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diff --git a/includes/etch/common/doc/FAQ/html/ch-support.en.html b/includes/etch/common/doc/FAQ/html/ch-support.en.html new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5036cb5 --- /dev/null +++ b/includes/etch/common/doc/FAQ/html/ch-support.en.html @@ -0,0 +1,679 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0//EN"> + +<html> + +<head> + +<meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> + +<title>The Debian GNU/Linux FAQ - Getting support for Debian GNU/Linux</title> + +<link href="index.en.html" rel="start"> +<link href="ch-customizing.en.html" rel="prev"> +<link href="ch-contributing.en.html" rel="next"> +<link href="index.en.html#contents" rel="contents"> +<link href="index.en.html#copyright" rel="copyright"> +<link href="ch-basic_defs.en.html" rel="chapter" title="1 Definitions and overview"> +<link href="ch-getting.en.html" rel="chapter" title="2 Getting and installing Debian GNU/Linux"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html" rel="chapter" title="3 Choosing a Debian distribution"> +<link href="ch-compat.en.html" rel="chapter" title="4 Compatibility issues"> +<link href="ch-software.en.html" rel="chapter" title="5 Software available in the Debian system"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html" rel="chapter" title="6 The Debian FTP archives"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html" rel="chapter" title="7 Basics of the Debian package management system"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html" rel="chapter" title="8 The Debian package management tools"> +<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html" rel="chapter" title="9 Keeping your Debian system up-to-date"> +<link href="ch-kernel.en.html" rel="chapter" title="10 Debian and the kernel"> +<link href="ch-customizing.en.html" rel="chapter" title="11 Customizing your installation of Debian GNU/Linux"> +<link href="ch-support.en.html" rel="chapter" title="12 Getting support for Debian GNU/Linux"> +<link href="ch-contributing.en.html" rel="chapter" title="13 Contributing to the Debian Project"> +<link href="ch-redistrib.en.html" rel="chapter" title="14 Redistributing Debian GNU/Linux in a commercial product"> +<link href="ch-nexttime.en.html" rel="chapter" title="15 Changes expected in the next major release of Debian"> +<link href="ch-faqinfo.en.html" rel="chapter" title="16 General information about the FAQ"> +<link href="ch-basic_defs.en.html#s-whatisfaq" rel="section" title="1.1 What is this FAQ?"> +<link href="ch-basic_defs.en.html#s-whatisdebian" rel="section" title="1.2 What is Debian GNU/Linux?"> +<link href="ch-basic_defs.en.html#s-linux" rel="section" title="1.3 OK, now I know what Debian is... what is Linux?!"> +<link href="ch-basic_defs.en.html#s-non-linux" rel="section" title="1.4 Does Debian just do GNU/Linux?"> +<link href="ch-basic_defs.en.html#s-difference" rel="section" title="1.5 What is the difference between Debian GNU/Linux and other Linux distributions? Why should I choose Debian over some other distribution?"> +<link href="ch-basic_defs.en.html#s-gnu" rel="section" title="1.6 How does the Debian project fit in or compare with the Free Software Foundation's GNU project?"> +<link href="ch-basic_defs.en.html#s-pronunciation" rel="section" title="1.7 How does one pronounce Debian and what does this word mean?"> +<link href="ch-getting.en.html#s-version" rel="section" title="2.1 What is the latest version of Debian?"> +<link href="ch-getting.en.html#s-updatestable" rel="section" title="2.2 Are there package upgrades in `stable'?"> +<link href="ch-getting.en.html#s-boot-floppies" rel="section" title="2.3 Where/how can I get the Debian installation disks?"> +<link href="ch-getting.en.html#s-cdrom" rel="section" title="2.4 How do I install the Debian from CD-ROMs?"> +<link href="ch-getting.en.html#s-cdimage-symlinks" rel="section" title="2.5 Why does the official stable released CD-ROM contain symlinks for `frozen' and `unstable'? I thought this CD contains just `stable'!"> +<link href="ch-getting.en.html#s-remoteinstall" rel="section" title="2.6 Can I get and install Debian directly from a remote Internet site?"> +<link href="ch-getting.en.html#s-alternativebootinstaller" rel="section" title="2.7 Are there any alternative strategies for booting the system installer?"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1" rel="section" title="3.1 Which Debian distribution (stable/testing/unstable) is better for me?"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.2" rel="section" title="3.2 But what about Knoppix, Linex, Ubuntu, and others?"> +<link href="ch-compat.en.html#s-arches" rel="section" title="4.1 On what hardware architectures/systems does Debian GNU/Linux run?"> +<link href="ch-compat.en.html#s-otherdistribs" rel="section" title="4.2 How compatible is Debian with other distributions of Linux?"> +<link href="ch-compat.en.html#s-otherunices" rel="section" title="4.3 How source code compatible is Debian with other Unix systems?"> +<link href="ch-compat.en.html#s-otherpackages" rel="section" title="4.4 Can I use Debian packages (".deb" files) on my Red Hat/Slackware/... Linux system? Can I use Red Hat packages (".rpm" files) on my Debian GNU/Linux system?"> +<link href="ch-compat.en.html#s-non-debian-programs" rel="section" title="4.5 How should I install a non-Debian program?"> +<link href="ch-compat.en.html#s-termcap" rel="section" title="4.6 Why can't I compile programs that require libtermcap?"> +<link href="ch-compat.en.html#s-accelx" rel="section" title="4.7 Why can't I install AccelX?"> +<link href="ch-compat.en.html#s-motifnls" rel="section" title="4.8 Why do my old XFree 2.1 Motif applications crash?"> +<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-apps" rel="section" title="5.1 What types of applications and development software are available for Debian GNU/Linux?"> +<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-softwareauthors" rel="section" title="5.2 Who wrote all that software?"> +<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-pkglist" rel="section" title="5.3 How can I get a current list of programs that have been packaged for Debian?"> +<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-buildenv" rel="section" title="5.4 How can I install a developer's environment to build packages?"> +<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-missing" rel="section" title="5.5 What is missing from Debian GNU/Linux?"> +<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-no-devs" rel="section" title="5.6 Why do I get "ld: cannot find -lfoo" messages when compiling programs? Why aren't there any libfoo.so files in Debian library packages?"> +<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-java" rel="section" title="5.7 (How) Does Debian support Java?"> +<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-isitdebian" rel="section" title="5.8 How can I check that I am using a Debian system, and what version is it?"> +<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-nonenglish" rel="section" title="5.9 How does Debian support non-English languages?"> +<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-pine" rel="section" title="5.10 Where is pine?"> +<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-qmail" rel="section" title="5.11 Where is qmail/ezmlm/djbdns?"> +<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-flash" rel="section" title="5.12 Where is a player for Flash (SWF)?"> +<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-googleearth" rel="section" title="5.13 Where is Google Earth?"> +<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-voip" rel="section" title="5.14 Where is VoIP software?"> +<link href="ch-software.en.html#s-nonfreewireless" rel="section" title="5.15 I have a wireless network card which doesn't work with Linux. What should I do?"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-dists" rel="section" title="6.1 How many Debian distributions are there?"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-codenames" rel="section" title="6.2 What are all those names like etch, lenny, etc.?"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-sid" rel="section" title="6.3 What about "sid"?"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-stable" rel="section" title="6.4 What does the stable directory contain?"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-testing" rel="section" title="6.5 What does the testing distribution contain?"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-unstable" rel="section" title="6.6 What does the unstable distribution contain?"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-dirtree" rel="section" title="6.7 What are all those directories at the Debian FTP archives?"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-archsections" rel="section" title="6.8 What are all those directories inside <samp>dists/stable/main</samp>?"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-source" rel="section" title="6.9 Where is the source code?"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-pools" rel="section" title="6.10 What's in the <samp>pool</samp> directory?"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-incoming" rel="section" title="6.11 What is "incoming"?"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-ownrepository" rel="section" title="6.12 How do I set up my own apt-able repository?"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-package" rel="section" title="7.1 What is a Debian package?"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-deb-format" rel="section" title="7.2 What is the format of a Debian binary package?"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-pkgname" rel="section" title="7.3 Why are Debian package file names so long?"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-controlfile" rel="section" title="7.4 What is a Debian control file?"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-conffile" rel="section" title="7.5 What is a Debian conffile?"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-maintscripts" rel="section" title="7.6 What is a Debian preinst, postinst, prerm, and postrm script?"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-priority" rel="section" title="7.7 What is an <em>Essential</em>, <em>Required</em>, <em>Important</em>, <em>Standard</em>, <em>Optional</em>, or <em>Extra</em> package?"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-virtual" rel="section" title="7.8 What is a Virtual Package?"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-depends" rel="section" title="7.9 What is meant by saying that a package <em>Depends</em>, <em>Recommends</em>, <em>Suggests</em>, <em>Conflicts</em>, <em>Replaces</em> or <em>Provides</em> another package?"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-pre-depends" rel="section" title="7.10 What is meant by Pre-Depends?"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-pkgstatus" rel="section" title="7.11 What is meant by <em>unknown</em>, <em>install</em>, <em>remove</em>, <em>purge</em> and <em>hold</em> in the package status?"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-puttingonhold" rel="section" title="7.12 How do I put a package on hold?"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-sourcepkgs" rel="section" title="7.13 How do I install a source package?"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-sourcebuild" rel="section" title="7.14 How do I build binary packages from a source package?"> +<link href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html#s-creatingdebs" rel="section" title="7.15 How do I create Debian packages myself?"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-pkgprogs" rel="section" title="8.1 What programs does Debian provide for managing its packages?"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-updaterunning" rel="section" title="8.2 Debian claims to be able to update a running program; how is this accomplished?"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-whatpackages" rel="section" title="8.3 How can I tell what packages are already installed on a Debian system?"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-listfiles" rel="section" title="8.4 How to display the files of a package installed?"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-filesearch" rel="section" title="8.5 How can I find out what package produced a particular file?"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-datapackages" rel="section" title="8.6 Why doesn't get `foo-data' removed when I uninstall `foo'? How do I make sure old unused library-packages get purged?"> +<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-howtocurrent" rel="section" title="9.1 How can I keep my Debian system current?"> +<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-upgradesingle" rel="section" title="9.2 Must I go into single user mode in order to upgrade a package?"> +<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-savedebs" rel="section" title="9.3 Do I have to keep all those .deb archive files on my disk?"> +<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-keepingalog" rel="section" title="9.4 How can I keep a log of the packages I added to the system? I'd like to know when which package upgrades and removals have occured!"> +<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-autoupdate" rel="section" title="9.5 Can I automatically update the system?"> +<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-aptproxy" rel="section" title="9.6 I have several machines how can I download the updates only one time?"> +<link href="ch-kernel.en.html#s-non-debian-kernel" rel="section" title="10.1 Can I install and compile a kernel without some Debian-specific tweaking?"> +<link href="ch-kernel.en.html#s-customkernel" rel="section" title="10.2 What tools does Debian provide to build custom kernels?"> +<link href="ch-kernel.en.html#s-custombootdisk" rel="section" title="10.3 How can I make a custom boot floppy?"> +<link href="ch-kernel.en.html#s-modules" rel="section" title="10.4 What special provisions does Debian provide to deal with modules?"> +<link href="ch-kernel.en.html#s-removeoldkernel" rel="section" title="10.5 Can I safely de-install an old kernel package, and if so, how?"> +<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-papersize" rel="section" title="11.1 How can I ensure that all programs use the same paper size?"> +<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-hardwareaccess" rel="section" title="11.2 How can I provide access to hardware peripherals, without compromising security?"> +<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-consolefont" rel="section" title="11.3 How do I load a console font on startup the Debian way?"> +<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-appdefaults" rel="section" title="11.4 How can I configure an X11 program's application defaults?"> +<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-booting" rel="section" title="11.5 Every distribution seems to have a different boot-up method. Tell me about Debian's."> +<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-custombootscripts" rel="section" title="11.6 It looks as if Debian does not use <samp>rc.local</samp> to customize the boot process; what facilities are provided?"> +<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-interconffiles" rel="section" title="11.7 How does the package management system deal with packages that contain configuration files for other packages?"> +<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-divert" rel="section" title="11.8 How do I override a file installed by a package, so that a different version can be used instead?"> +<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-localpackages" rel="section" title="11.9 How can I have my locally-built package included in the list of available packages that the package management system knows about?"> +<link href="ch-customizing.en.html#s-diverse" rel="section" title="11.10 Some users like mawk, others like gawk; some like vim, others like elvis; some like trn, others like tin; how does Debian support diversity?"> +<link href="ch-support.en.html#s-debiandocs" rel="section" title="12.1 What other documentation exists on and for a Debian system?"> +<link href="ch-support.en.html#s-onlineresources" rel="section" title="12.2 Are there any on-line resources for discussing Debian?"> +<link href="ch-support.en.html#s-searchtools" rel="section" title="12.3 Is there a quick way to search for information on Debian GNU/Linux?"> +<link href="ch-support.en.html#s-buglogs" rel="section" title="12.4 Are there logs of known bugs?"> +<link href="ch-support.en.html#s-bugreport" rel="section" title="12.5 How do I report a bug in Debian?"> +<link href="ch-contributing.en.html#s-contrib" rel="section" title="13.1 How can I become a Debian software developer?"> +<link href="ch-contributing.en.html#s-contribresources" rel="section" title="13.2 How can I contribute resources to the Debian project?"> +<link href="ch-contributing.en.html#s-supportingorganizations" rel="section" title="13.3 How can I contribute financially to the Debian project?"> +<link href="ch-redistrib.en.html#s-sellcds" rel="section" title="14.1 Can I make and sell Debian CDs?"> +<link href="ch-redistrib.en.html#s-packagednonfree" rel="section" title="14.2 Can Debian be packaged with non-free software?"> +<link href="ch-redistrib.en.html#s-childistro" rel="section" title="14.3 I am making a special Linux distribution for a "vertical market". Can I use Debian GNU/Linux for the guts of a Linux system and add my own applications on top of it?"> +<link href="ch-redistrib.en.html#s-commercialdebs" rel="section" title="14.4 Can I put my commercial program in a Debian "package" so that it installs effortlessly on any Debian system?"> +<link href="ch-nexttime.en.html#s-i18n" rel="section" title="15.1 Extended support for non-English users"> +<link href="ch-nexttime.en.html#s-dependencybasedboot" rel="section" title="15.2 Faster booting: Dependency based boot sequence"> +<link href="ch-nexttime.en.html#s-di" rel="section" title="15.3 Improvements in the Debian Installer"> +<link href="ch-nexttime.en.html#s-morearches" rel="section" title="15.4 More architectures"> +<link href="ch-nexttime.en.html#s-morekernels" rel="section" title="15.5 More kernels"> +<link href="ch-faqinfo.en.html#s-authors" rel="section" title="16.1 Authors"> +<link href="ch-faqinfo.en.html#s-feedback" rel="section" title="16.2 Feedback"> +<link href="ch-faqinfo.en.html#s-latest" rel="section" title="16.3 Availability"> +<link href="ch-faqinfo.en.html#s-docformat" rel="section" title="16.4 Document format"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.1" rel="subsection" title="3.1.1 You asked me to install stable, but in stable so and so hardware is not detected/working. What should I do?"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.2" rel="subsection" title="3.1.2 Will there be different different versions of packages in different distributions?"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.3" rel="subsection" title="3.1.3 The stable distributions really contains outdated packages. Just look at Kde, Gnome, Xorg or even the kernel. They are very old. Why is it so?"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.4" rel="subsection" title="3.1.4 If I were to decide to change to another distribution, Can I do that?"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.5" rel="subsection" title="3.1.5 Could you tell me whether to install testing or unstable?"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.6" rel="subsection" title="3.1.6 You are talking about testing being broken. What do you mean by that?"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.7" rel="subsection" title="3.1.7 Why is it that testing could be broken for months? Wont the fixes introduced in unstable flow directly down into testing?"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.8" rel="subsection" title="3.1.8 From an administrator's point of view, Which distribution requires more attention?"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.9" rel="subsection" title="3.1.9 What happens when a new release is made?"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.10" rel="subsection" title="3.1.10 I have a working Desktop/cluster with Debian installed. How do I know which distribution I am running?"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.11" rel="subsection" title="3.1.11 I am currently tracking stable. Can I change to testing or unstable? If so, How?"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.12" rel="subsection" title="3.1.12 I am currently tracking testing (lenny). What will happen when a release is made? Will I still be tracking testing or will my machine be running the new stable distribution?"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.1.13" rel="subsection" title="3.1.13 I am still confused. What did you say I should install?"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.2.1" rel="subsection" title="3.2.1 I know that Knoppix/Linex/Ubuntu/... is Debian-based. So after installing it on the hard disk, can I use 'apt' package tools on it?"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.2.2" rel="subsection" title="3.2.2 I installed Knoppix/Linex/Ubuntu/... on my hard disk. Now I have a problem. What should I do?"> +<link href="ch-choosing.en.html#s3.2.3" rel="subsection" title="3.2.3 I'm using Knoppix/Linex/Ubuntu/... and now I want to use Debian. How do I migrate?"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-oldcodenames" rel="subsection" title="6.2.1 Which other codenames have been used in the past?"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-sourceforcodenames" rel="subsection" title="6.2.2 Where do these codenames come from?"> +<link href="ch-ftparchives.en.html#s-frozen" rel="subsection" title="6.5.1 What about "testing"? How is it `frozen'?"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-dpkg" rel="subsection" title="8.1.1 dpkg"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-apt-get" rel="subsection" title="8.1.2 APT"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-aptitude" rel="subsection" title="8.1.3 aptitude"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-synaptic" rel="subsection" title="8.1.4 synaptic"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-tasksel" rel="subsection" title="8.1.5 tasksel"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-dpkg-extra" rel="subsection" title="8.1.6 Other package management tools"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-dselect" rel="subsection" title="8.1.6.1 dselect"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-dpkg-deb" rel="subsection" title="8.1.6.2 dpkg-deb"> +<link href="ch-pkgtools.en.html#s-dpkg-split" rel="subsection" title="8.1.6.3 dpkg-split"> +<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-aptitude-upgrade" rel="subsection" title="9.1.1 aptitude"> +<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-apt" rel="subsection" title="9.1.2 apt-get, dselect and apt-cdrom"> +<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-update_aptitude" rel="subsection" title="9.1.3 aptitude"> +<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-mirror" rel="subsection" title="9.1.4 mirror"> +<link href="ch-uptodate.en.html#s-dpkg-mountable" rel="subsection" title="9.1.5 dpkg-mountable"> +<link href="ch-support.en.html#s12.2.1" rel="subsection" title="12.2.1 Mailing lists"> +<link href="ch-support.en.html#s-mailinglistconduct" rel="subsection" title="12.2.1.1 What is the code of conduct for the mailing lists?"> +<link href="ch-support.en.html#s12.2.2" rel="subsection" title="12.2.2 Web forums"> +<link href="ch-support.en.html#s12.2.3" rel="subsection" title="12.2.3 Wiki"> +<link href="ch-support.en.html#s12.2.4" rel="subsection" title="12.2.4 Maintainers"> +<link href="ch-support.en.html#s12.2.5" rel="subsection" title="12.2.5 Usenet newsgroups"> +<link href="ch-contributing.en.html#s-SPI" rel="subsection" title="13.3.1 Software in the Public Interest"> +<link href="ch-contributing.en.html#s-FSF" rel="subsection" title="13.3.2 Free Software Foundation"> + +</head> + +<body> + +<p><a name="ch-support"></a></p> +<hr> + +<p> +[ <a href="ch-customizing.en.html">previous</a> ] +[ <a href="index.en.html#contents">Contents</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-basic_defs.en.html">1</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-getting.en.html">2</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-choosing.en.html">3</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-compat.en.html">4</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-software.en.html">5</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-ftparchives.en.html">6</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html">7</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-pkgtools.en.html">8</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-uptodate.en.html">9</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-kernel.en.html">10</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-customizing.en.html">11</a> ] +[ 12 ] +[ <a href="ch-contributing.en.html">13</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-redistrib.en.html">14</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-nexttime.en.html">15</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-faqinfo.en.html">16</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-contributing.en.html">next</a> ] +</p> + +<hr> + +<h1> +The Debian GNU/Linux FAQ +<br>Chapter 12 - Getting support for Debian GNU/Linux +</h1> + +<hr> + +<h2><a name="s-debiandocs"></a>12.1 What other documentation exists on and for a Debian system?</h2> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +Installation instructions for the current release: see <code><a +href="http://www.debian.org/releases/stable/installmanual">http://www.debian.org/releases/stable/installmanual</a></code>. +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +The Debian GNU/Linux reference covers many aspects of system administration +through shell-command examples. Basic tutorials, tips, and other information +are provided for many different topics ranging from system administration to +programming. +</p> + +<p> +Get it from the <code>debian-reference</code> package, or at <code><a +href="http://www.debian.org/doc/user-manuals#quick-reference">http://www.debian.org/doc/user-manuals#quick-reference</a></code>. +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +The Debian Policy manual documents the policy requirements for the +distribution, i.e. the structure and contents of the Debian archive, several +design issues of the operating system etc. It also includes the technical +requirements that each package must satisfy to be included in the distribution, +and documents the basic technical aspects of Debian binary and source packages. +</p> + +<p> +Get it from the <code>debian-policy</code> package, or at <code><a +href="http://www.debian.org/doc/devel-manuals#policy">http://www.debian.org/doc/devel-manuals#policy</a></code>. +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +Documentation developed by the Debian Documentation Project. It is available +at <code><a +href="http://www.debian.org/doc/">http://www.debian.org/doc/</a></code> and +includes user guides, administration guides and security guides for the Debian +GNU/Linux operating system. +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +Documentation on installed Debian packages: Most packages have files that are +unpacked into <samp>/usr/share/doc/PACKAGE</samp>. +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +Documentation on the Linux project: The Debian package <code>doc-linux</code> +installs all of the most recent versions of the HOWTOs and mini-HOWTOs from the +<code><a href="http://www.tldp.org/">Linux Documentation Project</a></code>. +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +Unix-style `man' pages: Most commands have manual pages written in the style of +the original Unix 'man' files. For instance, to see the manual page for the +command `ls', execute <samp>man ls</samp>. Execute <samp>man man</samp> for +more information on finding and viewing manual pages. +</p> + +<p> +New Debian users should note that the 'man' pages of many general system +commands are not available until they install these packages: +</p> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +<samp>man-db</samp>, which contains the <samp>man</samp> program itself, and +other programs for manipulating the manual pages. +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +<samp>manpages</samp>, which contains the system manual pages. (see <a +href="ch-software.en.html#s-nonenglish">How does Debian support non-English +languages?, Section 5.9</a>). +</p> +</li> +</ul> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +GNU-style `info' pages: User documentation for many commands, particularly GNU +tools, is available not in `man' pages, but in `info' files which can be read +by the GNU tool <samp>info</samp>, by running <samp>M-x info</samp> within GNU +Emacs, or with some other Info page viewer. +</p> + +<p> +Its main advantage over the original `man' pages are that it is a hypertext +system. It does <em>not</em> require the WWW, however; <samp>info</samp> can +be run from a plain text console. It was designed by Richard Stallman and +preceded the WWW. +</p> +</li> +</ul> + +<p> +Note that you may access a lot of documentation on your system by using a WWW +browser, through `dwww', `dhelp' or `doccentral' commands, found in respective +packages, or by using `yelp'. +</p> + +<hr> + +<h2><a name="s-onlineresources"></a>12.2 Are there any on-line resources for discussing Debian?</h2> + +<p> +Yes. In fact, the main method of support Debian provides to our users is by +the way of e-mail. We'll give some details on that, and mention some other +useful resources. Even more resources are listed at the <code><a +href="http://www.debian.org/support">Debian Support webpage</a></code>. +</p> + +<hr> + +<h3><a name="s12.2.1"></a>12.2.1 Mailing lists</h3> + +<p> +There are a lot of <code><a +href="http://www.debian.org/MailingLists/">Debian-related mailing +lists</a></code>. +</p> + +<p> +On a system with the <code>doc-debian</code> package installed there is a +complete list of mailing lists in +<code>/usr/share/doc/debian/mailing-lists.txt</code>. +</p> + +<p> +Debian mailing lists are named following the pattern +debian-<var>list-subject</var>. Examples are debian-announce, debian-user, +debian-news. To subscribe to any list debian-<var>list-subject</var>, send +mail to debian-<var>list-subject</var>-request@lists.debian.org with the word +"subscribe" in the Subject: header. Be sure to remember to add +<em>-request</em> to the e-mail address when using this method to subscribe or +unsubscribe. Otherwise your e-mail will go to the list itself, which could be +embarrassing or annoying, depending on your point of view. +</p> + +<p> +You can subscribe to mailing lists using the <code><a +href="http://www.debian.org/MailingLists/subscribe">WWW form</a></code>. You +can also un-subscribe using a <code><a +href="http://www.debian.org/MailingLists/unsubscribe">WWW form</a></code>. +</p> + +<p> +The list manager's e-mail address is <code><a +href="mailto:listmaster@lists.debian.org">listmaster@lists.debian.org</a></code>, +in case you have any trouble. +</p> + +<p> +The mailing lists are public forums. All e-mails sent to the lists are also +copied to the public archive, for anybody (even non-subscribers) to browse or +search. Please make sure you never send any confidential or unlicensed +material to the lists. This includes things like e-mail addresses. Of +particular note is the fact that spammers have been known to abuse e-mail +addresses posted to our mailing lists. See the <code><a +href="http://www.debian.org/MailingLists/index.en.html#disclaimer">Mailing +Lists Privacy policy</a></code> for more information. +</p> + +<p> +Archives of the Debian mailing lists are available via WWW at <code><a +href="http://lists.debian.org/">http://lists.debian.org/</a></code>. +</p> + +<hr> + +<h4><a name="s-mailinglistconduct"></a>12.2.1.1 What is the code of conduct for the mailing lists?</h4> + +<p> +When using the Debian mailing lists, please follow these rules: +</p> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +Do not send spam. See the <code><a +href="http://www.debian.org/MailingLists/#ads">Debian mailing list advertising +policy</a></code>. +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +Do not flame; it is not polite. The people developing Debian are all +volunteers, donating their time, energy and money in an attempt to bring the +Debian project together. +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +Do not use foul language; besides, some people receive the lists via packet +radio, where swearing is illegal. +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +Make sure that you are using the proper list. <em>Never</em> post your +(un)subscription requests to the mailing list itself[<a +href="footnotes.en.html#f7" name="fr7">7</a>] +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +See section <a href="#s-bugreport">How do I report a bug in Debian?, Section +12.5</a> for notes on reporting bugs. +</p> +</li> +</ul> + +<hr> + +<h3><a name="s12.2.2"></a>12.2.2 Web forums</h3> + +<p> +<code><a href="http://debianhelp.org/">debianHELP</a></code> and <code><a +href="http://forums.debian.net/">Debian User Forums</a></code> are web forums +on which you can submit questions about Debian and have them answered by other +users. (These are not officially part of the Debian project.) +</p> + +<hr> + +<h3><a name="s12.2.3"></a>12.2.3 Wiki</h3> + +<p> +Solutions to common problems, howto's, guides, tips and other documentation can +be found at the constantly changing <code><a +href="http://wiki.debian.org/">Debian Wiki</a></code>. +</p> + +<hr> + +<h3><a name="s12.2.4"></a>12.2.4 Maintainers</h3> + +<p> +Users can address questions to individual package maintainers using e-mail. To +reach a maintainer of a package called xyz, send e-mail to +<em>xyz@packages.debian.org</em>. +</p> + +<hr> + +<h3><a name="s12.2.5"></a>12.2.5 Usenet newsgroups</h3> + +<p> +Users should post non-Debian-specific questions to one of the Linux USENET +groups, which are named comp.os.linux.* or linux.*. There are several lists of +Linux Usenet newsgroups and other related resources on the WWW, e.g. on the +<code><a href="http://www.linux.org/docs/usenet.html">Linux Online</a></code> +and <code><a +href="http://www.linuxjournal.com/helpdesk.php">LinuxJournal</a></code> sites. +</p> + +<hr> + +<h2><a name="s-searchtools"></a>12.3 Is there a quick way to search for information on Debian GNU/Linux?</h2> + +<p> +There is a variety of search engines that serve documentation related to +Debian: +</p> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +<code><a href="http://search.debian.org/">Debian WWW search site</a></code>. +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +<code><a href="http://groups.google.com/">Google Groups</a></code>: a search +engine for newsgroups. +</p> + +<p> +For example, to find out what experiences people have had with finding drivers +for Promise controllers under Debian, try searching on the phrase <samp>Promise +Linux driver</samp>. This will show you all the postings that contain these +strings, i.e. those where people discussed these topics. If you add +<samp>Debian</samp> to those search strings, you'll also get the postings +specifically related to Debian. +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +Any of the common web spidering engines, such as <code><a +href="http://www.altavista.com/">AltaVista</a></code> or <code><a +href="http://www.google.com/">Google</a></code>, as long as you use the right +search terms. +</p> + +<p> +For example, searching on the string "cgi-perl" gives a more detailed +explanation of this package than the brief description field in its control +file. +</p> +</li> +</ul> + +<hr> + +<h2><a name="s-buglogs"></a>12.4 Are there logs of known bugs?</h2> + +<p> +Reports on unsolved (and closed) issues are publicly available: Debian +promissed to do so by stating "We will not hide problems" in the +<code><a href="http://www.debian.org/social_contract">Debian Social +Contract</a></code>. +</p> + +<p> +The Debian GNU/Linux distribution has a bug tracking system (BTS) which files +details of bugs reported by users and developers. Each bug is given a number, +and is kept on file. Once it has been dealt with, it is marked as such. +</p> + +<p> +Copies of this information are available at <code><a +href="http://www.debian.org/Bugs/">http://www.debian.org/Bugs/</a></code>. +</p> + +<p> +A mail server provides access to the bug tracking system database via e-mail. +In order to get the instructions, send an e-mail to request@bugs.debian.org +with "help" in the body. +</p> + +<hr> + +<h2><a name="s-bugreport"></a>12.5 How do I report a bug in Debian?</h2> + +<p> +If you have found a bug in Debian, please read the instructions for reporting a +bug in Debian. These instructions can be obtained in one of several ways: +</p> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +From the WWW. A copy of the instructions is shown at <code><a +href="http://www.debian.org/Bugs/Reporting">http://www.debian.org/Bugs/Reporting</a></code>. +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +On any Debian system with the <code>doc-debian</code> package installed. The +instructions are in the file +<code>/usr/share/doc/debian/bug-reporting.txt</code>. +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +By anonymous FTP. Debian mirror sites contain the instructions in the file +<samp>doc/bug-reporting.txt</samp>. +</p> +</li> +</ul> + +<p> +You can use the package <code>reportbug</code> that will guide you through the +reporting process and mail the message to the proper address, with some extra +details about your system added automatically. It will also show you a list of +bugs already reported to the package you are reporting against in case your bug +has been reported previously, so that you can add additional information to the +existing bug report. +</p> + +<p> +Expect to get an automatic acknowledgement of your bug report. It will also be +automatically given a bug tracking number, entered into the bug log and +forwarded to the debian-bugs-dist mailing list. +</p> + +<hr> + +<p> +[ <a href="ch-customizing.en.html">previous</a> ] +[ <a href="index.en.html#contents">Contents</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-basic_defs.en.html">1</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-getting.en.html">2</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-choosing.en.html">3</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-compat.en.html">4</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-software.en.html">5</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-ftparchives.en.html">6</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html">7</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-pkgtools.en.html">8</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-uptodate.en.html">9</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-kernel.en.html">10</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-customizing.en.html">11</a> ] +[ 12 ] +[ <a href="ch-contributing.en.html">13</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-redistrib.en.html">14</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-nexttime.en.html">15</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-faqinfo.en.html">16</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-contributing.en.html">next</a> ] +</p> + +<hr> + +<p> +The Debian GNU/Linux FAQ +</p> + +<address> +version 4.0.3, 6 August 2008<br> +<br> +Authors are listed at <a href="ch-faqinfo.en.html#s-authors">Debian FAQ Authors</a><br> +<br> +</address> +<hr> + +</body> + +</html> + |