[Boarderline OT] Re: MS and OpenBSD interportability, a lil list with "patented" and non patented protocols

2008-04-24 Thread ropers
On 23/04/2008, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>  This, if true, could propably handy for some developers or anybody else to
>  maybe improve the integration of oBSD into  MS networks.

You can already fully emulate/replace Windows Primary Domain
Controllers (and Backup DCs, and member servers) with OpenBSD, and
interoperate with Windows servers:

http://www.kernel-panic.it/openbsd/pdc/

Btw., I heartily recommend Kernel Panic. It is a very nice site, with
a cool OpenBSD section: http://www.kernel-panic.it/openbsd.html

What Samba AFAIK still cannot currently do is fully replace/emulate
Windows Active Directory Domain Controllers. It can interoperate in an
AD network, and even AD DC functionality is *partially* implemented,
but the work remains incomplete. (Cf.
http://samba.org/samba/news/articles/abartlet_thesis.pdf -- 3 years
old, but AFAIK still essentially correct.)

That said, IMHO there are less things wrong with using an
OpenBSD/Samba-based NT4-style PCD/BDC domain than there are with using
a Windows server-based AD domain. I once had to rebuild a compromised
Windows Server 2003 AD DC. The trouble was, with the preexisting
backups (and out-of-the-box backup solutions), there didn't seem to be
a way to wipe and reinstall the machine without losing the entire
domain. So we wiped the box and reinstalled Windows Server 2003, and
promoted the thing to an AD DC again, and even after restoring the
backups found that we had to remove every single client from its old
domain and add it to the new one, because the AD DC still considered
itself master of a new domain and even with the backed up data, there
was no way to convince it to take over as the master of the old one.
On top of that, all file shares were screwed, because there were now
new GUIDs involved, and because the Windows boxen had had server based
profiles, no one could log on even after we fixed the above. After
manually applying permissions (which in Windows Server 2003) still
aren't properly propagated/applied throughout all subfolders, which
thus all need to be checked as well), it still barfed, and every
single user had to create an entirely new profile and manually copy
desired settings from the old to the new profile.

In summary:
Windows AD networks don't just suck, they deep-throat.

If there's any possibility that all of your AD DCs may get compromised
simultaneously, and unless you have a *strongly* Windows
Server-quirk-aware backup/restore solution that can fully restore AD
DCs (and I'm not aware of any), then you're really gambling  your
entire network.
If you have a choice, wait till Samba becomes fully AD interoperable
and in the meantime use OpenBSD/Samba PDCs, BDCs, and member servers.
The above link should help you with that.

Thanks and regards,
--ropers



Re: MS and OpenBSD interportability, a lil list with "patented" and non patented protocols

2008-04-24 Thread Rich Kulawiec
On Wed, Apr 23, 2008 at 09:48:30AM +0200, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> I recently read about MS and there's a Blog wich claims (it includes a
> list) that like 80% of all MS server protocols are not patented right now.
> 
> This, if true, could propably handy for some developers or anybody else to
> maybe improve the integration of oBSD into  MS networks.

This is unimportant and unworthy of serious attention.  Professionals
-- actual, real, live professionals, not mere ignorant newbies with
strings of worthless certifications after their names -- don't use
Microsoft products.

---Rsk



Re: MS and OpenBSD interportability, a lil list with "patented" and non patented protocols

2008-04-23 Thread Marcus Andree


>  So if you think it would be handy if you could remotely shutdown your
>  whole network from the Firewall you may could code the daemon right now
>  'course the protocol itself is not "patented".



Probably the windows machines lying on the network are already
shutting down to apply hourly security fixes.

This argument about "integration" with MS code is leading OpenBSD to
nowhere, IMO.

I like pf, I like the developers decision for "correctness", and I like the
way engineers and coders created and enhanced UNIX.

Why to mess something that's working properly for 20+ years for
the sake of integration?

If MS had a minimal interest on integration, they should have read
implemented POSIX in a useful manner on their OS at least one
decade ago.

Now, all I can say is MS can keep its code for itself. My choice is clear.



Re: MS and OpenBSD interportability, a lil list with "patented" and non patented protocols

2008-04-23 Thread sebastian . rother
> Samba is part of ports already, so the eventual improvements that come
> as the result of having won the lawsuit and appeal will also be usable
> with OpenBSD.  So if you know someone with a Windows server, you might
> steer them to ports:
>
>   samba-3.0.25b
>   samba-3.0.25b-cups
>   samba-3.0.25b-cups-ldap
>   samba-3.0.25b-ldap
>   samba-docs-3.0.25b
>   smbldap-tools-0.9.2ap1
>
> It is a step in helping them migrate to open services and protocols.
> You might find it more useful to know that AFS is supported more or less
> out of the box, as well as kerberos.  LDAP can be added.

I'm sorry for not pointing out the intention of my mail more crefully.

The e-mail wich may is helpfull for programmers who might wish to program
daemons/tools to interact with Windows (Authentication or such things) was
send out to provide everybody who's interested into such things a little
overview. :)

Nothing more or less!

So if you think it would be handy if you could remotely shutdown your
whole network from the Firewall you may could code the daemon right now
'course the protocol itself is not "patented".
Or maybe somebody codes a login_ntlm or anything else. Who knows :)

There things wich are not "just" usefull for samba and where some
programers (not just for OpenBSD maybe) are maybe interested into. :)

Kind regards,
Sebastian



Re: MS and OpenBSD interportability, a lil list with "patented" and non patented protocols

2008-04-23 Thread Lars Noodén
Samba is part of ports already, so the eventual improvements that come
as the result of having won the lawsuit and appeal will also be usable
with OpenBSD.  So if you know someone with a Windows server, you might
steer them to ports:

samba-3.0.25b
samba-3.0.25b-cups
samba-3.0.25b-cups-ldap
samba-3.0.25b-ldap
samba-docs-3.0.25b
smbldap-tools-0.9.2ap1

It is a step in helping them migrate to open services and protocols.
You might find it more useful to know that AFS is supported more or less
out of the box, as well as kerberos.  LDAP can be added.

Regarding those specific protocols mentioned in the lawsuit and the
appeal, here are two links about the context:
http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20071220124013919
http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20070919214307459


[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
[snip]
...patented...
[snip]

Whether they are or aren't patented is not relevant for many of us.  As
you know, software patents are not valid in Europe.  That includes
Germany.

For those for whom software patents are relevant, it does not matter if
it is 80%, 20%, 5%, 1% or even just one software patent.  All it takes
is one.  Besides, software patents are not a developer issue, they
affect the end user.

regards,
-Lars