Online Troubleshooting Resources HOWTO
 Howard Mann, [email protected]
 v0.5, 18 September 1999

 This document will direct Linux users to resources available on the
 Internet that provide access to a vast amount of Linux-related infor-
 mation useful in troubleshooting problems.
 ______________________________________________________________________

 Table of Contents


 1. Introduction

    1.1 Document updates
    1.2 Copyright and License
    1.3 Feedback and Corrections

 2. HOWTO's and mini-HOWTO's

 3. Frequently-Asked-Questions ( FAQ's)

 4. Online Support Sections

 5. Usenet Newsgroup Archives

    5.1 Power Search at deja.com
    5.2 Searchlinux.com (CNET Linux Help)

 6. Internet Search Engines

    6.1 Google.com

 7. Mailing List Archives

 8. Online User's Manuals

 9. Online Unix Tutorials

 10. Miscellaneous Resources

    10.1 Release Notes and Available Documentation related to the XFree86 X - Window Server.
    10.2 GNU Texinfo pages
    10.3 GNU Software and Manuals
    10.4 Glossary of Linux-related terms
    10.5 An online dictionary of computer and technology terms
    10.6 A detailed Guide to Personal Computers
    10.7 Gary's Encyclopedia

 11. Concluding Comments



 ______________________________________________________________________

 1.  Introduction

 The traditional means of troubleshooting computer-related problems
 involves consulting user's manuals, books, friends - probably enticed
 with goodies - and, when all the former do not yield a solution,
 calling the technical support service of the vendor of the product in
 question.  And, we all know pleasant and reliably efficacious the
 latter stratagem is. Unfortunately, this is the norm in the sphere of
 commercial proprietary products.


 In contradistinction, Linux, and related distributions, utilities and
 applications software, has largely  been developed according to the
 Open Source <http://www.opensource.org> model, wherein developers have
 used  electronic  communication over the Internet - typically in the
 form of  publically-accessible Mailing Lists-  to collaborate with
 their peers in the refinement of the associated source code. Such
 collaboration has also traditionally  involved the online publication
 of user's manuals, lists of Frequently-Asked-Questions  ( FAQ's ) ,
 knowledge bases, release notes, formal guides such as this document
 (HOWTO's) and tutorials. In addition, users often assist others
 through the forum of Usenet and other newsgroups and the posted
 messages are readily  accessible in the form of searchable archives.
 These linux-related newsgroups are renowned for their  high level of
 user participation. In significant measure, Linux may be considered a
 product of the Internet.

 Considered together, these resources enable access to a large, ever-
 expanding factual database, and my intent is to encourage and direct
 the reader to utilize these repositories when faced with an issue not
 addressed in the documentation that is included with each distribution
 of Linux. Linux veterans who assist newcomers through the forum of
 Usenet soon become aware of the frequency with which certain technical
 questions are repeatedly posted - questions the answers to which are
 readily available in one or  more of the existent online repositories.
 So, to diminish the likelihood of being "flamed" in response to your
 posted question on Usenet or irc , read further!

 Armed with a browser, Linux users may rapidly become adept at
 troubleshooting their systems. The key is knowing how and where to
 look. My objective is to guide the user - particularly the Linux
 newbie -  in this quest.


 1.1.  Document updates

 The latest version of this document will always be available at
 <http://www.newbielinux.com>, my website for Linux newbies.


 1.2.  Copyright and License

 Copyright (c) 1999 , by Howard Mann.

 This document is governed by the provisions of the LDP Copying
 License, the  terms of which are detailed here:
 <http://www.linuxdoc.org/copyright.html>


 1.3.  Feedback and Corrections

 I always welcome feedback and constructive criticism.In particular, I
 wish to be notified about any errors in this document and resources
 deserving of mention, but not presently covered herein.  In
 anticipation, Thanks.


 2.  HOWTO's and mini-HOWTO's

 These documents are associated with the Linux Documentation Project
 <http://www.linuxdoc.org>. There is an Index page
 <http://www.linuxdoc.org/HOWTO/HOWTO-INDEX-3.html> that I suggest you
 bookmark in your browser.

 These HOWTO's are written by Linux users and are periodically updated
 by the authors. Many authors provide the latest version at a personal
 website and a hyperlink to the latter is typically provided in the
 document . This version may be newer than that available at the LDP
 website.  The document may be published online before its inclusion
 into the LDP database.

 Note also that other HOWTO's are available, the authors of which have
 not submitted them to the LDP. It is definitely worthwhile trying to
 find these using an Internet search engine as I describe in a
 subsequent section.

 These documents are particularly useful when you decide to provide or
 access a new service with your Linux system, or when you embark on a
 technically complex project. For example, you may have the option of
 accessing the 'net with an ADSL or Cable Modem service - excellent
 guides are available in the form of HOWTO's.

 In addition, authors often include references and links to sites that
 they have found useful. You may find the information  you need at one
 of these hyperlinked sites rather than in the HOWTO itself. For
 example, I found Linux Network Drivers
 <http://cesdis1.gsfc.nasa.gov/linux/drivers/> , the primary site for
 information about Network Interface Card drivers , in the Ethernet
 HOWTO.


 3.  Frequently-Asked-Questions ( FAQ's)

 A list of FAQ's is a traditional accompaniment to Linux-related
 applications, utilities, and the like. An FAQ is typically provided
 online by the developer/s of the product in question, and enterprising
 users sometimes host an "unofficial" FAQ as well. Search for the
 latter with an Internet search engine.

 The FAQ is the first document to peruse when troubleshooting a
 particular application. In addition, FAQ's exist for Linux
 distributions, window managers, and the so-called desktop environments
 ( KDE and Gnome ).

 For Linux newbies, I provide links to three FAQ's that collectively
 address many of the questions posted to the Usenet newsgroups :


 1. The Linux FAQ at  <http://www.fokus.gmd.de/linux/FAQ/Linux-
    FAQ.html>

 2. The XFree86 X - Window System FAQ at  <http://www.xfree86.org/FAQ>

 3. The Linux Kernel mailing list FAQ at  <http://www.tux.org/lkml/>


 4.  Online Support Sections

 These sections are typically found at the websites of Linux
 distributions, and often contain a variety of helpful documents with
 information not easily encompassed within a FAQ. Look for sections
 with one or more of the following titles:


 o  Installation Support

 o  Knowledge or Solutions Databases.

 o  Tips and Tricks

 o  Errata, Fixes and Updates


 o  White Papers

 o  Technical Guides

 o  Hardware Guide or Compatibility List

 o  Security Information

 Some websites provide a site search engine that will facilitate your
 quest for a solution.

 If you have a problem with a newly installed distribution, look here
 first as bugs and their fixes are typically posted here. You may find
 a detailed guide that will help you accomplish a task such as
 upgrading your kernel or the version of the XFree86 X - Window System
 you are using.

 I recommend you spend some time at the website familiarizing yourself
 with what is available.



 5.  Usenet Newsgroup Archives

 The ability to search for and retrieve information from archived posts
 to the linux-related (Usenet) newsgroups represents a powerful means
 of troubleshooting in Linux.

 Search engines permit one to search the archives by stipulating the
 forum, keywords, authors, dates, language and combinations thereof.
 Because the number of linux-related newsgroups is large, the
 likelihood of finding useful information is high.

 I would like to relate a brief anecdote to demonstrate the efficacy of
 this approach. The first time I attempted to build a kernel, I was
 presented  with this error message when I invoked a "make" command:



      make[1]: as86: Command not found
      make[1]: *** [bootsect.o] Error 127
      make[1]: Leaving directory `/usr/src/linux/arch/i386/boot'
      make: *** [zImage] Error 2



 I had no idea what as86 was, but I entered it as the keyword in the
 SUBJECT field of the Power Search utility at deja.com ( see below) ,
 and was presented with a large number of posts from folks who had
 encountered the same problem.  Respondents had provided the reason and
 solution: I did not have an assembler/linker necessary to create
 machine code, and the bin86 package provided it. I downloaded and
 installed a RPM package of the latter and was on my way. This entire
 process took about 10 minutes ( I do have an ADSL connection to the

 There are two websites that provide access to Usenet archives using a
 search engine as described in the following sections.


 5.1.  Power Search at deja.com

 This is the pre-eminent site for all things Usenet, and the Power
 Search utility is at : <http://www.deja.com/home_ps.shtml>. Spend some
 time at this site learning how to use the search engine effectively,
 including an appreciation of the Search Language
 <http://www.deja.com/help/help_lang.shtml> nuances. In particular,
 note the value of using the wildcard symbol.  You will be repaid time
 and again for your efforts. I typically enter the following for a
 "routine" search:



      LANGUAGE : English
      SUBJECT :  try different keywords, thinking of a subject line you would use for a post.
      FORUM    :  *linux* or comp.os.linux.*



 There is another nice interface to the Power Search utility at :
 <http://www.exit109.com/~jeremy/news/deja.html>. Customize this page
 to your liking ( I like the " DejaClassic" option ), and then choose "
 Save Settings."

 You may also be interested in using the DejaSearch utility, available
 at :   <http://homemade.hypermart.net/dejasearch/> , that will print
 out the retrieved posts in one HTML file for your perusal. By using
 this, you will not have to page back and forth in your browser.


 5.2.  Searchlinux.com (CNET Linux Help)

 This is a relatively new site with many of the same features as
 deja.com. It has "basic" and "advanced" search options. The latter
 does not have as many options as the Power Search feature at deja.com.
 It has a nice one-click option whereby one may view one's own posts
 and associated replies. It is found at :  <http://www.searchlinux.com>


 6.  Internet Search Engines

 I frequently use a Search Engine to retrieve helpful or necessary
 information from the 'net.  These engines catalogue pages from
 commercial, personal and academic websites, as well as Mailing Lists
 and the like.

 Of course, there are a large number of available Search Engines, and I
 suggest you try several before giving up on a particular quest.
 Research has shown that any one of them catalogues but a small portion
 of existent web pages. It is worthwhile becoming  very familiar with
 the operational details of at least one non-directory engine to
 maximize the efficiency and efficacy of your search efforts. You
 probably already have a favorite - I like Google.com, and will discuss
 it in a little more detail.


 6.1.  Google.com

 This engine has several novel features that are described at :
 <http://www.google.com/why_use.html>. In particular, the engine often
 returns the most useful pages first ; in fact, I have often found that
 the first listed page contains the information I need. Because it
 caches web pages, it is relatively fast at displaying requested items.
 It has a so-called GoogleScout (TM) feature that  provides additional
 relevant links with each item returned.

 In addition, it has a specialized Linux search engine at :
 <http://www.google.com/linux> that I use as my primary Internet search
 tool. It searches the database of linux-related pages at Google.com
 further promoting search efficiency. Try it- I am confident you will
 bookmark it immediately.
 7.  Mailing List Archives

 As you might expect, there are a very large number of linux-related
 Mailing Lists that enable developers and users to communicate and
 collaborate on projects. These Lists cover every conceivable aspect of
 Linux, from the technical arcana of kernel development to the
 relatively unfocused discussion of issues at the newbie level.
 Subscribers to a particular Mailing List are generally very
 knowledgeable in the List's topic, and detailed and useful information
 is often retrievable. The communications are publically accessible
 through Internet search engines and in the form of online Mailing List
 Archives. You will typically see archived pages when you conduct a
 search using an Internet search engine.

 Not all Mailing Lists are associated with an online archive, but this
 is increasingly the case. Similarly, not all archives have an
 associated search engine.

 Initially, try locate the Mailing List Archive you are interested in
 by typing a keyword/s and "mailing list archive" in an Internet search
 engine.

 For a listing of linux-related Mailing Lists, peruse websites such as
 the Linux Resource Exchange at :
 <http://www.linuxrx.com/Lists/Lists.perl> and the Linux Online Mailing
 Lists at:  <http://www.linux.org/help/lists.html>.

 You may also find Mailing List archives at the following locations :


 1. The website of the distribution of Linux you use.

 2. The website/s of the Window Manager and/or Desktop Environment you
    use.

 3. The website dedicated to the application or project  in question.

 4. The Mail Archive at :  <http://www.mail-archive.com/lists.html>

 5. Mailing List Archives at : <http://www.uwsg.indiana.edu/hypermail/>

 6. Linux Mailing List Archives at : <http://kernelnotes.org/lnxlists/>

 7. Tux Mailing List Archives at : <http://www.tux.org/hypermail/>

 This is not a complete listing of archives and you may find additional
 sites with an Internet search engine. But, this should certainly get
 you going.


 8.  Online User's Manuals

 Some of the major Linux distributions and Window Managers/Desktop
 Environments publish their user's manual online. If the entire manual
 is not online, installation and configuration guides are typically
 found at the relevant website . This also applies to major
 applications like the Gimp ( GNU Image Manipulation Program).

 So, for those users who do not have the printed manual, a wealth of
 installation and configuration guidance is generally available online.


 9.  Online Unix Tutorials

 As Linux is a Unix-like operating system, a general familiarity with
 fundamental Unix concepts such as the Unix directory hierarchy and
 file permissions is essential. Fortunately, there are many Unix
 tutorials online that collectively cover everything a user might need
 to know to use Linux. I suggest you bookmark the following as an
 online reference library :


 1. A large well-organized reference at :
    <http://www.dicamp.univ.trieste.it/du96/unix/TOC.html>

 2. Unixhelp at  <http://www.ucs.ed.ac.uk/~unixhelp/servers.html>

 3. Unix is a Four Letter Word... at
    <http://www.linuxbox.com/~taylor/4ltrwrd/title.html>


 10.  Miscellaneous Resources

 In this section, I provide a number of links to websites that I have
 found useful while learning to use Linux. This is an eclectic
 collection, but keep these handy.


 10.1.  Release Notes and Available Documentation related to the
 XFree86 X - Window Server.

 This documentation accompanies each version of XFree86, and is
 available at: <http://www.xfree86.org/>. Whenever you have trouble
 with your X environment, peruse the notes applicable to your
 videocard/chipset. These typically provide details about the
 configuration of the X - window system relative to your card, and will
 enumerate any "options" you have to include in the XF86Config file
 that governs X.


 10.2.  GNU Texinfo pages

 A great collection of pages is available at : <http://www.geek-
 girl.com/unix.html#texinfo>. Included are links to pages on the
 following:


 o  Bash    - The Bourne-again shell

 o  Configure    - used when compiling programs from source code

 o  G++    - the GNU C++  compiler

 o  Gcc  - the C compiler

 o  Libc  - the GNU C library

 o  Make  - a program for directing recompilation

 Note that some of these are included in the "docs" that come with
 Linux distributions. In general, these are detailed technical
 documents of particular interest to developers. However, if like me,
 you are not a programmer, you may peruse the introductory sections of
 these documents to get insight, for example,  into those configureand
 make commands you use when installing applications from source code.


 10.3.  GNU Software and Manuals

 Many important programs that are frequently utilized by the Linux user
 are GNU utilities -  for example, the tar (archive) and gzip (
 compression ) programs. Descriptions of these programs are located at
 :
 <http://www.gnu.org/software/software.html#DescriptionsOfGNUSoftware>
 and online manuals for many of these are found at :
 <http://www.gnu.org/manual/manual.html>.

 These manuals typically provide a lot more information than is found
 in the corresponding man page on your system. For example , compare
 the man page and online manual for the tar utility.


 10.4.  Glossary of Linux-related terms

 This online guide at : <http://www.firstlinux.com/guide/> has a nice
 collection of terms and definitions, sorted alphabetically. Go here if
 you encounter a term that you have not seen before or do not
 understand.


 10.5.  An online dictionary of computer and technology terms

 The Webopedia website at :  <http://www.pcwebopedia.com/> consists of
 a large online dictionary of computer-related terms and a search
 engine that provides links to documents that discuss each item in more
 detail. For example, I used this site to learn the differences between
 ISA and PCI buses.


 10.6.  A detailed Guide to Personal Computers

 The Topic Index to this voluminous hardware guide at :
 <http://www.PCguide.com/topic.html> will give you a great idea of the
 contents of this website. I used it quite frequently when first
 installing Linux and configuring the X Window System. I learnt a lot
 about videocards and monitors, including the concepts of screen
 resolution, color depth etc., useful when troubleshooting X - display
 problems.


 10.7.  Gary's Encyclopedia

 Gary Momarison's website at
 <http://members.aa.net/~swear/pedia/index.html> contains a very large
 number of sorted Linux-related links. You may use the "find" function
 in your browser to find links in a particular category. Peruse this
 website to appreciate what it has to offer.


 11.  Concluding Comments

 If you are a Linux newbie, you may want to create a Troubleshooting
 folder in your browser's bookmark list, into which you put the
 hyperlinks I have included in this document, as well as those
 pertinent to the distribution of Linux and  the Window Manager/Desktop
 Environment you use.

 As you use these links , you will quickly become adept at
 troubleshooting online.

 Cheers and happy searching !

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