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When I first started using Linux in the late 90s, there wasn’t much help. I remember using the ICQ chat in a Linux room and meeting someone willing to give me a hand. Without this gentleman, I’m not 100% sure I would have continued using Linux.
Help can still be found online these days but it’s not likely to come through one of those old school chat rooms. Fortunately, then, there are plenty of ways to get help with Linux, regardless of your skill level.
Let’s see what happens.
How to find help for Linux
1. Forums
Forums are a great way to get help on just about any topic. I use the forums for many different topics and have always found them very useful. For Linux, your best bet is to find a forum for your specific distribution to find out if the advice you receive applies to what you are using.
For example, there is the official Ubuntu Forums, as well as Fedora Discussion, Debian User Forums, Linux Mint Forums, and many more.
Forums are a great place for any user, regardless of skill level. These forums are free and almost always community-run.
2. Mailing lists
Mailing lists aren’t as useful for new Linux users or even those who prefer more immediate interaction. However, the advantage of mailing lists is that you can still have access to the responses you receive in the form of saved or archived emails.
Most mailing lists offer an archive feature, allowing you to view the calendar and access message threads sent on a given day. The only downside to mailing lists is that fewer and fewer people are using email (especially younger generations), so their usefulness could eventually be called into question.
You will find mailing lists for Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian, etc. Mailing lists are usually divided into categories; so be sure to only register in categories that apply to you and/or your situation.
3. Social media
Social media has its uses, especially for finding help. I belong to several groups that allow me to obtain or provide help. For example, there’s the Pop!_OS Linux Facebook group, which is filled with users of all types who are always willing to help. You can also use the hashtag #Linux on some sites.
Most distributions have official social media accounts. You can tag these accounts, and followers may have the answer you need.
There are also Mastodon servers around the world (even Mastodon.social is a great place to find help). When looking for a Mastodon server to join, make sure there are plenty of users already registered, otherwise your help requests might gather dust.
4. Online publications
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention online publications, many of which offer how-tos, news, and opinions on Linux.
Along with other sites, ZDNET now has a real wealth of content about Linux. Some online publications are specifically dedicated to Linux (such as OMG Ubuntu, Its FOSS, 9to5Linux, and FOSS Force).
You may not always find the specific help you need, but these are great tools to help you learn more about Linux.
5. Paid help
Some of the more enterprise-focused distributions (such as Red Hat Enterprise Linux, SUSE Linux Enterprise, Ubuntu Server, and Oracle Linux) are all backed by larger companies, each of which offers paid support for their product. Some of these companies have paid support where a higher tier gets you more immediate help. At the lowest level, you may have access to forums or email lists, and with the highest services, you may be assigned a specific support specialist and have their direct phone number .
This type of support is not suitable for the average user, mainly due to the associated cost.
No matter what aspect of Linux you’re having trouble with, there’s a way to find help. After using Linux for decades, I have used each of these services and have never failed to find answers to pressing questions. And, of course, when all else fails, your good friend Google is always there!
Source : “ZDNet.com”
