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diff --git a/docs/Samba3-ByExample/SBE-Support.xml b/docs/Samba3-ByExample/SBE-Support.xml new file mode 100644 index 0000000000..3548a043c5 --- /dev/null +++ b/docs/Samba3-ByExample/SBE-Support.xml @@ -0,0 +1,133 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="iso-8859-1"?> +<!DOCTYPE preface PUBLIC "-//Samba-Team//DTD DocBook V4.2-Based Variant V1.0//EN" "http://www.samba.org/samba/DTD/samba-doc"> + +<chapter lang="en-US"> +<title>Samba Support</title> + +<para> +One of the most difficult to answer questions in the information technology industry is, <quote>What is +support?</quote>. That question often irritates some folks, as much as common answers may annoy others. +</para> + +<para> +The most aggravating situation pertaining to support is typified when, as a Linux user, a call is made to +an Internet service provider who, instead of listening to the problem to find a solution, blandly replies: +<quote>Oh, Linux? We do not support Linux!</quote>. It has happened to me, and similar situations happen +through-out the IT industry. Answers like that are designed to inform us that there are some customers +that a business just does not want to deal with, and well may we feel the anguish of the rejection that +is dished out. +</para> + +<para> +One way to consider support is to view it as consisting of the right answer, in the right place, +at the right time, no matter the situation. Support is all that it takes to take away pain, disruption, +inconvenience, loss of productivity, disorientation, uncertainty, and real or perceived risk. +</para> + +<para> +One of the forces that has become a driving force for the adoption of open source software is the fact that +many IT businesses have provided services that have perhaps failed to deliver what the customer expected, or +that have been found wanting for other reasons. +</para> + +<para> +In recognition of the need for needs satisfaction as the primary experience an information technology user or +consumer expects, the information provided in this chapter may help someone to avoid an unpleasant experience +in respect of problem resolution. +</para> + +<para> +In the open source software arena there are two support options: free support and paid-for, or commercial, +support. +</para> + + <sect1> + <title>Free Support</title> + + <para> + Free support may be obtained from friends, colleagues, user groups, mailing lists, and interactive help + facilities such as chat rooms such as the Internet relay chat (IRC) channels that provide user + supported mutual assistance. + </para> + + <para> + The Samba project maintains a mailing list that is commonly used to discuss solutions to Samba + deployments. Information regarding subscription to the Samba mailing list can be found on the + Samba <ulink url="https://lists.samba.org/mailman/">web</ulink> site. The public mailing list + that can be used to obtain free, user contributed, support is called the <literal>samba</literal> + list. The email address for this list is at <literal>mail:samba@samba.org</literal>. + </para> + + <para> + Information regarding the Samba IRC channels may be found on the Samba <ulink + url="http://www.samba.org/samba.irc.html">IRC</ulink> web page. + </para> + + <para> + As a general rule, it is considered poor net behavior to contact a Samba Team member directly + for free support. Most active members of the Samba Team work exceptionally long hours to assist + users who have demonstrated a qualified problem. Some team members may respond to direct email + or telephone contact, with requests for assistance, by requesting payment. A few of the Samba + Team members actually provide professional paid-for Samba support and it is therefore wise + to show appropriate discretion and reservation in all direct contact. + </para> + + <para> + When you stumble across a Samba bug, often the quickest way to get it resolved is by posting + a bug <ulink url="https://bugzilla.samba.org/">report</ulink>. All such reports are mailed to + the responsible code maintainer for action. The better the report, and the more serious it is, + the sooner it will be dealt with. On the other hand, if the responsible person can not duplicate + the reported bug it is likely to be rejected. It is up to you to provide sufficient information + that will permit the problem to be reproduced. + </para> + + <para> + We all recognize that sometimes free support does not provide the answer that is sought within + the time-frame required. At other times the problem is elusive and you may lack the experience + necessary to isolate the problem and thus to resolve it. This is a situation where is may be + prudent to purchase paid-for support. + </para> + + </sect1> + + <sect1> + <title>Commercial Support</title> + + <para> + There are six basic support oriented services that are most commonly sought by Samba sites: + </para> + + <itemizedlist> + <listitem><para>Assistance with network design</para></listitem> + <listitem><para>Staff Training</para></listitem> + <listitem><para>Assistance with Samba network deployment and installation</para></listitem> + <listitem><para>Priority telephone or email Samba configuration assistance</para></listitem> + <listitem><para>Trouble-shooting and diagnostic assistance</para></listitem> + <listitem><para>Provision of quality assured ready-to-install Samba binary packages</para></listitem> + </itemizedlist> + + <para> + Information regarding companies that provide professional Samba support can be obtained by performing + a Google search, as well as by reference to the Samba + <ulink url="http://www.samba.org/samba/support.html">Support</ulink> web page. Companies who notify + the Samba Team that they provide commercial support are given a free listing that is sorted by the country + of origin. Multiple listings are permitted, however no guarantee is offered. It is left to you to qualify a + support provider and to satisfy yourself that both the company and its staff are able to deliver what is + required of them. </para> + + <para> + In deference to the policy within the Samba Team to treat all commercial support providers equally + and to show no preference, Samba Team members who provide commercial support are lumped in with + everyone else. You are encouraged to obtain the services needed from a company in your local area. + The open source movement is pro-community, so do what you can to help a local business to prosper. + </para> + + <para> + Open source software support can be found in any quality, at any price and in any place you can + to obtain it. Over 180 companies around the world provide Samba support, there is no excuse for + suffering in the mistaken belief that Samba is unsupported software &smbmdash; it is supported. + </para> + + </sect1> + +</chapter> |