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inbox:support [2019/04/05 23:11] – formatting optimized, links updated vgaeterainbox:support [2019/04/06 04:51] – header style unified vgaetera
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-====== Getting Support ====== +====== Getting support ====== 
-<WRAP info>+===== Introduction =====
 OpenWrt is free software, support for it is provided on a voluntary basis by the developers and fellow users. OpenWrt is free software, support for it is provided on a voluntary basis by the developers and fellow users.
 We will try to answer all questions but please understand that it is not our duty to support you. We will try to answer all questions but please understand that it is not our duty to support you.
- +If that seems like a strange concept then you need to read the following essay: [[http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html#disclaimer|How To Ask Questions The Smart Way]]. 
-If that seems like a strange concept then you need to read the following essay: "[[http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html#disclaimer|How To Ask Questions The Smart Way]]" by Eric Raymond et al+Reading it will certainly save you a lot of time and headaches.
-Reading this essay will certainly save you a lot of time and headaches.+
  
 If you feel a slightly grumpy tone in the following sections, please take it as a sign that developers and admins are serious about this. If you feel a slightly grumpy tone in the following sections, please take it as a sign that developers and admins are serious about this.
 Imagine being one of them, hearing the same questions over and over again. Imagine being one of them, hearing the same questions over and over again.
- 
 However, don't be frightened, but see it as a guide on how to solve your problems quickly, efficiently, and without annoying too many people all around the globe. However, don't be frightened, but see it as a guide on how to solve your problems quickly, efficiently, and without annoying too many people all around the globe.
-</WRAP> 
  
 ===== General help ===== ===== General help =====
-  * **Attempt to solve the problem yourself.** We hate being asked about every trivial thing that might possibly go wrong, especially if it's something we've already answered numerous times before. Read the [[docs:start|wiki documentation]] (including the Troubleshooting page) and [[https://forum.openwrt.org/search|search the forum]] first. **Be sure to tell us what you've read and already tried.**+  * **Attempt to solve the problem yourself.** We hate being asked about every trivial thing that might possibly go wrong, especially if it's something we've already answered numerous times before. Read the [[docs:start|OpenWrt Wiki documentation]] (including the Troubleshooting page) and [[https://forum.openwrt.org/search|search OpenWrt Forum]] first. **Be sure to tell us what you've read and already tried.**
   * **Don't be annoying.** The firmware is free, any support you get is provided on a voluntary basis. Nobody has any obligation to fix your problem, especially if they don't think you deserve it. Be polite, be patient and **don't repeat your question or post it to multiple places.**   * **Don't be annoying.** The firmware is free, any support you get is provided on a voluntary basis. Nobody has any obligation to fix your problem, especially if they don't think you deserve it. Be polite, be patient and **don't repeat your question or post it to multiple places.**
   * **RTFM** I can't stress this enough - don't just skim the manual looking for key words and phrases, **actually read the documentation** so you understand the terminology involved. If you get a reply that says "RTFM" it means that the answer is clearly provided in the documentation and if you had actually read the documentation you wouldn't have asked the question. If no link was provided, it means that we think you're being too lazy and we're going to make you read the whole damned thing - don't ask for a link.   * **RTFM** I can't stress this enough - don't just skim the manual looking for key words and phrases, **actually read the documentation** so you understand the terminology involved. If you get a reply that says "RTFM" it means that the answer is clearly provided in the documentation and if you had actually read the documentation you wouldn't have asked the question. If no link was provided, it means that we think you're being too lazy and we're going to make you read the whole damned thing - don't ask for a link.
-  * **Use the latest firmware release.** If the bug was ever [[:bugs|reported]], there's a very good chance it was fixed in the next release. **We do not provide any support for old releases, unreleased versions, or firmwares not found on openwrt.org.** If you didn't download it from [[http://downloads.openwrt.org/|official OpenWrt download server]] we won't support it. Period.+  * **Use the latest firmware release.** If the bug was ever reported, there's a very good chance it was fixed in the next release. **We do not provide any support for old releases, unreleased versions, or firmwares from third party sites.** If you didn't download it from the official [[http://downloads.openwrt.org/|OpenWrt Downloads server]] we won't support it. Period.
   * **Don't guess.** Tell us the symptoms and the facts, don't tell us random guesses.   * **Don't guess.** Tell us the symptoms and the facts, don't tell us random guesses.
   * **OpenWrt isn't for everyone.** If you're having too much trouble trying to use OpenWrt, then don't use it. If you can't manage to get OpenWrt running on your device and have to ask for each and every next little step, you won't be able to manage it without help in the future, which will be no fun for you and all others involved in helping you.   * **OpenWrt isn't for everyone.** If you're having too much trouble trying to use OpenWrt, then don't use it. If you can't manage to get OpenWrt running on your device and have to ask for each and every next little step, you won't be able to manage it without help in the future, which will be no fun for you and all others involved in helping you.
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 ===== Getting help on the forum ===== ===== Getting help on the forum =====
-  * If later you find an error in your post you may edit it. Generally this is done by adding an "EDIT:" post script to explain the changes. This helps to avoid misleading other readers. +  * **If later you find an error in your post you may edit it.** Generally this is done by adding an "EDIT:" post script to explain the changes. This helps to avoid misleading other readers. 
-  * Attempt to add to an existing thread before creating a new one, this will help keep information organized and make it easier to search. Make sure your question fits to the topic. **Cross posting to multiple categories is not tolerated and may result in a negative response from the community.*+  * **Cross posting to multiple categories is not tolerated and may result in a negative response from the community.** Attempt to add to an existing thread before creating a new one, this will help keep information organized and make it easier to search. Make sure your question fits to the topic. 
-  * If you don't frequent the forums and need an email notification then please use the "Subscribe to this topic" link at the bottom of the pages to receive an email when a new post is made. Asking for an email reply is considered rude.+  * **Asking for an email reply is considered rude.** If you don't frequent the forums and need an email notification then please use the "Subscribe to this topic" link at the bottom of the pages to receive an email when a new post is made.
   * **Please use "Preformatted text </>" for long logs, scripts and configs.** This improves readability and keeps your message compact, so other users do not have to scroll down half a kilometer to get to the next message.   * **Please use "Preformatted text </>" for long logs, scripts and configs.** This improves readability and keeps your message compact, so other users do not have to scroll down half a kilometer to get to the next message.
   * **Be patient.** We have users from all over the world, therefore give your posting at least 24h time to reach the whole globe. Even if you do not get an answer within 24h, be more patient. If after a reasonable amount of time (3-7 days) there is still no answer, you may bump your question. Still no answer? Maybe there is nobody in the forum that can answer your question.   * **Be patient.** We have users from all over the world, therefore give your posting at least 24h time to reach the whole globe. Even if you do not get an answer within 24h, be more patient. If after a reasonable amount of time (3-7 days) there is still no answer, you may bump your question. Still no answer? Maybe there is nobody in the forum that can answer your question.
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   * Remember, nobody is going to look through the logs to see if your question was answered //correctly//. You might get bad advice and you'll probably be gone before anyone notices.    * Remember, nobody is going to look through the logs to see if your question was answered //correctly//. You might get bad advice and you'll probably be gone before anyone notices. 
  
-==== General ====+==== General recommendations ====
   * **Don't be lazy.** While it's common to see sentences with improper spelling or grammar due to the casual nature of IRC, please don't be excessively lazy. Excessive abbreviation is not tolerated - this is not AOL and this isn't an SMS message. If I need a magic decoder ring just to figure out what you're saying I'll probably just kick you from the channel. Hint - "u" is actually spelled "you".   * **Don't be lazy.** While it's common to see sentences with improper spelling or grammar due to the casual nature of IRC, please don't be excessively lazy. Excessive abbreviation is not tolerated - this is not AOL and this isn't an SMS message. If I need a magic decoder ring just to figure out what you're saying I'll probably just kick you from the channel. Hint - "u" is actually spelled "you".
   * **Disable any scripts which may become annoying.** Away/back messages should not be printed publicly. It's fine if you're in the middle of a conversation and need to excuse yourself for a few minutes but don't use a script to announce it to the entire IRC network. Colors and text attributes (bold, inverse) are not widely supported and tend to be an eyesore even when they're supported.   * **Disable any scripts which may become annoying.** Away/back messages should not be printed publicly. It's fine if you're in the middle of a conversation and need to excuse yourself for a few minutes but don't use a script to announce it to the entire IRC network. Colors and text attributes (bold, inverse) are not widely supported and tend to be an eyesore even when they're supported.
  • Last modified: 2021/06/01 11:35
  • by someothertime