Re: [Wireshark-users] Portable Wireshark Settings
Ulf Lamping wrote: No. For an U3 package, you'll need an U3 stick to work properly. The U3 system will set some special U3 environment variables and that's the problem here. So how are non-U3 portable applications produced for Windows? Are special builds done, or is the application otherwise induced to store its settings on the application medium rather than on the system disk or in the user's home directory? ___ Wireshark-users mailing list Wireshark-users@wireshark.org http://www.wireshark.org/mailman/listinfo/wireshark-users
Re: [Wireshark-users] Portable Wireshark Settings
Ulf Lamping wrote: You can use -P command line option to adjust the personal folders, see http://www.wireshark.org/docs/wsug_html_chunked/ChCustCommandLine.html Thank you!!! I actually searched wireshark help guide (and Google, and wireshark wiki, and a bunch of other palces) but couldn't find this! With this switch Wireshark is finally keeping all my Preferences and settings on the USB drive :) It finally stopped creating Wireshark folder under AppData directory. This is precisely what I need. I don't particularly care about U3. I just want Wireshark to be portable, and to work off my regular USB drive. I really don't want extra complexities like special environmental variable and mini-installs onto U3. I really don't buy into all these U3 gimmicks... With truly portable application, you just put it somewhere and it works, with all its prior settings intact. That's what I need. I understand that I'd still have to correct the path in -P switch every time I move Wireshark to a different folder. So I guess it's not TRULY PORTABLE yet, but at least it's moving in right direction :) -- ___ Wireshark-users mailing list Wireshark-users@wireshark.org http://www.wireshark.org/mailman/listinfo/wireshark-users
Re: [Wireshark-users] Portable Wireshark Settings
Misc wrote: With truly portable application, you just put it somewhere and it works, with all its prior settings intact. That's what I need. I understand that I'd still have to correct the path in -P switch every time I move Wireshark to a different folder. So I guess it's not TRULY PORTABLE yet, but at least it's moving in right direction :) Well, you'll probably never have the standard Wireshark distribution be portable out of the box, as people *NOT* using it as a portable application would want it to store their preferences in their profile directory or whatever it's called. What you might get is a *separate* build, or a *separate* package, that somehow forces Wireshark to run in a portable mode. ___ Wireshark-users mailing list Wireshark-users@wireshark.org http://www.wireshark.org/mailman/listinfo/wireshark-users
Re: [Wireshark-users] Portable Wireshark Settings
Guy Harris schrieb: Ulf Lamping wrote: No. For an U3 package, you'll need an U3 stick to work properly. The U3 system will set some special U3 environment variables and that's the problem here. So how are non-U3 portable applications produced for Windows? Are special builds done, or is the application otherwise induced to store its settings on the application medium rather than on the system disk or in the user's home directory As only the personal setting paths are affected, both would be possible. The best looking collection of portable applications for Win32 is http://portableapps.com/ Some time ago, John T. Haller from that page asked for a portable version of Wireshark - exactly for that reason, I've introduced the -P option ;-) http://portableapps.com/development, briefly describes how to build such a portable version. Regards, ULFL P.S: a portable version could also serve as the zip only Win32 version that was also requested some time ago ... ___ Wireshark-users mailing list Wireshark-users@wireshark.org http://www.wireshark.org/mailman/listinfo/wireshark-users
Re: [Wireshark-users] Portable Wireshark Settings
And, what if the directory is not writable by an user... (I personally believe it should not be just to avoid single users messing with what others have to use) On 8/12/07, Guy Harris [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Misc wrote: Regular (non-U3) portable applications: 1. Do not write to Windows Registry. That is a must. Wireshark doesn't do that (although that's mainly a result of it having been written as a UN*X application). 2. Do not write to system, AppData, and other folders outside of their own program folder, unless the path is configurable by the user. As per my mail, the standard Wireshark distribution *should* write to the AppData folder, so a special portable distribution would be required. I phrased my question incompletely; what I really wanted to know is what's done to take an application not originally designed as a portable application, and intended to be able to be run as a non-portable application, and arrange that packages be available to run it as a portable application while continuing to have packages available to run it as a non-portable application. The page at http://portableapps.com/development that Ulf mentioned discusses this. If you have several computers with same software installed, synchronizing their settings can be a real nightmare. But if you simply use portable applications, it's very, very easy. You just capy the folder with portable apps to the new computer, and it just works! No installation, no configuration, no headaches... :) ...unless you have multiple users on the machine using the same application, in which case their settings are shared, whether they want that or not. (And, yes, that happens even with Windows.) It's not as if portable is all benefits and no costs (There's also the question of an app that's fetched from a network file server) ___ Wireshark-users mailing list Wireshark-users@wireshark.org http://www.wireshark.org/mailman/listinfo/wireshark-users -- This information is top security. When you have read it, destroy yourself. -- Marshall McLuhan Propertarianism joined to capitalist vigor destroyed meaningful commercial competition, but when it came to making good software, anarchism won. -- Eben Moglen ___ Wireshark-users mailing list Wireshark-users@wireshark.org http://www.wireshark.org/mailman/listinfo/wireshark-users
Re: [Wireshark-users] Portable Wireshark Settings
Guy Harris wrote: Misc wrote: With truly portable application, you just put it somewhere and it works, with all its prior settings intact. That's what I need. I understand that I'd still have to correct the path in -P switch every time I move Wireshark to a different folder. So I guess it's not TRULY PORTABLE yet, but at least it's moving in right direction :) Well, you'll probably never have the standard Wireshark distribution be portable out of the box, as people NOT using it as a portable application would want it to store their preferences in their profile directory or whatever it's called. What you might get is a separate build, or a separate package, that somehow forces Wireshark to run in a portable mode. ___ Wireshark-users mailing list Wireshark-users@wireshark.org http://www.wireshark.org/mailman/listinfo/wireshark-users Guy, we are talking here about existing portable Wireshark U3 package, available from http://www.wireshark.org/download.html Or at least it's supposed to be portable, and being advertized as designed for USB sticks. That's the package that I've been struggling with. This portable Wireshark couldn't find its preferences in its own folder and needed to be pointed to its own app folder with command line args :( None of this affects the standard distribution, don't worry... -- ___ Wireshark-users mailing list Wireshark-users@wireshark.org http://www.wireshark.org/mailman/listinfo/wireshark-users
Re: [Wireshark-users] Portable Wireshark Settings
Ulf Lamping wrote: Some time ago, John T. Haller from that page asked for a portable version of Wireshark - exactly for that reason, I've introduced the -P option ;-) So I have you to thank for this life-saver switch :) P.S: a portable version could also serve as the zip only Win32 version that was also requested some time ago ... The U3 version after unzipping (and with -P switch) basically functions as portable except for the need to install WinPCap and to change the path in -P switch every time the folder is moved. I tried relative paths (a dot to indicate current directory) but that doesn't work. So those two things still need to be addressed before U3 package becomes truly portable. -- ___ Wireshark-users mailing list Wireshark-users@wireshark.org http://www.wireshark.org/mailman/listinfo/wireshark-users
Re: [Wireshark-users] Portable Wireshark Settings
Misc schrieb: Guy Harris wrote: Misc wrote: With truly portable application, you just put it somewhere and it works, with all its prior settings intact. That's what I need. I understand that I'd still have to correct the path in -P switch every time I move Wireshark to a different folder. So I guess it's not TRULY PORTABLE yet, but at least it's moving in right direction :) Well, you'll probably never have the standard Wireshark distribution be portable out of the box, as people NOT using it as a portable application would want it to store their preferences in their profile directory or whatever it's called. What you might get is a separate build, or a separate package, that somehow forces Wireshark to run in a portable mode. ___ Wireshark-users mailing list Wireshark-users@wireshark.org http://www.wireshark.org/mailman/listinfo/wireshark-users Guy, we are talking here about existing portable Wireshark U3 package, available from http://www.wireshark.org/download.html No, at least I'm talking about existing U3 Wireshark package here. Where did you found the word portable? Or at least it's supposed to be portable, and being advertized as designed for USB sticks. It's been designed for *U3* USB sticks - therefore the name - not for common *none U3* sticks. That's the package that I've been struggling with. This portable Wireshark couldn't find its preferences in its own folder and needed to be pointed to its own app folder with command line args :( It's perfectly working with U3 USB Sticks AFAIK. Go Google yourself for U3 before firing any more of those uninformed mails to the list ... Regards, ULFL P.S: I guess your demanding tone and uninformed mails won't encourage any of the developers to spend some of their own spare time to improve the situation here (at least I won't do) ... ___ Wireshark-users mailing list Wireshark-users@wireshark.org http://www.wireshark.org/mailman/listinfo/wireshark-users
Re: [Wireshark-users] Portable Wireshark Settings
With computers becoming very cheap, we're at the stage where each user has his/her own computer. Hence no need to share one machine between several users (which usually results in a total mess, not resolvable by different AppData folders anyway) :) Well, I work in an environment (Mobile Networks) in which every user has a computer for his own use. Anyway when I need to capture most often I use machines that are shared. - Because not necessarily a given switch can have a mirror port for every user that needs it at every given time. - Because many times one connects to this machines remotelly. - Because there are security requirements that disallow to have thousands cheap computers connected to the management network and usually it is preferred to have few (maybe unnecessarily expensive) computers. So as you see the fact that computers are cheap does not mean that multiuser computers have disappeared, neither I believe they will for several years to come even if computers come to cost $10 or less . -- This information is top security. When you have read it, destroy yourself. -- Marshall McLuhan Propertarianism joined to capitalist vigor destroyed meaningful commercial competition, but when it came to making good software, anarchism won. -- Eben Moglen ___ Wireshark-users mailing list Wireshark-users@wireshark.org http://www.wireshark.org/mailman/listinfo/wireshark-users
Re: [Wireshark-users] Portable Wireshark Settings
Ulf Lamping wrote: No, at least I'm talking about existing U3 Wireshark package here. Where did you found the word portable? OK, but we ARE talking about U3 package, not the standard distro. Or at least it's supposed to be portable, and being advertized as designed for USB sticks. It's been designed for U3 USB sticks - therefore the name - not for common *none U3* sticks. I've worked a lot with portable software, and usually if it works on one type of usb drive, it works on all usb drives. I've never seen a program designed to work only on U3 USB drives, but not regular USB drives. I mean this is first such case that I've encountered. That's the package that I've been struggling with. This portable Wireshark couldn't find its preferences in its own folder and needed to be pointed to its own app folder with command line args :( It's perfectly working with U3 USB Sticks AFAIK. I hear you. Go Google yourself for U3 before firing any more of those uninformed mails to the list ... My knowledge of U3 is indeed superficial. In fact, I learned enough about them to know that I prefer to use regular USB drives rather than U3. And since I don't really plan on using U3, I'm somewhat relactant to really research them in depth. But I apologize if my posts showed lack of knowledge of U3. P.S: I guess your demanding tone and uninformed mails won't encourage any of the developers to spend some of their own spare time to improve the situation here (at least I won't do) ... ___ Wireshark-users mailing list Wireshark-users@wireshark.org http://www.wireshark.org/mailman/listinfo/wireshark-users Sorry, I didn't know you were a developer (till you mentioned that it's you who put in the -P switch which I only saw after my post). I'm new to this list, and your signiture doesn't mention that you're a developer. Sometimes users critisize software between themselves just to get a better understanding of its limitations and weaknesses. Take it easy. I love Wireshark, and I'm using U3 package after all :) If developers refused to develop software because somebody was critical of their work, we probably wouldn't have any software development at all :) Besides I didn't critisize your -P switch :) (oh, well, except for the fact that it doesn't accept the relative paths ;o) ...) -- ___ Wireshark-users mailing list Wireshark-users@wireshark.org http://www.wireshark.org/mailman/listinfo/wireshark-users
Re: [Wireshark-users] Portable Wireshark Settings
Luis EG Ontanon wrote: With computers becoming very cheap, we're at the stage where each user has his/her own computer. Hence no need to share one machine between several users (which usually results in a total mess, not resolvable by different AppData folders anyway) :) Well, I work in an environment (Mobile Networks) in which every user has a computer for his own use. Anyway when I need to capture most often I use machines that are shared. - Because not necessarily a given switch can have a mirror port for every user that needs it at every given time. - Because many times one connects to this machines remotelly. - Because there are security requirements that disallow to have thousands cheap computers connected to the management network and usually it is preferred to have few (maybe unnecessarily expensive) computers. So as you see the fact that computers are cheap does not mean that multiuser computers have disappeared, neither I believe they will for several years to come even if computers come to cost $10 or less . Not yet, but this will be minority. And with being able to bring all one's personal soft on a usb stick, you can in fact have multi-user computers where everyone is just using their own portable soft from their USB sticks. So portable software can be very important in multi-user environment as well :) -- ___ Wireshark-users mailing list Wireshark-users@wireshark.org http://www.wireshark.org/mailman/listinfo/wireshark-users
Re: [Wireshark-users] Portable Wireshark Settings
On 8/12/07, Misc [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Luis EG Ontanon wrote: Not yet, but this will be minority. And with being able to bring all one's personal soft on a usb stick, you can in fact have multi-user computers where everyone is just using their own portable soft from their USB sticks. So portable software can be very important in multi-user environment as well :) So... grab my USB stick, take an airplane, take a cab, plug my usb stick in the computer and use the application... I prefer SSH ... and stay whare I am kilometers away from the multiuser system... -- This information is top security. When you have read it, destroy yourself. -- Marshall McLuhan Propertarianism joined to capitalist vigor destroyed meaningful commercial competition, but when it came to making good software, anarchism won. -- Eben Moglen ___ Wireshark-users mailing list Wireshark-users@wireshark.org http://www.wireshark.org/mailman/listinfo/wireshark-users
Re: [Wireshark-users] Portable Wireshark Settings
Misc wrote: With computers becoming very cheap, we're at the stage where each user has his/her own computer. Not necessarily in, say, a network lab. ___ Wireshark-users mailing list Wireshark-users@wireshark.org http://www.wireshark.org/mailman/listinfo/wireshark-users
Re: [Wireshark-users] Portable Wireshark Settings
Luis EG Ontanon wrote: On 8/12/07, Misc [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Luis EG Ontanon wrote: Not yet, but this will be minority. And with being able to bring all one's personal soft on a usb stick, you can in fact have multi-user computers where everyone is just using their own portable soft from their USB sticks. So portable software can be very important in multi-user environment as well :) So... grab my USB stick, take an airplane, take a cab, plug my usb stick in the computer and use the application... I prefer SSH ... and stay whare I am kilometers away from the multiuser system... That's one situation where you still need multi-user computers. -- ___ Wireshark-users mailing list Wireshark-users@wireshark.org http://www.wireshark.org/mailman/listinfo/wireshark-users
Re: [Wireshark-users] Portable Wireshark Settings
Misc wrote: Portable Wireshark stores settings in Application Data. Is this even U3 compliant? :( How can I make it to store its preferences on the USB drive. In the Options there is no place to specify where to store settings. It says portable wireshark is supposed to store its profile data in its directory. That's NOT happening! How can I configure it where to store its profile data? -- ___ Wireshark-users mailing list Wireshark-users@wireshark.org http://www.wireshark.org/mailman/listinfo/wireshark-users
