This is not a gripe, just an observation, but it seems like for most people (including me) their linux system is usually in a constant state of broken-ness, or in some way always marginally handicapped. Why is that? I realize that software is difficult to write just in general and operating systems and things like desktops are even more difficult, but it appears that there is a fundamental problem with how software deals with exceptions. >From my point of view when I install a piece of software and it breaks something that's ok -- i understand things happen, but what infuriates me is when the software says, in effect, "nope can't do it". Then I have to spend a week pouring through documentation until usually I give up because I just can't afford to spend that much time tweaking my system, in what seems to be, in vain and I just leave that part broken. It seems to me that the software should know or at least guess better than me about why it can't run and could possibly offer some suggestions. (I realize there is syslog and log files, which are meant for programmers and sysadmins to decipher and not for common users). A lot of the time I find software complains that it can work because of a permission problem, I wish it would just tell me that. In this day with most linux users having internet access why not develop an online problem resolution module that can be plugged into most software projects so when a problem occurs the software itself can query a trouble shooting database to help the user out. Possibly, if embedding this type of functionality is not possible in the actual software an external tool that references this database would work. There is a wealth of information burried in newsgroup and mailing list archives but it's very hard to extract and very time consuming. If this knowledge base could be (albeit slowly) uploaded to a trouble shooting database in about 2 or 3 years there would be a nice repository of info. Things like bugzilla and it's cousins are nice but a lot of work is put on the user to know how to find stuff. This is troubling because the software (i.e. the programmer) knows better than the user, why can't the software trouble shoot itself? It would be great if after you installed the lastest distribution of Mandrake a tool (built-in?) is provided that it would automatically check Mandrake's errata database and synch your system against it. Why not? A lot of work, but certainly doable. When the ordinary user community bellyaches that linux is "too hard" the linux community bellyaches back about how users are dumb and they (the Lusers) should be more "savvy" about computer things. My position is if linux software requires a more savvy user, linux software should coach users into this state of enlightenment. There is too much secret knowledge just about computers in general and even more surrounding linux. We all don't have time to become sysadmins and programmers; the time is shortly approaching when linux should recognize this fact. (ps: sorry, I guess this turned into a gripe -- but with all the best intentions and love for Mandrake and Linux, mind you!) > -----Original Message----- > From: Scott [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2001 5:59 AM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: [newbie] Is this a joke? > > > I have experienced the exact same problem. The only way I have been > able to get around it is to re-run the Internet Connection > Sharing script > on the Mandrake Control Center. That seems to solve the > problem. I have > also been experiencing a stop in services recently with ICS. > The machine > just stops forwarding packets and again, I have to re-run the > script. Tried > it on 3 machines now with no luck. > Try to run the wizard again and see if that helps. > > > At 09:17 AM 9/19/2001 +0200, you wrote: > > running Mandrake 8.0. > >Yesterday I UPDATED the kernel (Using the MandrakeUpdate utility) > >to be 2.4.3-20 > >All at a sudden, iptables is not working (cannot share internet > >and ALSO the DHCP does not work...). But what is worst, my > >beloved modem does not work anymore (well, KPPP is "guessing" > >that ppp is not supported by the kernel...) > >I am now in the position of not being able to use my Linux machine > >which was hosting the FATS Modem as well as the PRINTER. > >Is this a joke or a nightmare? > >I am a user, not a guru. I have no time to read and study > >the Kernel howto and so on. > >Which is the QUICKEST AND SAFEST way to have a system working again? > >Thanks a lot indeed. > >/stefano > > >
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