Just to recap what I'm doing. I'm writing a Java application which runs basically where ever Java can run. My target is for the desktop environment (Windows, Linux, Mac). Part of the functionality is to do ftp transfer. This is done by filling in the host, port number, userid, and password on a panel. All of the fields with the exception of the password are saved in a file and reloaded when the user reinvokes the application. I will grant that this, in itself, could be considered poor security, but that's they way it goes. Since the user may fill out this panel some time before using the ftp function, I have included a "Validate" button on the panel. All this does is attempt to connect to an ftp server on the host, on the given port, using the given userid and password. I give this oppertunity so that an ftp does not fail later when the user actually tries to do the ftp function.
What I am actually doing, for learning purposes, is reimplementing IBM's Softcopy Librarian application in 100% pure Java. IBM, for whatever reason, has a mixture of Java and Windows programs to implement their version. I cannot get it to run under Linux. I want it to run under Linux, so I'm working on doing so. The panel containing the host, port, userid, and password are part of IBM's design that I am more-or-less replicating. The only enhancement is that I allow the user to validate that they did not make a mistake here, rather than waiting until actually attempting an ftp and having it fail for some reason. The "validate" feedback is fairly simple of "Validate succeeded", "Validate Failed. Unknown Host", "Validate Failed. Connection Refused.", or "Validate failed.". This last is what happens when a person puts in a bad userid or password. But that is all that I say. I don't regard this, as one person averred, as a "hacking tool" because a person can do the same thing from a simple ftp command line. It's not like I'm giving anybody any information that they couldn't get otherwise using a simple ftp client. Thanks for your thoughts. The design is how etched in code. Which is sometimes harder to get changed than rock! <grin>. -- John McKown Senior Systems Programmer HealthMarkets Keeping the Promise of Affordable Coverage Administrative Services Group Information Technology The information contained in this e-mail message may be privileged and/or confidential. It is for intended addressee(s) only. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, reproduction, distribution or other use of this communication is strictly prohibited and could, in certain circumstances, be a criminal offense. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender by reply and delete this message without copying or disclosing it. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
