Frequently Asked Questions

This set of frequently asked questions, with answers, relates specifically to ILUG-Chennai, and does not answer any technical queries. The queries and answers are arranged in descending order of the frequency with which they are asked on the ilugc mailing list and at meetings.

Please feel free to mail the web master with suggestions for further queries that may be added to this list.

1) What is chennailug all about ?

Chennailug aka the Indian Linux Users' Group, Chennai, is just that, a group of GNU/Linux and other free software users from the city of Madras/Chennai in South India. Please read this page which describes the group in more detail.

2) chennailug/ilugc/ILUG Chennai ? What gives ?

These are various terms used to refer to the user group. As far as anyone is concerned, they are all equivalent and may be used interchangeably. ilugc is the most commonly used reference.

3) How do I join ilugc ?

There is no formal ilugc membership. Anyone who's interested in what we do is welcome to join us. All this entails joining the ilugc mailing list, and attending the monthly meetings.

4) When/where does ilugc meet ?

We generally meet at either Lateral Softwares or at IIT Madras. The Meetings are held every even-numbered Saturdays of every month. The Meetings Page details more on this.

5) How do I join the ilugc mailing list ?

The ilugc mailing list is being currently hosted at the Aeronautical Engineering Department, IIT(M), courtesy Dr. Sriram. This may change soon. For the time being however, send mail to ilugc-request@aero.iitm.ernet.in with the subject, "subscribe". Assuming your browser is properly configured, clicking/following this link should do the job. If you have problems subscribing to the list you can try joining the list using our web interface.This page describes the process of (un)subscribing in some detail, and also has a copy of a write-up which discusses the list's policy.

6) My message to the ilugc list did not show up ! Who goofed up ?

In all likelihood, you, dear reader. Listar, the mailing list software being used, has been configured to reject HTML mail. Please configure your favourite mail user agent to send plain ASCII text, with a newline every 72 characters or so. And, please, please quote messages judiciously when following up.

7) I just discovered GNU/Linux. Could you help me install this thing on my Windows PC ?

Welcome to the club ! You, our newest member, have a long road to traverse, and many of us envy you for all the fun you are going to have. We suggest you start at the GNU/Linux Documentation Project site, more specifically with the "Installation and Getting Started" guide, and then, follow your nose.

Most of the GNU/Linux distributions come with a neat documentation (besides the ones from the LDP. Some may even be present on the CD-ROM. Read these docs. HTH. Enjoy !

8) I have this SiS display card. I can't get "X Windows" (sic). Help !

First off, the X Window System, or plain X, (not "X Windows"), is not vital for running a GNU/Linux system. Not having X is not the end of the world, and should most emphatically not spell the end of your GNU/Linux adventure !

SiS cards have caused a lot of pain to GNU/Linux users everywhere, but they do work, with a little effort. You have two options:

i) get the XSiS server from the SuSE web site and follow the instructions at the GNU/Linux India site

OR

ii) get a recent distribution of the XFree86, whose SVGA server supports the SiS card.

Of course, you also have the option of exchanging/replacing your SiS card with another, better supported display card. Please refer to the list of supported cards at the XFree86 site.

There is also a write up form Rajesh Fowarkar on configuring SiS cards.

Most of your questions may have already been asked on the mailing list and may (probably) have found an answer too, so instead of waiting for the replies you can search for help at the ILUGC mailing list archives.

9) Why should the CDs for grabs page exist at all?

Simple. Not every one owns everything... and not every one needs everything all the time. So instead of putting your useful CDs to rest you can make them available to the others for Borrowing (or even gift it to them!). Many a times there have been many posts on the ILUGC mailing list for CD Requests. If you had read the ILUGC FAQ you would be knowing that our mailing list is archived. So this is just a move to have useful archives of discussions instead of CD-Requests.

10) What does the word "Grabbing" mean in this context?

Grabbing is a term that is quite often used in our meetings. It is synonymously used by many of us to mean "available for borrowing". And it DOES NOT mean that its available for stealing/free/donation or somesuch. Though the owner has every right to give away the CD for Free.

11) How do I make my CD available to the fellow users?

To add your CD to the list of available CDs you can goto the CDs for grab page. Here you can fill out the form (with your valid mail address). A mail will be sent to you asking for confirmation. Visiting the URL listed in the mail you confirm your identity hence making your CD appear on the list.

12) How do I borrow an already available CD?

To borrow an already available CD you can visit the CDs for grab page. A list of available CDs along with the names of the CD owners as mailto links will be available. It is as simple as to select their name (clicking the name on GUI browsers) to send them a mail provided your browser is capable of handling mailto requests properly.

13) How do I know about the terms and conditions under which a CD is lent?

Generally Borrowing a CD involves the borrower to return the CD to the owner back within a stipulated period of time. Though it vests with the Owner to mention in his reply to the request about the Terms and Conditions under which the CD is being lent. ILUGC doesn't hold responsible for any of the terms & conditions under which a CD is made available. The Owner has every right (as long as it doesn't violate the license of the software) to make the CD available under the Terms and Conditions of his choice.

14) What Quality of CDs do I get from ILUGC?

ILUGC doesn't provide CDs by itself. Though there area good number of CDs belonging to the group, the group cannot make sure they are of good quality.

ILUGC doesn't hold responsible for unreturned CDs, returned yet damaged CDs. ILUGC just provides the page using which you can list , borrow the CDs. in other words ILUGC is just the channel. All complaints, suggestions, etc., should only be sent to the peer concerned.

15) I lent my CD to XXXXXX and he hasn't yet returned it to me! How can ILUGC help me in this case?

As mentioned earlier ILUGC doesn't hold responsible for unreturned CDs and ILUGC cannot "demand" your CD back from the person to whom you had lent or under any circumstance provide another alternative to your CD. But do such people ever exist?