• What is MLUG?
• How do you pronounce MLUG?
• Who can join MLUG?
• What is the MLUG server?
  (Server FAQ)
• Are there any local Linux mirrors on campus?
• Where can I get information on Linux?
• Why are there two mailing lists?
• How do I get off the mailing lists?
• My question isn't answered here.

MLUG is a loosely-organized group of Linux geeks at or around the University of Missouri - Columbia. Our main services to the Linux community are the MLUG mailing lists, the MLUG server (mlug.missouri.edu), and occasional real-world meetings featuring presentations about Linux-related topics, or sometimes just geekout sessions.

Most people seem to pronounce it "em-lug," but I know that at least one long-time mailing list member pronounces it "m'lug," as one syllable. Anything but "em, ell, yoo, jee" is acceptable.

Well, our definition of "membership" is somewhat fuzzy. Anyone may join the mailing lists, and meetings are open to the public. At the moment, MLUG is not formally organized, so membership doesn't really mean very much.

If you want a shell account on mlug.missouri.edu, see the server FAQ.

The MLUG server is mlug.missouri.edu, a modest PIII-600 running Debian stable hosted on the MU campus. It's a place for MLUG members to send and receive email, host webpages, mess around with Linux programming, etc., all in a nice geek-friendly environment. Accounts are free. The MLUG server also hosts this very website, as well as the MLUG mailing lists.

The MLUG server has its own FAQ.

Due to bandwidth issues, there are no public Linux archives available on campus. However, a number of other Internet2 universities do host such archives, which means access times from campus are almost as good as a local mirror would be. I use http://mirror.cs.wisc.edu/pub/mirrors/linux/. Many other big-name .edu sites are likely to be on I2 as well -- just find a mirror listing (Red Hat's is a good start) and try a few sites.

1. Read the manual. Most Linux software comes with good documentation. Use it!
2. The Linux Documentation Project has loads of free documentation on all kinds of Linux-related topics. The HOWTO documents are especially helpful.
3. Read the manual.
4. Peruse the MLUG links page.
5. Read the manual.
6. Google. Seriously. Wise man say, "Google is your friend."
7. Read the manual.
8. The MLUG mailing lists are a great way to get in touch with local Linux geeks who are always great about answering questions. Just make sure you read the manual and check out the some of the other resources listed here before asking on the lists!

MLUG members have a tendency to stray off topic sometimes. Since some MLUG members don't want their inboxes filled up with off-topic posts, the mailing list was split into members and discussion. members is for "serious" discussions about Linux (as well as Unix, open-source software, etc.) while discussion is reserved for off-topic discussion about anything and everything. Physics, Star Trek^*, politics, anime -- even (gasp!) Windows!

Note that even on discussion you should still be mindful of proper netiquette! No topic is considered out of bounds, but spam, rabid flames, and 40-megabyte attachments certainly are.

^* Actually nobody ever seems to talk about Star Trek. But you get the idea.

Go to http://mlug.missouri.edu/mailman/listinfo to unsubscribe. If this still doesn't work, contact an MLUG sysadmin.

Feel free to contact MLUG.