Quick links:    HOWTO

Resources marked with are places you can go to find answers.
Resources marked with are places you can go to ask questions.

If you know of a resource that should be listed here but isn't, let us know at webmaster@ssc.com.

• Linux Journal online resources
  It may seem obvious to mention, but be sure to look through these pages thoroughly if you're trying to find an answer to a Linux question -- we're taking every effort to make these pages the most complete set of pointers to Linux resources on the Web.
  • You may find your question has been answered by a Frequently Asked Questions file or HOWTO document from the Linux Documentation Project (LDP).
  • You may find the piece of software you need by searching our Links page.
  • If you need help with a specific command, you may want to search the Linux manual pages.
  • If you need to know where to get Linux and how to install it, our Linux Distribution Sites page should point you in the right direction.
  • If you're looking for lots of other Linux users to discuss your technical issues with, you might want to look into joining a USENET Newsgroup or Linux Mailing List.
  • Finally, you may want to check our links to other web sites that sound like they deal with your particular concerns.

  

• Linux Journal's "Best of Technical Support" Column
  The "Best of Technical Support" column answers questions about Linux submitted by readers. To have your question considered for publication, e-mail it to bts@ssc.com with the subject line "BTS", or follow the hyperlink above to the submission form.

  All Best of Technical Support articles are available at this web site under their appropriate LJ issue. (See "Issue Archives" in the main menu or click here for the index of issues.) To search for a particular topic, use the SSC search engine.

  

• Groups of Linux Users Everywhere
  SSC's new project to help you find a local Linux User Group and also to help you establish such a group. If there is no group available in your area, the system will allow you to post your interest in establishing such a group and/or offer contact information for others in the area with similar interests. The page also provides some hints on setting up a group. Linux User Groups can be your best way to get in touch with more experienced Linux users to get their help, as well as to offer your help to those with less experience.

• Linux Frequently Asked Questions
  Probably the first place you should check when you have questions about Linux. Odds are good that you're not the first person to have this question or encounter your particular problem, and you might be able to find the answers you need here.

  

• Linux Installation
  A page that is intended to walk you through installing the Slackware distribution of Linux on your machine.

  

• Josh's Linux Guide
  Written for users of Linux and as reference for #LinuxHelp on IRC's Undernet. A quick and simple guide to installing Linux, setting up an Internet connection and e-mail, adding a new user, and more.

  

• Linux-Netscape Help Page
  Some fixes to help get Netscape running with the latest libraries.

• Caldera Network Desktop 1.0 Technical Support
  Frequently Asked Questions, Known Problems, Usage Notes, Hardware Compatibility, and other resources.

  

• Infomagic's Linux Technical Support Guide
  Infomagic's guide to help its customers install and configure Linux; an index pointing to the the most common problems they encounter and their answers. In the spirit of free information exchange, they hope users of other Linux distributions will find it helpful as well. Currently, this page is undergoing a major re-haul.

  

• Ask Pacific HighTech's Linux Guru
  This page has a convenient form you can fill out that provides the Guru with information about your Linux system and the problem you're having with it. You apparently don't have to have purchased Linux from Pacific HighTech in order to ask a question.

  

• Getting Technical Support from Red Hat
  Some Red Hat products, such as Red Hat Linux, include thirty days of free installation technical support by fax or e-mail. In July 1996, Red Hat Software put a new Technical Support system online that automatically routes questions to support technicians. In order to receive technical support from Red Hat, you have to register your software, but this page includes simple instructions on how to do that (you can even register on-line) and how to use the support system.

  

• Support for Linux-FT
  If you have problems installing or using Linux-FT, you can check this page to see if you can find them in their list of already fixed or known bugs. If not, you can e-mail a detailed description of the problem to support@unifix.de.

  

• Unifix Support
  From this page, you can learn how to get support for Unifix Linux, download bug patches and newer versions of programs, and check their list of known problems.

  

• MkLinux Online Help and Support
  FAQs, installation and release notes, errata, Symptoms & Solutions, how to register, pointers to MkLinux mailing lists, and a bug report form. Also has a link to a third-party Common answers to Common Problems with MkLinux page.

  

• Support Services from Yggdrasil
  Tech support at reasonable rates. Their page says, "Anyone can use this service, even users of other Linux distributions or people with general UNIX-related questions. So, tell your friends." Offers a toll-free number and an e-mail address.

  

• S.u.S.E. Support Data Base
  Although the English version is still under construction, it looks like this site is already a good resource to find answers about the S.u.S.E. Linux distribution.

• No Wonder
  New listing 7-Sep-1999. Free tech support by volunteers. Contains a message board, live discussions (requires Java), and e-mail support.

  

• Linux User Support Team
  People willing to help with specific programs, recommendations for new users, idea databases, and a list of program bugs and their fixes. Also includes pointers to their mailing list; archives available upon request.

  

• Linux E-mail Support System
  A forum for people to ask questions without worrying about being flamed for a non-Linux specific question or for asking a FAQ. Questions sent will be routed to a single individual who will take responsibility for answering it. This page describes the correct format for asking questions under this System, and where to direct them.

  

• Linux Internet Support Cooperative
  This group of volunteers started out on IRC, and while they can still be found there, they've since grown to include a web page and a mailing list. Their page describes their informal rules, who they are, and when and where they can be found.

  

• Linux CD and Support Giveaway
  Yes, you read that correctly -- along with free advice on installation, these volunteers are actually willing to give you a Linux CD to help you get started, for the price of postage.

  

• Linux Laptop Volunteer Support Database
  A place to find people who use Linux on notebook or laptop computers and who wish to help other users who have questions, problems, or concerns about getting Linux running on their mobile computers.

  

• Linux Support Liste
  A listing of people who are willing to provide free support in German.

  

• Experts Exchange
  You need to register to use this site, but registration appears to be free, and there seems to be a lot of good information here, on Linux Networking, Linux Setup, and General Linux questions.

• For questions about Linux installation and system administration, try comp.os.linux.setup.

  

• For questions about how to use a particular piece of hardware with Linux, try comp.os.linux.hardware.

  

• For questions about networking or communications (including Ethernet boards, serial communications, SLIP, etc.), try comp.os.linux.networking.

  

• For questions about X Window System, version 11, compatible software for Linux including servers, clients, libraries, and fonts, try comp.os.linux.x.

  

• For any other questions about Linux not appropriate to one of the more specific Linux newsgroups listed above, try comp.os.linux.misc.

• Before you post your questions to any of the Linux newsgroups, see question 12.2 of the Linux FAQ -- "What to put in a request for help." It has good advice about how to best word your posting so that people can help you. (And, naturally, you should read the rest of the FAQ before you post as well, in case the answer to your question is already in there!)

• If you're not familiar with Usenet, or if you'd like to see a more complete list of Linux newsgroups, see our page on Linux and UNIX-related newsgroups.

• If you don't have Usenet access, you can use the Deja News service to post an article to a newsgroup.

• Web-Based Message Boards

  • The Foundry

  • Linux Discussion Conference

  

• LinuxLand
  A 24-hour, multi-user environment for the discussion of Linux and Linux-related topics.

  

• Internet Relay Chat
  IRC, as it's more commonly known, has many Linux users looking to share their experiences and expertise in real-time chat sessions. Many of them can be found on the #Linux channel, which has been around nearly as long as Linux itself. (There's #Linux homepage at EFNet.) IRC is also where you can usually find members of the Linux Internet Support Cooperative.

  Copyright © 1999 Specialized Systems Consultants, Inc.
  

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