There are many common solutions in the other sticky, take the time to read it!
Most of the information you need to provide isn't sensitive, holding it back usually just delays your own assistance.
Always follow the global rules!!
As of recent, many support requests within Server Administration that are asking for help don't seem to either initially provide enough information, and/or are going about it the correct way. This causes problems for both the poster and supporter, and you, as the poster, can do something about it to help everyone.
To start off, let's compare a stupid bad post, and one that is easier to help the person.
Bad post:
Quote from The topic »
I CANT GET MY PERMISSIONS TO WORK BECAUSE THEYRE DUMB. MY SERVER HAS RUN FOR 3 MONTHS AND I KNOW EVERYTHING OBVIOUSLY PERMISSIONS IS TO BLAME BECAUSE I AM PERFECT
IF YOUD LIKE TO HELP ME JOIN MY SERVER AT 5.LOL.HAM.ACHI
- Really long stupid rainbow name
My first critiques are:
You're obviously posting in this section for help. Yelling it in your title doesn't help anyone.
Try to keep a normal font, size, and color
Irrelevant information (3 months, and that server IP)
Egotism, that is, thinking you are above the problem. If you are unwilling to work with the methods people here offer you shouldn't bother posting here in the first place.
Rainbows, really?
Don't spoiler random crap
A good post:
Quote from name = "The topic "Pex SQL not assigning permissions"" »
I set up my pex with sql recently, and for some reason they're not giving me privledges. There are no errors console-wise, as well as it's registering me as "in the group", but not giving me the permissions.
I'm thinking that the one possibility is that I have to define the permissions for each world. This is essentially what a bit of it looks like, and I left the definition for worlds blank:
Also, is there a way to assign it globally, if this is the case?
Points:
Title was informative
Posted plenty of reference information
Said what had already been attempted
Post errors (we're assuming, since this person said there weren't any)
Now we can take a look at things a bit more in-depth.
Before posting, try:
1. Is the issue a matter of your server, or more personal?
This may seem simple, but I've seen a few threads where people have reportedly seen "greifers", and in such are deeming them bad to the rest of the mcforum community. This is blacklisting, and in all honesty isn't quite fair to the players themselves.
You should also heavily consider how you acquire your staff. Honestly (in my opinion), some of the best staff for your server are the ones who start at the bottom and work up. However, there's already some great guidelines around all this posted here: http://www.minecraft...5-staff-basics/
There is now also a section for this, that isn't server administration: http://www.minecraft...58-looking-for/
2. Has it been posted already?
Many times, the problem you have has been posted already. It's a bit ironic to see "I need help with permissions" next to "How to set up permissions" on the thread list, so try searching for the thread beforehand. Typical rule of thumb is, however, if it's older than a week, it's definitely alright to make a new thread.
3. Take preemptive steps before posting.
Many people will have a problem, and immediately proceed to posting it on the forums. Much of these are simple problems that could have been avoided with a bit of tweaking. Before you post, try things such as removing certain plugins to see if it is the cause of an issue. Also, make sure you try googling your problem, as much of the time the answer IS there! Also, it is very important to make sure you have the correct plugin versions for your build. So make sure they're up-to-date with (or made for) your current server build.
4. Clearly state your problem.
Posting a topic such as "Please help!1!1!!!!1!1one!!!" or "I have a problem", is not very helpful, and will probably deter someone who might've known your situation and how to fix it. When posting, state what kind of server (vanilla; bukkit; canary, etc.), and what plugins you use. Depending on the problem, you may also want to post your permissions/groups.yml (if applicable), and any malfunctioning plugin's configs. When posting this, it is extremely helpful if you post it via a pasting site such as http://pastebin.com (or http://pastie.org when and if they come back up).
One final thing, Post the versions of whatever plugins your having issues with, as well as your craftbukkit version. Router models are very helpful if you need help with port forwarding.
5. What are the steps you have taken already?
It's very helpful (and time saving!), if at the very beginning of your thread you were to list the steps and procedures in which you've taken. It allows whoever is helping you to not take certain steps, while knowing (usually) that they weren't overlooked.
6. Don't assume you know everything
It might seem a bit hard, but we all have to take the humbling step here. If you're posting on this thread for technical help, try to work with the people, instead of letting ego logical whims get in the way.
7. Giving out IP's
This is fully okay to do. It is preferred that you PM the ip to someone who is supporting you however, rather than straight out posting it.
8. Don't delete your thread!
This is a personal one from me. When you have worked hard on something, and have finally reached a solution, deleting your thread is not a helpful step as far as a communal focus. By deleting your thread, you are depriving others of your already reached solution, starting the cycle of finding the answer all over again.
9. Common Solutions ~ to be expanded
Many times, the question you have has already been asked/solved. Don't gravedig a three month old thread just in the hope that you'll get the help from the last person in the thread, as they're most likely gone by that point. Instead, look around for ones that offer the solutions, or start your own.
Nice guide, I would recommend clearly stating that people should post what the exact versions of their server software and plugins are, and how to recreate the issue in no uncertain terms.
When asking for help with port forwarding stating the exact model of router/modem rather then the brand name...'Netgear WRT54G' not 'Netgear' and posting a picture of ipconfig page helps also along with the server.properties file maybe
More or less, the issue for me has always been one of either communication or someone withdrawing information. For one, there's a lot of information that people consider "private" and "unsafe to give out". For instance, you are perfectly okay posting a perm file (I've seen thousands, and that's not an exaggeration). I also get a good kick when people censor out their local IP address.
Recommend putting that people should really change the thread title to have [Solved] in it when it's solved, I find it annoying that posts that were solved ages ago keep coming up to page 1 because people can't be bothered to read through the rest of the thread to check if it's been solved.
If you see someone doing it, report the post for necro posting. We can remove it.
No, but my problem is that people are not really necro posting, people are posting every day on the topic, but it's been posted on every day for days after it's been solved, if that makes sense.
No, but my problem is that people are not really necro posting, people are posting every day on the topic, but it's been posted on every day for days after it's been solved, if that makes sense.
Somewhat like that "how to spawn an ender crystal" thread? If a thread has been solved, and is being overrun well after being so, agani just report it. Just say the topic has been solved a long time ago, and now the thread is just useless spam.
you should also mention that before posting to use the search bar, unless its a personal issue.
That would be this right here:
2. Has it been posted already?
Many times, the problem you have has been posted already. It's a bit ironic to see "I need help with permissions" next to "How to set up permissions" on the thread list, so try searching for the thread beforehand. Typical rule of thumb is, however, if it's older than a week, it's definitely alright to make a new thread.
Would it be possible to add a basic help format section in here?
Coming back to this idea, I think it would be more practical just to keep it with posting the relevant information. As templates won't always cover everything needed and will cover things not needed at all in some cases.
I noticed you mention teamviewer for desktop sharing. While that works ok, I also found, mikogo is pretty good too and you dont need to download and install a client if you want to view a session as far as im aware. More info here
Yup, that looks like a usable alternative. Teamviewer doesn't require an install however, you can run it as a standalone.
As of recent, many support requests within Server Administration that are asking for help don't seem to either initially provide enough information, and/or are going about it the correct way. This causes problems for both the poster and supporter, and you, as the poster, can do something about it to help everyone.
To start off, let's compare a
stupidbad post, and one that is easier to help the person.Bad post:
Before posting, try:
1. Is the issue a matter of your server, or more personal?
This may seem simple, but I've seen a few threads where people have reportedly seen "greifers", and in such are deeming them bad to the rest of the mcforum community. This is blacklisting, and in all honesty isn't quite fair to the players themselves.
You should also heavily consider how you acquire your staff. Honestly (in my opinion), some of the best staff for your server are the ones who start at the bottom and work up. However, there's already some great guidelines around all this posted here: http://www.minecraft...5-staff-basics/
There is now also a section for this, that isn't server administration: http://www.minecraft...58-looking-for/
2. Has it been posted already?
Many times, the problem you have has been posted already. It's a bit ironic to see "I need help with permissions" next to "How to set up permissions" on the thread list, so try searching for the thread beforehand. Typical rule of thumb is, however, if it's older than a week, it's definitely alright to make a new thread.
3. Take preemptive steps before posting.
Many people will have a problem, and immediately proceed to posting it on the forums. Much of these are simple problems that could have been avoided with a bit of tweaking. Before you post, try things such as removing certain plugins to see if it is the cause of an issue. Also, make sure you try googling your problem, as much of the time the answer IS there! Also, it is very important to make sure you have the correct plugin versions for your build. So make sure they're up-to-date with (or made for) your current server build.
4. Clearly state your problem.
Posting a topic such as "Please help!1!1!!!!1!1one!!!" or "I have a problem", is not very helpful, and will probably deter someone who might've known your situation and how to fix it. When posting, state what kind of server (vanilla; bukkit; canary, etc.), and what plugins you use. Depending on the problem, you may also want to post your permissions/groups.yml (if applicable), and any malfunctioning plugin's configs. When posting this, it is extremely helpful if you post it via a pasting site such as http://pastebin.com (or http://pastie.org when and if they come back up).
One final thing, Post the versions of whatever plugins your having issues with, as well as your craftbukkit version. Router models are very helpful if you need help with port forwarding.
5. What are the steps you have taken already?
It's very helpful (and time saving!), if at the very beginning of your thread you were to list the steps and procedures in which you've taken. It allows whoever is helping you to not take certain steps, while knowing (usually) that they weren't overlooked.
6. Don't assume you know everything
It might seem a bit hard, but we all have to take the humbling step here. If you're posting on this thread for technical help, try to work with the people, instead of letting ego logical whims get in the way.
7. Giving out IP's
This is fully okay to do. It is preferred that you PM the ip to someone who is supporting you however, rather than straight out posting it.
8. Don't delete your thread!
This is a personal one from me. When you have worked hard on something, and have finally reached a solution, deleting your thread is not a helpful step as far as a communal focus. By deleting your thread, you are depriving others of your already reached solution, starting the cycle of finding the answer all over again.
9. Common Solutions ~ to be expanded
Many times, the question you have has already been asked/solved. Don't gravedig a three month old thread just in the hope that you'll get the help from the last person in the thread, as they're most likely gone by that point. Instead, look around for ones that offer the solutions, or start your own.
Some good threads to point out:
Starter Packages: http://www.minecraft...ver-downloader/
Port forwarding: http://portforward.com (skip the ads)
Latest bukkit: http://dl.bukkit.org...ds/craftbukkit/
Bukkit plugin downloads: http://dev.bukkit.org/server-mods/
Teamviewer: http://teamviewer.com (screen sharing)
(more to come)
Feel free to comment, I'm fully expecting to add to this.
Adding.
Well, I can try
Most of the time you will, as long as you give us enough information to work with, we can usually figure it out.
No, but my problem is that people are not really necro posting, people are posting every day on the topic, but it's been posted on every day for days after it's been solved, if that makes sense.
Somewhat like that "how to spawn an ender crystal" thread? If a thread has been solved, and is being overrun well after being so, agani just report it. Just say the topic has been solved a long time ago, and now the thread is just useless spam.
Click here for the best DJ mixes! ALL FREE (for now
That would be this right here:
i think i have dyslexia.... a bad case of it it looks like
Click here for the best DJ mixes! ALL FREE (for now
Would it be possible to add a basic help format section in here? Something along the lines of this:
OS: win/mac (version)
server version:
bukkit or other software:
plugins installed:
steps already taken: (as you said)
etc?
I think that would really help to speed the process along and eliminate wrong solutions due to lack of information.
I can write up the template if you don't have time to, I just think it would be helpful to have some backgound info to the problems.
imodatlife
I can look into it in a couple days
Coming back to this idea, I think it would be more practical just to keep it with posting the relevant information. As templates won't always cover everything needed and will cover things not needed at all in some cases.
Yeah, a little attention to them is never a bad thing
Yup, that looks like a usable alternative. Teamviewer doesn't require an install however, you can run it as a standalone.