On Fri, 15 Aug 2008, Steven M. Bellovin wrote:
and i am saying that you should use a router configuration *system*
that avoids ticking time bombs. no router should be neglected and
unloved.
That, I think, is why he distinguished between routers run by "highly
clueful people" and routers run by others. I think we all agree on
your basic point; it's just that too many people aren't clueful enough
to realize that they even have a problem, let alone know how to solve
it. (Of course, you and I both have a background in programming
languages and compilers, which is why we naturally think of router
configurations as a form of assembler language that only a compiler
should every emit.)
To avoid people feeling individually insulted, I sometimes try to
distinguish between the purposes of equipment rather than the capabilities
of the person maintaining it.
A NASCAR racing team may perform extensive monitoring and maintenance on
their racing cars; but that doesn't mean I should need a team of 5
mechanics to keep my regular street car operating safely with a few idiot
lights on the dashboard.
