jtseng · Slashdot Mirror

No he didn't on Dvorak On Linux And "The Big Time" · 1999-09-21 07:09 · Score: 1

Some people have said it's good for a system to have a standardized interface. That's half-true. Sure it would lessen the learning curve, but if you have a real kludgy, non-intuitive interface, you'd spend more time trying to interact with it.

A company that decides to use Linux can choose from a myriad of interfaces. And they can standardize and train their personnel on one. If someone from the outside wants to use their computers but is using a different Linux distro, they can still fairly easily choose their favorite interface.

Just my $0.02.

"Microsoft is the epitome of innovation and product quality."

And what services were you running on it? on Dvorak On Linux And "The Big Time" · 1999-09-21 06:54 · Score: 1

I used to administer NT web/database app servers. These boxes would crash mysteriously after two days of being up. I would get a call from a boss saying he can't get to our web site. I would go to the console and see "inetinfo has an error 0xsomething" and I would need to reboot the machine. (Restarting the service didn't work.)

I do have W2k on my machine here at home (build 2072). It has not crashed on me yet, but my NIC disappeared. My 3c095b-tx was recognized when I installed w2k but it disappeared two days ago. There is no driver available for download for one of the most common NICs in the world.

Meanwhile my Linux and Solaris boxes would stay up for weeks at a time. The only time they went down was for protecting them from line surges from storms.

That's why I hate Micros~1 products. Because my practical work experience has shown me THEY SUCK.

"Microsoft is the epitome of innovation and product quality."

Can you make bootable CDs? on Mandrake 6.1 Is Out (For Real This Time) · 1999-09-16 22:41 · Score: 1

I was wondering if anyone knows if you're able to create bootable CDs using their ISO images. Otherwise I'll just buy it from CheapBytes.

"Microsoft is the epitome of innovation and product quality."

I have been disappointed so far on Mandrake 6.1 NOT Out (Update) · 1999-09-13 16:54 · Score: 2

I got a copy of Mandrake6 from Cheapbytes a couple of weeks ago and installed it. So far it seems unstable compared to the original RH6 and it doesn't seem to shut down properly either. When I turned my computer on this morning, the system had to recover from a pretty bad case of filesystem corruption b/c the system shut down wrong when I turned it off last night. Although it was the worst case I've seen so far, unfortunately it was not the first time re: Mandrake.

When is RH6.1 coming out?!?!?!

"Microsoft is the epitome of innovation and product quality."

White House: house of fools on White House Checks Out Open Source · 1999-09-10 21:16 · Score: 2

I worked for the White House at the New Executive Office Building not too long ago. I had the pleasure of visiting their secure server room and what I saw was a mess.

First of all, as far as the White House was concerned, they don't need to worry about a singular dependence on M$ because they had a hodgepodge of machines (Linux, SGI, HPUX, VMS, NT). And their IT infrastructure was poor at best. One day we all had to stay late because someone knocked the only router we had to the outside world off a desk and we were out for hours.

A current colleague of mine interviewed for a developer position there back in April. I asked him what they had there and there really aren't too many changes. My understanding is that they are still running hand-me-down SGI Indigos running Irix 5.3. Hey guys - think Y2K!!! Upgrade to 6.5!!!

"Microsoft is the epitome of innovation and product quality."

Better yet on GM ponders Linux for 7,500 Dealers · 1999-09-09 20:43 · Score: 1

Perhaps they could get Mainsoft to port their app to Linux.

"Microsoft is the epitome of innovation and product quality."

This is what a coworker had to say: on NSA backdoor creates security hole in Windows · 1999-09-02 21:31 · Score: 1

Microsoft CSP architecture closely resemble the Intel Common Desktop Security Architecture (CDSA).
These architectures were designed to allow third parties to easily extend or add (1) Cryptographic Functions,
(2) custom Security Policy, and (3) internal or external Key Storage functions. With this architecture,
users are presented with many choices of CSPs and can select any of the available CSPs
for encrypting messages.

Normally, Crypto Service Provider (CSP) manufacturer such as SmartCard vendors will
first submit their devices' public key to Microsoft.
Microsoft then incorporates the key into the Trusted Computing Base of the Operating
System. Upon loading of the CSP module, the public key is then used to authenticate and integrity-protect
the CSP codes and devices. In the final release version of the Window 2000, we will see other public keys
installed, in addition to NSA and Microsoft's keys.

Why is NSA public key pre-installed on the Operating System? My guess is that the NSA CSP contains
the necessary protocol for recovering encrytion keys thru third party agent known as the Key Recovery Agent (KRA). These key recovery functions are absolutely required on systems deployed in Federal agencies.
The Key Recovery Protocol is an emerging standard. And only specially designed Cryptographic
functions that have third party KRA's key embeded can recover keys.

Details on CDSA and Kery Recovery Protocol can be found at:
http://developer.intel.com/ial/security/document ation.htm
http://www.kra.org (Key Recovery Alliance web site)