Linux-Misc Digest #734, Volume #26 Sat, 6 Jan 01 17:13:02 EST
Contents:
Re: RH6.2 server. Ethernet problems - really strange! (Bo Berglund)
RPM: rpm -qf (Neil Zanella)
Re: Ask about Samba (Rod Smith)
Re: problme with printing from mac to linux via TCP/IP ("Ingo Brand")
Re: Journalled Filesystem on a laptop (Wolfgang Mederle)
Re: ftp but not telnet ("datagram")
Linux Help Please!!! ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
Re: RH6.2 server. Ethernet problems - really strange! ("Peter T. Breuer")
Re: problem with linux as printserver for mac via netatalk (Rod Smith)
Re: 2.4 finally made official (James Knott)
Software Inventory (Lisa Johnson)
Re: 2.4 finally made official (James Knott)
Re: Journalled Filesystem on a laptop (Rod Smith)
Re: Matrox AGP G450 on Redhat 7 - Can't get X to Start (Tom Voltaggio)
Matrox AGP G450 doesn't work in Redhat .. Does the G400? (Tom Voltaggio)
Re: linux reaches the big screen ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
Re: Remote Kiosk Web Application Administration (Shane Phelps)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Bo Berglund)
Crossposted-To: comp.os.linux.help,comp.os.linux.networking
Subject: Re: RH6.2 server. Ethernet problems - really strange!
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: Sat, 06 Jan 2001 20:18:52 GMT
On Sat, 06 Jan 2001 18:55:54 GMT, David <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
wrote:
.. snip...
>> How can I make all of this stay through a reboot?
>> I want to be able to set these items (at least) for *each* ethx:
>> IP address
>> Netmask
>> Gateway
>> DNS servers
>>
>> And all of this from the command prompt (all there is!)
>
>
>You should be able to set these in the files below.
>
>/etc/sysconfig/network
>Contains gateway and gateway device
>
>/etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-eth0 # or eth1
>Contains IP, Netmask
>
>/etc/resolv.conf
>Contains DNS IP
>
I have a network and a resolv.conf file but no ifcfg-ethx files...
Is there a resource that can tell me how such files should be
formatted to work? Mine look like this now, what do I have to add:
network:
NETWORKING=yes
HOSTNAME="linuxpc.agiusa.com"
GATEWAY="192.168.0.129"
GATEWAYDEV=""
FORWARD_IPV4="yes"
resolv.conf: (probably OK - I wrote it myself...)
nameserver 192.168.0.129
nameserver 10.0.0.1
nameserver 10.0.0.2
ifcfg-eth0 and ifcfg-eth1 are nonexistent so I have nothing to go by.
Thanks for any help...
PS: How do I find out which settings are in use at any given time?
ifcfg does not show gateway and DNS for example.
DS
Bo Berglund
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
------------------------------
From: Neil Zanella <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: RPM: rpm -qf
Date: Sat, 6 Jan 2001 16:56:56 -0330
Hello,
I noticed the following behavior with rpm -qf filename and thought it
was a little bit odd. If I rename filename to something else or move
filename to another directory then rpm -qf filename still gives the
same output as long as I remain in hte directory from where I renamed
or moved the file. I was expecting file not found or something like
that. Where does rpm look to find the needed information? It seems like
rpm is somewhat unaware of changes performed manually. I am running
version 3.0.5 of rpm.
Thanks,
Neil
------------------------------
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Rod Smith)
Subject: Re: Ask about Samba
Crossposted-To: comp.os.linux.admin,comp.os.linux.networking,linux.redhat.misc
Date: Sat, 06 Jan 2001 20:31:31 GMT
[Posted and mailed]
In article <93552b$[EMAIL PROTECTED]>,
"Regent Linus" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
>
> when I come to
> office at the morning., say 9am, window say "the driver(Samba)
> can't be connected" something liked that, but if after I logged
> into window and then access the Samba, it could be clicked into
> and all the files shown but just the first click may take some
> more time.
Are you running Samba independently, or through inetd or xinetd? If
you're starting samba via inetd or xinetd, there'll be a delay when you
try to initiate a new connection, which could account for what you're
seeing.
--
Rod Smith, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.rodsbooks.com
Author of books on Linux & multi-OS configuration
------------------------------
From: "Ingo Brand" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Crossposted-To:
alt.os.linux,alt.uu.comp.os.linux.questions,comp.os.linux.networking,comp.os.linux.setup,comp.sys.mac.comm
Subject: Re: problme with printing from mac to linux via TCP/IP
Date: Sat, 6 Jan 2001 21:56:30 +0100
"Henry Broekhuyse" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
news:Q6J56.86135$[EMAIL PROTECTED]...
> Dave Pooser <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
> news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]...
> > In article <937i8a$t5$[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Ingo Brand
> > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> >
> Agreed. Generally, if there is an Appletalk-protocol printer available for
> network printing from a Mac, it is far better to allow the Mac to print
> directly to the printer using Appletalk for all the reasons noted above.
But I don't want the Mac to spool printjob of several hundret MB!!! I think
it is better to let the Linuxbox do the spooling and keep faster working
during that time on the Mac!!! The fact is, that I can't print from the Mac
to the Linuxbox, Neither via netatalk, nor with TCP/IP!!!
------------------------------
From: Wolfgang Mederle <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Crossposted-To: comp.os.linux.portable
Subject: Re: Journalled Filesystem on a laptop
Date: 06 Jan 2001 18:20:58 +0100
Es schrieb Erik de Castro Lopo:
> I am aware that ReiserFS is available. I was after comments on
> how it performs when the machine it runs on loses power.
Didn't experience this so far, but had some ugly lock-ups when
starting KDE2 windowmanager with artsd. Only thing I could do was
switch off.
Machine is an Acer Extensa 500DX running Mandrake 7.2 on ReiserFS (all
partitions, booting with grub). Recovered well after rebooting, no
data loss or other trouble. After switching to blackbox as WM, the
lock-up problems disappeared, either. I can recommend Reiser. On my
gateway machine at home (P90, 16MB) I had uptimes greater than 40 days
without any problems, with ReiserFS as /, SuSE 6.4.
--
Wolfgang Mederle
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.mederle.de/
ICQ# 1435333
------------------------------
From: "datagram" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Crossposted-To: comp.os.linux.networking
Subject: Re: ftp but not telnet
Date: Sat, 06 Jan 2001 21:04:29 GMT
it's an idea but the ftp server is behind a firewall, it'll be on the
intranet and only some users in the same team will have access to it and
they're also system users on that box but I don't want anyone to connect to
the ftp server using telnet so I don't want this to be possible:
telnet ftp.server.com ftp
can this be done ?
if so how ? or I'll be equally happy with some docs or links.
thank you very much!!
"Dave Mundt" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]...
> Greetings and Salutations...
> 1) turn off FTP support completely. I Think, though, that this is
> likely NOT something you want done.
> 2) use SCP or a "secured" version of FTP to connect to your
> server.
> 3) Set up firewalling to only allow connections to FTP ports on
> your systems from "trusted" clients. (Not especially secure, but,
> keeps the Script Kiddies out).
> Regards
> Dave Mundt
>
> "datagram" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> >Hi,
> >is it possible to stop people accessing ftp vas telnet ?
> >
> >I know the answer is yes ... how ?
> >links ? docs ? any help is greately appreciated.
> >
> >Thanks.
> >
> >
>
> Remove the "REMOVE_THIS_" from my email address to get to me...
> I hate Cullers who gather from newsgroups
>
> Visit my home page at http://www.esper.com/xvart/index.html
------------------------------
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Linux Help Please!!!
Date: Sat, 06 Jan 2001 21:04:04 GMT
can anyone sidgest a verson of linux that would be easily put on an old
box with 8 megs of ram 1.5 gig HD pentium 100mhz cpu?
i have tried mandrake 7.0 and it failed to load onto it
any advice?
thanks in advance
bye
Sent via Deja.com
http://www.deja.com/
------------------------------
From: "Peter T. Breuer" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Crossposted-To: comp.os.linux.help,comp.os.linux.networking
Subject: Re: RH6.2 server. Ethernet problems - really strange!
Date: Sat, 6 Jan 2001 21:59:37 +0100
In comp.os.linux.help Bo Berglund <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> How can I make all of this stay through a reboot?
Stick them in some file. Redhat uses stuff below /etc/sysconfig
as far as I recall. And make sure that linuxconf is OFF your machine
or it'll rewrite your work to suit its taste.
Peter
------------------------------
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Rod Smith)
Subject: Re: problem with linux as printserver for mac via netatalk
Date: Sat, 06 Jan 2001 21:17:38 GMT
[Posted and mailed]
In article <3a5629a9$[EMAIL PROTECTED]>,
"Ingo Brand" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
>
> The case is correct. But why does it print the job after restarting the
> printerdeamon?
I missed that detail. Presumably it's getting submitted incompletely, or
Netatalk is turning off the print queue somehow.
> Do you know any program that converts a mac-textfile to unix?
Look for a program called mac2unix. Here's the source code to a
quick-and-dirty implementation I once wrote. Cut this out of the
message, store it in a file called mac2unix.c, and compile it with "gcc
-o mac2unix mac2unix.c". You can also do it with various scripting
languages or text editors.
/* Program mac2unix, copyright (c) 1999 by Roderick W. Smith */
/* This program may be freely redistributed by the terms of the
GNU General Public License (GPL). */
/* This program converts a Mac-style text file to UNIX format
by converting \r to \n in an input file. */
#include <stdio.h>
#define SEARCHCHAR '\r'
#define REPLACECHAR '\n'
int main (int argc, char* argv[])
{
FILE *infile, *outfile;
char c;
if (argc != 3) {
printf ("Usage:\n%s macfile unixfile\n", argv[0]);
} else {
infile = fopen (argv[1], "r");
outfile = fopen (argv[2], "w");
if ((infile != NULL) && (outfile != NULL)) {
while ((c = getc(infile)) != EOF) {
if (c == SEARCHCHAR)
c = REPLACECHAR;
putc (c, outfile);
} /* endwhile */
fclose (infile);
fclose (outfile);
} else {
printf ("Problems opening file! Aborting!\n");
} /* endif */
} /* endif */
exit(0);
}
--
Rod Smith, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.rodsbooks.com
Author of books on Linux & multi-OS configuration
------------------------------
From: James Knott <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Crossposted-To: comp.os.linux.networking,comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.os.linux.portable
Subject: Re: 2.4 finally made official
Date: Sat, 06 Jan 2001 21:20:08 GMT
Why shouldn't MS "journalism" be as shody as their
software? ;-)
David Steinberg wrote:
>
> Glitch ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) wrote:
> : http://www.msnbc.com/news/512189.asp
> : It's about time.
>
> No kidding! Talk about shoddy journalism, eh?
>
> Linux 2.4.0 was released yesterday! Could imagine MSNBC being a day late
> covering the release of a new version of Windows?
>
> --
> David Steinberg -o)
> Computer Engineering Undergrad, UBC / \
> [EMAIL PROTECTED] _\_v
--
Replies sent via e-mail to this address will be promptly
ignored.
To reply, replace everything to the left of "@" with
"james.knott".
------------------------------
From: Lisa Johnson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Software Inventory
Date: Sat, 06 Jan 2001 21:20:13 GMT
Is there anything out there that will query a Linux, Unix or Irix server
to determine what software is running on it?
------------------------------
From: James Knott <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Crossposted-To: comp.os.linux.networking,comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.os.linux.portable
Subject: Re: 2.4 finally made official
Date: Sat, 06 Jan 2001 21:21:46 GMT
Why shouldn't MS "journalism" be as shoddy as their
software? ;-)
David Steinberg wrote:
>
> Glitch ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) wrote:
> : http://www.msnbc.com/news/512189.asp
> : It's about time.
>
> No kidding! Talk about shoddy journalism, eh?
>
> Linux 2.4.0 was released yesterday! Could imagine MSNBC being a day late
> covering the release of a new version of Windows?
>
> --
> David Steinberg -o)
> Computer Engineering Undergrad, UBC / \
> [EMAIL PROTECTED] _\_v
--
Replies sent via e-mail to this address will be promptly
ignored.
To reply, replace everything to the left of "@" with
"james.knott".
------------------------------
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Rod Smith)
Subject: Re: Journalled Filesystem on a laptop
Crossposted-To: comp.os.linux.portable
Date: Sat, 06 Jan 2001 21:23:06 GMT
[Posted and mailed]
In article <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>,
Erik de Castro Lopo <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
>
> Has anybody tried the various journaled filesystems to overcome
> problems like this?
I've been using ReiserFS on the /home partition of one system for a
while. I hear that XFS is also now officially in beta, but JFS was still
alpha, the last I heard, and not really useable. My impression of
ReiserFS is that it's useful and may be adequate for your needs,
particularly when a random crash or power outage is likely. I've not
experienced filesystem corruption on the handful of cases when this has
happened to me. ReiserFS is, however, still a bit rough around the
edges. A few programs just don't work with it, like Win4Lin 1.0 (but the
newly-released 2.0 does work with ReiserFS) and (IIRC) VMware. The last
I checked, NFS exports from ReiserFS were a problem, but I haven't
checked on that detail lately.
--
Rod Smith, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.rodsbooks.com
Author of books on Linux & multi-OS configuration
------------------------------
From: Tom Voltaggio <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Crossposted-To: comp.os.linux.redhat,linux.redhat.install,comp.os.linux.setup
Subject: Re: Matrox AGP G450 on Redhat 7 - Can't get X to Start
Date: Sat, 06 Jan 2001 21:31:39 GMT
Thanks for your help. I tried your Config file and can't
get it to load with StartX.
I get messages like Startx can't load because it does not
recognize "InputDevice"!!!!
Are you running Linux 7 out of the box? Have you upgraded
the kernel or anything else?
Which mga_drv.o driver are you using?
Eric Ste-Marie wrote:
>
> benoit mordelet wrote:
>
> > Tom Voltaggio wrote:
> > >
> > > Has anyone gotten Redhat Linux 7 to work with Matrox AGP
> > > G450?
> > > Everything installs and it sees my video card and monitor,
> > > but
> > > it will not give me more than vertical lines or "out of scan
> > > range"
> > > messages on my monitor (a Sony E210). I downloaded the new
> > > driver
> > > from Matrox with no luck. Redhat 7 uses Xfree 4.01.1. I
> > > checked
> > > the monitor scan rates from the specs and have used every
> > > permutation
> > > of scan rates and monitors. No luck.
> > >
> > > Is there any way I can get it to start in plain VGA?
> >
> > a patch against 2.4.0-test13-pre1 kernel has recently been made
> > available to add support for the G450 in matroxfb. thus it may be
> > present in the last 2.4.0 prerelease (I hope because I've also got
> > problems with that card, but I've not yet downloaded a recent kernel).
> >
> > if this works you will be able to run XFree on top of matroxfb (with the
> > FBDev X server).
> >
> > ben
>
> Well I'm working in X with the G450 right now. Are you guys not seeing
> anything at all?
>
> I have it running in 24bits at 1600x1200 and the card works very fine.
>
> once your XF86config file is well configured you start DualHead with
> "startx -- +xinerama"
>
> Also, read carefuly the /var/log/XFree86.0.log file for debugging info.
> This is how I manage to figure it out.
>
> The Chipset on the G450 seems to be G400 so it should work in single screen
> with the generic mga driver shipped with XFree86 4 . But you might
> experience similar problems as I did.
>
> My problems is:
>
> I boot on the first port and when I start X, the output goes to the
> second port. If I exit Xfree, the console stays on the second port. At
> first I tough my computer was crashed but at some point I tried to plug my
> monitor on the second port after I started X only to find out that the
> X was indeed displaying there. This is annoying but I can manage the
> aggravation for now. My monitor has dual port also so I select which port
> I want to use with a single monitor.
>
> I ended up recompiling XFree and the matrox driver before I could figure
> out that X was not showing on the console CRT. A
>
> I used kernel 2.4.0-prerelease with Xfree86 4.0.2 and used matrox's driver
> compiled along with Xfree.
> I enabled agpgart in the kernel. My MB has chipset is viakt133
>
> It's quite straight forward to do.
>
> If anyone can help with the wrong port output please email me.
>
> If anyone needs help just using the card (even on the wrong port ;)) email
> me, i'll try to help you.
>
> I hope this helps,
>
> -Eric
>
> For your info, here's my XF86Config file:
> ==========================
>
> Section "Files"
> RgbPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/rgb"
> ModulePath "/usr/X11R6/lib/modules"
> FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/misc/"
> FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/Speedo/"
> FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/Type1/"
> FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/CID/"
> FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi/"
> FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi/"
> EndSection
>
> Section "Module"
> Load "extmod"
> Load "xie"
> Load "pex5"
> Load "glx"
> Load "dri"
> Load "GLcore"
> Load "dbe"
> Load "record"
> EndSection
>
> Section "InputDevice"
> Identifier "Keyboard0"
> Driver "keyboard"
> EndSection
>
> Section "InputDevice"
> Identifier "Mouse0"
> Driver "mouse"
> Option "Protocol" "PS/2"
> Option "Device" "/dev/mouse"
> Option "Emulate3Buttons"
> Option "Emulate3Timeout" "50"
> EndSection
>
> Section "Monitor"
> Identifier "Monitor0"
> VendorName "IBM"
> ModelName "p202"
> HorizSync 30.0 - 107.0
> VertRefresh 50.0 - 160.0
> EndSection
>
> Section "Monitor"
> Identifier "Monitor1"
> VendorName "IBM"
> ModelName "p202"
> HorizSync 30.0 - 107.0
> VertRefresh 50.0 - 160.0
> EndSection
>
> Section "Device"
> ### Available Driver options are:-
> #Option "SWcursor"
> #Option "HWcursor"
> #Option "PciRetry"
> #Option "SyncOnGreen"
> #Option "NoAccel"
> #Option "ShowCache"
> #Option "Overlay"
> #Option "MGASDRAM"
> #Option "ShadowFB"
> #Option "UseFBDev"
> #Option "ColorKey"
> #Option "SetMclk"
> #Option "OverclockMem"
> #Option "VideoKey"
> #Option "Rotate"
> #Option "TexturedVideo"
> #Option "XAALines"
> #Option "Crtc2Half"
> #Option "DigitalScreen"
> #Option "Tv"
> #Option "TVStandard"
> #Option "CableType"
> Identifier "G450-0"
> Driver "mga"
> VendorName "Matrox"
> BoardName "MGA G450 AGP"
> BusID "PCI:1:0:0"
> Screen 0
> EndSection
>
> Section "Device"
> ### Available Driver options are:-
> #Option "SWcursor"
> #Option "HWcursor"
> #Option "PciRetry"
> #Option "SyncOnGreen"
> #Option "NoAccel"
> #Option "ShowCache"
> #Option "Overlay"
> #Option "MGASDRAM"
> #Option "ShadowFB"
> #Option "UseFBDev"
> #Option "ColorKey"
> #Option "SetMclk"
> #Option "OverclockMem"
> #Option "VideoKey"
> #Option "Rotate"
> #Option "TexturedVideo"
> #Option "XAALines"
> #Option "Crtc2Half"
> #Option "DigitalScreen"
> #Option "Tv"
> #Option "TVStandard"
> #Option "CableType"
> Identifier "G450-1"
> Driver "mga"
> VendorName "Matrox"
> BoardName "MGA G450 AGP"
> BusID "PCI:1:0:0"
> Screen 1
> EndSection
> Section "Screen"
> Identifier "Screen 0"
> Device "G450-0"
> Monitor "Monitor0"
> DefaultDepth 24
> Subsection "Display"
> Depth 8
> Modes "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600"
> EndSubSection
> Subsection "Display"
> Depth 16
> Modes "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600"
> EndSubSection
> SubSection "Display"
> Depth 24
> Modes "1600x1200"
> EndSubSection
>
> EndSection
> Section "Screen"
> Identifier "Screen 1"
> Device "G450-1"
> Monitor "Monitor1"
> DefaultDepth 24
> Subsection "Display"
> Depth 8
> Modes "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600"
> EndSubSection
> Subsection "Display"
> Depth 16
> Modes "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600"
> EndSubSection
> SubSection "Display"
> Depth 24
> Modes "1600x1200"
> EndSubSection
> EndSection
>
> Section "ServerLayout"
> Identifier "Simple Layout"
> Screen "Screen 0" LeftOf "Screen 1"
> Screen "Screen 1"
> Option "Xinerama"
> InputDevice "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
> InputDevice "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
> EndSection
>
> Section "DRI"
> EndSection
> ==========================
------------------------------
From: Tom Voltaggio <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Crossposted-To: comp.os.linux.redhat,linux.redhat.install,comp.os.linux.setup
Subject: Matrox AGP G450 doesn't work in Redhat .. Does the G400?
Date: Sat, 06 Jan 2001 21:34:05 GMT
I'm bummed about not getting my Matrox G450 AGP 16 Meg Video
card
to work in Redhat 7. Does the G400 work with no fuss?
------------------------------
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Crossposted-To: alt.os.linux,comp.os.linux.portable,comp.os.linux.advocacy
Subject: Re: linux reaches the big screen
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: Sat, 06 Jan 2001 21:42:50 GMT
On Sat, 06 Jan 2001 15:25:15 -0500, Glitch <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>http://www.msnbc.com/news/512394.asp
Oh no.... :(
I can hear the squishy sounds of the Penguinista's in the balconies of
theater's around the world whacking their trouser snakes while
watching screen shots of Gnome on the big screen.
This may be their collective "big moment".
Geeze...I had to wait in line to see the Grinch but they gave each
person a little Grinch key chain.
Maybe you guys should give away a CD with the latest version kernel on
it? That will sure bring them in to see this puppy.
Bet I can walk right into this sleeper.
I'll be sure and sit far away from the balcony though :)
Flatfish
Why do they call it a flatfish?
Remove the ++++ to reply.
------------------------------
From: Shane Phelps <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Crossposted-To:
alt.os.linux,comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.os.linux.development.apps,comp.os.linux.networking,comp.os.linux.security,comp.os.linux.setup,comp.os.linux.development.systems,comp.os.linux.hardware
Subject: Re: Remote Kiosk Web Application Administration
Date: Sun, 07 Jan 2001 08:43:00 +1100
Hmmmm, free consulting :-)
Isn't the money in Open Source supposed to come from consulting services?
Well, here goes. Remember, free advice is worth what you pay for it..
Knowledge Seeker wrote:
>
> Need help with a new assignment. Company wants to distribute systems
> (kiosk-like) to about 10,000 locations throughout the US. These
I can't get over the *scale* of some of the US deployments. AWESOME!!
> systems would include a printer as well as the CPU and monitor. The
> systems would allow semi-captive audience customers to retrieve static
> pages as well as video/audio stored locally (application is therefore
> a fat client) of content pertinent to the customer interest (via a
> nice easy to use menu). (Probably similar to systems available at
> many public libraries but specific content would also be different
> from libraries). In addition we want the kiosks to allow customers to
> retrieve content not stored locally via the Internet. So the kiosks
> need a (probably broadband?) connection to the net.
>
> What issues should we expect to encounter?? What solutions exist to
> those issues??
>
> 1. Permission for the placement of the kiosk is not a problem nor is
> physical security at the sites.
> 2. What about electronic security??
I assume you're not worried about EMF from atmospheric H-bombs,
so you should just need a decent UPS (say 20 min standby) and a
line filter for the 'net conection.
> 3. Generation of pertinent content is not a problem but surely there
> are issues surrounding delivery of said content (i.e. update of 10,000
> remote locations)?? Content might change each week. What are
> practical alternatives??
a. Squid with a *big* cache
b. rsync, cvsup or sup (remote upgrade packages). Set the client
boxes to try to pick up changes every couple of hours overnight.
For that scale, you'd need to run a farm of servers which all sync
themselves to a master. The number of servers will depend very
heavily on the number of files and the amount of data to transfer.
> 4. What are the communications issues?? How to solve them??
Depends on how much you want to spend. Small routers are cheap
and nearly bulletproof. Run a cat-5 crossover between the client
and the router, and let the router do all the comms work.
You might have a bit of fun seting up the routing, though.
> 5. What are the hardware failure issues?? How to solve them??
Keep the number of boxes down and buy quality hardware. Run
monitoring software and / or have somebody on-site contact
your help desk if something falls over. You *could* cluster
at each of your kiosks, but this is generally not cost-effective.
Sign a maintenance contract with a *big* organisation (Getronics,
Unisys, etc) for hardware swapout in the event of failure.
Price goes up as response time goes down!
> 6. What are the application software upgrade issues?? How to solve
> them??
See 3.
> 7. Hardware is intel based. Would Linux or NT/W2000 be the better
> operating system for this kind of application??
Has this been definitely decided? I would seriously consider
Sun's Ultra5. You'll get a *great* deal on that quantity, and
they're a very robust box.
If it's definitely Intel, Linux / *BSD is more robust than W2K.
OS selection boils down to how well the application runs on the
platform.
> 8. If the operating system has a problem, how do we fix and reboot??
Linux / *BSD shouldn't cause any problems, but the WM may be
less stable. You could kill the WM weekly on a cron job if
necessary. Absolutely, definitely, positively run sshd on the
clients - compile with tcp wrappers, use a minimal /etc/hosts with
at least your critical central hosts (avoid using DNS if possible)
and trust at least 1 of your central hosts.
NT is nowhere near as stable as Linux / *BSD, so look at automating
a reboot at least weekly (possibley nightly). W2K is supposed to
be much more stable than NT but I only have limited experience
with W2K. Use ssh with NT as well, but NT's remote admin is more
limited.
> 9. Since most of the content is static there does not seem to be a big
> need for a big DB (at least for content). However, we do want to
> capture customer demographics and store them in a DB at a central
> host. Which DB?? And do all 10,000 kiosks "phone home" each night to
> deliver data or does the host initiate a contact to each remote
> station each night to pull data??
Depends what's at the back end. I assume you're using a big Sun
or HP or IBM box, but that's just a guess. Oracle is very capable
and runs on virtually everything, but it's not cheap. Sybase is
in the same league. PostgreSQL is quite good, but not really in
the same league. I've been at a mostly Oracle site for ages, so
I'm out of touch on the RDBMS front.
My preference is always for the central site to initiate data
pickup, using ssh/scp. Given the sheer volume, you should look
at using your upgrade distribution boxes to do the pickups.
The distribution boxes could update the DB directly, or for the
really paranoid you could get the central DB server to pick up
from the distribution boxes.
>
> Other issues??
>
Seriously consider using touch screens. It makes it much harder
for the customers to cause any problems :-)
> --
> eCommerce Knowledge Seeker
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