Linux Basic Administration Concepts

How to Get Help

Sometimes you want to do something and don't know how. What should you do now?

• Most commands have online help. Try command --help or man command.
• Some commands have info pages. To read those, use the pinfo command.
  
• Read the fine manual (RTFM) - Most software comes with documentation, either on the web or inside the package or under /usr/share/doc/.
• Search Google. Most of the time, useful information can be found on the web. Don't forget to try Google Groups and Google Linux Search as well.
• Try to find information in the Linux Documentation Project. HOWTOs include step-by-step instructions to perform common tasks
• Try to ask a question in the appropriate mailing list.

Originally written by Alon Altman