Newbie needs help...

[pll at lanminds.com]

In a message dated: Wed, 14 Aug 2002 10:46:32 EDT
"Brenda A. Bell" said:

>Thanks for all the responses... I think I've got it.  I had checked
>several of the Mandrake groups and lists and wasn't finding a whole lot
>of qmail posts... and qmail at mandrakesecure.net is pretty low volume
>which doesn't help you learn a whole lot.  In my exhaustive search
>through the mandrake stuff, I completely missed the link for
>list.cr.yp.to... duh!!!

In general, you will seldom find a distribution specific mailing list 
or new group overly helpful for questions pertaining to 
non-distribution components.  IOW, it's not a surprise that you found 
little help wrt qmail on a Mandrake-oriented list, even if Mandrake 
ships qmail as it's default MTA.  Distribution oriented lists/groups 
are usually only helpful for questions/problems pertaining to the 
distribution itself or for questions pertaining to configurations 
which are distribution specific.

One you pass into the realm of "I'm having a problem with package X"
your best sources of information will always be the communities which 
support that package directly.  For example, the best qmail support 
will come from a qmail oriented mailing list, web site, or news group.

The problem for neophytes though, is where/how to find these 
communities which support specific packages at the level detail 
required.  The answer to that conundrum is three-fold:

	- Freshmeat

		This is a huge repository of mostly open source/
		free software which has links directly to the actual
		source, binary images, and home pages of the package.

		Using the link to the project's home page from Freshmeat
		is usually the quickest and most efficient way to find
		help on a package whether it be in the form of an FAQ,
		a news group, or a mail list.

	- Google
		When Freshmeat fails to turn up any results, Google will,
		in almost all cases, point you closer to what you're looking
		for.

	- User Groups
	
		Newcomers to the world of Linux often don't understand
		that just because it's shipped on the Linux CD they
		used for installation that the distribution-based
		communities may not be of much help.  This is where
		groups like GNHLUG come in.  Our membership includes a
		huge wealth of knowledge about all distributions and a
		large portion of the packages shipped with those
		distributions.  We may not be able to completely solve
		your problem or answer your question, but I can almost
		guarantee that you'll get several answers containing
		many different ideas of things to try and/or places to
		look for more information.

		You'll also get a plethora of wildly differing
		opinions resulting in debates, discussions, and
		flame-fests which seem to continue on for almost all
		of eternity without producing any real solution to any
		problem ever had by anyone :)


I hope that helps, or at least provides you with a slightly wider 
view of how to find help in the Wonderful World of Linux.

If not, well, blame it on Ben, the rest of us do ;)
-- 

Seeya,
Paul
--
	It may look like I'm just sitting here doing nothing,
   but I'm really actively waiting for all my problems to go away.

	 If you're not having fun, you're not doing it right!