Here I have listed some of the popular websites related to Linux which concentrate on providing support for a specialized set of functions in GNU/Linux such as sound/audio, printing and so on. And these are the first sites to visit when you are faced with problems related to these functions.
- Open Printing - Formerly known as linuxprinting.org, this site is a one stop resource for all your printer related problems in GNU/Linux. Does your newly bought printer refuse to cooperate with Linux , are you looking to buy a printer but want to make sure that the one you buy should fully support Linux, then this site is for you. It contains a database of all the printer models categorized into different groups depending upon the degree of support they provide for GNU/Linux as well as the relevant drivers for the printers if you need them.
- ALSA Project (Sound drivers) - Alsa is synonymous with sound. There was a time when you had to slog it out to get sound to work correctly in GNU/Linux. In those early years, Linux made use of the OSS sound drivers which showed many shortcomings. ALSA project was born specifically to provide more modular sound drivers and also to address the shortcomings of OSS. Any time you are faced with some sound problems such as say GNU/Linux doesn't support your sound card (a rarity these days), then this is the site to visit to find a solution to these issues.
- Linux-USB.org - This website serves as a central point of information for USB support under Linux. There are a growing number of devices from digital cameras, to mobile phones, music players, network devices and so on which have USB support. This website documents which all devices have USB drivers in Linux as well as the degree of support provided. Also check out this site which complements the linux-usb.org site in listing the different USB devices which are supported in Linux
- TLDP.org - short for "The Linux Documentation Project" consists of a loosely knit team of volunteers who provide documentation for many aspects of Linux. On this site, you will find several forms of documentation such as Guides, HOWTOs, man pages, and FAQs related to all facets of GNU/Linux.
- NetKit.org - This is a site which caters to that section of Linux enthusiasts who are more inclined to learn and pick up skills in networking in Linux. NetKit allows one to set up ones own virtual networking lab which can be used to study complex networks all on ones personal computer. To make it possible, Netkit heavily relies on User Mode Linux. NetKit offer the users an easy-to-use-and-install package, which at the same time implements effective network emulation.
- Qmailrocks.org - This site is a comprehensive qmail installation resource. Qmail by the way is a mail transport agent similar to the ubiquitous sendmail. But unlike sendmail, qmail is famed for its ease of configuration. Qmailrocks.org was put together to provide a free and open resource for anyone needing help with the installation and configuration of qmail.
- Netfilter.org - Anybody who is used to running a firewall on GNU/Linux would be aware of iptables which form the work horse of the concept called a firewall in Linux. And iptables is developed and maintained by the netfilter development team. Here you will find lots of howtos, documentation, tutorials and tips on making full use of the numerous features of iptables firewall.
- Ndiswrapper List - This page contain a list of cards known to work with ndiswrapper.
- Hardware compatibility list (HCL) - This is a Linux hardware compatibility list maintained at Linuxquestions.org.
- Linux Laptop.net - This site has a detailed list of all the makes of laptops categorized according to the manufacturer and containing different user's experiences in running Linux on them. A must visit site if you are interested in buying a laptop.
- HCL list @ Ubuntu - This is the official Ubuntu HCL for Linux.
- Intel Linux Wireless.org - This is an official Intel site where you can learn about and download the latest development versions of the Linux-based wireless drivers for Intel adapters.
Note to readers: When ever I come across interesting websites related to Linux, I usually bookmark them for future reference. Over a period of time, I have built up an eclectic collection of links related to GNU/Linux or Unix which provide good information. Earlier, I had featured a slice of those links on the right hand column of this blog. I couldn't feature all the links there due to lack of space. Now, with a revamp of this site design, I decided to move them to their own individual pages. This post is the continuation of a series of such posts.
This article will be updated as and when I come across specialized websites related to GNU/Linux.
