What FAQs are wanted or needed?

[Wodisch]

Hello all,

I would like to know, what FAQs we have or want.
Perhaps we can then use this tread as an "inofficial"
FAQ until the forums have a true "FAQ" area... :-)

I will post this to the "Management Software" area, too,
but not to all the other areas not to annoy you too much.

Oh, and please be patient with me to award points, as
I will leave for a business trip for two weeks tomorrow
(I hate 6:00am flights) and do not know, wether I will
be able to read my email, or access the web, there...

And there will be more points for those replies already
containing the "answer" for its FAQ ;-)

Thanks a lot,
Wodisch

[G. Vrijhoeven]

Wodisch,

Firsy i like to say that i recently joined this forum and i like this site for the interaction between the people on this site so that puts me in a situation that i do not think that a FAQ section is a good idea.

I guess some questions a posted more then once ( F in FAQ :) )on this site and it would be a good idea to put those in a FAQ list.

PS Have a good trip.

[harry d brown jr]

What I believe we need, as I agree with other posts elsewhere, is all of HP's manuals for unix systems online (system manuals - ie CE manuals), especially those older systems. I have over 60 G-class servers, which is a pain in the rear to get any useful info on them (fortunately, we are rapidly phasing them out). I also believe that a better search engine is needed.

[Michael Tully]

Hi Wodisch,

That's not a bad idea, but will people use it?
A lot users in this forum do not even do a
simple search before placing a question. I
commend you on your pro-active approach.

I must ask you this. By doing such a thing
would it deprive people of answering the
simplest of questions and gaining knowledge
even for beginners, or is a FAQ area take
away the sort of personal touch that can
only be found in here?

Let's see what others think.....

Have a good trip!
-Michael

[Wodisch]

Great to see there's interest in this, actually :-)

Harry, we can collect the links here, at least...

Michael, hopefully they'll use it. Since I have seen a lot of "look there" replies, this is already going on, kind of. AND all of you will get points (again?) for it! (but not me, sniff ;-) If we get the "correct my reply" button from Dan, we may even update our replies to keep them up-to-date! (and get additional points? Dan, would that be possible??)

Six hours till I have to leave home, still at the office yet, luggage is to be crammed, yet - moscow is waiting ;-)

Thank you all!
Wodisch

[Michael Tully]

Don't forget to visit Red Square and the
Kremlin while your there, they are nice
places to see. I remember that my photo
there turned out blury.... as it's starting
to get cold there now, make sure you pack
the long-johns..... BTW learn some Russian
while your there.... Have a good trip!
"Docbidania" (Means Good-bye!)

-Michael

[someone_4]

Hola Senor Woodisch .. =)
a Faq section that would be cool. But it goes along with the knowledge tree.But me personaly I think it is a good idea but how would we stear people to use the FAQ ? Plus I really like the personal touch that this forum has.We are our own little family. But it would be nice for a more general section where we could post personal thoughts about other work related issues and what not.

Richard

[James R. Ferguson]

Hi Wodisch:

I agree. A FAQ of some form is needed, although I'm not sure, how successfully the presence of one will reduce questions that we see and answer repeatedly. The old adage "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink" springs to mind.

Some people are intrinsically lazy and want the easy answer. In other cases, I think that there is more of a need for assurance than there is laziness. If the poster has do a search (even given the ease with which that can be done), then the poster STILL has to decide for him/herself that the answer obtained is sound. I'm going to ignore the fraction of users who don't know how to search this site, although that in itself might be a good FAQ.

Vrijhoeven and Michael Tully touch on an element of this community that makes it unique and special -- the sense of human interaction. I have turned virtual friends into friends in reality here and wouldn't trade that for anything. However, I don't think a FAQ diminishes the level of potential human interaction.

I don't think that having a FAQ would deprive anyone from answering simple questions. As I said, I think there is some fraction of posters that need the assurance that they have in fact found the right answer. With a FAQ in place, I would still expect to be able to respond with "See FAQ #48?" the same way that I've referenced solutions in prior threads.

The presence of a FAQ might also go a long way to reducing the sheer number of posts. Stefan Farrelly recently mused that "interesting" posts deserving more on-going, long-term discussion, get buried beneath the onslaught of trivial questions. I agree with Stefan. A good FAQ would enrich the proportion of new or unique information deposited here.

I'm now sure how a good FAQ would be structured given the diversity of topics. What goes into it, who maintains, adds and removes items from it are important too. Certainly, it would need to be well advertised, particularly so first-time or occasional Forum visitors would be directed to it first. Again, "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink".

Given, therefore, that I think this idea has merit, here are some of the topics I think are FAQ candidates within the HP-UX Forum family. In no particular order:

# How to mirror a boot disk.
# How to enlarge a filesystem (HFS, JFS (with/without Online option)
# How to move disks from one system to another.
# Root filesystem full - reactive and proactive measures to take.
# Sending email and/or attachments from a script.
# Recovering from a lost root password.
# Setting up XNTP services.
# vmunix: file or process table full - meaning; monitoring; kernel tuning needed.
# How to automate FTP processes.
# How to make an Ignite Recovery tape and recover a system with it.
# How much memory do I have?
# Guidelines for interpreting 'swapinfo'.

...with my warm regards...

...JRF...

[linuxfan]

Hi Wodisch,

You always seem to come up with interesting questions/suggestions.

I agree with what James said, but at the same time there is another adage that says "Give the man a fish, you feed him for a day, But teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime".

But how many people have heard about the RTFM (read the fine manual ;)? and actually read it?

How many people actually read the README file that is included in lot of softwares.

How many people actually read the "Readme before installing/upgrading the OS" guide.

How many people have actually asked a question in these forums that say, well i have searched the docs site/itrc but still had a question about so and so ?

As far as human interaction is concerned, NO FAQ/Manual/Docs/Guides can replace that and if you really think about it, you see quite often in these forums, people prefer posting a question because the response time is real fast than calling up the tech support(no offense to the HP tech support, they do a great job, its just a matter of finding the right one ;)

Also sometimes you almost know who will come up with the right answer/suggestion when a question is asked in a particular category, that is where the human interaction comes into the picture. Even if you have a FAQ, you would still see some of the questions being repeated but you would hope the volume would somewhat reduce.

In any case, I fully agree with James, you sort of make a virtual friendship with the folks here and a FAQ would hopefully make the discussions more interesting.

But a FAQ is necessary and like others mentioned will definitely reduce the number of postings (HOPEFULLY ;) and my suggestions to the FAQ are (in random order)

-link to the kernel parameters overview

-a link to the docs site/software site (software.hp.com)

-bootcamp things (for a user who is just starting to be a sysadmin)

-the hp-ux faq by Ian Springer could be included

-links to the porting centers(or simple docs saying how to look/download software from the porting center)

-link to the site
ftp://contrib:9unsupp8@hprc.external.hp.com/sysadmin

- how to bundle and package patches

-definitely include a doc for calculating (yesterdays date ;). I think we should include Clay's caljd.sh script

-How to analyze crash dumps ( using Q4)

-There are some nice papers/guide for measureware/glance/perfview, we could probably include them as well.

-Also not sure what others think of putting a link for the FAQ(while a user is posting a new message - just as a reminder, to check if the question has already been answered there)?

-Regards
Ramesh

[linuxfan]

Hi again,

Some more suggestions for the FAQ.

- an HOWTO for log rotation

- doc about nickel/cfg2html/print_manifest to document system information

- an HOWTO about cron/remsh scripts (that the environment is limited and we have to source our environment or .profile to set the variables)

- An HOWTO for name resolution (resolv.conf/nsswitch.conf) for sendmail issues


I had an idea, we could have not just one FAQ but a bunch of HOWTO's like we have for linux. And for certain issues mini-HOWTOs. This way maintaining/updating an HOWTO will not impact the rest of them. Just a thought.

-Regards
Ramesh

P.S - Enjoy your trip to Moscow.

[John Bolene]

How about a how-to-give-points and why.

Seems nobody reads the screen that happens when they post a question.

[Stefan Farrelly]

I think an FAQ is a good idea. Just need now to persuade Dan to stick a link to it on the main HP-UX or Forums page so its always visibile.

A couple of things I would like to see in it;

1. An emphasis on assigning points to every question - reasons why (to encourage others to use their spare time to answer questions - as theyre not getting paid) and possible future punishements if someone never assigns points (cant hurt to add in a scare!).

2. Im worried that some really good discussions on problems past which involved everyone and reached some perfect answer or anaylsis are very diffcicult to find with the current search engine. It would nice to have one place where these very good answers (eg. how to mount an Oracle CD the right way) were kept, or a button on the search forums page to search them. In my experience trying to find these old questions and excellent replies takes a considerable amount of time, and sometimes I cant even find them! So I have to keep anything I find personally very interesting in my own offline storage area.

Cheers,

Stefan

[Carlos Fernandez Riera]

My contribution:

Well Known bugs
Use of tapes
capacity of tapes/drivers
backups commands
Full filesystems 100% and deleted files.
...
_____________

How to do this?
There is two areas in the board :

Top read solutions: First it must be changed to Top write solutions, what it is now. Creating a new question named "FAQs", in which all we can participate, automatically will be on this section, and it must contain links to others FAQs areas. Than can contain excelent texts, or links to questions awarded yet.

To do this, we dont need any help from Dan.

Usefull links: insert a link to a question named top forums FAQs.

To do this we need help form Dan ( or Dan from us).


And the best is that texts, must be the basis for reference, so anybody can say.. i have read ,,,, and on step 3 my box dont match.
___________


About searching, use http://search.hp.com.
I dont know why a tool out of forum is better than search the forum.

______


Wodisch: Thanks for your statistics of readers and writers... I am not so patient.

[paul courry]

A two week business trip? Now's my chance to catch up with you!

Seriously, FAQ's are a good idea, but unlikely to reduce the number of RTFM questions.

Likewise, if we want points awarded to close the loop and assign value to individual answers we need HP to implement a new "feature" called "no pay, no play". If you don't assign points you don't get to ask questions.

[Wodisch]

Hi Gang! (insert a russian accent here :-)

Thanks for answering, first! Second, the items/cadidates for FAQ are rolling in, it seems: JRF, Ramesh, Stefan and Carlos have already listed some, Harry's idea about the manuals looks VERY good for me (perhaps we can link manuals to FAQs?), and John is hitting a nail when asking for the "How to assign points".
Paul: I am sorry - I will have to stay for three weeks, now, but I do have Internet access - and Sridhar has beaten us both ;-/
Would you accept if I am going to assign points to your replies, say, once per week? I would not like to already assign a "rabbit", for there might be an answer out there deserving it, and I would like to assign the points based on their contribution and comparing at least multiple of them.
Right now, I think Ramesh would get most, JRF following (hey, James, that's new for you, is it not?), then Carlos, Stefan and Carlos, and I would like to have something "special" for Harry and John.

Dosvidanje, (russian accent here and correct spelling)
Wodisch

[James R. Ferguson]

Hi Wodisch:

Don't worry about the point assignment until you are satisfied that this thread has aged enough so that it's unlikely anyone else wants to contribute.

I understand perfectly that you don't want early rabbit appearances turning off potential contributers.

We know your good for your points, and we'll hound you if you don't eventually deliver!

For now, enjoy Russia [I envy you]; stay warm; and drink plenty of the clear liquid so famous there!!!

See you in the Royal Court very, very soon!

With my warm regards, Jim.

...JRF...

[Deshpande Prashant]

Hi Wodish
Here are some questions, I refer and have bookmarked some of them. It will be nice to get them through FAQ.
-Replacing faulty mirror disk
-hp-ux tuning guide
-kernel parameters overview
-JFS mount options explained
-commandline options to analyse measureware data
-DAT drives/media, their capacity/format and compatability.
-upgrading Omniback software versions.
-Managing Omniback database.
-Omniback patches.

Thanks.
Prashant Deshpande.

[Lou Zirko_1]

A topic that would be of interest is one that would collect "Known Issues and Work-arounds". Yes all systems have these until you stumble on one and get it resolved you can pull out a lot of hair in the process.

Lou Zirko

[Christopher Caldwell]

Sorry to intrude upon your thread, but it would also be nice to have system to capture "blessed" answers.

e.g. there must be a zillion answers to "how to mirror the root drive". There are also some classic, great answers from folks in the know.

Unfortunately, you end up sifting through/combining an number of threads to get the "best" answer. It would be great to be able to create and high light the "best" answers.

If the knowledgeable people could award points to threads (as well as the question author), we could synthesize the community's concept of the "best" answer. Minimally, the score would become another way to sort search results. (The community wouldn't award points to the responders - just to the accuracy/usefulness of the thread).

The forum manager could then use the "best" answers to help drive the FAQ.

My .02,
-C

[Sachin Patel · Accepted solution]

Hi Non-Stop Idea Man,
How is your trip going?

FAQ is not bad idea.
All Royals has already given lots of FAQ lists.

I do want to elaborate on everones concern that who reads FAQ and mostly about lazy people who needs fast answer. I think we have to give them a time. Some might turn out to be like me or some will disappear.
I first register in May 2000 to ask one question. Question was tough because no one was knew the answer here at my work. I can?t find any answer on HP?s ITRC. My problem was solved and I return on forum after couple month to ask another question I got answer of that too. I return on forum third time around on December to ask my third question and I had not assigned any points to any answer. We have software and hardware contract with HP so I often go to HP site to order new software (as system support) In June or July ?2001 I open up forum again and reply on one question. Next day by just curiosity I check what happen to that thread and I see I had 10 points (not to me to support). Well from then I regularly start going to forum.

From then I had ask many questions first couple questions ask was without any search (like JRF says want easy and fast solution). Now as time goes I solve many problems just by reading or just searching.

I do like to see FAQ. Dan can put some kind of mechanism to assign points to FAQ?s.

- Lots of emphasize on assigning point
-
- Memory, CPU info from kernel,
- Many disk problems like other mentions above.
- Lost root password.
- Ignite problems
- Increase, decrease LVs
- Many X problems (Alex is good at it)
- Some cool find, sed, tr, awk tricks
- Some console (VT???) setup hints
- Moving print server from one system to other system
- Some obvious DNS problems (zone transfer is not working, missing. bad MX record etc?.)
- Some NIS problems (ypbind fail, how to setup master and slave, how to use netgroup)
- Some NFS problems (permission problem, how to check which file system is exported with what kind of permission etc?)
- Swinstall problems
- Samba problems
- Many many more??. to come

Where is my points ??? (HAHAHAHA )

Sachin

[Rita C Workman]

Well I guess, since I feel every issue needs a pro and con, I will attempt to be the con (albeit a friendly con)...

FAQ is already present. Look at the bottom of any section and you will see the 5 most read postings for each topic.
Instead of redesigning the wheel...if you feel it's needed then why not just expand what is already there. Have the little green box at the bottom that shows the 5 most read posts...also point to a list of posts, that maybe could be sorted by...Topic or By Most Read Order. And let this be the FAQ utility.

What I'm saying is what you have already said....If they won't read the book...they won't read down FAQ's. The only folks who will benefit by FAQ (no matter where, what or how you use them...) are the folks who are WILLING to READ to find the ANSWER.

Now I am not trying to discourage those times when you want and need interaction. I know plenty of times when I just needed someone else to give me confirmation. And this is what this Forums does...it creates a place to meet...discuss...solve....interact.

So...face it....no matter where you put FAQ or what you put under FAQ.... The folks who read them will still be the same ones who use SEARCH on Forums or www.search.hp.com or actually read the instructions first. You know them....they are the ones moving up the point scale. Because they are reading and answering the questions of those who are not. < At least not yet...I have faith that one day, they will be wearing the shoes on the other persons feet....and then they too will voice the message of wisdom..." you must read those manpages and books ... to truly administer your systems ... ">

Hope that wasn't too negative...
Kindest Regards,
Rita

[Bill McNAMARA_1]

log rotation
performance analysis
patch management
backup strategies
security considerations

would be my wants..

Good idea, after that we can just reference the FAQ for all our answers!

Have a good trip, don't forget your toothbrush!

Later,
Bill

[Mark Vollmers]

Wodisch-

I've read through everything that the others have suggested, and I think that it's a good idea. However, Rita does raise a valid point. Maybe the search engine could be expanded to have a "super-search", for lack of a better term. The top five section is good, but it goes off posts and points, so the issues post is always there. I assume that someone out there can compile a list of the most common topics (mirroring, sendmail, etc). What if we had a section with common areas (defined by a large number of inquires (<50 posts, for example) and then this area either had a listing of all the posts or the magic answer posts or just had the general FAQ info? if it was the general info, it would have to be complied (royalty has nothing better to do, do they? :) ). If magic answers were used, there would be posts lost due to no points being assigned. Personally, I would find this more useful than the top five section, and maybe the search engine could be modified then to better find more specific problems. It would be a fair amount of rework to set it up, but useful. As an example, under the patches section, there could be how to create depot files, removing old patches, etc. Also, put it near the top, since some people won't scroll down to the bottom to see it. I think I'm done rambling now; have a good trip.

Mark

[paul courry]

Top 40 FAQ's

1. How to configure a HP256x printer
2. How to replace a disc drive
3. How to RTFMGDI
4. How to use partsurfer.hp.com
5. How to use the jazz website
6. The care and feeding of the Top 25 pirahnas
7. The importance of awarding points

[Michael Tully]

Paul.... That's not nice since you are one yourself! However I've never seen any fish wearing a crown!

-Michael