7.3. General Guidelines For Solving a Problem Under Mandrake Linux

Here are the different means available in your problem-solving quest. Try the first option and only then, if that did not work, try the second, and so on.

7.3.1. RTFM

"The manual" means that very manual and all the manuals and literature available on that subject. Our previous sections offer you good starting points. Only when all these resources have been exhausted, you may start thinking you have indeed stumbled over a real problem.

7.3.2. Search The Internet

The various Internet sites previously mentioned are other excellent starting points. They deal with general and very specific aspects of your potential problems. Finally, try a general search engine such as Google or, as mentioned above, the Linux-specific Google search engine. And do not hesitate to use the Advanced search option with very detailed questions, such as the error message you are receiving.

7.3.3. Mailing Lists And Newsgroups Archives

The previous searches may lead you to general answers which hide the results of your specific inquiry among many others. To refine your search, this is what you should do.

First, try to find a list which seems specifically linked to your problem, then perform a search in its archive pages.

Example

You noticed a strange behavior while trying to use grub with a minix partition.

A search using "grub mailing list" keywords in Google gives as a fourth result the link to an archive's message of the GRUB mailing-list July 1999. Once there, you get the URL for the archive's root: GRUB mailing list archive. It even suggests a search engine. Thus, searching for "Minix" will lead you directly to a patch.

Note that all archives do not propose an embedded search engine. However, in Google for example, you can easily use the advance field domain to limit your search to the specific site hosting the archive. This strategy may also be used to exclude sites which keep returning garbage.

For a newsgroups search, Dejanews holds the archives for an amazing number of newsgroup channels.

7.3.4. Questions to Mailing Lists And Newsgroups

See the related section above: Mailing Lists and Newsgroups. Reading How To Ask Questions The Smart Way may be of great help.

7.3.5. Directly Contacting The Person in Charge

Use this option as a very last resort and in really extreme situations – unless you want to offer your collaboration! Software developers generally receive mountains of e-mails. Therefore, your anguished question on the use of the cd command will most likely... be ignored!

The addresses will be found either on the home page of a project's site or in the software documentation.

A last word however: do not underestimate your neighbors' skills or those of your local LUG (Linux Users Group). And, please, do not throw your computer through the window as of yet. If your problem is not fixed today, it will be tomorrow...

7.3.6. Mandrake Business Services

Finally, facing a really challenging situation, especially corporate users, might consider hiring one of MandrakeSoft's consultants to address their specific needs.

This is truly one of the most amazing feature of open-source products: we have the source, we have the power! Therefore, almost any problem, no matter how complex, specific or high level, may be solved, right in the heart of the software.

You might also want to customize your Linux environment to meet very precise goals. For example, you could use Mandrake Linux as a custom routing application on special devices. Know that MandrakeSoft consulting services can help you.

7.3.7. Training

7.3.7.1. MandrakeSoft Linux-Campus

The Linux-Campus catalog is distributed through a network of partners: Linux-Campus Certified Centers, and responds to the needs of beginners (users) and experts (administrators).

Complimentary to the technical Linux certification program offered by the Linux Professional Institute (LPI), the Linux-Campus catalog is the ideal choice when wishing to further your knowledge of Linux and truly harness the power of open-source software.

Training

7.3.7.2. E-Learning – MandrakeCampus

MandrakeSoft offers a series of on-line training courses available directly from our web site. Although the curriculum is not as extensive as the Linux-Campus offer, this is a very good place to start exploring Mandrake Linux.

MandrakeCampus/


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