Re: [DOCS] [HACKERS] What goes into the security doc?

2003-08-16 Thread Bruce Momjian

Now that we are in beta, does someone want to tackle a "security"
section in the docs?


---

Dan Langille wrote:
> With reference to my post to the "PostgreSQL Password Cracker" on
> 2003-01-02, I've promised to write a security document for the project.
> Here it is, Sunday night, and I can't sleep.  What better way to get there
> than start this task...
> 
> My plan is to write this in very simple HTML.  I will post the draft
> document on my website and post the URL here from time to time for
> feedback. Please make suggestions for content.  So far, I will cover these
> items:
> 
> - .pgpass (see
> http://developer.postgresql.org/docs/postgres/libpq-files.html)
> - local connections
> - remote connections (recommending SSL)
> - pg_hba (only in passing, most of that is at
> http://www.postgresql.org/idocs/index.php?client-authentication.html)
> - running the postmaster as a specific user
> 
> That doesn't sound like much.  Surely you can think of something else to
> add.  Should I post this to another list for their views?
> 
> OK, that's done it.  I'm ready for sleep now.
> 
> 
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-- 
  Bruce Momjian|  http://candle.pha.pa.us
  [EMAIL PROTECTED]   |  (610) 359-1001
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Re: [DOCS] [GENERAL] pam-linux, /etc/shadow : HOW-TO

2003-08-16 Thread Bruce Momjian

Would someone merge this into our CVS docs and submit a patch?

---

ahoward wrote:
> 
> note: i'm no sysad, nor do i even pretend to understand pam, the linux kernel,
> or postgresql, but this setup is a safe, working, postgresql/linux/pam setup.
> 
> 0) configure postgresql for pam, for example
> 
>   [EMAIL PROTECTED] tmp]# grep pam /usr/local/pgsql/data/pg_hba.conf
>   hostall all  137.75.0.0255.255.0.0   pam
> 
> 1) create a /etc/pam.d/postgresql entry, here's how i did mine
> 
>   [EMAIL PROTECTED] tmp]# cp /etc/pam.d/passwd /etc/pam.d/postgresql
> 
>   i don't know if it's the best setup, but it works!  mine looks like this
> 
>   [EMAIL PROTECTED] tmp]# cat /etc/pam.d/postgresql
>   #%PAM-1.0
>   auth   required /lib/security/pam_stack.so service=system-auth
>   accountrequired /lib/security/pam_stack.so service=system-auth
>   password   required /lib/security/pam_stack.so service=system-auth
> 
> 2) create a shadow group which will be used for user's needing read-access to
> /etc/shadow, and add postgres (or whatever user the postmaster runs as) to
> this entry.  i used vi to add this entry to /etc/group
> 
>   [EMAIL PROTECTED] tmp]# grep shadow /etc/group
>   shadow:*:4002:root,postgres
> 
>   root probably does not *need* to be added.
> 
>   note the '*' v.s. an 'x' in the password field.  if you place an 'x' there
>   you will also have to set up /etc/gshadow - i did not want to do this.  if
>   you don't set up /etc/gshadow pam will NOT work if an 'x' is in the password
>   field - at least with my linux system.
> 
> 3) make /etc/shadow group shadow
> 
>   [EMAIL PROTECTED] tmp]# chgrp shadow /etc/shadow
> 
> 4) chmod 0440 /etc/shadow
> 
> 
> essentially, pam will not work with postgres since the daemon needs at some
> point, no matter how many library calls deep, to open and read /etc/shadow
> (assuming this is how your system is using pam).  you must have some solution
> which allows postgres, but not everyone, to read /etc/shadow.  others probably
> exist.
> 
> -a
> 
> --
>   
>   | Ara Howard
>   | NOAA Forecast Systems Laboratory
>   | Information and Technology Services
>   | Data Systems Group
>   | R/FST 325 Broadway
>   | Boulder, CO 80305-3328
>   | Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>   | Phone:  303-497-7238
>   | Fax:303-497-7259
>   
> 
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-- 
  Bruce Momjian|  http://candle.pha.pa.us
  [EMAIL PROTECTED]   |  (610) 359-1001
  +  If your life is a hard drive, |  13 Roberts Road
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Re: [DOCS] [PERFORM] PostgreSQL vs. MySQL

2003-08-16 Thread Bruce Momjian

Do we need to add a mention of the need for tuning to the install docs?

---

Andrew Sullivan wrote:
> On Fri, Jul 04, 2003 at 08:07:18PM +0200, Arjen van der Meijden wrote:
> > > Andrew Sullivan wrote:
> > > results under production conditions, and not bother to read 
> > > even the basic "quickstart"-type stuff that is kicking 
> > > around.
> > Then please point out where it sais, in the documentation, that the
> > value for the shared_memory of 64 is too low and that 4000 is a nice
> > value to start with?
> 
> I think I did indeed speak too soon, as the criticism is a fair one:
> nowhere in the installation instructions or the "getting started"
> docs does it say that you really ought to do some tuning once you
> have the system installed.  Can I suggest for the time being that
> something along these lines should go in 14.6.3, "Tuning the
> installation":
> 
> ---snip---
> By default, PostgreSQL is configured to run on minimal hardware.  As
> a result, some tuning of your installation will be necessary before
> using it for anything other than extremely small databases.  At the
> very least, it will probably be necessary to increase your shared
> buffers setting.  See Chapter 16 for details on what tuning options
> are available to you.
> ---snip---
> 
> > I'm sorry to put this in a such a confronting manner, but you simply
> > can't expect people to search for information that they don't know the
> > existence of.
> 
> No need to apologise; I think you're right.
> 
> A
> 
> -- 
> 
> Andrew Sullivan 204-4141 Yonge Street
> Liberty RMS   Toronto, Ontario Canada
> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>  M2P 2A8
>  +1 416 646 3304 x110
> 
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> 

-- 
  Bruce Momjian|  http://candle.pha.pa.us
  [EMAIL PROTECTED]   |  (610) 359-1001
  +  If your life is a hard drive, |  13 Roberts Road
  +  Christ can be your backup.|  Newtown Square, Pennsylvania 19073

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Re: [DOCS] [HACKERS] What goes into the security doc?

2003-08-16 Thread Bruce Momjian

I would say any time before 7.4 final, which should be in 4-6 weeks.

---

Dan Langille wrote:
> Given I'm the smartass that volunteered in the first place, perhaps I 
> should complete what I started.
> 
> I work well with a deadline.  When do you want this done?
> 
> On 16 Aug 2003 at 12:41, Bruce Momjian wrote:
> 
> > Now that we are in beta, does someone want to tackle a "security"
> > section in the docs?
> > 
> > 
> > ---
> > 
> > Dan Langille wrote:
> > > With reference to my post to the "PostgreSQL Password Cracker" on
> > > 2003-01-02, I've promised to write a security document for the project.
> > > Here it is, Sunday night, and I can't sleep.  What better way to get there
> > > than start this task...
> > > 
> > > My plan is to write this in very simple HTML.  I will post the draft
> > > document on my website and post the URL here from time to time for
> > > feedback. Please make suggestions for content.  So far, I will cover these
> > > items:
> > > 
> > > - .pgpass (see
> > > http://developer.postgresql.org/docs/postgres/libpq-files.html)
> > > - local connections
> > > - remote connections (recommending SSL)
> > > - pg_hba (only in passing, most of that is at
> > > http://www.postgresql.org/idocs/index.php?client-authentication.html)
> > > - running the postmaster as a specific user
> > > 
> > > That doesn't sound like much.  Surely you can think of something else to
> > > add.  Should I post this to another list for their views?
> > > 
> > > OK, that's done it.  I'm ready for sleep now.
> > > 
> > > 
> > > ---(end of broadcast)---
> > > TIP 5: Have you checked our extensive FAQ?
> > > 
> > > http://www.postgresql.org/users-lounge/docs/faq.html
> > > 
> > 
> > -- 
> >   Bruce Momjian|  http://candle.pha.pa.us
> >   [EMAIL PROTECTED]   |  (610) 359-1001
> >   +  If your life is a hard drive, |  13 Roberts Road
> >   +  Christ can be your backup.|  Newtown Square, Pennsylvania 19073
> > 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Dan Langille : http://www.langille.org/
> 

-- 
  Bruce Momjian|  http://candle.pha.pa.us
  [EMAIL PROTECTED]   |  (610) 359-1001
  +  If your life is a hard drive, |  13 Roberts Road
  +  Christ can be your backup.|  Newtown Square, Pennsylvania 19073

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Re: [DOCS] [HACKERS] What goes into the security doc?

2003-08-16 Thread Dan Langille
Given I'm the smartass that volunteered in the first place, perhaps I 
should complete what I started.

I work well with a deadline.  When do you want this done?

On 16 Aug 2003 at 12:41, Bruce Momjian wrote:

> Now that we are in beta, does someone want to tackle a "security"
> section in the docs?
> 
> 
> ---
> 
> Dan Langille wrote:
> > With reference to my post to the "PostgreSQL Password Cracker" on
> > 2003-01-02, I've promised to write a security document for the project.
> > Here it is, Sunday night, and I can't sleep.  What better way to get there
> > than start this task...
> > 
> > My plan is to write this in very simple HTML.  I will post the draft
> > document on my website and post the URL here from time to time for
> > feedback. Please make suggestions for content.  So far, I will cover these
> > items:
> > 
> > - .pgpass (see
> > http://developer.postgresql.org/docs/postgres/libpq-files.html)
> > - local connections
> > - remote connections (recommending SSL)
> > - pg_hba (only in passing, most of that is at
> > http://www.postgresql.org/idocs/index.php?client-authentication.html)
> > - running the postmaster as a specific user
> > 
> > That doesn't sound like much.  Surely you can think of something else to
> > add.  Should I post this to another list for their views?
> > 
> > OK, that's done it.  I'm ready for sleep now.
> > 
> > 
> > ---(end of broadcast)---
> > TIP 5: Have you checked our extensive FAQ?
> > 
> > http://www.postgresql.org/users-lounge/docs/faq.html
> > 
> 
> -- 
>   Bruce Momjian|  http://candle.pha.pa.us
>   [EMAIL PROTECTED]   |  (610) 359-1001
>   +  If your life is a hard drive, |  13 Roberts Road
>   +  Christ can be your backup.|  Newtown Square, Pennsylvania 19073
> 


-- 
Dan Langille : http://www.langille.org/


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Re: [DOCS] [BUGS] pg 7.4beta1 doc bug: vacuum not updated

2003-08-16 Thread Bruce Momjian

Would someone submit a patch?

---

Joseph Shraibman wrote:
> The output of the vacuum command on 
> http://developer.postgresql.org/docs/postgres/sql-vacuum.html
> shows the output of the 7.3.x version.  I noticed while browsing the cvs that the 
> output 
> has changed.
> 
> 
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-- 
  Bruce Momjian|  http://candle.pha.pa.us
  [EMAIL PROTECTED]   |  (610) 359-1001
  +  If your life is a hard drive, |  13 Roberts Road
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