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308 lines
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<META NAME="GENERATOR" CONTENT="SGML-Tools 1.0.9">
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<TITLE>HOWTO: How to stay updated: Subscription</TITLE>
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<LINK HREF="Update-4.html" REL=next>
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<LINK HREF="Update-2.html" REL=previous>
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<LINK HREF="Update.html#toc3" REL=contents>
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<BODY>
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<A HREF="Update-4.html">Next</A>
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<A HREF="Update-2.html">Previous</A>
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<A HREF="Update.html#toc3">Contents</A>
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<HR>
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<H2><A NAME="s3">3. Subscription</A></H2>
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<P>
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<!--
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up-to-date!information resources
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-->
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This basically means you set up a subscription of some sort and then follow
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the news as they come in. Be careful not to bite over more than you can
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chew, <EM>information overload</EM> is more than a buzzword. There is also
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rather more junk out there than is just annoying, it is a real problem
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these days. Read critically and be prepared to unsubscribe.
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<P>There are two distinct medias for getting continuous updates: news and
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mailing lists, though sometimes news is gatewayed to mail and vice
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versa. In general news is a larger volume, larger noise source compared to
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mailing lists. Trying to follow too many newsgroups is like drinking from a
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fire hose.
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<P>
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<H2><A NAME="ss3.1">3.1 Usenet News</A>
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</H2>
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<P>
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<!--
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up-to-date!information resources!news
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-->
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Getting access to Usenet News is outside the scope of this HOWTO, there are
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others that will help you with getting and reading News directly from a
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Linux system. If you have never used News before you should be careful to
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read the introductory information thoroughly. In spite of looking like an
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anarchy it does have its own distinct culture, follow a newsgroup for some
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time before posting yourself. Most importantly, look out for postings
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called <EM>Frequently Asked Questions</EM> or <EM>FAQ</EM> as they will show you
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the ropes for the group it is posted to, and most likely give you the
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answer to what you are looking for. Asking an FAQ will earn you severe
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negative credibility points as well as a place in many killfiles.
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<P>FAQs should be posted regularly but if you cannot find it you can always
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find it at the
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<A HREF="ftp://rtfm.mit.edu">main FAQ archive</A>
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at MIT.
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<P>These are also available as
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<A HREF="http://www.faqs.org/">web pages</A>.
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<P>
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<P>Still, there is a lot of noise, spam and junk in News and this is where
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killfiles come in. You will need a news reader with killfile capability and
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when properly set up it will scan through a newsgroup according to a search
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key of your own design and mark all flagged postings as already read so you
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don't have to be bothered by the noise. This improves the signal-to-noise
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ratio and lets you concentrate on the important parts. Similarly, if you
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make noise in News others will killfile you so if you later were to ask for
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help they will never see your post.
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<P>Now to business: the following is a list of useful newsgroups:
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<UL>
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<LI>
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<A HREF="news:comp.os.linux.announce">announcements</A></LI>
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<LI>
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<A HREF="news:comp.os.linux.answers">answers, HOWTOs, FAQs etc.</A></LI>
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<LI>
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<A HREF="news:comp.os.linux.development.apps">development of applications</A></LI>
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<LI>
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<A HREF="news:comp.os.linux.development.sys">development of the system</A></LI>
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<LI>
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<A HREF="news:comp.os.linux.hardware">hardware</A></LI>
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<LI>
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<A HREF="news:comp.os.linux.misc">misc</A></LI>
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<LI>
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<A HREF="news:comp.os.linux.networking">networking</A></LI>
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<LI>
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<A HREF="news:comp.os.linux.setup">setting up linux</A></LI>
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<LI>
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<A HREF="news:comp.os.linux.x">X11 on linux</A></LI>
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</UL>
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<P>Many national hierarchies also have Linux groups, such as the
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<A HREF="news:no.linux">Norwegian</A> Linux groups. If you
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cannot find your national or local group you might be able to use
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<A HREF="http://www.deja.com">Deja</A>
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to find the names for you.
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<P>
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<P>
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<H2><A NAME="ss3.2">3.2 Mailing Lists</A>
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</H2>
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<P>
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<!--
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up-to-date!information resources!mailing lists
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-->
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Unlike Usenet News a mailing list is centralised, someone sends a mail to
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the server and the server in return mails everyone that is subscribed to
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that particular list. These lists are generally low volume but also very
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low noise. Any breaches of the charter will be looked harshly upon. Equally
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seriously it will delay the development or the project that the list is
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dedicated to. When you subscribe you will normally get an introductory mail
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describing the charter, again you are strongly recommended to read this
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very carefully.
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<P>There are many types of mail servers that can handle a list and you will
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need some information on how and where you can subscribe.
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<P>One of the most common list servers is <EM>Majordomo</EM> which is what the
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list server at
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<A HREF="mailto:majordomo@vger.rutgers.edu">vger.rutgers.edu</A>
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is running. To learn how it works you send a mail message with the word
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<CODE>help</CODE> in the body. If you send it something it cannot parse you will
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get this help message anyway.
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If you instead mail it the word <CODE>lists</CODE> you will be returned a list of
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all mailing lists it serves, and that can be a considerable number.
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<P>Other mailing lists use several addresses, one where you send your requests
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such as <CODE>subscribe</CODE> and <CODE>unsubscribe</CODE>, and one where you send your
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contributions to the list which is usually also the address from which the
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list is also redistributed to you.
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Again, sending it the message <CODE>help</CODE> or something it cannot parse will
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give you the help information.
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An example: you send the word <CODE>subscribe</CODE> to the
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address <CODE>corned-beef-requests@somelistserver.org</CODE>
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and then you get mail from and contribute to the
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list address <CODE>corned-beef-list@somelistserver.org</CODE>
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until you unsubscribe.
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<P>A few tips before you start sending in to mailing lists:
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<UL>
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<LI>Do not send <CODE>subscribe</CODE> etc. to the list itself, only to the
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server address, otherwise you will look silly and you will annoy
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people. There can be several thousand subscribers to a list and if such errors were to
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pour in the noise would be too much.</LI>
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<LI>When you subscribe you will often get an introductory message
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sent to you automatically. Read it carefully as this should answer
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most of the initial questions.</LI>
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<LI>Do not gateway mailing lists to news without asking first as this
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can cause mailing loops as well as spam.</LI>
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</UL>
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<P>As mentioned above,
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<A HREF="mailto:majordomo@vger.rutgers.edu">vger.rutgers.edu</A>.
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is one of the main mailing list servers and here is an abbreviated index
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of what is available for the Linux community:
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<P>
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<UL>
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<LI> linux-8086 (Linux on Intel 8086 processors)</LI>
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<LI> linux-admin (Administration of Linux systems)</LI>
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<LI> linux-alpha (Linux on the Alpha processor platform)</LI>
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<LI> linux-apps (Applications)</LI>
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<LI> linux-arm (Linux on the Arm processor platform)</LI>
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<LI> linux-bbs (Linux Bulletin Board Systems)</LI>
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<LI> linux-c-programming (C-programming with Linux)</LI>
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<LI> linux-config (Configuration)</LI>
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<LI> linux-console (Console)</LI>
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<LI> linux-diald (Dial on demand daemon)</LI>
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<LI> linux-doc (Linux documentation)</LI>
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<LI> linux-fido (Linux fido network)</LI>
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<LI> linux-fsf (Linux and the Free Software Foundation)</LI>
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<LI> linux-ftp (Linux File Transfer Protocol)</LI>
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<LI> linux-gcc (Linux and the GNU C compiler)</LI>
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<LI> linux-gcc-digest (Digests of the above)</LI>
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<LI> linux-hams Amateur Radio and Linux discussions</LI>
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<LI> linux-hppa (Linux on the HP Precision Architecture processor platform)</LI>
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<LI> linux-ibcs2 (Linux and the Intel Binary Compatibility system)</LI>
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<LI> linux-ipx (Linux and Novell IPX networking protocol)</LI>
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<LI> linux-isdn (Linux and Integrated Services Digital Network)</LI>
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<LI> linux-japanese (Linux and Japanese extensions)</LI>
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<LI> linux-kernel (Linux kernel)</LI>
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<LI> linux-kernel-announce (Announcements for the above)</LI>
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<LI> linux-kernel-digest (Digests of the linux-kernel list)</LI>
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<LI> linux-kernel-patch (Linux kernel patches)</LI>
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<LI> linux-laptop (Linux on laptops)</LI>
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<LI> linux-linuxss</LI>
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<LI> linux-lugnuts (Linux User Groups)</LI>
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<LI> linux-mca (Linux and the IBM Micro Channel Architecture bus)</LI>
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<LI> linux-mips (Linux on the MIPS processor platform)</LI>
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<LI> linux-msdos (Linux and MSDOS)</LI>
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<LI> linux-msdos-devel (Linux - MSDOS development)</LI>
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<LI> linux-msdos-digest (Digest of the linux-msdos list)</LI>
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<LI> linux-net (Linux and networking)</LI>
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<LI> linux-new-lists (New mailing lists for Linux)</LI>
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<LI> linux-newbie (Linux and the inexperienced)</LI>
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<LI> linux-newbiew</LI>
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<LI> linux-nys</LI>
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<LI> linux-oasg</LI>
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<LI> linux-oi</LI>
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<LI> linux-opengl (Linux and the OpenGL graphics system)</LI>
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<LI> linux-pkg</LI>
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<LI> linux-ppp (Linux and the Point-to-Point Protocol)</LI>
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<LI> linux-pro</LI>
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<LI> linux-qag</LI>
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<LI> linux-raid (Linux and Redundant Array of Inexpensive Drives)</LI>
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<LI> linux-scsi (Linux and Small Computer Systems Interface)</LI>
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<LI> linux-serial (Linux and the serial system)</LI>
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<LI> linux-seyon (Linux terminal system)</LI>
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<LI> linux-smp (Linux Symmetric Multi Processing)</LI>
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<LI> linux-sound</LI>
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<LI> linux-standards</LI>
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<LI> linux-svgalib (Linux and the SVGA library)</LI>
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<LI> linux-tape (Linux and tape storage)</LI>
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<LI> linux-term (A Linux communications program)</LI>
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<LI> linux-userfs (Linux User File System)</LI>
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<LI> linux-word</LI>
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<LI> linux-x11 (Linux and the X Window System, Version 11)</LI>
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<LI> linux-x25 (Linux and the X25 Networking Protocol)</LI>
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<LI> sparclinux (Linux on the SPARC processor platform)</LI>
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<LI> ultralinux (Linux on the Ultra-SPARC processor platform)</LI>
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</UL>
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<P>There are of course a number of other lists on other server. As this
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is in a constant state of flux there is little point in naming all but
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the most important here. Instead you could check out a web page that
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maintains such a
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<A HREF="http://oslab.snu.ac.kr/~djshin/linux/mail-list/index.shtml">list of lists</A>
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on various servers of interest to Linux users. It also offers an user friendly
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interface to subscribe or unsubscribe to the various lists directly.
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<P>There is also a web page listing a huge number of lists concerning much more
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than Linux at
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<A HREF="http://paml.net/">Publicly Available Mailing Lists</A>.
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<P>
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<P>
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<H2><A NAME="ss3.3">3.3 Magazines</A>
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</H2>
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<P>
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<!--
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up-to-date!information resources!magazines
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-->
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Many have been disappointed at the lack of information on Linux in the
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trade press. This is probably because certain commercial products would
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not stand up for any comparison and the advertisers would not stand it
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at all. Fortunately there is one Linux specific journal, called
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the <EM>Linux Journal</EM>. More information on subscription etc. can be
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found at the
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<A HREF="http://www.ssc.com">SSC</A>
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home page. A table of contents is usually also available online.
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<P>Another commercial paper magazine is the
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<A HREF="http://www.linux-mag.com">Linux Magazine</A>
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which also offers table of contents and some excerpts online.
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<P>Also
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<A HREF="http://www.unixreview.com">Unix Review</A>
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(formerly known as Performance Computing)
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gives a lot of Linux coverage.
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<P>
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<P>Some popular e-zines are
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<P>
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<UL>
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<LI>
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<A HREF="http://www.linuxgazette.com/">Linux Gazette</A>
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</LI>
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<LI>
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<A HREF="http://www.linuxfocus.org/">Linux Focus</A> (available in a number of languages)
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</LI>
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<LI>
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<A HREF="http://www.linuxresearch.de/">Linux Research</A>
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</LI>
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<LI>
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<A HREF="http://linuxtoday.com/">Linux Today</A>
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</LI>
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<LI>
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<A HREF="http://www.linuxnews.com">Linux News</A>
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</LI>
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<LI>
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<A HREF="http://www.linuxnetmag.com">Linux Netmag (English)</A>
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and
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<A HREF="http://www.linuxnetmag.de">Linux Netmag (German)</A>
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</LI>
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<LI>
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<A HREF="http://www.penguinmagazine.com">Penguin Magazine</A>
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</LI>
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</UL>
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<P>and probably a few others as new ones seem to pop quite frequently.
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<P>Check out
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<A HREF="http://www.linuxhq.com">LinuxHQ</A>
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for up to date information on current news services.
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<P>New web pages with literally daily news on linux are popping up
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everywhere, many are quite professional in layout as well as in
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scope. One of the bigger ones is
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<A HREF="http://freshmeat.net">Freshmeat</A>
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which serves out news daily.
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<P>For those who cannot afford the time to follow the net on an hourly
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basis yet need the important news quickly there is the
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<A HREF="http://lwn.net">Linux Weekly News</A>,
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which gives you a weekly update of important news, including
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securities alerts and also announcements of new and updated
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software.
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<P>You can also find directions to IRC online chat lines at
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<A HREF="http://linux.com">Linux.com</A>.
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<P>
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<P>
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<P>There are also a number of more hardware oriented web sites
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worth visiting, such as
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<A HREF="http://www.tomshardware.com">Toms Hardware</A>,
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<A HREF="http://www.Anandtech.com">Anandtech</A>
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for general hardware reviews, and
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<A HREF="http://www.storagereview.com">Storage review</A> for the latest in disk, tape and other storage technology..
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<P>
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<P>
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<HR>
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<A HREF="Update-4.html">Next</A>
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<A HREF="Update-2.html">Previous</A>
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<A HREF="Update.html#toc3">Contents</A>
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</BODY>
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