How to get an answer to your question.

[Erek Adams <erek () snort org>]

Many times on this list (and other lists as well), I see people ask a
question which generates _no_ responses.  Then in a few days, you see a
very terse email from the original poster with "Since I got no responses,
I'm asking again...".  Folks, it's not hard to get a response--It's hard
to get a useful question!

Here are a few pointers on "How to ask your question and get a useful
response" for folks on this list (and others).  Don't be scared to post!
Just try to help _us_ help _you_!

1)   What OS and version?  Patches?  Service Packs?
2)   What version of Snort?  Build number?
3)   Built from tarball or a pre-packaged binary?
4)   Where did you get the source or binary from?  Main site?  Mirror?
5)   Don't crosspost.
6)   Cut and paste error messages.  Don't send the entire Snort startup
output, just send the error message and the 10-15 lines above it.
7)   Did you search the message archives [0] for your error
message, or something similar?
8)   Did you read README, INSTALL, and BUGS inside the tarballs /docs
directory?
9)   Did you read the man page?
10)  Did you read the Online users manual [1]?
11)  Did you look at the _ENTIRE_ FAQ [2]?
12)  Did you try Google?
13)  Did you write an accurate description of the problem?  "When starting
Snort under a chroot jail, it fails upon opening of the rules file."
14)  Do you realize no one is getting paid for this?  Your boss might be
yelling at you, but we're (snort-users folks) doing this out of the
goodness of our hearts so don't yell at us.

(For some more things 'not to do' have a look at the Snort-Users drinking
game [3].  It's not mandatory, but it does give you an idea of some of the
'not so good' things that are seen on the list.)


Above all:  Check the docs, archives and FAQ first.  You might be able to
answer your own question right then!  No waiting overnight or over the
weekend...  :)

Cheers!

-----
Erek Adams

   "When things get weird, the weird turn pro."   H.S. Thompson


[0]     http://marc.theaimsgroup.com/?l=snort-users&r=1&w=2
[1]     http://www.snort.org/docs/writing_rules/
[2]     http://www.snort.org/docs/faq.html  and in /docs (from the
source tarball)
[3]     http://www.theadamsfamily.net/~erek/snort/drinking_game.txt


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