[buug] Linux Security Site

[Zeke Krahlin]

Hi Rick Moen, you wrote on 2/16/2000 8:59:57 PM:

>I don't think Linux is a good option for such people.  They will 
>inevitably evaluate Linux by how closely it approximates what they're 
>used to, while being blind to what it has that they've never seen.

I don't find that to always be the case. I have five clients who already 
took my advice to
drop AOL, and go for one of the local services for a lot less cost (and 
some even chose
a free service). They are all glad they did so. Any client who would not 
consider taking
the brave leap from AOL to a generic ISP, I do not bother to offer any 
other PC alternatives
(like Linux).

These 5 clients also have Linux running on a separate partition, to see for 
themselves what
it's about. They like it, and they like the idea of dropping Windoze. The 
only thing stopping
them from switching over, is the same reason I have: incorporating the 
necessary security
settings. In a few months, though, I should have this resolved, and be able 
to get their Linux
boxes optimally running.

Once I reach that point, I will uninstall Windoze to make their systems 
pure Linux. I've already
arranged their data for easy backup and use by Linux software. These 
clients are not dependent
on any work that would require running one Windoze program or another. 
Mostly, they'll be
browsing the web...and the rest of their PC activities will entail the 
conventional types of software 
(word processing, calculator, PIM, check balancing, etc.). Star Office or 
Corel Word Perfect Suite will meet all their needs just fine.

These are *not lame Windoze sheep, but a several cuts above that. They are 
intellectually active, curious, and have a great desire to boycott Windoze. 
IOW: they are not beyond redemption. ;)

>You can get non-graphical access from MS Windows to your Linux box
>using telnet or ssh (latter preferred -- see
>http://linuxmafia.com/pub/linux/security/ssh-clients).  

Thanx. I've downloaded puTTY. But It seems repugnant to use Windoze to 
access Linux. 
Are there methods to accomplish same via DOS? (If so, would it be only 
non-graphics?)

>You can get
>your graphical Linux apps (X apps) from your MS Windows desktop by
>either installing an X server on MS Windows, or installing VNC software
>at both ends.  http://www.uk.research.att.com/vnc/

The VNC site is not accessible...but maybe it's just temporary downtime. 
Though
a search for "VNC" did get me a site to download this little freeware gem:

http://softseek.zdnet.com/Utilities/Remote_and_Mobile_Computing/D_26637_inde
 x.html

But why would this method of accessing the Linux box be more practical, 
than using a split 
video cable, where I can run Linux directly...with no Windoze shell holding 
it all up? Is
this method almost just as fast and robust as using Linux directly? 

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