Slackware Linux Essentials
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2.2 Online Help

+ +

In addition to the documentation provided and installable with the Slackware Linux +Operating System, there are a vast multitude of online resources available for you to +learn from as well.

+ +

2.2.1 The +Official Website and Help Forums

+ +

The Official Slackware +Website

+ +

The Official Slackware Linux website is sometimes out of date, but still contains +information relevant to the latest Slackware versions. At one time an active help forum +existed there before a horde of trolls, troublemakers, and whiners descended on the +forum. Maintaining the forum was beginning to be too much work, and so Pat shut it down. +One can find that old forum back up and running complete with searchable archives of the +old data at http://www.userlocal.com/phorum/.

+ +

After the forums were taken down on http://slackware.com, several other sites sprang up that offered forum +support for Slackware. After much thought, Pat chose to endorse www.linuxquestions.org as the official +forum for Slackware Linux.

+ +

2.2.2 E-mail +Support

+ +

Everyone who purchases an official CD set is entitled to free installation support via +e-mail from the developer. That having been said, please keep in mind that we, the +developers, (and a vast majority of users) of Slackware are of “The Old +School”. That means that we prefer to help those who have a sincere interest and +are willing to help themselves in the process. We will always do our best to help +everyone who emails us with support questions. However, Please check your documentation +and the website (especially the FAQs and maybe some of the forums listed below) before +e-mailing. You may get a faster answer that way, and the less e-mail we have to answer, +obviously the sooner we will be of assistance to those that need it.

+ +

The e-mail address for technical support is: support@slackware.com. Other e-mail addresses and contact +information are listed on the website.

+ +

2.2.2.1 Slackware Linux Project Mailing +Lists

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We have several mailing lists, available in digest and normal forms. Check the +instructions for how to subscribe.

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To subscribe to a mailing list, email:

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majordomo@slackware.com

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with the phrase “subscribe [name +of list]” in the body of the email. The list choices are described +below (use one the names below for the name of the list).

+ +

Archives of the mailing list can be found on Slackware's website at:

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http://slackware.com/lists/archive/

+ +

slackware-announce: +
The slackware-announce mailing list is for announcements of +new versions, major updates and other general information.
+
slackware-security: +
The slackware-security mailing list is for announcements +relating to security issues. Any exploits or other vulnerabilities directly pertaining to +Slackware will get posted to this list immediately.
+

+ +

These lists are also available in digest format. This means that you get one large +message per day instead of several messages throughout the day. Since the slackware +mailing lists do not allow users to post, and the lists are such low traffic, most users +find little advantage in the digest lists. Still, they are available if you want them by +subscribing to slackware-announce-digest or slackware-security-digest.

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2.2.3 +Non-Official Websites and Help Forums

+ +

2.2.3.1 Websites

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Google: +
The Kung-Fu Master of Search Engines. When you absolutely, positively gotta find every +last kernel of information on a subject: Accept no substitutes.
+
Google:Linux: +
Linux-Specific searches
+
Google:BSD: +
BSD-Specific searches. Slackware is so generic as a Unix work-a-like operating system +that one can as often as not find very detailed information that is almost 100% relevant +to Slackware here. Many times a BSD search reveals far more technical information than +the often PR-related Linux searches.
+
Google:Groups: +
Search through decades of Usenet posts for your pearls of wisdom.
+
http://userlocal.com: +
A virtual treasure-trove of knowledge, good advice, first-hand experience and +interesting articles. Often the first place you'll hear about new developments in the +world of Slackware.
+

+ +

2.2.3.2 Web-based Resources

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linuxquestions.org: +
The officially sanctioned web-forum for Slackware users.
+
LinuxISO.org +Slackware Forum: +
“A place to download and get help with Linux.”
+
alt.os.linux.slackware FAQ: +
Another FAQ
+

+ +

2.2.3.3 Usenet Groups (NNTP)

+ +

Usenet has long been a place for geeks to gather and help one another. There are few +newsgroups dedicated to Slackware Linux, but they tend to be filled with very +knowledgeable people.

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alt.os.linux.slackware

+ +

alt.os.linux.slackware, better known as aols (not to be +confused with AOL®!) is one of the most active places +to find technical help with Slackware problems. Like every Usenet newsgroup, a few +unhelpful participants (“trolls”) can mar the experience with constant +arguing. Learning to ignore the trolls and identifying the truly helpful people is key to +making the most of this resource.