7. HOWTOs
HOWTOs are detailed reference documents on a specific subject, usually
following a step-by-step approach. A HOWTO is a good document to help
you discover a task or a topic you don't know. It will provide you with
the basic steps and the major references.
These documents are particularly useful when you decide to provide or
access a new service with your Linux system, or when you embark on a
technically complex project. For example, you may have the option of
accessing the 'net with a DSL or Cable Modem service - excellent guides
are available in the form of HOWTOs.
Authors of these documents often include references and links to sites
that they have found useful. You may find the information you need at
one of these hyperlinked sites rather than in the HOWTO itself.
To find HOWTOs, the first place to go is the Linux Documentation Project (LDP). The
LDP includes a HOWTO Index
Page that I suggest you bookmark in your browser.
These HOWTOs are written by Linux users and are periodically updated by
the authors. Many authors provide the latest version at a personal
website and a hyperlink to the latter is typically provided in the
document. This version may be newer than the one available at the LDP
website.
Note also that other HOWTOs are available, the authors of which have not
submitted them to the LDP. It is definitely worthwhile trying to find
these with an Internet search
engine, using the "howto" keyword.