Linux support options

Linux support options

Volunteer

• Internet based
  • Linux Questions Forums - for questions
  • Linux Questions Wiki - to look up HOWTOs, tips, etc.
  • Other wikis
  • TLDP - organized documents repository
  • IRC Chat - interactive chat session to discuss problems
  • Newsgroup - often can answer questions fairly quickly
  • Google Groups - indexes newsgroups, Posts appear hours later
  • Mailing list - archives can be looked up; queries answered by email
  • Email - much support depends on email correspondence

• Other volunteer support
  • Neighbor, friend, associate, or relative - if you know a guru, treat him/her right.
  • User group - there are many Linux user groups around to provide mutual support.
  • Club

Commercial - free or paid

• Distribution vendor
  • Free installation support for boxed distributions
  • Other support is usually paid, but not always
  • Support for consumers may be limited

• Machine vendor may offer free or paid support
  • Purchase machine with Linux pre-installed
  • Support could include partitioning the hard drive

• Other
  • Contractor
  • Employee
  • Neighbor
  • Neighborhood store
  • Service Corporation