Sydney Linux Users Group (SLUG)

How do I join the list

The easiest way to join the SLUG mailing list is to use the Mailman web interface. In the Subscribing to SLUG section, enter the email address you want the list messages to be sent to, and a password. This makes sure your subscription can't be changed by anyone else - without it they could maliciously unsubscribe you.

If you prefer to subscribe using email, send a message to slug-request@slug.org.au with subscribe in the subject line. If you click on the link provided, your mailer should have all of this entered correctly, so you just need to send it.

You will then be sent a confirmation email; reply to this and you're on your way!

Subscribing to the digest (a less voluminous list, replacing many smaller emails with fewer, albeit larger compilations) is also very easy. If you're using the web interface, there is an option to receive the digest below the password fields. If you'd prefer to use email, you should put subscribe digest in the subject line.

How do I leave the list?

Why on Earth would you want to do that?!? ;-)

The easiest way to unsubscribe is to use the Mailman web interface. In the SLUG Subscribers section, type in your email address and hit the Edit Options button. You will be able to unsubscribe there, after entering your password.

You can also unsubscribe using email. Send email to slug-request@slug.org.au with the subject "unsubscribe password", where "password" is the password you were sent when you joined up.

Note: If you are only temporarily leaving the list - perhaps for that long-awaited holiday - you can simply set the "no mail" option on the Mailman web interface, or by sending set nomail on to slug-request@slug.org.au.

What other things can I do with my subscription?

There are many options and settings available with out mailing list software. The best way to find them out is to log into your options page on the Mailman web interface - down the bottom in the "SLUG Subscribers" section - or by sending "help" to slug-request@slug.org.au.

Argh! What's this about a password?

The new mailing list software uses passwords to make sure that you are you, and your prankster best friend who thinks that unsubscribing you would be funny, is not.

You can retrieve your password using the Mailman web interface. In the "Slug Subscribers" section, type in your email address and hit the "Edit Options" buttion; you will be able to retrieve it there. You can't do this via email.

Who do I contact about the mailing list itself?

You may want to contact us if you're having trouble with the mailing list software, or something has gone wrong.

Email the list administrators at slug-owner@slug.org.au. They are usually quick to reply, though please remember that the SLUG mailing list is driven by volunteers - not cron jobs - and they do take flames personally.

What other mailing lists are available, and what are they for?

slug

The main discussion list, slug@slug.org.au, is where all the discussion goes on. Everything related to installing, maintaining, developing on Linux or Free/Open Source Software is on topic for this list, from configuring your ADSL modem on a 386 with 4MB of RAM up to rolling out a highly available global mailserver network.

slug-chat

Everything that isn't on topic for the main list, such as the social ramifications of 4WDs versus bicycles, or distribution flamewars, are the reason for the slug-chat@slug.org.au mailing list. If you have any hesitation about the on-topicness of a post, you should immediately edit the To: header and send it to slug-chat.

activities

activities@slug.org.au is where the committee, and others, discuss the organisation of SLUG events. If you are interested in getting more involved with the running of SLUG, or if you just want to check that the committee are doing their job correctly, then this is the list to be on.

announce

Finally, if you want to be kept aware of SLUG events but you don't want to read every single email that goes to the main list, you should subscribe to the announce@slug.org.au mailing list. This very low volume list is solely for SLUG event announcements - meeting announcements, and extracurricular events such as workshops and social events.

You can subscribe to any or all of these at the main main Mailman list overview page.

What kinds of questions can I ask on the list?

Well, if it's Linux-related, it's appropriate. That normally covers a lot of other Free Software or Open Source projects, such as Apache or Perl.

As Linux has become more popular, there have been less development and highly technically-oriented questions on the list. Don't feel that you can't post these sorts of questions! There are lots of coders and gurus on the list who enjoy getting their teeth into thorny problems - your questions and ideas are very welcome.

Inappropriate questions are usually ignored, rather than flamed. If you don't receive an answer, either we don't know one (not very common!), or you may be asking the wrong audience. Often enough, someone in the know will direct you to a better source.

Are there any rules I should be aware of?

We don't really have any rules. Being the Sydney Linux User Group, it's pretty evident what we're interested in, and how we go about it! :-) As a rough guide, though, you may want to be aware of the following points:

• Stick to the subject. It's all about Linux and Free Software from here on in, although we do talk about lots of general UNIX. We have a few resident non-Linux UNIX gurus whom we know and love (they're often plotting and planning for a Linux takeover in their place of work anyway!)

  If your post is off-topic, you'll likely be pointed to slug-chat. This list is the Pandora's Box of SLUG's mailing lists. There is nothing that is too off-topic for slug-chat (although some interesting discussions have been pointed back to the main list!).

• Please don't post in HTML format! If you are using Outlook or Netscape Messenger, please turn off HTML formatting for your posts to the list.

• Delve and research. If you will be asking a question, before you post to the list, try to find the answer in the available documentation or the list archives. The Linux Documentation Project is a good place ot start. Failing that, a search on Google will often yield answers.

• Be nice, there is no need to be rude. Avoid expressions that may be interpreted as aggressive towards other list participants, even if the subject being treated is particularly relevant to you and/or controversial.

• The SLUG mailing list is not a place to complain about other operating systems.

• Don't drag on with controversies. Don't try to have the last word. You will eventually have the last word, but meanwhile you'll have lost all your sympathy credit. We hardly ever have on-topic flamefests here anyway. :-)

• Don't flame the newbie! As we are a Linux User Group, this is very important. No matter how l33t you are, you too were once a newbie. Also remember that we're often seen as a representative of the "Free Software Community" and could scare great people away from "The Cause". A great document to read that touches on this is the Linux Advocacy mini-HOWTO.

Why isn't the Reply-To: header set to reply to the mailing list?

Please read "Reply-To" Munging Considered Harmful by Chip Rosenthal.

How do I reply to list posts?

If your mail client has a "Reply to List" feature, use that. Evolution has this in the Actions menu. Mutt has some features for handling mailing lists, including handling replies neatly.

All other mail clients should have a Reply to All feature. Reply to All will make sure that both the author of the mail you're replying to and the list will get a copy of your mail. Double-check your To: and CC: fields before you send to make sure that slug@slug.org.au is in there somewhere, otherwise it won't make it to the list.

Why does the mailing list allow posting by anybody, instead of just mailing list subscribers?

The FAQ that caused the most vehement flamewars in SLUG history was answered with a formal vote by financial SLUG members.

We believe that an open posting policy allows greatest access to interested bystanders and casual users.

Is anything being done to prevent spam email from being sent to the mailing lists?

Yes. The SLUG server runs a variety of explicit filters as well as a highly tuned spamassasin install. Despite this there is still some spam that makes it through occasionally.

Wouldn't a closed list be the best defence against spam?

Maybe. However it also makes it difficult for the occasional poster to contact the SLUG mailing list. A vote of the SLUG financial membership in October 2003 voted to keep the list open.