shorewall_code/Shorewall-docs/support.htm
2002-11-24 20:08:19 +00:00

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<h1 align="center"><font color="#ffffff">Shorewall Support</font></h1>
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<h3 align="left"> <span style="font-weight: 400;"><i> "<font size="3">It is
easier to post a problem than to use your own brain" </font>-- </i> <font
size="2">Wietse Venema (creator of <a href="http://www.postfix.org">Postfix</a>)</font></span></h3>
<p align="left"> <i>"Any sane computer will tell you how it works -- you just
have to ask it the right questions" </i>-- <font size="2">Tom Eastep</font></p>
<blockquote> </blockquote>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><i>"It irks me when people believe that
free software comes at no cost. The cost is incredibly high."</i>
- <font size="2"> Wietse Venem<br>
</font></span></p>
<h3 align="left">Before Reporting a Problem</h3>
<b><i>"Reading the documentation fully is a prerequisite to getting help
for your particular situation. I know it's harsh but you will have to get
so far on your own before you can get reasonable help from a list full of
busy people. A mailing list is not a tool to speed up your day by being spoon
fed</i></b><i><b>".</b> </i>-- Simon White<br>
<p>There are also a number of sources for problem solution information.</p>
<ul>
<li>The <a href="FAQ.htm">FAQ</a> has solutions to common problems.</li>
<li>The <a href="troubleshoot.htm">Troubleshooting</a> Information
contains a number of tips to help you solve common problems.</li>
<li>The <a href="errata.htm"> Errata</a> has links to download
updated components.</li>
<li>The Mailing List Archives search facility can locate posts
about similar problems:</li>
</ul>
<h4>Mailing List Archive Search</h4>
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<h3 align="left">Problem Reporting Guideline</h3>
<ul>
<li>When reporting a problem, give as much information as you can.
Reports that say "I tried XYZ and it didn't work" are not at all helpful.</li>
<li>Please don't describe your environment and then ask us to send
you custom configuration files. We're here to answer your questions
but we can't do your job for you.</li>
<li>Do you see any "Shorewall" messages in /var/log/messages
when you exercise the function that is giving you problems?</li>
<li>Have you looked at the packet flow with a tool like tcpdump
to try to understand what is going on?</li>
<li>Have you tried using the diagnostic capabilities of the
application that isn't working? For example, if "ssh" isn't able
to connect, using the "-v" option gives you a lot of valuable diagnostic
information.</li>
<li>Please include any of the Shorewall configuration files (especially
the /etc/shorewall/hosts file if you have modified that file) that you
think are relevant. If an error occurs when you try to "shorewall start",
include a trace (See the <a href="troubleshoot.htm">Troubleshooting</a>
section for instructions).</li>
<li>The list server limits posts to 120kb so don't post GIFs of
your network layout, etc to the Mailing List -- your post will
be rejected.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Where to Send your Problem Report or to Ask for Help</h3>
<b>If you run Shorewall on Mandrake 9.0 </b>-- send your problem
reports and questions to MandrakeSoft. I ordered a Mandrake 9.0 boxed set
on October 3, 2002; MandrakeSoft issued a charge against my credit card
on October 4, 2002 (they are really effecient at that part of the order
process) and I haven't heard a word from them since (although their news
letters boast that 9.0 boxed sets have been shipping for the last two weeks).
If they can't fill my 9.0 order within <u>6 weeks after they have billed
my credit card</u> then I refuse to spend my free time supporting of their
product for them.<br>
<h4>If you run Shorewall under Bering -- <span style="font-weight: 400;">please
post your question or problem to the <a
href="mailto:leaf-user@lists.sourceforge.net">LEAF Users mailing list</a>.</span></h4>
<p>Otherwise, please post your question or problem to the <a
href="mailto:shorewall-users@shorewall.net">Shorewall users mailing list</a>;
there are lots of folks there who are willing to help you. Your question/problem
description and their responses will be placed in the mailing list archives
to help people who have a similar question or problem in the future.</p>
<p>I don't look at problems sent to me directly but I try to spend some amount
of time each day responding to problems posted on the mailing list.</p>
<p align="center"><a href="mailto:teastep@shorewall.net">-Tom</a></p>
<p>To Subscribe to the mailing list go to <a
href="http://www.shorewall.net/mailman/listinfo/shorewall-users">http://www.shorewall.net/mailman/listinfo/shorewall-users</a>
.</p>
<p align="left"><font size="2">Last Updated 11/19//2002 - Tom Eastep</font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Trebuchet MS"><a href="copyright.htm"> <font
size="2">Copyright</font> <20> <font size="2">2001, 2002 Thomas M. Eastep.</font></a></font><br>
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