at one point or another.
Number 4!
If you download a tarball (tar.gz file et al) and unpack it, there's
usually a file called README included within - be sure to READ it!
Same goes for the file called INSTALL!
Number 3!
Be as descriptive as humanly possible.
* Describe any symptoms of the problem carefully and clearly.
* Include any error messages you're seeing. This means writing down
exactly what the error says and then posting it!
* Describe any diagnostics you did to try and figure out the problem
yourself.
* Describe any research you did to try and understand the problem.
* Be sure to mention any recent changes to your hardware or software
that might be relevant.
* Try to document the process of getting the problem (such as: "I
booted normally, logged in with my graphical login to KDE (version
2.2) and the very first application I run gives me the error "blah
blah")
Number 2!
Use meaningful, specific subject lines. A lame looking subject line
(or one that is seen time and time again) doesn't catch someone's
interest and make them want to read your post.
Bad:
HELP THE N00B!!!!!!!!!!
THIS SUX!!!!!!
TUX RACER IS F***ED!!!!
Good:
Tuxracer errors
Better:
XFree86 4.2/Nvidia GEFoo card - GL errors with Tuxracer
And the Number 1 way to get better and faster answers to your Linux
questions online is...
Be Patient!
* No, your post may not get answered in an hour - sometimes not at
all, and that's very rare, but give it time.
* "Demanding" an answer is just plain silly and will get you
nowhere.
* Do a little research while you wait for an answer. Use the search
feature of the message boards to look for posts with the same type
of problem. And at least try to use [76]Google ONE time for your
problem as well.
* If available, stop in the irc channel of the help site if you'd
prefer some real time help. There's usually someone around or
nearby, if not, stop back later. Start up an IRC client and issue
these commands to join the Linux Orbit Help Chat room:
/server irc.freenode.net (default port 6667)
/join #linuxorbit
Optionally: [77]click here for a web interface to the Linux Orbit
IRC chat room (requires java plugin)
Some Helpful websites:
* The Linux Documentation Project - HOWTO's upon HOWTO's upon
HOWTO's
[78]http://www.tldp.org/
* Google's Advanced Newsgroups Search. This should be one of your
first stops! 99% of questions have been asked and answered - it
might save you some headaches!
[79]http://groups.google.com/advanced_group_search
* Google has a Linux-specific search engine
[80]http://www.google.com/linux
* Search Linux Orbit's Forums
[81]http://linuxorbit.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=XForum&file=
search
* Using grep - one of the most powerful commands at your fingertips
[82]http://www.pegasus.rutgers.edu/~elflord/unix/grep.html
* Your first stop if you're using Linux on a Laptop
[83]http://www.linux-laptop.net
* Linux Orbit's HOWTO's
[84]http://linuxorbit.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&fil
e=index&req=listarticles&secid=2
* Tomsrtbt - The most GNU/Linux on 1 floppy disk - a definite
lifesaver!
[85]http://www.toms.net/rb/
* The Linux Cookbook
[86]http://www.ibiblio.org/obp/cookbook/
* Rute User's Tutorial and Exposition - covers Linux system
administration, for distributions like RedHat and Debian
[87]http://rute.sf.net
* In the Beginning was the Command Line - a long read, but some
great open source related philosophy
[88]http://www.spack.org/words/commandline.html
-------------------------------------------------------
This SF.NET email is sponsored by:
SourceForge Enterprise Edition + IBM + LinuxWorld = Something 2 See!
http://www.vasoftware.com
_______________________________________________
linux-india-help mailing list
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/linux-india-help
