Changes

===Purpose===

===Purpose===

The forums are used for discussions on a variety of topics considering SME Server. Here you can discuss configurations, ask opinions and support that is not provided by the bugtracker. The forums is the place where users can help each other and exchange experiences and knowledge.

The forums are used for discussions on a variety of topics considering SME Server. Here you can discuss configurations, ask opinions and support that is not provided by the bugtracker. The forums are the places where users can help each other and exchange experiences and knowledge.

{{Note box|The development team is also member of the forums but please report problems with SME Server in the bugtracker.  

If you have discovered a bug or a suspected bug, please submit the issue to the bug tracker and '''not''' to the forums. Discussions about the bug should be within the bug tracker. Once you have submitted the bug, you can reference it in the forum as information to others please ensure a link to the bug tracker is provided.}}

It is appreciated that before posting in the forums you first read the manuals and try to search for your answer in the manuals, wiki, forums and bugtracker before posting a question in one of the forum boards.

It is appreciated that before posting in the forums you first read the manuals and try to search for you answer in the manuals, wiki, forums and bugtracker before posting a question in one of the forum boards.

 

Anything that is not working as it should be, can be considered as a bug and should be reported in the bugtracker and '''not''' in the forums. Discussions about the bug should be within the bug tracker and not in the forums. Once you have submitted the bug, you can reference it in the forum as information to others. If you do so, please ensure a link or a reference to the bug is provided.

 

Exactly where the bug lies and whether the SME developers will do anything about it, gets determined in the bugtracker. If they cannot or will not resolve the problem in bugtracker, then you can come back to the forums for further help.

===Guidelines===

===Guidelines===

Before posting a question to the forums, we would ask that you take the time to read this page.

Before posting a question to the forums, we would ask that you take the time to read this post. Please also read the Where to Find Answers post.

This information is provided to help you get answers to your questions more quickly. Everyone who provides answers are volunteers and their time is valuable. Following the guidelines below will help them make the best use of that time to aid as many as possible including, of course, you.

This information is provided to help you get answers to your questions more quickly. Everyone who provides answers are volunteers and their time is valuable. Following the guidelines below will help them make the best use of that time to aid as many as possible including, of course, you.

====Post your question to the correct forum====

====Post your question to the correct forum====

This may seem obvious but please try to ensure you post your question to the correct forum and in the correct section (eg, for SME Server 6.x, SME Server 7.x or SME Contribs etc). If you are unsure in which forum your question belongs, please do NOT double post in multiple forums and use the General Discussion board. Most of us read ALL the forums so we will see your question. Double posting will result in 1) you being asked not to double post as opposed to being provided with an answer and 2) multiples posts being locked by a moderator where inappropriate.

This may seem obvious but please try to ensure you post your question to the correct forum and in the correct section (eg, for SME Server 8.x, SME Server 9.x, SME Contribs, etc). If you are unsure in which forum your question belongs, please do NOT double post in multiple forums but instead use the General Discussion forum. Most of us read ALL the forums so we will see your question. Double posting will result in  

#. you being asked not to double post as opposed to being provided with an answer and  

#. multiples posts being locked by a moderator where inappropriate.

====Use a descriptive title for your thread====

====Use a descriptive title for your thread====

Use a descriptive title for your thread. This is your one chance to advertise what it is you require help with and persuade people to actually read and potentially answer your question. Do not SHOUT and your question is not urgent (at least not to anyone else). Please do not use txt speak or exclamation marks (!!!!).

Use a descriptive title for your thread. This is your one chance to advertise what it is you require help with and persuade people to actually read and potentially answer your question. Do not SHOUT and your question is not urgent (at least not to anyone else). Please do not use txt speak or exclamation marks (!!!!).

Bad example:

'''Bad example:'''

Urgent: pls hlp, can't get it to work!!!!!!

Urgent: pls hlp, can't get it to work!!!!!!

This tells us nothing other than it's urgent to you and that something isn't working. It is unlikely to even attract views, let alone answers. If you can't get your title right, what hope do we have that you've actually asked a coherent question in such a way that we may be able to help.

This tells us nothing other than it's urgent to you and that something isn't working. It is unlikely to even attract views, let alone answers. If you can't get your title right, what hope do we have that you've actually asked a coherent question in such a way that we may be able to help.

Better example:

'''Better example:'''

Installed SME 7.4, need help getting Network to connect (Dell Integrated Broadcom Nic).

Installed SME Server 8.0, need help getting Network to connect (Dell Integrated Broadcom Nic).

Now we know what you've done and those who have dealt with Broadcom Nics will know that it's an issue where they can possibly help. (This also holds for other hardware such as video cards and hard drives. Someone might ignore a subject of network doesn't work but answer a post of realtec card not working if they've had experience dealing with that particular card.)

Now we know what you've done and those who have dealt with Broadcom Nics will know that it's an issue where they can possibly help. (This also holds for other hardware such as video cards and hard drives. Someone might ignore a subject of network doesn't work but answer a post of realtec card not working if they've had experience dealing with that particular card.)

Again, do not SHOUT and your question is not urgent (at least not to anyone else). Please do not use txt speak and no excessive exclamation marks. Do use good spelling, grammar and punctuation, and split your post up as appropriate into separate paragraphs. We acknowledge that although English is the preferred language of the forums, it is not everyone's first or native language. You do not need to apologize if English is not your native language, just do the best that you can to clearly and concisely describe your problem.

Again, do not SHOUT and your question is not urgent (at least not to anyone else). Please do not use txt speak and no excessive exclamation marks. Do use good spelling, grammar and punctuation, and split your post up as appropriate into separate paragraphs. We acknowledge that although English is the preferred language of the forums, it is not everyone's first or native language. You do not need to apologize if English is not your native language, just do the best that you can to clearly and concisely describe your problem.

Before posting your question, first think about what your question is. If you don't know what your question is and how to articulate it, it is highly unlikely anyone else will be able to provide a reply. We don't have crystal balls & we can't read minds and make sure you actually ask a question.

Before posting your question, first think about what your question is. If you don't know what your question is and how to articulate it, it is highly unlikely anyone else will be able to provide a reply. We don't have crystal balls and we can't read minds, also make sure you actually ask a question.

Bad example:

'''Bad example:'''

Q: My nic doesn't work!<br>

Q: My nic doesn't work!<br>

A: That's a shame, but thank you for sharing it with us. Did you have a question?

A: That's a shame, but thank you for sharing it with us. Did you have a question?

Better example:

'''Better example:'''

Q: My nic isn't detected after a default installation of SME Server. Please could anyone assist me in getting it working?<br>

Q: My nic isn't detected after a default installation of SME Server. Please could anyone assist me in getting it working?<br>

Don't ask questions that can be answered with yes or no, unless you want a yes or no answer, as that's what you'll most likely get.

Don't ask questions that can be answered with yes or no, unless you want a yes or no answer, as that's what you'll most likely get.

Bad example:

'''Bad example:'''

Q: I can't get Foo to work. Has anyone else managed to get this working?<br>

Q: I can't get Foo to work. Has anyone else managed to get this working?<br>

If you have a software-related question, please provide as much relevant information about your configuration as possible. Provide the version numbers of any software you are using, post the configuration file for the package you are having problems with and check your logs for relevant errors, and post these too (only the relevant errors please, not the whole log file).

If you have a software-related question, please provide as much relevant information about your configuration as possible. Provide the version numbers of any software you are using, post the configuration file for the package you are having problems with and check your logs for relevant errors, and post these too (only the relevant errors please, not the whole log file).

If your question relates in any way to the kernel, please show us what kernel(s) you have installed and running by providing the output from the following commands:

If your question relates in any way to the kernel, please show us what kernel(s) you have installed and running by providing the output from the following commands:

Congratulations, now you have an answer to your problem, you have gained some valuable knowledge that, hopefully, you'll be willing to share when another Community member asks a similar question. Before you know it, you will be one of the people answering some of the questions, not just asking them. This is how a community works, by giving a little back occasionally. So once you have an answer we hope you'll stay around and become part of the Community.

Congratulations, now you have an answer to your problem, you have gained some valuable knowledge that, hopefully, you'll be willing to share when another Community member asks a similar question. Before you know it, you will be one of the people answering some of the questions, not just asking them. This is how a community works, by giving a little back occasionally. So once you have an answer we hope you'll stay around and become part of the Community.

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