► comp.os.linux.redhat — All about Red Hat Linux
► comp.os.linux.security — Linux security issues
► comp.os.linux.setup — Linux installation topics
► comp.os.linux.x — Linux and the X Window System
► comp.windows.x.apps — Using X-based clients
► comp.windows.x.i386unix — X for UNIX PCs
► comp.windows.x.intrinsics — X Toolkit library topics
► comp.windows.x.kde — Using KDE and X discussions
► comp.windows.x.motif — All about Motif programming
► comp.windows.x — Discussions about X
► linux.admin.* — Two newsgroups for Linux administrators
► linux.debian.* — 30 newsgroups about Debian
► linux.dev.* — 25 or more Linux development newsgroups
► linux.help — Get help with Linux
► linux.kernel — The Linux kernel
► linux.redhat.* — Red Hat-based discussions: linux.redhat.announce, linux.redhat.list, linux.redhat.applixware, linux.redhat.misc, linux.redhat.devel, linux.redhat.pam, linux.redhat.development, linux.redhat.ppp, linux.redhat.digest, linux.redhat.rpm, linux.redhat.install, linux.redhat.sparc, linux.redhat.axp
Mailing Lists
Mailing lists are interactive or digest-form electronic discussions about nearly any topic. To use a mailing list, you must generally send an email request to be subscribed to the list, and then verify the subscription with a return message from the master list mailer. After subscribing to a mailing list, each message sent to the list appears in your email inbox. However, many lists provide a digest form of subscription in which a single- or half-day's traffic is condensed in a single message. The digest form is generally preferred unless you have set up electronic mail filtering.
The main Fedora Project mailing lists are detailed here, but there are quite a few Linux- related lists. Red Hat's offerings are also provided here. You can search for nearly all online mailing lists by using a typical mailing list search web page, such as the one at http://www.lsoft.com/lists/list_q.html.
GNOME users and developers should know that more than two dozen mailing lists are available through http://mail.gnome.org/. KDE users can also benefit by perusing the KDE-related mailing lists at http://www.kde.org/mailinglists.html.
Fedora Project Mailing Lists
The Fedora Project is always expanding, with many users finding Fedora for the first time. You can find many other knowledgeable users with answers to your questions by participating in one of Fedora's mailing lists. The lists are focused on using, testing, developing and participating in Fedora's development:
► fedora-devel-list@redhat.com — Developer information exchanges
► fedora-announce-list@redhat.com — Announcements concerning Fedora
► fedora-docs-list@redhat.com — Fedora users working on project documentation
► fedora-list@redhat.com — Discussions among users of Fedora releases
► fedora-test-list@redhat.com — Queries and reports from testers of Fedora test releases
Red Hat Mailing Lists
Red Hat provides a comprehensive archive and mailing list management web page at http://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/. You can use this page to subscribe to one of more than 40 mailing lists related to Red Hat and Fedora. Some of the more pertinent lists are the following:
► redhat-devel-list — Information for developers using Red Hat Linux
► redhat-install-list — Installation issues about Red Hat Linux
► redhat-list — General Red Hat Linux discussion list
► redhat-ppp-list — Issues regarding PPP and dialup under Red Hat Linux
► redhat-secure-server — Using Red Hat, Inc.'s secure server
► redhat-watch-list — Announcements of bug fixes and updates for Red Hat Linux
► rpm-list — Using the Red Hat Package Manager
Internet Relay Chat
Internet Relay Chat (IRC) is a popular form and forum of communication for many Red Hat Linux developers and users because it allows an interactive, real-time exchange of information and ideas. To use IRC, you must have an IRC client and the address of a network and server hosting the desired chat channel for your discussions.
You can use the irc.freenode.net IRC server, or one listed at http://www.freenode.net/ to chat with other Fedora Project users. Two current channels are the following:
► #fedora channel — General chat about Fedora
► #fedora-devel — Hangout for a number of the Fedora Project developers
Sadly, the list of active IRC channels that has been referred to in previous editions of this book has disappeared from the Internet. However, Google can once again be your savior. Just enter in the distribution name and IRC into the search options to retrieve information on any IRC channels relevant to your requirements. To get started with IRC, browse to http://www.irchelp.org/. Some of the channels of interest might be the following:
► #linux — General discussions about Linux
► #linuxhelp — Help chat discussion for new users
Most IRC networks provide one or more Linux channels, although some providers require signup and registration before you can access any chat channel.