Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-22 Thread T. Ribbrock
On Thu, Aug 21, 2003 at 10:46:32AM -0700, Cliff Wells wrote:
 On Thu, 2003-08-21 at 00:44, T. Ribbrock wrote:
  I disagree. I still run Linux machines with GUI on 64MB and 48MB and
  the only Windows that could match the performance on those machines is
  Win95 and lower (even a fresh Win98 install started swapping wildly
  rather soon on those boxes). Linux gives me the choice to use a lean
  GUI that only provides the features I need. 
 
 Yes, but you've also removed yourself from the mainstream Linux destop. 
 While choice is certainly an important aspect of Linux, it's also a bit
 misleading to compare something that most users will never see with
 Windows.

Quite the contrary. It is misleading *not* to mention this option, as
Linux clearly is superiour to Windows in this regard. People cannot
decide to use this option if they don't know about it.


 If we're going to talk GUI's on Linux we should stick with
 GNOME and KDE for the sake of comparison.  The people who know how to
 install alternate desktops aren't the people interested in comparisons:
 they already know.

Again, I strongly disagree. It's vital to mention this to the ordinary
user as well, as it is an important advantage over Windows.


[...]
  IMO, if you want the same, bloated GUI feature set as you
  have in Windows,
 
 And this is indeed what your average user (especially those coming from
 Windows) wants.

Not true. I've met Windows user (among them my wife), who were *quite*
happy to have a lean GUI like e.g. Window Maker and *preferred* them to
the bloated GUIs, despite the (short) learning curve at the beginning.
They just didn't know it was possible before that. All the more reason to
make them aware of this possibility.

Cheerio,

Thomas
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Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-22 Thread AragonX
Believe it or not, I and Linux got the rap for that bad RAM.  That
customer still talks about that crash.  lol.  Still a good customer.

I have gotten word-of-mouth business but not nearly enough.  I must be
doing something wrong :/

quote who=Stephen Kuhn
 For me, in a town as small as this - talk goes far. Reputation sells
 more than biz cards or advertisements do. I've not really had to do much
 advertising at all since I moved to this country - mostly because the
 first few jobs I did no one else around town could do - so that started
 the ball rolling. Clients/customers that meet me on the street generally
 don't have much computer stuff to talk about - and never a whinge or a
 whine; that helps. As with another server I stuck in place last year, I
 didn't get much out of doing maint. on the box, but the business owners
 ranted and raved over their server to their mates - more biz came. I've
 been asked by some local companies that do computer tech support about
 either unix or linux stuff - because they don't have the skillset to
 deal with it - so it gets thrown at me. Two local ISP's have linux boxes
 that they really don't understand - so when upgrade time came, I was
 there to furnish hardware and skills. I sell alot of computers -
 workstations - based solely on prior customers spreading the word.

 In many ways, having something so dependable does put a dent in repeat
 work - in a Microsoft kinda way - but I don't mind having good karma and
 a good reputation and new business. It allows me the freedom of social
 movement around town as well - no one's got a bad word on me or bad
 feelings on me - so wherever I go, I get good feelings and great
 welcomes.


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Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-22 Thread AragonX
There is no such thing as a 'hidden' cost.  If you consider maintenance
costs as hidden, you need to open your eyes.

Any organization that limits itself to a single technology ends up costing
itself much more money than they might save in personnel.  Most major
companies have realized this and use consultants to supplement their staff
where necessary.  Some have even gone to the extreme and outsource their
entire IT departments.  I'm not so sure that's a good idea but they are.

Anyway, each NOS has it's strengths and weaknesses.  In my part of the
world, Linux consultants cost the same as Windows consultants do.  So the
last factor is the amount of time that it takes to administer.  I doubt
there will ever be an easy way to compare administration times but I would
surmise that UNIX and Linux servers take less time than MS Windows do. 
Mainly because it's very easy to automate tasks from the command line. 
This can't always be done with MS Windows software.

quote who=[EMAIL PROTECTED]
 Apparently I'm not doing very well at explaining that there's more to TCO
 than the face value of the desktop products.

 Let's continue to assume that I prefer Windows to anything else (1):

 If :
 -- you work in a Windows-centric organization, and
 -- your skill set is Windows-centric, and
 -- the skill set of your internal resource pool is Window-centric

 Then:
 -- it will likely cost your organization MORE to move an alternative OS.

 You're right - maintenance, training and upgrades are requirements of any
 OS and each carries a price tag.   If they're considering a change to
 another OS a sys admin must determine whether those associated costs are
 justifiable and reasonable, given the pool of resources that they can draw
 upon.

 Flexibility can be good thing, or it can be a bad thing, depending on the
 situation.  From a geek point of view, I don't mind getting in and
 tinkering with internals, just to see what happens.  From an admin point
 of view, I want a box out there that my users can't change.  When they
 make a change and it screws up the computer, it costs my company money for
 me to fix it (whether I fix it myself, or hire someone else to do it for
 me).  Some would fire the user, but guess what - it costs money to replace
 them, too.(2)

 Stability - goes without saying.

 Security - absolutely.  If that is the admin's number one question, then
 neither Linux (today) nor Windows may be the answer.  A better alternative
 for them may be the iSeries which has had object level security for years,
 tied in with incremental security levels, at the OS level (maybe at the
 microcode level, I'm not sure).  It all depends on the resource available,
 and whether the admin can justify the associated costs.

 Patches - I don't how many I've installed for any of my systems.  A LOT. I
 check for them in all my OS environments regularly (Windows, Linux, and
 iSeries).   In Windows, I run the Windows Update daily. In Linux, I run
 'up2date' and Red Carpet daily.  In iSeries, I order the latest cume PTF
 quarterly if it includes patches for the software on my system (it almost
 always does) (3).


 Allow me to summarize the whole point of all my posts on this matter:

 While it may well be initially less expensive to install a Linux-based
 computer than a Windows-based computer, there are hidden costs associated
 with that Linux system which many adherents tend to gloss over (if they
 ever mention them at all).  Those hidden costs need to be evaluated BEFORE
 the computer is installed.  In a Windows-centric enterprise where there is
 insufficient Linux-knowledgeable resource, it makes little economic sense
 to do that.   The same holds true in a Linux-centric enterprise; it makes
 little economic sense to start installing Windows-based computers if there
 is insufficient internal resource to properly manage them (or the
 willingness to acquire the necessary resources).


 Tom Hightower
 Solutions, Inc
 http://www.simas.com


 (1) Not true. Personally, I think that IBM's iSeries line is hands-down
 the best server system on the planet.  But that's a topic for another
 mailing list, unless we choose to discuss how it can run multiple copies
 of Linux simultaneously, along with Windows Server, AIX, and OS/400.

 (2) For users who roam where they shouldn't - I have some really scary
 You deleted the OS! Press enter to reload from Backup screens that I can
 run in their login script.  They only have to see those bad boys once to
 get the idea.

 (3) Actually, I have a scheduled job that orders it for me.  If the patch
 is way big, they send it on CD (which I prefer anyway).  I review the
 documentation, and then decide whether or not to install the PTF.

 -- Tom






 Eduardo A. dela Rosa [EMAIL PROTECTED]
 Sent by: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
 08/20/2003 07:38 PM
 Please respond to redhat-list


 To: RedHat List [EMAIL PROTECTED]
 cc:
 Subject:Re: Sweet Success


 Dear Tom,

 A simple response

Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-22 Thread AragonX
quote who=Jason Dixon
 Another great difference and advantage that Linux box can have over
 MS Products are flexibility, stability, and SECURITY (among
 others) that MS cannot meet at par with Linux.

 Not to defend Microsoft products, but Windows *can* be flexible (sorta),
 *can* be stable (at times), and *can* be secure.  Just like a Linux box,
 this also requires a qualified Systems Administrator who practices sound
 security and patching.

He did not say that it MS Windows could not do such things.  He said it
wasn't on par with Linux.  Perhaps you need to read posts a little more
closely before you start trying to tear them appart.

MS Windows in it's current form can NEVER be as secure as Linux.  Holes
will remain hidden in the source for only a few to know about.  Then you
have to pray that Microsoft gets around to patching them before they
become an issue.

 How many times in a year that you need to patch your MS Boxes with
 Bill-provided patch upgrades so that even your most latest Win2K
 would not be exploited by worms?

 Actually, I've been rather embarrassed at the volume of errata that Red
 Hat has released over the last couple of years.  Is this a bad thing?
 Only if the administrator hasn't maintained the system properly.  The
 one thing that folks... the ones who argue that [Red Hat] Linux has as
 many security holes as Windows... forget is that Linux is a distribution
 containing a LOT of 3rd party software.  Windows just can't compare.  If
 you were to compare the errata releases for the Linux kernel and GNU
 utilities to Windows patches, I guarantee you they'd pale in
 comparison.  So... you're both right.  ;-)

You are forgetting one very important point.  Only a fool installs
programs that he doesn't need.

If you only install the tools that you need for your machine to do it's
job, most of the security updates will not apply to you. Eight of the last
ten security patches for Redhat 9 did not apply to me because I did not
have those packages installed. That leaves the SSH and unzip patches.  The
SSH patch really wasn't much for me to worry about.

 It's for wise people like you to evaluate these facts.

 It's wise for you to practice healthy advocacy.

No, he's right.  It's wise for people like you to evaluate these facts.


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Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-22 Thread Jason Dixon
Hi Aragon:

For whatever reason, I'm just now receiving your posts from Wednesday. 
Normally I'd file them away, considering the age of the thread, but I
feel your comments dictate a response.

 He did not say that it MS Windows could not do such things.  He said it
 wasn't on par with Linux.  Perhaps you need to read posts a little more
 closely before you start trying to tear them appart.

I was simply trying to provide a balanced tone to the conversation. 
This person was laying a Linux rulez slant to the thread, and that's
not an appropriate manner with which to spread Linux advocacy.  Note
that I'm a Linux Engineer with an RHCE.  My livelihood depends on
Linux.  I'm not about to go badmouthing it, but I'd like folks to
realize that every OS has it's place (just not necessarily in MY
office).  ;-)

 MS Windows in it's current form can NEVER be as secure as Linux.  Holes
 will remain hidden in the source for only a few to know about.  Then you
 have to pray that Microsoft gets around to patching them before they
 become an issue.

I agree wholeheartedly.  This is something I preach on a daily basis.

 You are forgetting one very important point.  Only a fool installs
 programs that he doesn't need.

So you're suggesting that everyone who installs Linux is an expert
administrator?  How many Linux newbies do you know that choose custom
install, know all the 3rd party packages, and install a firewall in
front of their Linux system?  I'll let you chew on that one for a bit.

 If you only install the tools that you need for your machine to do it's
 job, most of the security updates will not apply to you. Eight of the last
 ten security patches for Redhat 9 did not apply to me because I did not
 have those packages installed. That leaves the SSH and unzip patches.  The
 SSH patch really wasn't much for me to worry about.

See above.

 No, he's right.  It's wise for people like you to evaluate these facts.

I'm not sure how you come to this conclusion.  I can only assume you're
a fanboy yourself, although I hate to stereotype.  I evaluate the
facts on a daily basis.  It's my job.  It's also my job to provide
clients with the right tool for the right job.  More often than not,
it's Linux/BSD.  Regardless, mindless fanboy-isms play no part in
serious advocacy.  I suggest you check this out:

http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/Advocacy.html

-- 
Jason Dixon, RHCE
DixonGroup Consulting
http://www.dixongroup.net


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Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-22 Thread Rodolfo J. Paiz
At 8/21/2003 08:43 -0400, you wrote:
 It's for wise people like you to evaluate these facts.

 It's wise for you to practice healthy advocacy.
No, he's right.  It's wise for people like you to evaluate these facts.
This is out of context; the practice healthy advocacy comment was in 
relation to some of the other arguments presented, and mostly to the _way_ 
they were presented. While his evaluation of the facts may or may not be 
correct, he has certainly done so. Do not mix the two.

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Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-22 Thread Rodolfo J. Paiz
At 8/21/2003 12:22 -0400, you wrote:
snip
rant
For the love of God, AragonX, you are going to end up in a mailfilter soon 
if you leave 250-300 lines of old messages in your posts. Many people, out 
of the thousands on this list, still pay for their Internet access by the 
minute, and it is grossly disrespectful and inconsiderate not to 
semi-reasonably trim your posts. Go to the end of your message, hit 
Shift-Control-End to select all the rest, then touch Delete. Four 
keystrokes total, 30KB of text saved.
/rant

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Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-22 Thread Cliff Wells
On Thu, 2003-08-21 at 23:59, T. Ribbrock wrote:
 On Thu, Aug 21, 2003 at 10:46:32AM -0700, Cliff Wells wrote:
  On Thu, 2003-08-21 at 00:44, T. Ribbrock wrote:
   I disagree. I still run Linux machines with GUI on 64MB and 48MB and
   the only Windows that could match the performance on those machines is
   Win95 and lower (even a fresh Win98 install started swapping wildly
   rather soon on those boxes). Linux gives me the choice to use a lean
   GUI that only provides the features I need. 
  
  Yes, but you've also removed yourself from the mainstream Linux destop. 
  While choice is certainly an important aspect of Linux, it's also a bit
  misleading to compare something that most users will never see with
  Windows.
 
 Quite the contrary. It is misleading *not* to mention this option, as
 Linux clearly is superiour to Windows in this regard. People cannot
 decide to use this option if they don't know about it.

I agree that the fact that Linux actually has options is an important
aspect that people should be aware of.  However the fact that alternate
window managers and desktops remain marginalized cannot be disregarded
either.  The simple fact is that most people claim to want options but
then use what's in the mainstream anyway.  My concern is that people
will advocate Linux as having a faster desktop and then when people try
it (defaulting to GNOME, probably) they find this claim to seem false,
they will doubt other claims made by advocates (security, stability,
etc).  In short, when comparing Linux and Windows, I feel it's best to
stick to the typical installation.  Otherwise we can also toss in my
home desktop which at the moment is running kernel 2.6.0-pre2, GNOME 2.3
and most of the rawhide repository.  It isn't too stable wink.  If we
start tossing out of mainstream configurations into the mix then I
suppose we can call Linux less stable than Windows as well.

In short, compare typical configurations, but make people aware that
there are alternatives that can affect performance.

  If we're going to talk GUI's on Linux we should stick with
  GNOME and KDE for the sake of comparison.  The people who know how to
  install alternate desktops aren't the people interested in comparisons:
  they already know.
 
 Again, I strongly disagree. It's vital to mention this to the ordinary
 user as well, as it is an important advantage over Windows.

I don't disagree.  I simply take the position that claiming XFCE is
faster than Windows is pointless wink

 [...]
   IMO, if you want the same, bloated GUI feature set as you
   have in Windows,
  
  And this is indeed what your average user (especially those coming from
  Windows) wants.
 
 Not true. I've met Windows user (among them my wife), who were *quite*
 happy to have a lean GUI like e.g. Window Maker and *preferred* them to
 the bloated GUIs, despite the (short) learning curve at the beginning.
 They just didn't know it was possible before that. All the more reason to
 make them aware of this possibility.

We may just have to disagree on this.  I don't know anybody running
anything besides KDE/GNOME (mailing list denizens aside. I'm referring
to people I actually know).  Most distros make these the default and I
expect most people new to Linux will encounter these first (and perhaps
exclusively).

As an aside, I am a bit curious:  if you are running, say Evolution
under WindowMaker (with perhaps a WindowMaker-style theme to make it
look pretty), do you *really* see any performance gain?


Regards,

-- 
Cliff Wells, Software Engineer
Logiplex Corporation (www.logiplex.net)
(503) 978-6726  (800) 735-0555


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Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-22 Thread Reuben D. Budiardja
On Friday 22 August 2003 03:17 pm, Cliff Wells wrote:
snip
 As an aside, I am a bit curious:  if you are running, say Evolution
 under WindowMaker (with perhaps a WindowMaker-style theme to make it
 look pretty), do you *really* see any performance gain?

In my experience, Yes. I run KMail, Mozilla, Konqueror all kind of KDE stuff, 
tried Evolution but don't use it regularly. I use FVWM. In my cases, running 
it in FVWM is faster and snappier, *after* it has started. 
What I mean it, for example like KMail, first time running it in FVWM, it's 
probably as slow as loading it in KDE (or sometime a tad slower), since most 
KDE init stuff is not yet initialized, but after it run, switching virtual 
desktops, raising/lowering window, is definitely faster. Especially if you 
run on slow machine, it's more apparent.

A friend of mine used to run KDE on Pentium II 300 Mhz 128 MB RAM. Running 
openoffice, Kmail, Galeon (with some tabs) can something make the machine 
like crawling, especially when lowering or raising windows. I switched her to 
FVWM (with FVWM-Themes), and the machine is really snappy right now (plus she 
can run more stuff).

RDB

-- 
Reuben D. Budiardja
Department of Physics and Astronomy
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
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Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-22 Thread T. Ribbrock
On Fri, Aug 22, 2003 at 12:17:34PM -0700, Cliff Wells wrote:
[...]
 My concern is that people
 will advocate Linux as having a faster desktop and then when people try
 it (defaulting to GNOME, probably) they find this claim to seem false,
 they will doubt other claims made by advocates (security, stability,
 etc).

I see your point. On the other hand, there's also folks have older
machines lying around (which might not be able to run the latest MS
offering anymore) whom they might want to use to try Linux and I find
it important to make clear that *yes*, you *can* run Linux on those
boxes, even with a GUI. Of course, it will have to be made clear, that
they can't expect the same feature set.


[...]
 In short, compare typical configurations, but make people aware that
 there are alternatives that can affect performance.

That's fair enough.


[...]
 I don't disagree.  I simply take the position that claiming XFCE is
 faster than Windows is pointless wink

Depends on what the person asking for the comparison wants. That's why
it's important to try and find out what people are doing with their
machines before advocating anything...


 We may just have to disagree on this.  I don't know anybody running
 anything besides KDE/GNOME (mailing list denizens aside. I'm referring
 to people I actually know).  Most distros make these the default and I
 expect most people new to Linux will encounter these first (and perhaps
 exclusively).

Unfortunately, IMO, yes. The defaults are the first thing I ditch...
...but that's me... ;-)

Cheerio,

Thomas
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Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-22 Thread Michael Scottaline
On Fri, 22 Aug 2003 16:01:24 -0400
Reuben D. Budiardja [EMAIL PROTECTED] insightfully noted:

On Friday 22 August 2003 03:17 pm, Cliff Wells wrote:
snip
 As an aside, I am a bit curious:  if you are running, say Evolution
 under WindowMaker (with perhaps a WindowMaker-style theme to make it
 look pretty), do you *really* see any performance gain?

In my experience, Yes. I run KMail, Mozilla, Konqueror all kind of KDE stuff,

tried Evolution but don't use it regularly. I use FVWM. In my cases, running 
it in FVWM is faster and snappier, *after* it has started. 
What I mean it, for example like KMail, first time running it in FVWM, it's 
probably as slow as loading it in KDE (or sometime a tad slower), since most 
KDE init stuff is not yet initialized, but after it run, switching virtual 
desktops, raising/lowering window, is definitely faster. Especially if you 
run on slow machine, it's more apparent.

A friend of mine used to run KDE on Pentium II 300 Mhz 128 MB RAM. Running 
openoffice, Kmail, Galeon (with some tabs) can something make the machine 
like crawling, especially when lowering or raising windows. I switched her to

FVWM (with FVWM-Themes), and the machine is really snappy right now (plus she

can run more stuff).
===
Give ratpoison a try..
VEY small footprint and miserly on resource use, saving most of it for
apps.
Mike

-- 
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years of his life
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Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-21 Thread Rodolfo J. Paiz
At 8/20/2003 16:17 -0500, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
The Linux-based office suites are adequate for my needs,
but anyone who considers themselves an MS Office power-user
will likely be sorely disappointed in the Linux alternatives.
I disagree.

I run financial models for a living, and do all of our customer 
correspondence (roughly 200 customers with frequent contact) via 
heavily-scripted mail merges. I most certainly consider myself a power 
user, and my demands on my office software are very heavy. I have been 
running Sun StarOffice 6.0 since it came out, and have had:

* no tasks I could not perform

* no crashes

* a few tasks for which MS Office was significantly better

* a few tasks for which StarOffice was significantly better

* three patches to download

* no security holes

* quite speedy performance

* excellent read/write of MS Office files (95/97/2000/XP)

* native file sizes averaging 40% smaller than xls/doc/ppt

* cost savings of nearly 80% ($75 vs $370)

I am quite eagerly awaiting Sun StarOffice 6.1. Having tested and run 
SO-6.0 for maybe more than a year (don't recall exactly), when 6.1 comes 
out I will upgrade all 25 Windows machines in our offices to SO-6.1. The 
total savings in licenses alone will be over $7000, and I don't expect to 
need any outside support at all. Plus, those users who prefer Linux will 
now be able to run their preferred OS (saving me another $200 in OS license 
costs) with no file format incompatibility.

While the gratis ($0 cost) office suites may have their rough edges, I 
think that's something you should expect from a project that large and that 
complex which is staffed only by volunteers. Shell out a little cash though 
(and I do mean a little), and the situation changes drastically. I buy 
subscriptions from Red Hat, and I buy StarOffice licenses from Sun. I am 
now able to buy new hardware more frequently, lower support costs, manage 
all machines centrally, increase security, lower risks of hacking (not 
eliminate, lower), and still save money on direct costs.

Sorely disappointed in not moving to Sun StarOffice on Red Hat sooner, maybe...

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Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-21 Thread T. Ribbrock
On Wed, Aug 20, 2003 at 03:41:42PM -0700, Cliff Wells wrote:
[...]
  At one time we could boast that Linux could perform well on low-end 
  hardware but such is no longer the case.  Linux Likes RAM!  As does any 
  other OS out there.
 
 Sort of true.  For a desktop, I think Linux is a bit hungrier than
 Windows.
[...]

I disagree. I still run Linux machines with GUI on 64MB and 48MB and
the only Windows that could match the performance on those machines is
Win95 and lower (even a fresh Win98 install started swapping wildly
rather soon on those boxes). Linux gives me the choice to use a lean
GUI that only provides the features I need. Windows does not give me
that option and hence forces me to use bigger hardware for a desktop
machine. IMO, if you want the same, bloated GUI feature set as you
have in Windows, then yes, you might end up with higher memory use
than Windows, as you have to use the likes of GNOME or KDE. On the
other hand, if you need less options from a GUI, Linux (or in fact
*any* *nix) gives you a lot more options than Windows does.

Cheerio,

Thomas
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Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-21 Thread tomh
Apparently I'm not doing very well at explaining that there's more to TCO 
than the face value of the desktop products.

Let's continue to assume that I prefer Windows to anything else (1):
 
If :
-- you work in a Windows-centric organization, and
-- your skill set is Windows-centric, and
-- the skill set of your internal resource pool is Window-centric

Then:
-- it will likely cost your organization MORE to move an alternative OS.

You're right - maintenance, training and upgrades are requirements of any 
OS and each carries a price tag.   If they're considering a change to 
another OS a sys admin must determine whether those associated costs are 
justifiable and reasonable, given the pool of resources that they can draw 
upon.

Flexibility can be good thing, or it can be a bad thing, depending on the 
situation.  From a geek point of view, I don't mind getting in and 
tinkering with internals, just to see what happens.  From an admin point 
of view, I want a box out there that my users can't change.  When they 
make a change and it screws up the computer, it costs my company money for 
me to fix it (whether I fix it myself, or hire someone else to do it for 
me).  Some would fire the user, but guess what - it costs money to replace 
them, too.(2)

Stability - goes without saying.

Security - absolutely.  If that is the admin's number one question, then 
neither Linux (today) nor Windows may be the answer.  A better alternative 
for them may be the iSeries which has had object level security for years, 
tied in with incremental security levels, at the OS level (maybe at the 
microcode level, I'm not sure).  It all depends on the resource available, 
and whether the admin can justify the associated costs.

Patches - I don't how many I've installed for any of my systems.  A LOT. I 
check for them in all my OS environments regularly (Windows, Linux, and 
iSeries).   In Windows, I run the Windows Update daily. In Linux, I run 
'up2date' and Red Carpet daily.  In iSeries, I order the latest cume PTF 
quarterly if it includes patches for the software on my system (it almost 
always does) (3).


Allow me to summarize the whole point of all my posts on this matter:

While it may well be initially less expensive to install a Linux-based 
computer than a Windows-based computer, there are hidden costs associated 
with that Linux system which many adherents tend to gloss over (if they 
ever mention them at all).  Those hidden costs need to be evaluated BEFORE 
the computer is installed.  In a Windows-centric enterprise where there is 
insufficient Linux-knowledgeable resource, it makes little economic sense 
to do that.   The same holds true in a Linux-centric enterprise; it makes 
little economic sense to start installing Windows-based computers if there 
is insufficient internal resource to properly manage them (or the 
willingness to acquire the necessary resources).


Tom Hightower
Solutions, Inc
http://www.simas.com


(1) Not true. Personally, I think that IBM's iSeries line is hands-down 
the best server system on the planet.  But that's a topic for another 
mailing list, unless we choose to discuss how it can run multiple copies 
of Linux simultaneously, along with Windows Server, AIX, and OS/400.

(2) For users who roam where they shouldn't - I have some really scary 
You deleted the OS! Press enter to reload from Backup screens that I can 
run in their login script.  They only have to see those bad boys once to 
get the idea.

(3) Actually, I have a scheduled job that orders it for me.  If the patch 
is way big, they send it on CD (which I prefer anyway).  I review the 
documentation, and then decide whether or not to install the PTF.

-- Tom






Eduardo A. dela Rosa [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent by: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
08/20/2003 07:38 PM
Please respond to redhat-list

 
To: RedHat List [EMAIL PROTECTED]
cc: 
Subject:Re: Sweet Success


Dear Tom,

A simple response:

Maintenance, training, and upgrades, needless to say, are factors
both present whether you've got Linux box or MS Products. Got the
picture? Nope? It's the CO$T of Ownership having MS Products that
counts.

Another great difference and advantage that Linux box can have over
MS Products are flexibility, stability, and SECURITY (among
others) that MS cannot meet at par with Linux.

How many times in a year that you need to patch your MS Boxes with
Bill-provided patch upgrades so that even your most latest Win2K
would not be exploited by worms?

It's for wise people like you to evaluate these facts.

Cheers!


On Wed, 2003-08-20 at 21:34, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 Let me say upfront that I like Linux in general, and RedHat in 
particular.
  And (heresy!) I like MS products.

 2 questions:
 -- what about the architectural/accounting package?
 -- who will maintain the OS and other various software updates?

 As far as dependability - when properly configured and used as intended,
 MS Servers are _very_ reliable.  Cases

Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-21 Thread Sean Estabrooks

 
 While it may well be initially less expensive to install a Linux-based 
 computer than a Windows-based computer, there are hidden costs associated 
 with that Linux system which many adherents tend to gloss over (if they 
 ever mention them at all).  Those hidden costs need to be evaluated BEFORE 
 the computer is installed.  In a Windows-centric enterprise where there is 
 insufficient Linux-knowledgeable resource, it makes little economic sense 
 to do that.   The same holds true in a Linux-centric enterprise; it makes 
 little economic sense to start installing Windows-based computers if there 
 is insufficient internal resource to properly manage them (or the 
 willingness to acquire the necessary resources).
 
 

Tom,

In my experience the TCO argument you've articulated is used mostly as
FUD by people with a vested interest in the status quo.   I've seen
vendor after vendor try to keep Linux competition out of larger
enterprises with these arguments.   I've yet to see _any_ case where
a Linux solution had _significant_ extra operational costs.

While there is some basis for these well known arguments their 
applicability is surly diminishing as Linux becomes more mainstream.

Regards,
Sean





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Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-21 Thread tomh
Not to be flippant, but isn't it a shame that some consultants would 
recommend a solution which is of more benefit to themselves than to their 
customer?  As for me, I wasn't comfortable making any sort of Linux 
recommendation (pro or con) until I actually tried it out, though many 
asked.  So, I've downloaded various distros and tried them out.  From my 
customers' perspective, Linux is _almost_ there as a desktop.  Most of my 
customers are too small to worry about the server side of things 
(peer-to-peer networks, for the most part), and use their desktops mostly 
as word processors, internet portals, or gateways to other systems.  Some 
have specialized applications that they would _never_ want to part with, 
or it would exorbitantly expensive to re-write the app for a Linux 
environment.

The last part of your post makes perfect sense - the more people out 
there that have experience with Linux, the less expensive it is to train 
them.  The more Linux consultants that are available, the less expensive 
they become (in general) as resources in the management mix.  Result: a 
lowering of Linux TCO.

Tom Hightower
Solutions, Inc
http://www.simas.com





Sean Estabrooks [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent by: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
08/21/2003 11:11 AM
Please respond to redhat-list

 
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
cc: 
Subject:Re: Sweet Success




 While it may well be initially less expensive to install a Linux-based
 computer than a Windows-based computer, there are hidden costs 
associated
 with that Linux system which many adherents tend to gloss over (if they
 ever mention them at all).  Those hidden costs need to be evaluated 
BEFORE
 the computer is installed.  In a Windows-centric enterprise where there 
is
 insufficient Linux-knowledgeable resource, it makes little economic 
sense
 to do that.   The same holds true in a Linux-centric enterprise; it 
makes
 little economic sense to start installing Windows-based computers if 
there
 is insufficient internal resource to properly manage them (or the
 willingness to acquire the necessary resources).



Tom,

In my experience the TCO argument you've articulated is used mostly as
FUD by people with a vested interest in the status quo.   I've seen
vendor after vendor try to keep Linux competition out of larger
enterprises with these arguments.   I've yet to see _any_ case where
a Linux solution had _significant_ extra operational costs.

While there is some basis for these well known arguments their
applicability is surly diminishing as Linux becomes more mainstream.

Regards,
Sean





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Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-21 Thread Rodolfo J. Paiz
At 8/21/2003 10:19 -0500, you wrote:
Allow me to summarize the whole point of all my posts on this matter:

While it may well be initially less expensive to install a Linux-based
computer than a Windows-based computer, there are hidden costs associated
with that Linux system which many adherents tend to gloss over (if they
ever mention them at all).  Those hidden costs need to be evaluated BEFORE
the computer is installed.  In a Windows-centric enterprise where there is
insufficient Linux-knowledgeable resource, it makes little economic sense
to do that.   The same holds true in a Linux-centric enterprise; it makes
little economic sense to start installing Windows-based computers if there
is insufficient internal resource to properly manage them (or the
willingness to acquire the necessary resources).
Agreed.

However, I'll add the following: a Windows-centric organization such as you 
describe that is interested in reducing its long-term TCO _will_ benefit 
from investing the time and resources necessary to migrate some or all of 
its IT operations to Linux (or simply away from MS in some cases).

We are following this sequence, for example:

(1) Move all network servers (dhcp/dns/ftp/http...), file/print service, 
and firewalls to Linux. Down to three boxes (one firewall, one network 
services, one file/print services and intranet) from earlier seven, down to 
one admin from two. Projected TCO reduction in two-year period: $55,000. 
Additional costs likely: none (the one admin is Linux-capable, obviously).

(2) Move all 25 users from MS Office to Sun StarOffice 6.1 when it becomes 
available. Functionality loss expected: none. License cost savings over two 
years: almost $11,000. Additional costs expected: around $2,000 in reduced 
productivity as users go through the learning curve and are taught (or 
fumble through) how to  do their jobs.

(3) After #1 and #2 are complete, begin a pilot deployment of Linux on the 
desktop for a small group (say, the sales department). We estimate that 
this will not save us any money at all (indeed, as you say, it will cost 
money), but we will invest in acquiring the Linux knowledge and resources 
required to then roll out Linux to all users. When we do roll out to all 
users, we expect to save significant sums on OS purchase and maintenance, 
security-related incidents, and many other areas.

If you know Windows, then of course it's more expensive to start learning 
Linux and vice versa. But I believe that if you knew nothing at all, then 
it would be cheaper to start on Linux right from the start; and I also 
believe that if you are willing to invest in the learning curve and don't 
expect something for nothing, then you will also find it cheaper to migrate 
(slowly) from Windows to Linux.

Cheers,

P.S. Tom, you make good arguments although I disagree. But kindly trim your 
posts, would you? Quoting entire other messages and multiple sigs clogs 
everyone's bandwidth (and everyone is several thousand people here).

--
Rodolfo J. Paiz
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-21 Thread Rick Warner
On Thu, 2003-08-21 at 08:19, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 From an admin point 
 of view, I want a box out there that my users can't change.  When they 
 make a change and it screws up the computer, it costs my company money for 
 me to fix it (whether I fix it myself, or hire someone else to do it for 
 me).  Some would fire the user, but guess what - it costs money to replace 
 them, too.(2)
 

If they have console access, and there is any media access, there is no
way to prevent them from making changes.  True of any OS.  Someone will
change something at some time.  Plan on it.

- rick 


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Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-21 Thread Cliff Wells
On Thu, 2003-08-21 at 00:44, T. Ribbrock wrote:
 On Wed, Aug 20, 2003 at 03:41:42PM -0700, Cliff Wells wrote:
 [...]
   At one time we could boast that Linux could perform well on low-end 
   hardware but such is no longer the case.  Linux Likes RAM!  As does any 
   other OS out there.
  
  Sort of true.  For a desktop, I think Linux is a bit hungrier than
  Windows.
 [...]
 
 I disagree. I still run Linux machines with GUI on 64MB and 48MB and
 the only Windows that could match the performance on those machines is
 Win95 and lower (even a fresh Win98 install started swapping wildly
 rather soon on those boxes). Linux gives me the choice to use a lean
 GUI that only provides the features I need. 

Yes, but you've also removed yourself from the mainstream Linux destop. 
While choice is certainly an important aspect of Linux, it's also a bit
misleading to compare something that most users will never see with
Windows.  If we're going to talk GUI's on Linux we should stick with
GNOME and KDE for the sake of comparison.  The people who know how to
install alternate desktops aren't the people interested in comparisons:
they already know.

 Windows does not give me
 that option and hence forces me to use bigger hardware for a desktop
 machine. IMO, if you want the same, bloated GUI feature set as you
 have in Windows,

And this is indeed what your average user (especially those coming from
Windows) wants.

Regards,

-- 
Cliff Wells, Software Engineer
Logiplex Corporation (www.logiplex.net)
(503) 978-6726  (800) 735-0555


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Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-21 Thread Michael Gargiullo
On Thu, 2003-08-21 at 13:21, Rick Warner wrote:
 On Thu, 2003-08-21 at 08:19, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 
  From an admin point 
  of view, I want a box out there that my users can't change.  When they 
  make a change and it screws up the computer, it costs my company money for 
  me to fix it (whether I fix it myself, or hire someone else to do it for 
  me).  Some would fire the user, but guess what - it costs money to replace 
  them, too.(2)
  
 
 If they have console access, and there is any media access, there is no
 way to prevent them from making changes.  True of any OS.  Someone will
 change something at some time.  Plan on it.
 
 - rick 

They're going to screw it up, if they can.  

Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool

Best bet, and cheap, Grab Norton Ghost, or something like it, make an
image of the machine as you want it.  If they truly foul it up. Insert
boot disk, and copy image from network.  You get a new machine in about
10 minutes.
-- 
Michael Gargiullo [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Warp Drive Networks


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Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-21 Thread tomh
I normally do trim posts to remove parts that irrelevent to my reply.  I'm 
embarrassed that I did not in my earlier posting.

Tom Hightower
Solutions, Inc
http://www.simas.com





Rodolfo J. Paiz [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent by: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
08/21/2003 11:58 AM
Please respond to redhat-list

 
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
cc: 
Subject:Re: Sweet Success


Cheers,

P.S. Tom, you make good arguments although I disagree. But kindly trim 
your
posts, would you? Quoting entire other messages and multiple sigs clogs
everyone's bandwidth (and everyone is several thousand people here).


--
Rodolfo J. Paiz
[EMAIL PROTECTED]







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Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-21 Thread tomh
True - maybe that's part of the reason that I'm so fond of green-screen 
dumb terminals.   There isn't much to those things for users to mess with.

Tom Hightower
Solutions, Inc
http://www.simas.com





Rick Warner [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent by: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
08/21/2003 12:21 PM
Please respond to redhat-list

 
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
cc: 
Subject:Re: Sweet Success


On Thu, 2003-08-21 at 08:19, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 From an admin point
 of view, I want a box out there that my users can't change.  When they

If they have console access, and there is any media access, there is no
way to prevent them from making changes.  True of any OS.  Someone will
change something at some time.  Plan on it.

- rick






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Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-21 Thread tomh
See, a good example of how an OS migration should be done in an 
organization where it makes sense - and where it may actually save money 
over a 5-year span.

Thanks!

Tom Hightower
Solutions, Inc
http://www.simas.com





Rodolfo J. Paiz [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent by: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
08/21/2003 11:58 AM
Please respond to redhat-list

 
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
cc: 
Subject:Re: Sweet Success



We are following this sequence, for example:

(1) Move all network servers (dhcp/dns/ftp/http...), file/print service,
and firewalls to Linux. snip

(2) Move all 25 users from MS Office to Sun StarOffice 6.1 when it becomes
available. snip


(3) After #1 and #2 are complete, begin a pilot deployment of Linux on the
desktop for a small group (say, the sales department). snip


--
Rodolfo J. Paiz
[EMAIL PROTECTED]


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Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-21 Thread Gordon Messmer
Bret Hughes wrote:
PS what is the deal with the SO.Big or whatever I have never received
over 2 or 3 of these in a single day and today fprot has found over 25!
Sobig.F is a variant of the sobig virus which uses a multi-threaded smtp 
engine.  Instead of spreading itself one message at a time to addresses 
in your address book/mailboxes, it delivers messages in parallel.  Since 
an SMTP conversation usually has a lot of dead time, this vastly 
increases the number of messages sent out by the virus.  It's slamming 
mail servers all over pretty damn hard.

From my own mail systems:
http://phantom.dragonsdawn.net/~gordon/sobig.f.outbreak/
We're seeing upwards of 1000 connections *per minute*, most of which are 
either the virus, or a mail server on the internet informing us that its 
found a virus in a message with one of our return addresses.

There was a big dip this morning, and we believe that this corresponds 
with several major ISP's going offline.  I'm told that Qwest shut their 
mail systems *off* last night, and my own Comcast cable connection was 
down this morning.  Their support told me that their whole network was 
offline.

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Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-21 Thread Edward Dekkers


[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

See, a good example of how an OS migration should be done in an 
organization where it makes sense - and where it may actually save money 
over a 5-year span.

Thanks!

Tom Hightower
Solutions, Inc
http://www.simas.com
Tom, please do not top-post responses. Bottom post seems to be most 
accepted, followed by in-thread posting (which I personally like). It is 
very hard to read.

Regards,
Ed.


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Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-21 Thread Rodolfo J. Paiz
At 8/21/2003 14:24 -0500, you wrote:
See, a good example of how an OS migration should be done in an
organization where it makes sense - and where it may actually save money
over a 5-year span.
Thank you!

--
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[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-21 Thread Lorenzo Prince
Bret Hughes staggered into view and mumbled:
 I could have sworn I got two today that were
 not flagged by mailscanner  and look legit.  Who knows?

A rather interesting thing about these viruses is that they all seem to have a header 
that says
X-Mailscanner: Found to be clean

I suspect this is just another attemp to make it look real even though it's a virus.  
The really bad thing is that it is 
really hard, once you know this header is there and it is faked, to actually see this 
or any other header in messages 
when viewing them with MS outlook related products.  The sad thing is that some 
unsuspecting Outlook user may actually 
think this is a real returned mail failed delivery message and may actually open the 
attachment to get details and fry 
his/her computer or network.  I can't believe how absolutely real these messages look 
accept, of course, for the 
X-Mailscanner header, which I had seen before in a file that was reported later to 
have contained a virus.  Wow!  I'm 
just glad I wasn't using Outlook/Outlook Express to view those messages.  (Or Windows 
for that matter.)

Lorenzo Prince
happy Shrike user ;)


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Sweet Success

2003-08-20 Thread Stephen Kuhn
I just want to relate the happiness I have over the successful
installation of yet another RedHat server for a small business customer
of mine;

They were in need of a low-cost, dependable server machine to be used as
a file server and a printer server - a machine on which they could load
a high-end architectural/accounting package; originally they were faced
with spending upwards of $6000 (for a MS type box, of course); my total
drop in cost for the box ended up being $2200 - loaded with RH9 +
updates, Samba, MySQL, using SENDMAIL/FETCHMAIL/PROCMAIL + SpamAssassin,
F-Prot and ClamAV - as well as being the gateway for an 802.11b 2.4ghz
network in our area. Actual software load and configuration was one
evening here at home - about 2 hours total; drop in on site with client
machine configurations was one day. Done deal. No dramas, no sweat, no
problems. Even had time to show the admin how to use VNC to access the
server desktop; script was setup to backup to CDRW once per week. EZ as
pie.

Had this have been a Windows box I would have spent three days with it -
for one thing or another - I'm used to that crap, and the monstrous size
of the patches/updates/fixes.

So, for anyone with any doubts, it's really easy - it's really simple.
Plus, the customer was more than happy to know that they have IMAP/POP
functionality, a proxy (privoxy) and a firewall - without license fees
and BS associated. They even have a nice big round RH sticker on the
front door now...(couldn't say No to the admin - was her idea).

-- 
Wed Aug 20 16:35:01 EST 2003
 16:35:01 up 2 days, 19:01,  1 user,  load average: 0.29, 0.16, 0.05
-
|____  | illawarra computer services|
|   /-oo /| |'-.   | http://kma.0catch.com  |
|  .\__/ || |   |  ||
|   _ /  `._ \|_|_.-'  | stephen kuhn   |
|  | /  \__.`=._) (_   | email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] |
-
  linux user #:267497 linux machine #:194239 * MDK 9.1+  RH 9  
  Mandrake Linux Kernel 2.4.21-11mdk Cooker for i586
-
 * This message was composed on a 100% Microsoft free computer *

The Martian landed his saucer in Manhattan, and immediately upon 
emerging was approached by a panhandler.  Mister, said the man, can I 
have a quarter?
The Martian asked, What's a quarter?
The panhandler thought a minute, brightened, then said, You're 
right!  Can I have a dollar?


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Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-20 Thread Martin Moss
Are you commission mate:-) ?
lol

Marty


- Original Message - 
From: Stephen Kuhn [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Wednesday, August 20, 2003 7:49 AM
Subject: Sweet Success


 I just want to relate the happiness I have over the successful
 installation of yet another RedHat server for a small business customer
 of mine;
 
 They were in need of a low-cost, dependable server machine to be used as
 a file server and a printer server - a machine on which they could load
 a high-end architectural/accounting package; originally they were faced
 with spending upwards of $6000 (for a MS type box, of course); my total
 drop in cost for the box ended up being $2200 - loaded with RH9 +
 updates, Samba, MySQL, using SENDMAIL/FETCHMAIL/PROCMAIL + SpamAssassin,
 F-Prot and ClamAV - as well as being the gateway for an 802.11b 2.4ghz
 network in our area. Actual software load and configuration was one
 evening here at home - about 2 hours total; drop in on site with client
 machine configurations was one day. Done deal. No dramas, no sweat, no
 problems. Even had time to show the admin how to use VNC to access the
 server desktop; script was setup to backup to CDRW once per week. EZ as
 pie.
 
 Had this have been a Windows box I would have spent three days with it -
 for one thing or another - I'm used to that crap, and the monstrous size
 of the patches/updates/fixes.
 
 So, for anyone with any doubts, it's really easy - it's really simple.
 Plus, the customer was more than happy to know that they have IMAP/POP
 functionality, a proxy (privoxy) and a firewall - without license fees
 and BS associated. They even have a nice big round RH sticker on the
 front door now...(couldn't say No to the admin - was her idea).
 
 -- 
 Wed Aug 20 16:35:01 EST 2003
  16:35:01 up 2 days, 19:01,  1 user,  load average: 0.29, 0.16, 0.05
 -
 |____  | illawarra computer services|
 |   /-oo /| |'-.   | http://kma.0catch.com  |
 |  .\__/ || |   |  ||
 |   _ /  `._ \|_|_.-'  | stephen kuhn   |
 |  | /  \__.`=._) (_   | email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] |
 -
   linux user #:267497 linux machine #:194239 * MDK 9.1+  RH 9  
   Mandrake Linux Kernel 2.4.21-11mdk Cooker for i586
 -
  * This message was composed on a 100% Microsoft free computer *
 
 The Martian landed his saucer in Manhattan, and immediately upon 
 emerging was approached by a panhandler.  Mister, said the man, can I 
 have a quarter?
 The Martian asked, What's a quarter?
 The panhandler thought a minute, brightened, then said, You're 
 right!  Can I have a dollar?
 
 
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 redhat-list mailing list
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Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-20 Thread tomh
Let me say upfront that I like Linux in general, and RedHat in particular. 
 And (heresy!) I like MS products. 

2 questions:
-- what about the architectural/accounting package?
-- who will maintain the OS and other various software updates?

As far as dependability - when properly configured and used as intended, 
MS Servers are _very_ reliable.  Cases in point:

-- I have a Windows NT Server which has been processing our HTTP, SMTP and 
POP3 for more than 5 years.  Total downtime is measured in hours, all of 
it in upgrading the web server software (not MS) and MS patches.  We don't 
use it for anything other that what I spec'ed it for - a server.

-- I have a Windows NT Server, used for user network authentication and 
print server.  It's been in place for more than 5 years, less downtime 
than the web server. Again, it's used as intended and for nothing else.

-- I have another WinNT Server, used as the Backup PDC, as the system 
console to our iSeries, and as an FTP server.  Similar downtime as our 
other servers.

The only time we've had trouble with any Windows box is because of lame 
users who install the latest worm or virus.  Linux is less prone to that 
problem for now, but will not remain so as Linux desktops become more 
prevalent.  And unmaintained Linux servers have a big ol' target on them, 
which will only get bigger over time.

As for cost: did you (or the admin) consider Microsoft's Partner In 
Development program?  It runs about US$1000/year, and gets you the latest 
Windows Server software, workstation software (XP these days), Office 
software, etc.  With licenses for multiple installs of the non-Server 
software. Not a bad way to go, if you qualify.

Maintenance, training and upgrades: these are some of the hidden costs 
that the Linux community is too often mum about - and some that you and 
the admin should have already discussed...


Tom Hightower
Solutions, Inc
http://www.simas.com





Stephen Kuhn [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent by: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
08/20/2003 01:49 AM
Please respond to redhat-list

 
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
cc: 
Subject:Sweet Success


I just want to relate the happiness I have over the successful
installation of yet another RedHat server for a small business customer
of mine;

They were in need of a low-cost, dependable server machine to be used as
a file server and a printer server - a machine on which they could load
a high-end architectural/accounting package; originally they were faced
with spending upwards of $6000 (for a MS type box, of course); my total
drop in cost for the box ended up being $2200 - loaded with RH9 +
updates, Samba, MySQL, using SENDMAIL/FETCHMAIL/PROCMAIL + SpamAssassin,
F-Prot and ClamAV - as well as being the gateway for an 802.11b 2.4ghz
network in our area. Actual software load and configuration was one
evening here at home - about 2 hours total; drop in on site with client
machine configurations was one day. Done deal. No dramas, no sweat, no
problems. Even had time to show the admin how to use VNC to access the
server desktop; script was setup to backup to CDRW once per week. EZ as
pie.

Had this have been a Windows box I would have spent three days with it -
for one thing or another - I'm used to that crap, and the monstrous size
of the patches/updates/fixes.

So, for anyone with any doubts, it's really easy - it's really simple.
Plus, the customer was more than happy to know that they have IMAP/POP
functionality, a proxy (privoxy) and a firewall - without license fees
and BS associated. They even have a nice big round RH sticker on the
front door now...(couldn't say No to the admin - was her idea).

--
Wed Aug 20 16:35:01 EST 2003
16:35:01 up 2 days, 19:01,  1 user,  load average: 0.29, 0.16, 0.05
-
|____  | illawarra computer services|
|   /-oo /| |'-.   | http://kma.0catch.com  |
|  .\__/ || |   |  ||
|   _ /  `._ \|_|_.-'  | stephen kuhn   |
|  | /  \__.`=._) (_   | email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] |
-
linux user #:267497 linux machine #:194239 * MDK 9.1+  RH 9
Mandrake Linux Kernel 2.4.21-11mdk Cooker for i586
-
* This message was composed on a 100% Microsoft free computer *

The Martian landed his saucer in Manhattan, and immediately upon
emerging was approached by a panhandler.  Mister, said the man, can I
have a quarter?
The Martian asked, What's a quarter?
The panhandler thought a minute, brightened, then said, You're
right!  Can I have a dollar?


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Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-20 Thread Benjamin J. Weiss
snip
 They were in need of a low-cost, dependable server machine to be used as
 a file server and a printer server - a machine on which they could load
 a high-end architectural/accounting package;

Question:  We tried last year to use samba as a print server for a bunch of
Win2K client machines on a domain.  We could get Samba to authenticate to
the WinNT domain, no prob, but we couldn't get the print server to see any
of the special features of the printers.  For instance, we have a couple of
HP laser printers with duplexers.  We were able to get the linux box to be
the print server, but couldn't see the duplexer on the printer.

Were you able to get this kind of functionality?  And if so, how?

Thanks!

Ben


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Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-20 Thread Felix Mathais
Have more fun with your mobile - add polyphonic ringtones, java games, celebrity voicemails and loads more!  Click here for phone fun. 


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Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-20 Thread Felix Mathais
Make your messages more exciting with  MSN Messenger V6. Download it for FREE today!


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Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-20 Thread Rick Warner
On Wed, 2003-08-20 at 06:34, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 -- who will maintain the OS and other various software updates?

Same could be asked of MS products.  Case in point: in 2000 there were
over 50 IIS patches; since IIS has been the entry point of some of the 
nastiest worms (remember the Code Red family? ) someone needs to sit on
top of an IIS server and check daily for patches/fixes, IMHO.
 
 -- I have a Windows NT Server which has been processing our HTTP, SMTP and 
 POP3 for more than 5 years.  Total downtime is measured in hours, all of 
 it in upgrading the web server software (not MS) and MS patches.  We don't 
 use it for anything other that what I spec'ed it for - a server.

Hours can be a great deal of downtime.  How many hours?   In my last job
I had a multi-server web site (3 boxes spanned the period of the life
of the site).  The servers ran RH Linux.  The site ran for 2+ years
without even a minute of downtime.  Patches were added without a need
for reboot.  The first downtime we experienced was due to the
requirement of the colocation facility for us to move to another site.
After the move we had over a year without any downtime before I was laid
off.   
 
 -- I have a Windows NT Server, used for user network authentication and 
 print server.  It's been in place for more than 5 years, less downtime 
 than the web server. Again, it's used as intended and for nothing else.

Yawn!  A whole box for that little work?  I hope it is not much of a
box.

 The only time we've had trouble with any Windows box is because of lame 
 users who install the latest worm or virus.

And the reason that virii/worms is so prevalent is  time's up ... MS
has made almost 0 effort over the years to protect against such things.
They have actively encouraged the proliferation, IMO, by being so
nonchalant about the issue and shipping OS's with known multiple 
vulnerabilities open by default.  BG is making noises now about
'trust-worthy' computing, but it has been only a couple of years since
he publically stated that MS would not provide technological solutions
to the problem because it was a social issue and should be addressed
by society as such.  Outlook and IE are nothing but virus propogators;
those who use them will get infected unless they do daily updates, and
then there is still a risk.  

  Linux is less prone to that 
 problem for now, but will not remain so as Linux desktops become more 
 prevalent. 

And they will maintain less prone since there is more protection in the
OS against the  proliferation of such things.

 As for cost: did you (or the admin) consider Microsoft's Partner In 
 Development program?  It runs about US$1000/year, and gets you the latest 
 Windows Server software, workstation software (XP these days), Office 
 software, etc.  With licenses for multiple installs of the non-Server 
 software. Not a bad way to go, if you qualify.

And the purposes and limitations of that program are  to be used by
those developing for MS platforms.  Not to be used for installing at 
customer sites.   Good for evaluating/testing in-house, but your
customers still need to pay the bill to Belmont.

- rick warner


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Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-20 Thread Rick Warner
On Wed, 2003-08-20 at 07:56, Benjamin J. Weiss wrote:

 Question:  We tried last year to use samba as a print server for a bunch of
 Win2K client machines on a domain.  We could get Samba to authenticate to
 the WinNT domain, no prob, but we couldn't get the print server to see any
 of the special features of the printers.  For instance, we have a couple of
 HP laser printers with duplexers.  We were able to get the linux box to be
 the print server, but couldn't see the duplexer on the printer.
 
 Were you able to get this kind of functionality?  And if so, how?

Samba and Linux, and Win(whatever) do not see such features.   Such
features are only 'seen' by the printer.  What you are asking is, how
can one control the use of such features?  There are two philosophical
positions: 1) such features should be under the control of the client,
so each client can choose to use, or not use, the feature, or 2) such
features are for the good of the community and all users must make use
of the feature.  

In the first case, the control of the feature is via the printer control
panel on each client.   Use of the feature then becomes a training
issue.  In the second case, control of the feature moves to the server
or to the printer!  If the server the location one wants to set the
control, then the server needs to be set to prepend the appropriate
control codes to the print stream to enable/disable the feature.  How
this is done is dependent on which printing system is on the server.  In
the worst case scenario, one must write a print filter and associate it
with the queue.  Not all that difficult.  But IMO in the case mentioned,
if one wants to enforce use of the duplexer the best fix is to set the 
printer to duplex all jobs.  No way for anyone to subvert the intent
(if the server prepends control codes to my stream, I can have control
codes embedded in my stream to counter what the server does).

And yes, I have done duplexer control of an HP4050TN printer through a
SAMBA shared Linux print queue.  Do not look at Samba for this, look
at your printing system (lpd, cups, etc) docs for how to do print
filters.

- rick 


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Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-20 Thread Cliff Wells
On Wed, 2003-08-20 at 10:28, Rick Warner wrote:

 After the move we had over a year without any downtime before I was laid
 off.

And this would be the fundamental flaw with Linux servers ;)

-- 
Cliff Wells, Software Engineer
Logiplex Corporation (www.logiplex.net)
(503) 978-6726  (800) 735-0555


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Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-20 Thread Cliff Wells
On Wed, 2003-08-20 at 10:28, Rick Warner wrote:
 On Wed, 2003-08-20 at 06:34, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
  
  -- I have a Windows NT Server, used for user network authentication and 
  print server.  It's been in place for more than 5 years, less downtime 
  than the web server. Again, it's used as intended and for nothing else.
 
 Yawn!  A whole box for that little work?  I hope it is not much of a
 box.

In the argument over TCO, several reports have shown that the TCO for a
single Linux server is slightly higher than a single Windows server. 
Most of those reports disregarded the fact that one Linux box easily
replaces half a dozen Windows boxes.

Regards,

-- 
Cliff Wells, Software Engineer
Logiplex Corporation (www.logiplex.net)
(503) 978-6726  (800) 735-0555


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Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-20 Thread Ronald W. Heiby
-BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-
Hash: SHA1

Wednesday, August 20, 2003, 2:15:14 PM, Cliff wrote:
 In the argument over TCO, several reports have shown that the TCO for a
 single Linux server is slightly higher than a single Windows server. 
 Most of those reports disregarded the fact that one Linux box easily
 replaces half a dozen Windows boxes.

Another thing that tends to be ignored is that the number of Windows
administrators tends to scale linearly with the number of Windows
systems, while adding systems to a properly administered UNIX/Linux
system network adds a much smaller increment of work to the
administrator.

Ron.

-BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-
Version: PGP Personal Privacy 6.5.8
Comment: Until recently, the last PGP with full source disclosure.

iQA/AwUBP0PMmG8pw+2/9pUJEQKRsACgzFljHg+ZKySPG8blTQKSgVCjSJQAoKIZ
cllOMu9tu6bV1emM+MLi+LoO
=7zyo
-END PGP SIGNATURE-


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Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-20 Thread Cliff Wells
On Wed, 2003-08-20 at 12:31, Ronald W. Heiby wrote:
 -BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-
 Hash: SHA1
 
 Wednesday, August 20, 2003, 2:15:14 PM, Cliff wrote:
  In the argument over TCO, several reports have shown that the TCO for a
  single Linux server is slightly higher than a single Windows server. 
  Most of those reports disregarded the fact that one Linux box easily
  replaces half a dozen Windows boxes.
 
 Another thing that tends to be ignored is that the number of Windows
 administrators tends to scale linearly with the number of Windows
 systems, while adding systems to a properly administered UNIX/Linux
 system network adds a much smaller increment of work to the
 administrator.

IMHO, that probably has more to do with the nature of the Linux admin
than the OS in question.  Admins who choose Linux tend to have a bit of
the hacker nature whereas the average Windows admin includes the
clueless who have just enough knowledge and tenacity to acquire a
certification but not much more.

Also, having a helpful community (like this one) makes the Linux admin's
job far easier than the in-the-dark flunky who has to call the vendor
for support.


Regards,

-- 
Cliff Wells, Software Engineer
Logiplex Corporation (www.logiplex.net)
(503) 978-6726  (800) 735-0555


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Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-20 Thread Vincent E Parsons
Wow, I never thought about it, but it makes sense Cliff. :D

On Wed, 2003-08-20 at 15:09, Cliff Wells wrote:
 On Wed, 2003-08-20 at 10:28, Rick Warner wrote:
 
  After the move we had over a year without any downtime before I was laid
  off.
 
 And this would be the fundamental flaw with Linux servers ;)
 
 -- 
 Cliff Wells, Software Engineer
 Logiplex Corporation (www.logiplex.net)
 (503) 978-6726  (800) 735-0555
-- 
Vince Parsons, Independent Contractor/Consultant
RHCE 807001402402771
704.839.9473


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Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-20 Thread Alan Hodgson
 On Wed, 2003-08-20 at 15:09, Cliff Wells wrote:
  On Wed, 2003-08-20 at 10:28, Rick Warner wrote:
  
   After the move we had over a year without any downtime before I was laid
   off.
  
  And this would be the fundamental flaw with Linux servers ;)
  

No joke.  I had an Exchange consultant tell me once that he only
recommended Exchange to customers because it meant so much more work
for him.

-- 
Alan


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Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-20 Thread Bret Hughes
On Wed, 2003-08-20 at 14:45, Cliff Wells wrote:
 
 IMHO, that probably has more to do with the nature of the Linux admin
 than the OS in question.  Admins who choose Linux tend to have a bit of
 the hacker nature whereas the average Windows admin includes the
 clueless who have just enough knowledge and tenacity to acquire a
 certification but not much more.

I have known some really sharp and knowledgeable guys who were MSCEs but
it seems that the majority of the guys I see as admins sort of learn the
right box to click and enter data in but terribly limited in knowing
what actually happens.  And some of them make the big bucks too :(

Generally I think that most folks who administer Linux boxes know a bit
more about the why to instead of only the how to than the average
Windows guy.  It will be interesting to see if this trend continues in
the wake of all the redhat-config-* tools that make it pretty easy to
get a box going even though it may be mis-configured and potentially
less secure than it ought to be.  Of course that is not to say I haven't
been able to mis-configure a box from the command line.

Tools like up2date should help keep software current and I believe that
the vast majority of code running under linux is more secure simply
because of the fact that *nixes have been doing true multiuser and
networking from the get go rather than building from a base of a single
user and not network connected.

I knew something must be fisshy way back when after I had to download
trumpets tcp/ip stack just to get windows dialup working.

I still bristle at the thought of a multi-billion dollar industry buildt
around virus scanning and firewalling just because the historical MS 
assumption that easier is better than secure.  

My 2 cents.

Bret


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Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-20 Thread tomh
 on low-end 
hardware but such is no longer the case.  Linux Likes RAM!  As does any 
other OS out there.

I stand by my statement about viruses and worms - as Linux desktops become 
more prevalent, so will the Linux-based malware.  Why desktops?  Because 
that's what the uninformed (1) will be using and abusing; the same type 
of problems we see on Windows desktops will be seen on Linux desktops. 

-- Tom Hightower

(1) uninformed - those who don't know any better than to download or 
install something they shouldn't.  (Insert your favorite slam here).






Rick Warner [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent by: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
08/20/2003 12:28 PM
Please respond to redhat-list

 
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
cc: 
Subject:Re: Sweet Success


On Wed, 2003-08-20 at 06:34, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 -- who will maintain the OS and other various software updates?

Same could be asked of MS products.  Case in point: in 2000 there were
over 50 IIS patches; since IIS has been the entry point of some of the
nastiest worms (remember the Code Red family? ) someone needs to sit on
top of an IIS server and check daily for patches/fixes, IMHO.

 -- I have a Windows NT Server which has been processing our HTTP, SMTP 
and
 POP3 for more than 5 years.  Total downtime is measured in hours, all of
 it in upgrading the web server software (not MS) and MS patches.  We 
don't
 use it for anything other that what I spec'ed it for - a server.

Hours can be a great deal of downtime.  How many hours?   In my last job
I had a multi-server web site (3 boxes spanned the period of the life
of the site).  The servers ran RH Linux.  The site ran for 2+ years
without even a minute of downtime.  Patches were added without a need
for reboot.  The first downtime we experienced was due to the
requirement of the colocation facility for us to move to another site.
After the move we had over a year without any downtime before I was laid
off.


 -- I have a Windows NT Server, used for user network authentication and
 print server.  It's been in place for more than 5 years, less downtime
 than the web server. Again, it's used as intended and for nothing else.

Yawn!  A whole box for that little work?  I hope it is not much of a
box.

 The only time we've had trouble with any Windows box is because of lame
 users who install the latest worm or virus.

And the reason that virii/worms is so prevalent is  time's up ... MS
has made almost 0 effort over the years to protect against such things.
They have actively encouraged the proliferation, IMO, by being so
nonchalant about the issue and shipping OS's with known multiple
vulnerabilities open by default.  BG is making noises now about
'trust-worthy' computing, but it has been only a couple of years since
he publically stated that MS would not provide technological solutions
to the problem because it was a social issue and should be addressed
by society as such.  Outlook and IE are nothing but virus propogators;
those who use them will get infected unless they do daily updates, and
then there is still a risk.

  Linux is less prone to that
 problem for now, but will not remain so as Linux desktops become more
 prevalent.

And they will maintain less prone since there is more protection in the
OS against the  proliferation of such things.

 As for cost: did you (or the admin) consider Microsoft's Partner In
 Development program?  It runs about US$1000/year, and gets you the 
latest
 Windows Server software, workstation software (XP these days), Office
 software, etc.  With licenses for multiple installs of the non-Server
 software. Not a bad way to go, if you qualify.

And the purposes and limitations of that program are  to be used by
those developing for MS platforms.  Not to be used for installing at
customer sites.   Good for evaluating/testing in-house, but your
customers still need to pay the bill to Belmont.

- rick warner






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Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-20 Thread AragonX
I whole heartedly agree.  I'm constantly in search of new clients because
once the server is installed, there isn't anything else for me to bill
for.  The last time I had any server downtime at any of my clients was 3
years ago.  And that was a new server install that had faulty RAM...

quote who=Cliff Wells
 On Wed, 2003-08-20 at 10:28, Rick Warner wrote:

 After the move we had over a year without any downtime before I was laid
 off.

 And this would be the fundamental flaw with Linux servers ;)



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Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-20 Thread Rick Warner
On Wed, 2003-08-20 at 14:17, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:



  Ignoring recommended patches - whether from Redhat, 
 Microsoft, IBM, or whomever - will bite you in the CPU one day. 

Yes, but  with Linux and other *NIX OS's I can install most
patches on a running system without a need to shut it down or
reboot.  With MS most any change meant a reboot in the past; they are
getting a bit better, but still rather archaic to require most of the
reboots it does.

 Never once has it been suggested that I recompile the Windows OS to get 
 maximum performance from my computer; 

Of course it has not been recommended; you cannot!  You do not get the
source.  Many, many things *could* be optimized in MS OS's *if* you
had the source.   Not an option.  As it is, there are many arcane things
to be done on Windows to optimize performance; slumming around in the
registry and modifying values, adding keys, etc. is de rigeur in the 
Windows world, and much more time consuming that compiling a kernel.
Try optimizing the MTU on you NT machines! Trivial command line in 
Linux, done on running machine; registry key addition and reboot on 
NT.

 re-compile the kernel in response to a question about Linux performance. 

Of course.  Distributions come with kernels with lots of stuff stashed 
in their that most folks never need.  Slim it down, get better
performance.  If I have many similar computers, I recompile once and
then distribute to many.  Rather efficient.  Try moving your registry
key changes from machine to machine (yes, you can export parts of the 
tree, but if you have many changes, that is a lot of exports and
imports).

  I read stories where someone has seen a performance increase after 
 replacing Windows with Linux, I personally have yet to see it. Anecdotally 
 (ie, with no benchmarks) my Dell Latitude is about half as speedy running 
 in Linux as it in Windows.  To get the same performance from Linux, would 
 I need to get a faster computer?  Something else to factor into the TCO.

Depends on the use of the machine.  For *any* server function I can get
better performance from Linux on almost any box.  For desktop, it
depends on what the person runs.  Still, if you chuck the popular
bloatware (Gnome and KDE) for the desktop, it is a race that Linux can
win in a majority of cases.  Need to know the OS and the pieces.

  For me, and probably 90%+ of the admins out there, 
 it's far easier to recover from a security breech in a MS-based system (or 
 network) than a Linux-based one.  Why?  Because it's what we know - and 
 therefore is likely to be the least costly alternative. 

And 90%+ of Windows admins are deluding themselves into believing they 
have recovered from incidents.  In most cases I can scan their machines
and find backdoors open on obscure ports, registry keys left in place
that open other vulnerabilities, etc.  90%+ of Windows admins recover
from incidents using a cookbook method:  install this patch, reboot,
run the virus scanner, delete all infected files ... blah blah blah.
They do not understand enough to know that one penetration often
engenders other intrusions, and the damage can be much broader than the
simple situation they believe they have under control.  Yes most admins
are more comfortable fixing Windows problems, but that is because they
do not understand the problems and are delusionally comfortable with 
following a cookbook.

 I stand by my statement about viruses and worms - as Linux desktops become 
 more prevalent, so will the Linux-based malware.  Why desktops?  Because 
 that's what the uninformed (1) will be using and abusing; the same type 
 of problems we see on Windows desktops will be seen on Linux desktops. 

Yes, there will be malware, but the OS will provide *much* better
protection and the scope of the problem will be less than what we have
seen from the never-ending parade of stuff hitting the MS world.  Not
allowing users to change system configs (aka registry keys) and not
allowing them to open all devices and ports, like most Windows user
can, protects the machine, the network, and the world from most malware.
There have been multiple attempts to introduce virii and worms into
the *NIX world; so far only a few have succeeded (e.g., the Morris worm
from the mid 80's); the *NIX world learned and moved away from giving
services and users the types of access needed to propogate these beasts.

- rick 


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Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-20 Thread Stephen Kuhn
On Thu, 2003-08-21 at 00:56, Benjamin J. Weiss wrote:

 Question:  We tried last year to use samba as a print server for a bunch of
 Win2K client machines on a domain.  We could get Samba to authenticate to
 the WinNT domain, no prob, but we couldn't get the print server to see any
 of the special features of the printers.  For instance, we have a couple of
 HP laser printers with duplexers.  We were able to get the linux box to be
 the print server, but couldn't see the duplexer on the printer.
 
 Were you able to get this kind of functionality?  And if so, how?
 
 Thanks!
 
 Ben

I don't seem to have a problem at all with Samba - I use Webmin to add
my printers to the box - and usually each client machine has the
drivers loaded locally; as well, with this site, they're using jetdirect
cards for the printers...that's always quite easy to get flying.

For what it's worth, I've had my problems installing printers locally on
RH and MDK boxes...and out of frustration ended up using Webmin - and
being that it worked well, at least for me, I've stuck to using it as my
starting tool. Ditto with Samba/SWAT...

-- 
Thu Aug 21 08:05:00 EST 2003
 08:05:00 up 3 days, 10:31,  1 user,  load average: 0.29, 0.12, 0.04
-
|____  | illawarra computer services|
|   /-oo /| |'-.   | http://kma.0catch.com  |
|  .\__/ || |   |  ||
|   _ /  `._ \|_|_.-'  | stephen kuhn   |
|  | /  \__.`=._) (_   | email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] |
-
  linux user #:267497 linux machine #:194239 * MDK 9.1+  RH 9  
  Mandrake Linux Kernel 2.4.21-11mdk Cooker for i586
-
 * This message was composed on a 100% Microsoft free computer *

Trouble always comes at the wrong time.


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Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-20 Thread Stephen Kuhn
On Wed, 2003-08-20 at 23:34, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 Let me say upfront that I like Linux in general, and RedHat in particular. 
  And (heresy!) I like MS products. 
 
 2 questions:
 -- what about the architectural/accounting package?

The company that sold it to us installed it on the network without a
hitch, without a flaw - it appears to be working slightly faster than
what they're used to; they want to experiment with another linux box as
a server again in the next month. This company has, in the past, sold
rather beefy boxes w/ Windows2000 AS, Exchange, SQL, IIS - so in seeing
that this box literally acted the same, their eyes got opened a bit; and
they're quite happy with the entire process - no hoops had to be jumped
through on their end. They're also quite happy that they can access this
server via remote with no special tools - access to Webmin and VNC are
more than what they could/would have expected...

 -- who will maintain the OS and other various software updates?

The server is scripted for backing itself up - to CDRW and to another HD
(the critical data, the mail and the shared network documents); support
and administration done remotely - the server is a gateway by which I
can VNC to each of the client workstations if the need arises; the admin
on site has access to Webmin and a desktop via VNC on the server; one
physical visit per month; all antivirus packages are setup to
automagically update themselves - I will personally do the OS updates
either in person or via remote. Contract is for one day per month - less
than the time I've spent there in the past.

The admin is rather clue-ey and could very well take over doing the
up2date herself - which would be even better.

-- 
Thu Aug 21 08:10:00 EST 2003
 08:10:00 up 3 days, 10:36,  1 user,  load average: 0.04, 0.11, 0.06
-
|____  | illawarra computer services|
|   /-oo /| |'-.   | http://kma.0catch.com  |
|  .\__/ || |   |  ||
|   _ /  `._ \|_|_.-'  | stephen kuhn   |
|  | /  \__.`=._) (_   | email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] |
-
  linux user #:267497 linux machine #:194239 * MDK 9.1+  RH 9  
  Mandrake Linux Kernel 2.4.21-11mdk Cooker for i586
-
 * This message was composed on a 100% Microsoft free computer *

!07/11 PDP a ni deppart m'I  !pleH


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Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-20 Thread Stephen Kuhn
On Thu, 2003-08-21 at 06:42, AragonX wrote:
 I whole heartedly agree.  I'm constantly in search of new clients because
 once the server is installed, there isn't anything else for me to bill
 for.  The last time I had any server downtime at any of my clients was 3
 years ago.  And that was a new server install that had faulty RAM...
 
 quote who=Cliff Wells
  On Wed, 2003-08-20 at 10:28, Rick Warner wrote:
 
  After the move we had over a year without any downtime before I was laid
  off.
 
  And this would be the fundamental flaw with Linux servers ;)

For me, in a town as small as this - talk goes far. Reputation sells
more than biz cards or advertisements do. I've not really had to do much
advertising at all since I moved to this country - mostly because the
first few jobs I did no one else around town could do - so that started
the ball rolling. Clients/customers that meet me on the street generally
don't have much computer stuff to talk about - and never a whinge or a
whine; that helps. As with another server I stuck in place last year, I
didn't get much out of doing maint. on the box, but the business owners
ranted and raved over their server to their mates - more biz came. I've
been asked by some local companies that do computer tech support about
either unix or linux stuff - because they don't have the skillset to
deal with it - so it gets thrown at me. Two local ISP's have linux boxes
that they really don't understand - so when upgrade time came, I was
there to furnish hardware and skills. I sell alot of computers -
workstations - based solely on prior customers spreading the word.

In many ways, having something so dependable does put a dent in repeat
work - in a Microsoft kinda way - but I don't mind having good karma and
a good reputation and new business. It allows me the freedom of social
movement around town as well - no one's got a bad word on me or bad
feelings on me - so wherever I go, I get good feelings and great
welcomes.

I have to thank RedHat, Mandrake, Linus T. and the whole of GNU/Linux
for that...

-- 
Thu Aug 21 08:20:01 EST 2003
 08:20:01 up 3 days, 10:46,  1 user,  load average: 0.11, 0.21, 0.13
-
|____  | illawarra computer services|
|   /-oo /| |'-.   | http://kma.0catch.com  |
|  .\__/ || |   |  ||
|   _ /  `._ \|_|_.-'  | stephen kuhn   |
|  | /  \__.`=._) (_   | email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] |
-
  linux user #:267497 linux machine #:194239 * MDK 9.1+  RH 9  
  Mandrake Linux Kernel 2.4.21-11mdk Cooker for i586
-
 * This message was composed on a 100% Microsoft free computer *

The probability of a drink getting spilled into a console is directly propotional to 
the cost of the console
-- Murphy's Laws of Broadcast Engineering n8


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Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-20 Thread Stephen Kuhn
On Thu, 2003-08-21 at 06:30, Bret Hughes wrote:
 It will be interesting to see if this trend continues in
 the wake of all the redhat-config-* tools that make it pretty easy to
 get a box going even though it may be mis-configured and potentially
 less secure than it ought to be.  Of course that is not to say I haven't
 been able to mis-configure a box from the command line.

Even with all the GUI tools, I still find it easier, faster and more
efficient to do it all from the terminal/console - and being I'd much
rather know EVERYTHING that happens and WHY, blindly clicking on boxes
doesn't suit my style. For a GUI I prefer Webmin - a swiss-army-knife
that takes care of so much more with so much less...and then you don't
even have to be near the box in question to take care of it...ditto with
VNC...

Plus, there is a particular magic of administering a box at a console
from the end user's perspective - especially if they're sitting next
to you whilst it's being done...

-- 
Thu Aug 21 08:30:01 EST 2003
 08:30:01 up 3 days, 10:56,  1 user,  load average: 0.19, 0.22, 0.16
-
|____  | illawarra computer services|
|   /-oo /| |'-.   | http://kma.0catch.com  |
|  .\__/ || |   |  ||
|   _ /  `._ \|_|_.-'  | stephen kuhn   |
|  | /  \__.`=._) (_   | email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] |
-
  linux user #:267497 linux machine #:194239 * MDK 9.1+  RH 9  
  Mandrake Linux Kernel 2.4.21-11mdk Cooker for i586
-
 * This message was composed on a 100% Microsoft free computer *

You are fighting for survival in your own sweet and gentle way.


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Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-20 Thread Stephen Kuhn
On Wed, 2003-08-20 at 19:22, Martin Moss wrote:
 Are you commission mate:-) ?
 lol
 
 Marty

Are you making me an offer? (grin)

-- 
Thu Aug 21 08:30:01 EST 2003
 08:30:01 up 3 days, 10:56,  1 user,  load average: 0.19, 0.22, 0.16
-
|____  | illawarra computer services|
|   /-oo /| |'-.   | http://kma.0catch.com  |
|  .\__/ || |   |  ||
|   _ /  `._ \|_|_.-'  | stephen kuhn   |
|  | /  \__.`=._) (_   | email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] |
-
  linux user #:267497 linux machine #:194239 * MDK 9.1+  RH 9  
  Mandrake Linux Kernel 2.4.21-11mdk Cooker for i586
-
 * This message was composed on a 100% Microsoft free computer *

You are fighting for survival in your own sweet and gentle way.


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Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-20 Thread Cliff Wells
On Wed, 2003-08-20 at 14:17, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 As for my downtime: aside from upgrading the web server software, an hour 
 or two tops.  Include the web server software upgrade - 8 hours at most. 
 My other servers - a couple of hours at most.  Over 5 years.  To borrow a 
 phrase from Ron Popeil, system administration should not be a set it and 
 forget it enterprise; regular monitoring and patch installation is a fact 
 of IT life.  Ignoring recommended patches - whether from Redhat, 
 Microsoft, IBM, or whomever - will bite you in the CPU one day.

Agreed.  Uptime is overrated.  Security is far more important (unless
you want to see real downtime).

   My 
 concern is with _who_ will do the OS maintenance; if we have a 
 knowledgeable person on-staff who can handle it along with their other 
 duties, no problem.  If we need to outsource that maintenance more TCO 
 to be factored in.

Then hire someone who knows and fire the people who don't.  End of that
story.

 Never once has it been suggested that I recompile the Windows OS to get 
 maximum performance from my computer;  many's the time I've read 
 re-compile the kernel in response to a question about Linux performance.

That's because you can't ;)  Whenever you have something that is tuned
for the general case, you can always retune it for a specific case and
see a performance change.  *If* the source code to the Windows kernel
were available, you can be certain you'd see plenty of advice on how to
recompile to optimize it for a particular task.

  I read stories where someone has seen a performance increase after 
 replacing Windows with Linux, I personally have yet to see it. Anecdotally 
 (ie, with no benchmarks) my Dell Latitude is about half as speedy running 
 in Linux as it in Windows.  To get the same performance from Linux, would 
 I need to get a faster computer?  Something else to factor into the TCO.

It depends on the application.  Server-wise, I suspect Linux to be
faster than Windows (especially under load).  For the desktop, Windows
tends to be a bit snappier.  Anyone who claims GNOME is faster than
Windows is full of it.  Partially it's because GNOME isn't mature. 
Partially because GNOME has features up the $%#$%.  Partially because
GNOME isn't integrated into the OS.  This last point is an important one
because it highlights a major difference between Windows and Linux: the
GUI is not part of the OS.  This has an impact on both performance and
security.  Performance-wise, GNOME on Linux is slower than Windows. 
Linux without GNOME is faster than Windows.  Security-wise an exploit in
a GNOME application or GNOME itself is unlikely to garner someone root
privileges on the machine.

 You're implication about the size of our servers is spot on - we use 
 little boxes for little jobs, big iron for big jobs.  All covered during 
 system analysis and requirements planning. It may be worth mentioning that 
 we're not a Microsoft-only shop; we make use of whatever hardware/software 
 makes sense for us, our customers, and the application at the time.  I've 
 no doubt that Linux will one day be in that mix.

This is really the best approach.  I *prefer* Linux, and find that
usually it gives the best TCO (and more importantly, flexibility,
something I find sorely lacking in the Windows world).  However, there
is no doubt that Windows (or rather the applications only available on
it) has a place.

 However hardened the OS may be, history has shown that Linux is not immune 
 to attack - nor is any other OS that we can mention.  Those who think 
 otherwise are delusional at best. 

I don't think anyone would claim otherwise.  However, Linux is based on
a very different model than Windows that makes compromises more
difficult and often something less than system-wide when they are
accomplished.  Further, security is apparently a real concern on Linux,
whereas Microsoft has a history of downplaying its importance.  Linux is
a difficult target now and will continue to get more difficult (2.6 for
instance has entirely new security options, some of which will probably
obsolete rootkits and eradicate most buffer overflow attacks) while
Windows tends to get more vulnerable with each new version.  It's simply
a matter of priority.  Microsoft's priority has and will most likely
continue to be (press-releases aside) features and ease-of-use.  Or,
more to the point, reasons to upgrade wink.  Linux' priority has
always been stability.  Security is a big part of stability.

 Clever hackers abound, and go after 
 whatever they can get their grimy packets into.  Some OSes are more 
 secure than others.  But if you get enough hackers going at an OS, 
 they'll find a way in.

But you don't have to make it easy for them ;)

   For me, and probably 90%+ of the admins out there, 
 it's far easier to recover from a security breech in a MS-based system (or 
 network) than a Linux-based one.  Why?  Because it's what we know - and 
 therefore is likely to 

Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-20 Thread Bret Hughes
On Wed, 2003-08-20 at 17:33, Stephen Kuhn wrote:
 On Thu, 2003-08-21 at 06:30, Bret Hughes wrote:
  It will be interesting to see if this trend continues in
  the wake of all the redhat-config-* tools that make it pretty easy to
  get a box going even though it may be mis-configured and potentially
  less secure than it ought to be.  Of course that is not to say I haven't
  been able to mis-configure a box from the command line.
 
 Even with all the GUI tools, I still find it easier, faster and more
 efficient to do it all from the terminal/console - and being I'd much
 rather know EVERYTHING that happens and WHY, blindly clicking on boxes
 doesn't suit my style. For a GUI I prefer Webmin - a swiss-army-knife
 that takes care of so much more with so much less...and then you don't
 even have to be near the box in question to take care of it...ditto with
 VNC...
 
 Plus, there is a particular magic of administering a box at a console
 from the end user's perspective - especially if they're sitting next
 to you whilst it's being done...
 

Yeah I know what you mean.  I built a RH 9 box for a guy here in Tulsa
and he promply sent it to BF Wisconsin where his friend runs a small
ISP.  He has been amazed that the various tweaks we have need to be done
did not require a call to the colo guy. They are porting over a php app
that has been running on windows and got kind of miffed when there was
no ftp server running until I showed them winscp (Now GPL'ed and on 
Sourceforge btw).  

Another box I did for a local church that had 15 winxp boxes directly
connected to the internet with no firewall (Don't ask, got real
important last Monday :) We installed the box with no key board or
monitor and installed webmin for local admin.  $200 for a fully
configurable firewall and DHCP server.  Boy do they they love the log
report mails. 

It will soon be setup to prefilter mail before getting to the
workstations too.

Alot of this could be done with a linksys box of some sort I suppose but
having a platform that can be built on for future services really
tickles the pants off a lot of folks. 


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Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-20 Thread Bret Hughes
On Wed, 2003-08-20 at 16:17, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 Rick, 
 

 Never once has it been suggested that I recompile the Windows OS to get 
 maximum performance from my computer;  many's the time I've read 
 re-compile the kernel in response to a question about Linux performance. 
  I read stories where someone has seen a performance increase after 
 replacing Windows with Linux, I personally have yet to see it. Anecdotally 
 (ie, with no benchmarks) my Dell Latitude is about half as speedy running 
 in Linux as it in Windows.  To get the same performance from Linux, would 
 I need to get a faster computer?  Something else to factor into the TCO.


You're kidding right?  I think this a a feature not a bug.  You don't
think that a bunch of the registry tweaking windows geeks out there
would kill for the chance to customize the kernel? Fact is since you
can't get the source code you can't recompile.  

Several of your other arguments are quite valid in my opinion.  Of
course you need to include the cost of administration in determining the
TCO of any solution, but to imply that Windows software installation and
setup is always easier than in linux, is absurd.  There are always
outside variables and it sounds like you know as much about Linux as I
know about windows, a fair amount but not as much as you need to to
claim significant administration skills.  I have spent untold hours
learning and customizing linux and I get so pissed until I do another
windows installation and remember what a pain it can be to install the
software get the correct drivers for any specialized hardware, install
the software, tweak settings blah blah blah.  The cycle has to happen on
any platform.

Use of OS wide tools like rpm make determining what might have changed
trivial.  The mindset of fix it rather than reinstall the software is a
good thing IMHO.  You get to learn why instead of just how.

Sorry but that compile bit pissed me off.

Bret


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Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-20 Thread tomh
Or as impartial as I should be  On balance, I much prefer IBMs iSeries 
over everything else (Linux and Windows included).  It already has the 
security that will be coming in Linux, and that Microsoft can only dream 
about.  Lock it as sec level 50 and you've got one tight box...

But try and convince a CFO that spending (at least) $30K for an entry 
level system (OS and Developer tools included) could actually wind up 
saving them money...  And no GUI to speak of...

Tom Hightower
Solutions, Inc
http://www.simas.com





Cliff Wells [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent by: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
08/20/2003 05:41 PM
Please respond to redhat-list

 
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
cc: 
Subject:Re: Sweet Success



I get the distinct feeling that while you are trying to be neutral your
admitted lack of Linux knowledge prevents you from being as impartial as
you think you are.


Regards,

--
Cliff Wells, Software Engineer
Logiplex Corporation (www.logiplex.net)
(503) 978-6726  (800) 735-0555







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Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-20 Thread Jason Dixon
On Wed, 2003-08-20 at 19:21, Bret Hughes wrote:
 On Wed, 2003-08-20 at 16:17, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

  Never once has it been suggested that I recompile the Windows OS to get 
  maximum performance from my computer;  many's the time I've read 
  re-compile the kernel in response to a question about Linux performance. 
   I read stories where someone has seen a performance increase after 
  replacing Windows with Linux, I personally have yet to see it. Anecdotally 
  (ie, with no benchmarks) my Dell Latitude is about half as speedy running 
  in Linux as it in Windows.  To get the same performance from Linux, would 
  I need to get a faster computer?  Something else to factor into the TCO.

 You're kidding right?  I think this a a feature not a bug.  You don't
 think that a bunch of the registry tweaking windows geeks out there
 would kill for the chance to customize the kernel? Fact is since you
 can't get the source code you can't recompile.  

Honestly, the ability to recompile for performance gains is grossly
overrated.  You're talking single-digit percentage points, at best.  The
big advantage to having the kernel source is being able to patch in
stuff for bleeding-edge technologies (and drivers, of course).

Not to mention the ability to submit patches.  I can't overstate this...
the typical Linux user/hacker *can* make a difference.  I'm a code
idiot, which is to say I don't know much about C/C++ programming.  But
that hasn't stopped me from analyzing compilation errors and submitting
two successful patches to various projects (pptp-client, mysql/ssl). 
Having the source extends control back to the end-user, where it
belongs.

 Several of your other arguments are quite valid in my opinion.  Of
 course you need to include the cost of administration in determining the
 TCO of any solution, but to imply that Windows software installation and
 setup is always easier than in linux, is absurd.  There are always
 outside variables and it sounds like you know as much about Linux as I
 know about windows, a fair amount but not as much as you need to to
 claim significant administration skills.  I have spent untold hours
 learning and customizing linux and I get so pissed until I do another
 windows installation and remember what a pain it can be to install the
 software get the correct drivers for any specialized hardware, install
 the software, tweak settings blah blah blah.  The cycle has to happen on
 any platform.

An old adage- [Linux] makes easy things hard, and hard things
possible.  I do some fairly funky stuff for some of my clients...
particularly with wireless stuff.  Start layering security into multiple
OSI layers?  With Windows... fuhgettaboutit.  Try running PPTP inside
IPsec inside WEP.  It ain't happening.  Microsoft has managed to
obfuscate their API's so badly that stuff just doesn't abstract like it
should.

There's a great interview with Scott Mann 
(http://searchenterpriselinux.techtarget.com/qna/0,289202,sid39_gci912973,00.html) 
detailing some of the differences between Linux and Windows security.  Here's a great 
quote from Scott, detailing why he felt Windows administrators have such a hard time 
making the transition to the Linux/UNIX way of troubleshooting:

People who've had a lot of Windows experience and no Unix experience
have to overcome the Windows way of doing things. That can be tough.
With Windows, you don't have [the] luxury of getting into code and
seeing what's wrong. That's nearly impossible in most cases. So, most
Windows administrators are used to contacting Microsoft support
immediately when there's a problem. Typically, they don't go to news
groups, and so on, and try to track down problems that way. That's
completely counter to the Linux culture. The Linux culture is about
doing all the research first and then, when you can't figure something
out, you go and dig around.

Another big hurdle for Windows administrators is coming to grips with
the fact that the windowing system in a Linux environment is an
afterthought. It wasn't part of the original design. It's a completely
separate package. The real way to learn how to manage and maintain your
Linux environment from a security or administrative perspective is
learning about the operating system itself. Most Windows people don't
want to do that. They want to leap to 'How do I do this?' and 'How do I
do that?' That impatience usually leads to lots and lots of mistakes.

Good stuff.

-- 
Jason Dixon, RHCE
DixonGroup Consulting
http://www.dixongroup.net


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Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-20 Thread tomh
Such was not my intent.  My apologies to all whom I offended.

Tom Hightower
Solutions, Inc
http://www.simas.com





Bret Hughes [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent by: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
08/20/2003 06:21 PM
Please respond to redhat-list

 
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
cc: 
Subject:Re: Sweet Success



Sorry but that compile bit pissed me off.

Bret







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Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-20 Thread Jason Dixon
On Wed, 2003-08-20 at 19:46, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 Such was not my intent.  My apologies to all whom I offended.

You pissed me off too, but only with your top-posting.

P.S.  Just kidding.  ;-)

-- 
Jason Dixon, RHCE
DixonGroup Consulting
http://www.dixongroup.net


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Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-20 Thread Eduardo A. dela Rosa
Dear Tom,

A simple response:

Maintenance, training, and upgrades, needless to say, are factors
both present whether you've got Linux box or MS Products. Got the 
picture? Nope? It's the CO$T of Ownership having MS Products that
counts.

Another great difference and advantage that Linux box can have over
MS Products are flexibility, stability, and SECURITY (among 
others) that MS cannot meet at par with Linux.

How many times in a year that you need to patch your MS Boxes with
Bill-provided patch upgrades so that even your most latest Win2K
would not be exploited by worms?

It's for wise people like you to evaluate these facts.

Cheers!


On Wed, 2003-08-20 at 21:34, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 Let me say upfront that I like Linux in general, and RedHat in particular. 
  And (heresy!) I like MS products. 
 
 2 questions:
 -- what about the architectural/accounting package?
 -- who will maintain the OS and other various software updates?
 
 As far as dependability - when properly configured and used as intended, 
 MS Servers are _very_ reliable.  Cases in point:
 
 -- I have a Windows NT Server which has been processing our HTTP, SMTP and 
 POP3 for more than 5 years.  Total downtime is measured in hours, all of 
 it in upgrading the web server software (not MS) and MS patches.  We don't 
 use it for anything other that what I spec'ed it for - a server.
 
 -- I have a Windows NT Server, used for user network authentication and 
 print server.  It's been in place for more than 5 years, less downtime 
 than the web server. Again, it's used as intended and for nothing else.
 
 -- I have another WinNT Server, used as the Backup PDC, as the system 
 console to our iSeries, and as an FTP server.  Similar downtime as our 
 other servers.
 
 The only time we've had trouble with any Windows box is because of lame 
 users who install the latest worm or virus.  Linux is less prone to that 
 problem for now, but will not remain so as Linux desktops become more 
 prevalent.  And unmaintained Linux servers have a big ol' target on them, 
 which will only get bigger over time.
 
 As for cost: did you (or the admin) consider Microsoft's Partner In 
 Development program?  It runs about US$1000/year, and gets you the latest 
 Windows Server software, workstation software (XP these days), Office 
 software, etc.  With licenses for multiple installs of the non-Server 
 software. Not a bad way to go, if you qualify.
 
 Maintenance, training and upgrades: these are some of the hidden costs 
 that the Linux community is too often mum about - and some that you and 
 the admin should have already discussed...
 
 
 Tom Hightower
 Solutions, Inc
 http://www.simas.com
 
 
 
 
 
 Stephen Kuhn [EMAIL PROTECTED]
 Sent by: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
 08/20/2003 01:49 AM
 Please respond to redhat-list
 
  
 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
 cc: 
 Subject:Sweet Success
 
 
 I just want to relate the happiness I have over the successful
 installation of yet another RedHat server for a small business customer
 of mine;
 
 They were in need of a low-cost, dependable server machine to be used as
 a file server and a printer server - a machine on which they could load
 a high-end architectural/accounting package; originally they were faced
 with spending upwards of $6000 (for a MS type box, of course); my total
 drop in cost for the box ended up being $2200 - loaded with RH9 +
 updates, Samba, MySQL, using SENDMAIL/FETCHMAIL/PROCMAIL + SpamAssassin,
 F-Prot and ClamAV - as well as being the gateway for an 802.11b 2.4ghz
 network in our area. Actual software load and configuration was one
 evening here at home - about 2 hours total; drop in on site with client
 machine configurations was one day. Done deal. No dramas, no sweat, no
 problems. Even had time to show the admin how to use VNC to access the
 server desktop; script was setup to backup to CDRW once per week. EZ as
 pie.
 
 Had this have been a Windows box I would have spent three days with it -
 for one thing or another - I'm used to that crap, and the monstrous size
 of the patches/updates/fixes.
 
 So, for anyone with any doubts, it's really easy - it's really simple.
 Plus, the customer was more than happy to know that they have IMAP/POP
 functionality, a proxy (privoxy) and a firewall - without license fees
 and BS associated. They even have a nice big round RH sticker on the
 front door now...(couldn't say No to the admin - was her idea).
 
 --
 Wed Aug 20 16:35:01 EST 2003
 16:35:01 up 2 days, 19:01,  1 user,  load average: 0.29, 0.16, 0.05
 -
 |____  | illawarra computer services|
 |   /-oo /| |'-.   | http://kma.0catch.com  |
 |  .\__/ || |   |  ||
 |   _ /  `._ \|_|_.-'  | stephen kuhn   |
 |  | /  \__.`=._) (_   | email: [EMAIL PROTECTED

Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-20 Thread Jason Dixon
On Wed, 2003-08-20 at 20:38, Eduardo A. dela Rosa wrote:

 Maintenance, training, and upgrades, needless to say, are factors
 both present whether you've got Linux box or MS Products. Got the 
 picture? Nope? It's the CO$T of Ownership having MS Products that
 counts.

Eduardo, I'm glad you don't speak for all Linux users.  The moment you
used $ to represent the letter S, I stopped taking you seriously.  Let's
grow up and advocate Linux properly.

 Another great difference and advantage that Linux box can have over
 MS Products are flexibility, stability, and SECURITY (among 
 others) that MS cannot meet at par with Linux.

Not to defend Microsoft products, but Windows *can* be flexible (sorta),
*can* be stable (at times), and *can* be secure.  Just like a Linux box,
this also requires a qualified Systems Administrator who practices sound
security and patching.

 How many times in a year that you need to patch your MS Boxes with
 Bill-provided patch upgrades so that even your most latest Win2K
 would not be exploited by worms?

Actually, I've been rather embarrassed at the volume of errata that Red
Hat has released over the last couple of years.  Is this a bad thing? 
Only if the administrator hasn't maintained the system properly.  The
one thing that folks... the ones who argue that [Red Hat] Linux has as
many security holes as Windows... forget is that Linux is a distribution
containing a LOT of 3rd party software.  Windows just can't compare.  If
you were to compare the errata releases for the Linux kernel and GNU
utilities to Windows patches, I guarantee you they'd pale in
comparison.  So... you're both right.  ;-)

 It's for wise people like you to evaluate these facts.

It's wise for you to practice healthy advocacy.

-- 
Jason Dixon, RHCE
DixonGroup Consulting
http://www.dixongroup.net


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Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-20 Thread Rick Warner
On Wed, 2003-08-20 at 17:44, Jason Dixon wrote:

 Actually, I've been rather embarrassed at the volume of errata that Red
 Hat has released over the last couple of years.  Is this a bad thing? 
 Only if the administrator hasn't maintained the system properly. 

A good chunk of these errata have come from the fact that people are
understanding more about exploits and more people are scanning
through the source code of all the various packages looking for 
problems before they become exploits.  The cumulative effect is 
a system that will be more secure in the future.  One of the advantages
of having many eyes auditing the source.

- rick 


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Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-20 Thread Didier Casse

On Wed, 20 Aug 2003, Benjamin J. Weiss wrote:

 snip
  They were in need of a low-cost, dependable server machine to be used as
  a file server and a printer server - a machine on which they could load
  a high-end architectural/accounting package;
 
 Question:  We tried last year to use samba as a print server for a bunch of
 Win2K client machines on a domain.  We could get Samba to authenticate to
 the WinNT domain, no prob, but we couldn't get the print server to see any
 of the special features of the printers.  For instance, we have a couple of
 HP laser printers with duplexers.  We were able to get the linux box to be
 the print server, but couldn't see the duplexer on the printer.
 
 Were you able to get this kind of functionality?  And if so, how?
 

What did you use LPRNG or CUPS? CUPS (Common Unix Printing System) should
be able to do that.



Didier

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PhD student

Singapore Synchrotron Light Source (SSLS)
5 Research Link,
Singapore 117603

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Website: http://ssls.nus.edu.sg












 Thanks!
 
 Ben
 
 
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Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-20 Thread Bret Hughes
On Wed, 2003-08-20 at 18:46, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 Such was not my intent.  My apologies to all whom I offended.
 

Nah It is I who should apologize.  Your post was really pretty well
presented even if I don't agree with every premise in your argument.

Too many things going on today and my (linux based) virus scanner
working overtime due to all the outlook crap running around the net.

FWIW I do run a custom kernel on my laptop since I wanted to use the
winmodem and use Win4Lin for autocad and office apps when I have to
exchange docs with folks outside the organization.

Bret

PS what is the deal with the SO.Big or whatever I have never received
over 2 or 3 of these in a single day and today fprot has found over 25!

And to top it off I get messages from other mailserver telling me that
the mail I sent has been found to contain a virus.  Of course it is
someone else spoofing the sender but it still irritates me.  


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Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-20 Thread Ed Greshko
On Thu, 2003-08-21 at 10:16, Bret Hughes wrote:

 And to top it off I get messages from other mailserver telling me that
 the mail I sent has been found to contain a virus.  Of course it is
 someone else spoofing the sender but it still irritates me.  

I've seen those too.  The ones I got appear to be crafted to entice me
to open an attachment.  They say something along the lines of...Your
mail is returned due to a virus.  See attached for details.


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Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-20 Thread Jason Dixon
On Wed, 2003-08-20 at 22:16, Bret Hughes wrote:

 PS what is the deal with the SO.Big or whatever I have never received
 over 2 or 3 of these in a single day and today fprot has found over 25!

Be thankful you're not on any of the OpenBSD lists.  The worm has the
nasty side-effect of grabbing an infecting user's addressbook and
passing on the worm as an attachment.  Unfortunately, the worst part is
that it spoofs the address(es?) of one of those found in the
addressbook.  In this case, some Windows/Outlook user got hit and the
worm spoofed itself as misc/[EMAIL PROTECTED]  You can imagine the
mess... every AV gateway in existence is bouncing these infected mails
back to the mailing lists.  *sigh*

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DixonGroup Consulting
http://www.dixongroup.net


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Re: Sweet Success

2003-08-20 Thread Bret Hughes
On Wed, 2003-08-20 at 21:18, Ed Greshko wrote:
 On Thu, 2003-08-21 at 10:16, Bret Hughes wrote:
 
  And to top it off I get messages from other mailserver telling me that
  the mail I sent has been found to contain a virus.  Of course it is
  someone else spoofing the sender but it still irritates me.  
 
 I've seen those too.  The ones I got appear to be crafted to entice me
 to open an attachment.  They say something along the lines of...Your
 mail is returned due to a virus.  See attached for details.
 

Yes, I get those too.  In fact, After looking I can't find the two that
I was referring to.  Either I deleted them or they were all the same
virus stuff you mention.  I could have sworn I got two today that were
not flagged by mailscanner  and look legit.  Who knows?

Bret


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