LDP
/
LDP
mirror of https://github.com/tLDP/LDP
0
1
Fork 0
Code Releases Activity

Merge https://github.com/tldp/ldp

This commit is contained in:
Jason S. Evans 2016-02-26 09:22:57 +01:00
parent a75247c651 8ee6885968
commit 95e73c8a11
1 changed files with 227 additions and 130 deletions
Show Stats Download Patch File Download Diff File Expand all files Collapse all files

357
LDP/howto/linuxdoc/User-Group-HOWTO.sgml
View File

@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
<title>Linux User Group HOWTO
<author><url name="Rick Moen" url="mailto:%20rick@linuxmafia.com%20"></author>
<date>v1.8.4, 2013-07-25
<date>v1.8.6, 2016-02-25
<abstract>
The Linux User Group HOWTO is a guide to founding, maintaining, and
@ -26,6 +26,18 @@ computers, servers, workstations, PDAs, and embedded systems. It was
developed on the i386 and now supports a huge range of processors from
tiny to colossal:
Note: The following supported-platforms list is not serious documentation.
The point is merely to illustrate the breadth of Linux's reach.
If seriously interested in the subject of Linux ports, please see also
<url name="Xose Vazquez Perez's Linux ports page" url="http://web.archive.org/web/20070813000855/http://www.itp.uni-hannover.de/ports/linux_ports.html"> and
<url name="Jerome Pinot's Linux architectures list" url="http://web.archive.org/web/20050308130348/http://ngc891.blogdns.net/kernel/docs/arch.txt"> (static mirrors, as both pages vanished in 2005), if only because
hardware support is more complex than just generic CPU functionality,
encompassing support for myriad bus variations and other subtle hardware
issues (especially for
<url name="Linux PDA / embedded / microcontroller / router ports" url="http://www.linuxfordevices.com/">).
<itemize>
<item><bf>Diverse <url name="PDA / embedded / microcontroller / router"
url="http://www.uclinux.org/ports/"> devices:</bf>
@ -41,7 +53,7 @@ url="http://www.freescale.com/files/netcomm/doc/data_sheet/MC68EN302.pdf"></item
<item>Intel i960</item>
<item>Intel IA32-compatibles (Cyrix MediaGX, STMicroelectronics <url name="STPC" url="http://web.archive.org/web/20070626190436/http://www.stmcu.com/forums-cat-132-6.html">, ZF Micro ZFx86)</item>
<item>Matsushita <url name="AM3x" url="http://ecos.sourceware.org/hardware.html#Matsushita%20AM3x"></item>
<item>MIPS-compatibles (Toshiba TMPRxxxx / TXnnnn, NEC <url name="VR" url="http://www.linux-mips.org/wiki/NEC_VR4100"> series, Realtek 8181">)</item>
<item>MIPS-compatibles (Toshiba TMPRxxxx / TXnnnn, NEC <url name="VR" url="http://www.linux-mips.org/wiki/NEC_VR4100"> series, Realtek 8181")</item>
<item>Motorola 680x0-based machines (Motorola VMEbus boards, <url name="ISICAD Prisma" url="http://ds.dial.pipex.com/town/way/fr30/"> machines, and Motorola Dragonball &amp; <url name="ColdFire" url="http://www.uclinux.org/ports/coldfire/"> CPUs, and Cisco 2500/3000/4000 series routers)</item>
<item>Motorola embedded <url name="PowerPC" url="http://penguinppc.org/embedded/"> (including MPC / PowerQUICC I, II, III families)</item>
<item>NEC <url name="V850E" url="http://ecos.sourceware.org/tools/linux-v850-elf.html"></item>
@ -107,49 +119,38 @@ at all maintained since creation. On some of the rarer architectures,
(The
<url name="Debian GNU/kFreeBSD" url="http://www.debian.org/ports/kfreebsd-gnu/"> port should also be solid enough to
serve as a compromise option, furnishing GNU/Linux userspace code on the
high performance / high stability FreeBSD kernel, and <url name="NexentaOS" url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nexenta_OS">
provides something similar on the OpenSolaris kernel.)
If seriously interested in the subject of Linux ports, please see also
<url name="Xose Vazquez Perez's Linux ports page"
url="http://web.archive.org/web/20070813000855/http://www.itp.uni-hannover.de/ports/linux_ports.html"> and
<url name="Jerome Pinot's Linux architectures list"
url="http://web.archive.org/web/20050308130348/http://ngc891.blogdns.net/kernel/docs/arch.txt"> (static mirrors, as both pages vanished in 2005), if only because
hardware support is more complex than just generic CPU functionality,
encompassing support for myriad bus variations and other subtle hardware
issues (especially for
<url name="Linux PDA / embedded / microcontroller / router ports"
url="http://www.linuxfordevices.com/">).
The above list aims mostly to generally illustrate the breadth of
Linux's reach.
high performance / high stability FreeBSD kernel, and <url name="Dyson" url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyson_(operating_system)"> or another <url name="Illumos distribution" url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illumos#Relatives">
can provide something similar on the OpenSolaris kernel.)
<sect1>Other sources of information
<p>
If you want to learn more, the <url url="http://www.tldp.org/"
name="Linux Documentation Project"> is a good place to start.
If you want to learn more, the <url name="Linux Documentation Project"
url="http://www.tldp.org/"> is a good place to start.
For general information about computer user groups, please see the
<url name="Association of PC Users Groups"
url="http://www.apcug.net/">.
<url name="Association of PC Users Groups" url="http://apcug2.org/">.
<sect>What is a GNU/Linux user group?
<p>
<sect1>What is GNU/Linux?
<p>
To fully appreciate LUGs' role in the GNU/Linux movement, it helps to
understand what makes GNU/Linux unique.
To fully appreciate LUGs' (Linux User Groups') role in the GNU/Linux
movement, it helps to understand what makes GNU/Linux unique.
GNU/Linux as an operating system is powerful -- but GNU/Linux as an
<it><bf>idea</bf></it> about software development is even more so. GNU/Linux
is a <bf>free</bf> operating system: It's licensed under the GNU General
Public Licence. Thus, source code is freely available in perpetuity to
anyone. It's maintained by a unstructured group of programmers
world-wide, under technical direction from Linus Torvalds and other key
developers. GNU/Linux as a movement has no central structure, bureaucracy,
or other entity to direct its affairs. While this situation has
advantages, it poses challenges for allocation of human resources,
effective advocacy, public relations, user education, and training.
Public Licence (and other open source / free software licences -- though
proprietary application software is sometimes also included in
particular packagings). Thus, source code is freely available in
perpetuity to anyone. It's maintained by a unstructured group of
programmers world-wide, under technical direction from Linus Torvalds
and other key developers. GNU/Linux as a movement has no central
structure, bureaucracy, or other entity to direct its affairs. While
this situation has advantages, it poses challenges for allocation of
human resources, effective advocacy, public relations, user education,
and training.
<p>
(This HOWTO credits the Free Software Foundation's
@ -160,6 +161,11 @@ comprising the GNU operating system atop the Linux kernel as "GNU/Linux".
Yes, the term is awkward, and FSF's request for credit isn't widely
honoured; but the justice of FSF's claim is obvious.)
(This HOWTO's maintainer is also fully aware that the world at large
will never adopt this usage, justice notwithstanding. If it seems
mannered, please indulge him, and respect the gesture.)
<sect1>How is GNU/Linux unique?
<p>
GNU/Linux's loose structure is unlikely to change. That's a good thing:
@ -171,12 +177,12 @@ However, this loose structure can disorient the new user: Whom
does she call for support, training, or education? How does she know
what GNU/Linux is suitable for?
In part, LUGs provide the answers, which is why LUGs are vital to
In part, LUGs provide the answers, which is why LUGs have been vital to
the movement: Because your town, village, or metropolis sports no
Linux Corporation "regional office", the LUG takes on many of the same
roles a regional office does for a large multi-national corporation.
GNU/Linux is unique in neither having nor being burdened by central
GNU/Linux is unusual in neither having nor being burdened by central
structures or bureaucracies to allocate its resources, train its users,
and support its products. These jobs get done through diverse means: the
Internet, consultants, VARs, support companies, colleges, and
@ -191,7 +197,8 @@ Microcomputers arose in large part to satisfy demand for affordable,
personal access to computing resources from electronics, ham radio, and
other hobbyist user groups. Giants like IBM eventually discovered the
PC to be a good and profitable thing, but initial impetus came from the
grassroots.
grassroots, leading to groundbreaking efforts like SHARE (1955-present)
and DECUS (1961-2008).
In the USA, user groups have changed -- many for the worse --
with the times. The financial woes and dissolution of the largest user
@ -228,6 +235,59 @@ distribution-restricted proprietary software of any sort should be
heavily discouraged anywhere in LUGs, and declared off-topic for all
GNU/Linux user group on-line forums, for legal reasons.)
<sect1>Avoiding Burnout and Decline
<p>
Since around 2003, LUGs in developed countries have seen a decline
similar to that of traditional user groups. The causes can be debated,
and might include:
<itemize>
<item>GNU/Linux being so successful that it's often perceived as
infrastructure rather than as something new and interesting.</item>
<item>LUGs getting lost in the noise of social media.</item>
<item>Early adopters critical to making LUGs function moving
on to other interests.</item>
<item><url name="Meetup.com" url="http://linuxmafia.com/faq/Essays/meetup.html">, with its strong inward-facing focus, sucking
away available talent and energy, and making LUGs less noticeable.</item>
<item>GNU/Linux becoming so much easier to install
and use that focus has shifted to more-specialised topics better served
by more-specialised technical communities (DevOps, bioinformatics,
cloud computing, embedded computing, and many others).</item>
<item>LUG leaders poorly managing a generational transition,
leaving nobody ready to take over as they bow out.</item>
<item>Greater ubiquity of the Internet generally, and
specifically reputation-based collaborative sites like StackExchange,
StackOverflow, Doctype, Codeproject, and Serverfault, not to mention
users becoming skilled at Web-searching, making LUGs far less
pragmatically necessary, and the main action involving SaaS sites having
site scale and network effects with which LUGs cannot compete.</item>
</itemize>
A few time-tested tips for averting LUG flameout:
<itemize>
<item>Automation is your friend. Any task that can be scripted,
should be scripted.</item>
<item>Check all your LUG's systems, both technical and social,
for single points of failure (SPoFs). Keep trying to make sure there are
fallbacks if anything or anyone fails. Do backups. Ensure that nothing
important can be done by only one person.</item>
<item>Beware of your LUG, or any individual in it, committing
to carrying out too much work, or with too great frequency. It's
better for a LUG to do less, or have its functions occur less often,
than risk people wearing out and leaving.</item>
<item>Remember that if people aren't having fun, they won't
continue for long. E.g., if your group becomes less technical and
more social, don't fret. It's probably a healthy thing.</item>
<item>Carefully guard your significant assets, such as domain
ownership, difficult-to-acquire meeting venues, and the names of key
corporate contacts, and keep them away from problematic people sometimes
drawn to LUGs. Even if you, say, wrestle your domain away from someone
who's suddenly decided to destroy the LUG (which does happen), the
strife will drive away key people.</item>
</itemize>
<sect1>Summary
<p>
For the GNU/Linux movement to grow, among other requirements,
@ -251,23 +311,22 @@ LUG, your first task should be to find any nearby existing LUGs.
<it>Your best bet may be to join a LUG already established in your area,
rather than founding one.</it>
As of 2007, there are LUGs in all 50 US states plus the District of
Columbia, all of Canada's ten provinces and three territories, all six of
Australia's states plus the Australian Capital Territory, in 76 locations
in India, and over 100 other countries, including Russia, China, and most
of Western and Eastern Europe.
As of 2016, there are LUGs in 43 US states, seven of Canada's ten provinces,
all six of Australia's states plus the Australian Capital Territory, in 76
locations in India, and over 100 other countries, including Russia, China, most
of Western and Eastern Europe, and many parts of Africa, South America, Central
America, Oceania, and the Caribbean. (This does not include Linux groups
internal to <url name="Meetup.com" url="http://linuxmafia.com/faq/Essays/meetup.html">.)
<itemize>
<item><url name="Linux.org List" url="http://www.linux.org/xfa-groups-home/"></item>
<item><url name="LibrePlanet Group List" url="http://libreplanet.org/wiki/Group_list"></item>
<item><url name="Open Directory: LUGS" url="http://dmoz.org/Computers/Software/Operating_Systems/Linux/User_Groups/"></item>
<item><url name="Lea-Linux List" url="http://www.lea-linux.org/documentations/index.php/Annuaire:LUG_%26_assos_nationales"></item>
<item><url name="Yahoo Linux &gt; User Groups" url="http://dir.yahoo.com/Computers_and_Internet/Software/Operating_Systems/Unix/Linux/User_Groups/">
<item><url name="CLUE: the Canadian Linux Users' Exchange" url="http://www.linux.ca/"></item>
<item><url name="Lugslist" url="http://lugslist.com/"></item>
<item><url name="DMOZ Linux User Groups" url="http://dmoz.org/Computers/Software/Operating_Systems/Linux/User_Groups/"></item>
<item><url name="L&eacute;a-Linux List" url="http://www.lea-linux.org/documentations/index.php/Annuaire:LUG_%26_assos_nationales"> (text is in French)</item>
<item><url name="UK Linux User Groups" url="http://www.lug.org.uk/"></item>
<item><url name="Linux Australia" url="http://www.linux.org.au/"></item>
<item><url name="Linux Australia" url="http://linux.org.au/usergroups"></item>
<item><url name="LUGs List for India and Asia" url="http://www.wikiwikiweb.de/LugsList"></item>
<item><url name="I Linux User Group italiani" url="http://lugmap.linux.it/"></item>
<item><url name="LibrePlanet Group List" url="http://libreplanet.org/wiki/Group_list"> (lists FSF affiliates only)</item>
</itemize>
<sect1>Solidarity versus convenience
@ -422,7 +481,7 @@ offered them a solution -- by charging money.
Seen from this perspective, being conservative about the costs and
difficulties of GNU/Linux deployments helps make them positively attractive
-- and protects your credibility as a spokesman. Even better would be
-- and protects your credibility as a speaker. Even better would be
to frame the discussion of costs in terms of the cost of functionality
(e.g., 1000-seat Internet-capable company e-mail with offline-user
capability and webmail) as opposed to listing software as a retail-style
@ -465,7 +524,7 @@ for example, LUGs have taken GNU/Linux into local schools, small businesses,
community and social organisations, and other non-corporate
environments. This accomplishes the goal of advocacy and also
educates the general public. As more such organisations seek Internet
presence, provide their personnel dial-in access, or other
presence, provide their personnel dial-in access, or other
GNU/Linux-relevant functions, LUGs gain opportunities for community
participation, through awareness and education efforts -- extending to
the community the same generous spirit characteristic of GNU/Linux and the
@ -478,7 +537,7 @@ GNU/Linux is a natural fit for these organisations, because deployments
don't commit them to expensive licence, upgrade, or maintenance fees.
Being technically elegant and economical, it also runs very well on
cast-off corporate hardware that non-profit organisations are only too
happy to use: The unused Pentium II in the closet can do <bf>real
happy to use: The unused Pentium III in the closet can do <bf>real
work</bf>, if someone installs GNU/Linux on it.
In addition, education assists other LUG goals over time, in
@ -495,19 +554,18 @@ allied projects such as the Apache Web server, X.org, Freedesktop.org,
TeX, LaTeX, etc. -- is key to this dynamic: Education turns new users into
experienced ones.
Finally, GNU/Linux is a self-documenting operating environment: In other words,
writing and publicising our community's documentation is up to us.
Therefore, make sure LUG members know of the <url name="Linux
Finally, GNU/Linux is a self-documenting operating environment: In other
words, writing and publicising our community's documentation is up to
us. Therefore, make sure LUG members know of the <url name="Linux
Documentation Project" url="http://www.tldp.org/"> and its worldwide
mirrors. Consider operating an LDP mirror site. Also, make sure to
publicise -- through <tt>comp.os.linux.announce</tt>, the LDP, and other
pertinent sources of information -- any relevant documentation
the LUG develops: technical presentations, tutorials, local FAQs, etc.
LUGs' documentation often fails to benefit the worldwide
community for no better reason than not notifying the outside world.
Don't let that happen: It is highly probable that if someone at one LUG
had a question or problem with something, then others elsewhere
will have it, too.
pertinent sources of information -- any relevant documentation the LUG
develops: technical presentations, tutorials, local FAQs, etc. LUGs'
documentation often fails to benefit the worldwide community for no
better reason than not notifying the outside world. Don't let that
happen: It is highly probable that if someone at one LUG had a question
or problem with something, then others elsewhere will have it, too.
<sect1>GNU/Linux support
<p>
@ -529,22 +587,31 @@ LUGs have the opportunity to support:
<p>
New users' most frequent complaint, once they have GNU/Linux
installed, is the steep learning curve characteristic of all modern
Unixes. With that learning curve, however, comes the power and
flexibility of a real operating system. A LUG is often the a new
user's main resource to flatten the learning curve.
Unixes. (That sentence was true in 1997 when this HOWTO's first
maintainer wrote it, but happily not much any more.) With that learning
curve, however, comes the power and flexibility of a real operating
system. A LUG is often the a new user's main resource to flatten the
learning curve.
During GNU/Linux's first decade, it gained some first-class journalistic
resources, which should not be neglected: The main monthly magazines
of longest standing are <it><url name="Linux Journal"
url="http://www.linuxjournal.com/"></it> and <it><url name="Linux Gazette"
url="http://linuxgazette.net/"></it>. More recently,
resources, which should not be neglected: The main (surviving) monthly
magazine of longest standing is <it><url name="Linux Journal"
url="http://www.linuxjournal.com/"></it> (USA).
More recently,
they've been joined by
<it><url name="LinuxFocus" url="http://www.linuxfocus.org/"></it> and the
<it><url name="New LinuxFocus" url="http://new.linuxfocus.org/cms/"></it> (on-line),
<it><url name="Linux Format" url="http://www.linuxformat.com"></it>,
<it><url name="LinuxUser and Developer" url="http://www.linuxuser.co.uk/"></it>,
<it><url name="Linux Magazine" url="http://www.linux-magazine.com/"></it>, and
<it><url name="LINUX For You" url="http://www.linuxforu.com/"></it>.
<it><url name="Linux Format" url="http://www.linuxformat.com"></it> (UK),
<it><url name="LinuxUser and Developer" url="http://www.linuxuser.co.uk/"></it> (UK),
<it><url name="Linux Magazine" url="http://www.linux-magazine.com/"></it> (German publishing firm; publishes in English, German, Polish, Brazilian Portuguese, and Spanish; North American edition is named Linux Pro Magazine),
<it><url name="Open Source For You"
url="http://opensourceforu.efytimes.com/"></it> (India; formerly <it>LINUX
For You)</it>,
<it><url name="Full Circle" url="http://fullcirclemagazine.org/"></it>
(international; covers Ubuntu family distributions),
<it><url name="Linux Voice" url="http://linuxvoice.com/"></it> (UK),
<it><url name="easyLinux" url="http://www.easylinux.de/"></it> (German),
<it><url name="LinuxUser" url="https://www.linux-user.de/"</it> (German), and
<it><url name="Ubuntu User" url="http://www.ubuntu-user.com/"></it> (German
publishing firm; in English).
Standout on-line magazines and news sites with weekly or better publication
cycles include <it><url name="Linux Weekly News" url="http://lwn.net/"></it>,
@ -556,18 +623,18 @@ All of these resources have eased LUGs' job of spreading essential
news and information -- about bug fixes, security problems, patches,
new kernels, etc., but new users must still be made aware of
them, and taught that the newest kernels are always
available from <url name="ftp.kernel.org" url="ftp://ftp.kernel.org">,
available from <url name="kernel.org" url="https://www.kernel.org/">,
that the <url name="Linux Documentation Project" url="http://www.tldp.org/">
has newer versions of Linux HOWTOs than do CD-based GNU/Linux distributions,
and so on.
has newer versions of Linux HOWTOs than do DVD/CD-based GNU/Linux
distributions, and so on.
Intermediate and advanced users
also benefit from proliferation of timely and useful tips, facts,
and secrets. Because of the GNU/Linux world's manifold aspects, even
advanced users often learn new tricks or techniques simply by
participating in a LUG. Sometimes, they learn of software packages
they didn't know existed; sometimes, they just remember arcane
<tt>vi</tt> command sequences they've not used since college.
Intermediate and advanced users also benefit from proliferation of
timely and useful tips, facts, and secrets. Because of the GNU/Linux
world's manifold aspects, even advanced users often learn new tricks or
techniques simply by participating in a LUG. Sometimes, they learn of
software packages they didn't know existed; sometimes, they just
remember arcane <tt>vi</tt> command sequences they've not used since
college.
<sect2>Consultants
<p>
@ -643,7 +710,7 @@ Telltale signs that a questioner may need to be transitioned to consulting-based
In general, LUG members are especially delighted to help, on a volunteer
basis, members who seem likely to participate in the "gift
culture" by picking up its body of lore and, in turn, perpetuating it
culture" by picking up its body of lore and, in turn, perpetuating it
by teaching others in their turn. Certainly, there's nothing wrong with
having other priorities and values, but such folk may in some cases be
best referred to paid assistance, as a better fit for their needs.
@ -658,7 +725,8 @@ advised to be aware, if not wary, of this distinction.
Please see Joshua Drake's <url name="Linux Consultants Guide"
url="http://www.commandprompt.com/community/consultants/guide/"> for an
international list of GNU/Linux consultants.
international list of GNU/Linux consultants. (Note: As of 2016,
Drake's list was last updated in 2006.)
<sect2>Businesses, non-profit organisations, and schools
<p>
@ -675,7 +743,7 @@ a part of their computing operations differs little from the help LUGs
give individuals trying GNU/Linux at home. For example, compiling the Linux
kernel doesn't really differ. Supporting businesses, however, may
require supporting proprietary software -- e.g., the Oracle, Sybase,
and DB2 databases (or VMware, Win4Lin, and such things).
and DB2 databases (or VMware, CrossOver Linux, and such things).
Some LUG expertise in these areas may help businesses make the leap
into GNU/Linux deployments.
@ -687,7 +755,7 @@ available in few other places. For example:
<item>Which local ISP is Linux-friendly?</item>
<item>Are there any local hardware vendors building Linux PCs?</item>
<item>Does anyone sell Linux CDs locally?</item>
<item>Does anyone sell Linux DVDs/CDs locally?</item>
</itemize>
@ -742,7 +810,7 @@ development of software working with GNU/Linux:
<item><url url="http://www.linuxfoundation.org/about" name="The Linux Foundation">
<item><url url="http://www.debian.org/donations.html" name="Debian / Software In the Public Interest">
<item><url url="https://my.fsf.org/associate/support_freedom" name="Free Software Foundation">
<item><url url="http://www.kde.org/community/donations/" name="KDE Project">
<item><url url="http://www.kde.org/community/donations/" name="KDE Project (KDE e.V.)">
<item><url url="http://www.gnome.org/friends/" name="GNOME Foundation">
</itemize>
@ -822,13 +890,6 @@ other school officials. OSEF installs and supports school computer labs,
and has developed a "K12 Box" as a compact Plug and Play workstation
computer for student computer labs.
<item> <url url="http://www.osafoundation.org/donations.htm" name="Open
Source Applications Foundation">
<p>OSAF is Mitch Kapor's non-profit foundation to create and popularise
open-source application software of uncompromising quality, starting
with its pioneering personal information manager, Chandler.
</itemize>
(Please note that suggested additions to the above list of GNU/Linux-relevant
@ -866,11 +927,12 @@ have a LUG that didn't engage in the other goals, there may be
LUGs for which socialising isn't a factor.
It seems, however, that whenever two or three GNU/Linux users get together,
fun, hijinks, and, often, beer follow. Linus Tovalds has
fun, hijinks, and, often, beer follow. Linus Torvalds has
always had one enduring goal for Linux: to have more fun. For hackers,
kernel developers, and GNU/Linux users, there's nothing quite like
downloading a new kernel, recompiling an old one, fooling with a
window manager, or hacking some code. GNU/Linux's sheer fun keeps many
window manager or desktop environment, hacking some code, or experimenting
with an innovative embedded Linux computer. GNU/Linux's sheer fun keeps many
LUGs together, and leads LUGs naturally to socialising.
By "socialising", here I mean primarily sharing experiences, forming
@ -884,11 +946,11 @@ hackers. In other words, acculturation turns you from "one of them" to
It is important that new users come to learn GNU/Linux culture,
concepts, traditions, and vocabulary. GNU/Linux acculturation, unlike "real
world" acculturation, can occur on mailing lists and Usenet, although
the latter's efficacy is challenged by poorly acculturated users and by
spam. LUGs are often much more efficient at this task than are mailing
lists or newsgroups, precisely because of the former's greater interactivity
and personal focus.
world" acculturation, can occur on mailing lists, Web forums, and
Usenet, although the latter's efficacy is challenged by poorly
acculturated users and by spam. LUGs are often much more efficient at
this task than are mailing lists, Web forums, or newsgroups, precisely
because of LUGs' greater interactivity and personal focus.
<sect>LUG activities
<p>
@ -931,15 +993,15 @@ What do LUGs do at these meetings?
<sect1>Online resources
<p>
The commercial rise of the Internet coincided roughly with that of
GNU/Linux; the latter owes something to the former. The 'Net has always been
GNU/Linux; the latter owes something to the former. The Net has always been
important to development. LUGs are no different: Most have Web
pages, if not whole Web sites. In fact, I'm not sure how else to find a
LUG, but to check the Web.
It makes sense, then, for a LUG to make use of whatever Internet
technologies they can: Web sites, mailing lists, wikis, ftp, e-mail, Web
technologies they can: Web sites, mailing lists, wikis, e-mail, Web
discussion forums, netnews, etc. As the world of commerce is
discovering, the 'Net is an effective way to advertise, inform, educate,
discovering, the Net is an effective way to advertise, inform, educate,
and even sell. The other reason LUGs make extensive use of Internet
technology is that the very essence of GNU/Linux is to <it>provide</it>
a stable and rich platform to deploy these technologies. So,
@ -966,7 +1028,7 @@ spends considerable time discussing Web issues. Quoting it (in outline form):
<item>You need to get on the main lists of LUGs, and keep your entries accurate.
<item>You must have login access to maintain your Web pages, as needed.
<item>Design your Web page to be forgiving of deferred maintenance.
<item>Always include the day of the week, when you cite event dates. Always check that day of the week, first, using gcal.
<item>Always include the day of the week, when you cite event dates. Always check that day of the week, first, using cal.
<item>Place time-sensitive and key information prominently near the top of your main Web page.
<item>Include maps and directions to your events.
<item>Emphasise on your main page that your meeting will be free of charge and open to the public (if it is).
@ -986,7 +1048,7 @@ Some LUGs using the Internet effectively:
<itemize>
<item><url name="Atlanta Linux Enthusiasts" url="http://www.ale.org/"></item>
<item><url name="Atlanta Linux Enthusiasts" url="http://ale.org/"></item>
<item><url name="Boston Linux and Unix" url="http://www.blu.org/"></item>
@ -1020,10 +1082,6 @@ Some LUGs using the Internet effectively:
<item><url name="Turkish Linux User Group" url="http://www.linux.org.tr/"></item>
<item><url name="Victoria Linux User Group" url="http://www.vlug.org/"></item>
<item><url name="Volgograd Linux User Group" url="http://volgograd.lug.ru/"></item>
</itemize>
<p>
@ -1082,18 +1140,18 @@ One of the long-time ones remains active:
<item>Post flyers, messages, or handbills wherever computer users are in your area.</item>
<item>Secure dedicated leadership.</item>
<item>Follow Linus Torvalds's <it>benevolent dictator</it> model of leadership.</item>
<item>Take the big decisions to the members for a vote.</item>
<item>Take the big decisions to the members for a vote. (Note: This HOWTO's second maintainer feels volunteers who do needed LUG work deserve significantly greater consideration for their views than do other members.)</item>
<item>Start a mailing list devoted to technical support and ask the "gurus" to participate on it.</item>
<item>Schedule a mixture of advanced and basic, formal and informal, presentations.</item>
<item>Support the software development efforts of your members.</item>
<item>Find way to raise money without dues: for instance, selling GNU/Linux merchandise to your members and to others.</item>
<item>Consider securing formal legal standing for the group, such as incorporation or tax-exempt status.</item>
<item>(Very optional:) Consider securing formal legal standing for the group, such as incorporation or tax-exempt status.</item>
<item>Find out if your meeting place is restricting growth of the LUG.</item>
<item>Meet in conjunction with swap meets, computer shows, or other community events where computer users -- i.e., potential GNU/Linux users -- are likely to gather.</item>
<item>Elect formal leadership for the LUG as soon as practical: Some helpful officers might include President, Treasurer, Secretary, Meeting Host (general announcements, speaker introductions, opening and closing remarks, etc.), Publicity Coordinator (handles Usenet and e-mail postings, local publicity), and Program Coordinator (organises and schedules speakers at LUG meetings).</item>
<item>Provide ways for members and others to give feedback about the direction, goals, and strategies of the LUG.</item>
<item>Support GNU/Linux and free software / open source development efforts by donating Web space, a mailing list, or an ftp site.</item>
<item>Establish an ftp/Web site for relevant software.</item>
<item>Support GNU/Linux and free software / open source development efforts by donating Web/ftp space, or a mailing list.</item>
<item>Establish a Web/ftp site for relevant software.</item>
<item>Archive everything the LUG does for the Web site.</item>
<item>Solicit "door prizes" from GNU/Linux vendors, VARs, etc. to give away at meetings.</item>
<item>Give credit where due.</item>
@ -1124,13 +1182,19 @@ liability and helps the group carry insurance. It aids fundraising.
It avoids claims for tax on group income.
<it>Con:</it> Liability shouldn't be a problem for modestly careful
people. (You're not doing skydiving, after all.) Fundraising isn't needed
for a group whose activities needn't involve significant expenses.
(Dead-tree newsletters are so 1980.) Not needing a treasury, you avoid
needing to argue over it, file reports about it, or fear it being taxed
away. Meeting space can usually be gotten for free at ISPs, colleges,
pizza parlours, brewpubs, coffeehouses, computer-training firms,
GNU/Linux-oriented companies, or other friendly institutions, and can
people. (You're not doing skydiving, after all.) Also, even
incorporated technical groups seldom carry liability insurance, and that
insurance is typically so narrow in coverage that almost nothing a LUG
does would be covered. A corporate liability shield is little use for
such needs, either (limiting only the group's potential losses to the
equity stake of the owners, but conferring no immunity to anyone for
deeds that person carries out). Fundraising isn't needed for a group whose
activities needn't involve significant expenses. (Dead-tree newsletters
are so 1980.) Not needing a treasury, you avoid needing to argue over
it, file reports about it, or fear it being taxed away. Meeting space
can usually be gotten for free at ISPs, colleges, pizza parlours,
brewpubs, coffeehouses, computer-training firms, GNU/Linux-oriented
companies, hackerspaces, or other friendly institutions, and can
therefore be free of charge to the public. No revenues and no expenses
means less need for organisation and concomitant hassles.
@ -1235,7 +1299,7 @@ relevant to your LUG.
Common Misconceptions Debunked:
<itemize>
<item><p>Incorporation and tax-exempt status are separate issues. You don't have to be incorporated to get recognition of tax-exempt status. You don't have to be tax-exempt to be incorporated. (Odds are, you honestly won't want either. You just probably assume you do.)</item>
<item><p>Incorporation and tax-exempt status are separate issues. You don't have to be incorporated to get recognition of tax-exempt status (except it's required for one tax-exempt category, 501(c)(3)). You don't have to be tax-exempt to be incorporated. (Odds are, you honestly won't want either. You just probably assume you do.)</item>
<item><p>The "liability shield" one can get from incorporating <it>doesn't
protect volunteers from legal liability</it>. All it does is prevent any
plaintiffs from suing individual shareholders (LUG members, in this case)
@ -1301,7 +1365,7 @@ SUSE. Keep in mind that all three of these companies have made and
continue to make significant contributions to free / open-source software.
(HOWTO maintainer's note: The above was a 1998 note, from before
Caldera exited the GNU/Linux business, renamed itself to The SCO Group,
Caldera Systems exited the GNU/Linux business, renamed itself to The SCO Group,
Inc., and launched a major copyright / contract / patent / trade-secret
lawsuit and PR campaign against GNU/Linux users. My, those times do change.
Still, we're grateful to the Caldera Systems that <em> was </em>, for
@ -1482,17 +1546,17 @@ Have fun!
<sect1>Terms of use
<p>
Copyright (C) 2003-2013, Rick Moen. Copyright (C) 1997-1998 by Kendall Grant
Copyright (C) 2003-2016, Rick Moen. Copyright (C) 1997-1998 by Kendall Grant
Clark. This document may be distributed under the terms set forth
in the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 licence at <url
name="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"
url="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/">, or, at your
in the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International licence at <url
name="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/"
url="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">, or, at your
option, any later version.
<sect1>New versions
<p>
New versions of the Linux User Group HOWTO will be periodically
uploaded to various GNU/Linux Web and ftp sites, principally <url
uploaded to various GNU/Linux Web/ftp sites, principally <url
url="http://linuxmafia.com/lug/" name="http://linuxmafia.com/lug/"> and
the <url name="Linux Documentation Project"
url="http://www.tldp.org/">.
@ -1581,9 +1645,42 @@ incorporate improvements. Re-sorted country coverage into alphabetical
order (a small gesture to further reduce US-centrism).</item>
<item>1.8.0: Corrected typos. Improved some markup. Expanded "Common Misconceptions Debunked" section to address recently popular errors about USA Volunteer Protection Act of 1997, civil liability, and IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. Linked directly to the Act and an analysis page. Furnished links for <it>Non-Lawyers' Non-Profit Corporation Kit</it>, for <it>DistroWatch Weekly</it>, and for the Raymond quotation.</item>
<item>1.8.1: Banished more typos. (I blame society.)</item>
<item>1.8.2: Added more CPU ports. APCUG changed Web sites. Linux India's LUG list, lugww.counter.li.org, Red Hat Army of Friends, LUG Webring, O'Reilly LinuxGroups, and LINUX For You Magazine (of India) LUG List vanished. IDG moved the Raymond article (again). LinuxFocus was revived via a CMS. NewsForge was shut down by The Company Formerly Known as VA Linux. Linux International Development Grant Fund program vanished. Project Gutenberg moved to its own domain. Colorado Linux Users and Enthusiasts moved. Added mention of IRS e-Postcard for 501(c) non-profits. Added Linux Users Group - Delhi. Added New Zealand Linux Resource. Added Project Runeberg.</item>
<item>1.8.3: Replacement ARM Linux Web site. New URLs for many embedded and other systems. SoftBlaze renamed to PetaLinux.a LUGs WorldWide Project, Linux Online -- User Groups, LinuxHQ User Groups, and New Zealand Linux Resource vanished. Free Software Foundation GNU Users Groups got moved/renamed to LibrePlanet Group List. New URLs for LinuxFormat and LinuxCounter. PingoS e.V. vanished (though its SelfLinux project for hypertext tutorials in the German language persists). Linux User Group of Singapore, St. Petersburg Linux User Group, and Svenska Linuxforeningen folded.</item>
<item>1.8.2: Added more CPU ports. APCUG changed Web sites. Linux India's LUG list, lugww.counter.li.org (formerly Woven Goods's Linux Worldwide LUG list), Red Hat Army of Friends, LUG Webring, O'Reilly LinuxGroups, and LINUX For You Magazine (of India) LUG List vanished. IDG moved the Raymond article (again). LinuxFocus was revived via a CMS. NewsForge was shut down by The Company Formerly Known as VA Linux. Linux International Development Grant Fund program vanished. Project Gutenberg moved to its own domain. Colorado Linux Users and Enthusiasts moved. Added mention of IRS e-Postcard for 501(c) non-profits. Added Linux Users Group - Delhi. Added New Zealand Linux Resource. Added Project Runeberg.</item>
<item>1.8.3: Replacement ARM Linux Web site. New URLs for many embedded and other systems. SoftBlaze renamed to PetaLinux. LUGs WorldWide Project, Linux Online -- User Groups, LinuxHQ User Groups, and New Zealand Linux Resource vanished. Free Software Foundation GNU Users Groups got moved/renamed to LibrePlanet Group List. New URLs for LinuxFormat and LinuxCounter. PingoS e.V. vanished (though its SelfLinux project for hypertext tutorials in the German language persists). Linux User Group of Singapore, St. Petersburg Linux User Group, and Svenska Linuxforeningen folded.</item>
<Item>1.8.4: Linux.org (without its former Linux Online branding) has been rebuilt and offers a new LUG directory.</item>
<Item>1.8.5: Replaced defunct NexentaOS with Dyson and other
IllumOS distributions. Recorded new URL for APCUG. Rewrote introduction
to list of supported hardware platforms to stress that this part isn't
serious documentation, but just intended to illustrate the breadth of
Linux's reach. Corrected slightly incorrect statement about licensing of
Linux-based OSes. Added new section Avoiding Burnout and Decline.
Added hackerspaces to list of possible meeting venues. Added Lugslist, which
heroically rose in 2015 to explicitly compensate for collapse of the
much-missed lugww.counter.li.org and GLUE LUG lists. Removed linux.org
LUG list, which Michael McLagen's Linux Online, Inc. deleted without notice.
Removed Yahoo Linux &gt; User Groups, vanished along with all the rest of
dir.yahoo.com. Removed CLUE: the Canadian Linux Users' Exchange at
www.linux.ca, which is down for rebuild but is promised to be back Q1
2016. Corrected URL for Linux Australia's LUG list. Removed <it>Linux
Gazette</it>, folded in 2011. Removed <it>Linux Focus</it>, dormant
since 2010. Updated name and Web site of <it>LINUX for You</it>
magazine, which has now become <it>OpenSource For You</it>.
Added magazines <it>Full Circle</it>, <it>Linux Voice</it>,
<it>easyLinux</it>, <it>LinuxUser</it>, and <it>Ubuntu User</it>.
Clarified where each magazine originates and detail national versions of
LinuxMagazine. Replaced reference to Win4Lin with one to CrossOver
Linux. Added caution that Linux Consultants Guide is a decade out of
date. Removed Open Source Applications Foundation, which seems to have
died shortly Mitch Kapor left it in 2008. Added further clarification
about limited benefits of incorporation and insurance. Annotated LibrePlanet
list as being FSF affiliates only. Updated claim about how many LUGs
exist worldwide. Updated version of CC BY-SA licence applicable to this
HOWTO from 3.0 to 4.0. Included nod to realism that, no, the world at large
is never going to adopt the usage "GNU/Linux", but please indulge me anyway.
Linked in two appropriate places to separate Meetup.com rant.
<Item>1.8.6: Fixed new typos and punctuation errors, revised antiquated emphasis on ftp, and averted one quibble about tax-exempt status not requiring incorporation (the 501(c)(3) exception). Politely disagreed with Kendall's implication that everyone deserves an equal say in "big decisions".
</item>
</itemize>
@ -1614,6 +1711,7 @@ suggestions:
<item>Martin Karlsson</item>
<item>Hugo van der Kooij</item>
<item>Rohit Kumar</item>
<item>David Lawyer</item>
<item>Charles Lindahl</item>
<item>Don Marti</item>
<item>Vincenzo Virgilio</item>
@ -1621,4 +1719,3 @@ suggestions:
</article>