Internet

Internet information sources are widespread and web sites devoted to GNU/Linux and its use or configuration are abundant. However, some sources of information are better than others.

Your preferred source of information should be the Mandrake Linux official web site. In particular, check out the support section.

Web Sites Devoted to GNU/Linux

MandrakeClub

If you are familiar with Mandrake Linux's web sites, you probably know Mandrake Club. It is the meeting point for all Mandrake Linux users. On the site you will find questions, suggestions and news related to Mandrake Linux and GNU/Linux; you will be able to express your opinion and influence future development of Mandrake Linux. If you are not yet a member, you are encouraged to join.

Demos and Tutorials

A specific section of the Mandrake Linux web site is devoted to numerous demos and tutorials. They discuss, among other topics, installation and graphical environments, many aspects of your system's configuration such as network, package maintenance, server configuration, etc. Some of the tutorials are also accessible from the installation CD in the tutorial/ directory.

Security-Related Web Sites

MandrakeSecure

MandrakeSoft's very own security site which covers package vulnerabilities, but most of all lengthy articles which treat a vast array of topics such as the use of GnuPG, ssh and more.

Security Focus

A very well organized site which reviews current attacks and gives out vulnerability advisories for a great number of products, including Mandrake Linux's.

Linux Security

This site is entirely devoted to Linux and includes news, advisories, newsletters, and many resources such as documentation, forums, tools, etc. Check out the site's documentation page.

Linux dot com

An excellent site regularly fed with articles on present security issues. Linux dot com's main page also features articles about desktop, sound, etc.

Other Linux Web Sites

Out of many existing web sites, here are some with the most information:

Linux dot org

One of the very first sites devoted to Linux, containing a whole slew of links to other useful sites.

Freshmeat

This is the place to visit to get the latest applications available in the Linux world.

Linux Weekly News

One of the most exhaustive Linux publications available. It covers everything from latest security alerts to new distributions, info about the current and past kernels, books, and a weekly newsletter.

And, of course, remember your favorite search engines. Generally speaking, they are the most practical information seeking tools. A few carefully chosen keywords in a search engine will often produce the needed answers to your specific problem. In Google, you can even make a GNU/Linux-oriented search by visiting Google dot com slash linux.

Mailing Lists

Mailing lists still remain very popular in spite of the multiplication of other means of communication. Almost every piece of GNU/Linux software has its own mailing list geared towards users, developers, announcers, etc.

You can also consult Mandrake Linux project's own mailing lists.

We can not give out a list of addresses but bear in mind that it is quite often the best means to get in touch with the top experts on a particular subject. Some advice, however:

  • do not post questions which are off topic. Carefully read the guidelines which are often sent when you first subscribed or where you found the address of the list. We also recommend that you read the E-mail Etiquette also known as the Netiquette, which will give you a few hints on getting started. If you have spare time, you may also consider reading the corresponding RFCs.

    Note

    IMPORTANT: remember to always keep the first e-mail you receive from a mailing list since it normally tells you how to unsubscribe if you end up needing to leave the list;

  • respect the general rules applicable to e-mail: in particular, do not send HTML messages: text only;

  • mailing lists usually have archives: check them out! Your question may have been debated just before you subscribed to the list;

Newsgroups

Before asking for help on newsgroups, it is advisable to find out if your problem has already been covered (or solved) on Dejanews, which has been acquired by Google. If nothing is relevant to your question, then go to a newsgroup entirely devoted to Mandrake Linux. You may also join many other groups in the comp.os.linux.*hierarchy”:

  • comp.os.linux.setup: questions about Linux configuration (devices, configuration of applications) and resolution of miscellaneous problems.

  • comp.os.linux.misc: whatever does not fit in any other group.

  • and others...

Before posting to one of these groups, make sure you did your homework and read the available documentation on your specific issue. If you have not, you will most likely get the following answer: RTFM. And nothing more!