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I saw a question asking for help related to the Ubuntu keyserver, but on a computer using Mint.

Although this server is monitored and run by Ubuntu(I think even Canonical), like Ubuntu One, I feel as if a quick cursory glance would close the question.

So, should we allow said questions since they are related to the Ubuntu keyserver, or do we disallow them due to the distro in use by the OP?

2 Answers 2

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I think that the question we need to answer is "Is the asker's distro relevant?" If it isn't, then edit it out of the question to stop hair-trigger closevoters. If someone can provide evidence that the issue isn't with the keyserver but rather the distro, then it should be migrated.

For instance, in the question you linked it turns out that http://keyserver.ubuntu.com has decided to be an obnoxious sibling and block all communication with Mint, then the distro is relevant. However, if it turns out that the server's down or I'm typing the command wrong for a non-distro-specific reason, then the distro isn't relevant.

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    That's a good point. But, who gets to decide whether it's relevant? A committee? 5 people? The moderators? Atwood? Mark Shuttleworth? The OP?
    – nanofarad
    Nov 11, 2012 at 15:20
  • I've added several examples. Do they make sense? Nov 11, 2012 at 15:40
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    I do disagree with the part about the command. The command could be wrong due to a distro-dependent difference.
    – nanofarad
    Nov 11, 2012 at 15:41
  • In that case, it'd be off-topic. Nov 11, 2012 at 15:46
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FAQ says

We welcome questions about:

  • Using and administering Ubuntu, including official Ubuntu derivatives.
  • Running third-party applications on Ubuntu.
  • Development on Ubuntu.
  • Services provided by Ubuntu

Key server is a service offered by Ubuntu, So it is on topic. but personally I liketocount it as off-topic, because Services provided by Ubuntu is too vague

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  • Just for clarification , I am not Oli
    – Tachyons
    Nov 11, 2012 at 17:18
  • You lack the diamond.
    – nanofarad
    Nov 11, 2012 at 18:00

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