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{{Short description|Organization of computer users}}
{{Redirect|GLUG|the physical phenomenon|Glugging| the Sydney theatre awards|Glugs Theatrical Awards}}
{{more citations needed|date=September 2017}}
[[Image:Installfest.jpg|thumb|300px|Installfest hosted by the [[Rutgers University]] Student Linux Users' Group in 2005.]]
A '''Linux User Group''' or '''Linux Users' Group''' ('''LUG''') or '''GNU/Linux User Group''' ('''GLUG''') is a private, generally non-profit or [[Nonprofit organization|not-for-profit organization]] that provides support and/or education for [[Linux]] users, particularly for inexperienced users. The term commonly refers to local groups that meet in person
==Local LUGs==
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Given that Linux is not dominated by any specific corporate or institutional entity, LUG meetings typically encompass a broader range of topics than do the meetings of other user groups. Linux is predominantly user-supported, and some support is vastly easier via telephone or in person than over e-mail or [[USENET]]. LUGs are still primarily focused on hobbyist users and professionals who are engaged in self-directed study.
According to the Linux User Group HOWTO:
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===Typical activities===
LUGs typically meet once per month, in facilities freely provided by universities, colleges, community centers, private corporations, or banquet rooms in restaurants. For example, Silicon Valley's SVLUG<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.svlug.org/ |title=Silicon Valley Linux Users Group: WELCOME! |website=svlug.org |access-date=2004-03-06 |archive-date=2017-10-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014040844/http://www.svlug.org/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> met for about 10 years in the back of a Carl's Jr. restaurant, and has met for the last several years in meeting rooms at [[Cisco Systems]] and, more recently, [[NortonLifeLock|Symantec]]. Similarly, BALUG<ref>
Most LUGs are free, requiring no monthly or annual dues. In many cases, the participants are encouraged to patronize the host venues (esp. in restaurant meetings, by buying dinner).
Some LUGs are informal conferences or round table discussions; members simply sit around and chat about Linux-related topics. Some provide formal presentations. For example, [[Linus Torvalds]] has occasionally talked to SVLUG or BALUG (which both are close to his former home in Silicon Valley), and [[Hans Reiser]] (creator of [[ReiserFS]]) presented his early design plans at an SVLUG meeting.
LUGs near each other geographically sometimes get together to hold conferences and share knowledge among peers. For example, in [[Central America]], in 2009, the first ''Encuentro Centro Americano de Software Libre'' was held in [[Nicaragua]], where LUGs from the region, from [[Belize]] to Panama, attended. Groups from other countries are also invited. In 2010, this conference was held in Punta Renas, [[Nicaragua]]; where there were members from the region, including from [[Germany]] and [[Mexico]]. In 2011, it was held in [[El Salvador]]. These events usually take place in summer, as most of the LUG members are students. As a second example, several [[Los Angeles]]-area LUGs sponsor and staff the annual [[Southern California Linux Expo]] (SCALE) conference.
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Many LUGs also organize installfests ([[FreeBSD]] groups tend to refer to them as "installations"), which are opportunities for experienced Linux users to help others, especially novices with installation and configuration of Linux systems. Installfests may also have break-out sessions for teaching new tips and tricks—performance tuning, security hardening, etc.
A few LUGs have developed projects of regional or even international stature. For example, the Uganda Linux User Group<ref>{{cite web
LUGs sometimes are gifted with surplus books, back issues of Linux magazines, copies of CDs/DVDs, and other promotional items to give away to their members.
Other than these "official" LUG activities, the meetings provide opportunities for users to socialize. Members often exchange e-mail addresses, URLs, and phone numbers, and provide technical support or collaborate on study or development projects together. Some local LUGs share characteristics of online LUGs, meeting on [[Internet Relay Chat|IRC]] or hosting support [[mailing lists]], in addition to the physical meetings. LUGs may also have an online blog presence; for example OCLUG, OSU LUG, and Nottingham LUG host "Planet" pages aggregating members' blogs.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://planet.oclug.on.ca/|title=Planet OCLUG|work=Ottawa Canada LUG|access-date=2014-07-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://lug.oregonstate.edu |title=lug.oregonstate.edu |publisher=lug.oregonstate.edu |access-date=2012-07-12}}</ref><ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20060213082905/http://www.planetnottslug.org/ planetnottslug.org]}}</ref>
LUGs can also be a natural place for local organizations to find Linux expertise. Professors for [[Unix]] classes at [[San Jose State University]] came to SVLUG in the early days of Linux to find guest lecturers for their classes; some LUGs provide computer help to schools and non-profit organizations, and perform other community outreach services.
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An '''Installfest''' (a [[portmanteau]] of ''installation'' and ''festival'') is an event, generally sponsored by a local Linux User Group, university, or [[LAN party]], at which people get together to do mass installations of computer [[operating system]]s or [[Computer software|software]], most often [[Linux]] and other [[open source software]].
It is generally an advocacy and community-building event, where novices bring their computers along with their preferred operating system installation disks to the ___location of the installfest, and experienced users help them in getting started and troubleshooting problems.
Installfests welcome all skill levels from complete novice to expert. An installfest will range from an informal get together to festivals involving music. The tone and scope of a specific event will depend on the organization sponsoring it. Writing in the [[BBC]]'s ''Internet Blog'' in 2008, George Wright described a mini-installfest as being "as painless as [he]'d imagined" and "[with] a bit of luck, it can be straightforward".<ref name="bbc wright 2008">{{cite web|last=Wright|first=George|title=Ubuntu Installfest|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/bbcinternet/2008/02/ubuntu_installfest.html|work=BBC Internet Blog|publisher=BBC|date=19 February 2008|access-date=22 May 2012}}</ref>
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[[Category:Free and open-source software organizations|Linux]]
[[Category:User groups]]
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