True the lack of X would cause a problem, but that is when the "helper" could 
resort to the SSH option.  It is also possible to make this an addition option, 
maybe:

remote-recovery --gui

and

remote-recovery --cli

and

remote-recovery --both

With the --both being the default?

This gives a bit more control, and I am sure even a new user can type the extra 
option in for the command, and with a GTK frontend this should't be a problem 
at all.

As per your note on ssh, and key based authentication.  Even internally, 
key-authentication is smarter, more secure, and ultimatly easier.  It is easier 
to manage keys and access.  It would be a wise, sane default.  Passwords are a 
stupid (authentication) mechanism and are being phased out more-and-more.  And 
if you want to run password authentication internally it is a quick and easy 
change, in one file.

It think it is more wise to go with a secure default, and allow the experience 
users to deviate from the default, then to ship a less-secure option with the 
hopes that people will know when to enable it.

Thanks,
Justin M. Wray

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

-----Original Message-----
From: Milan Bouchet-Valat <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

Date: Wed, 07 May 2008 10:00:31 
To:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Cc:Christopher Halse Rogers <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Andrew Sayers <[EMAIL 
PROTECTED]>, [email protected]
Subject: Re: Suggestion to make remote recovery easier


Le mercredi 07 mai 2008 à 03:44 +0000, Justin M. Wray a écrit :
> Another idea would be to not only tunnel SSH but also VNC.
> 
> Allowing the "newbie" to watch the "helper" do something at times might be 
> the goal, and will make help facilitate learning.  In addition the issue 
> might be with a GTK/GUI app, and VNC would be the fastest approch.
If you limit your goal in this spec to "general help" (as opposed to "recovery 
from an unusable system"), then you can do it in a nice and easy way with 
Telepathy. The "newbie" only has to select his technical friend while they chat 
on Empathy, and say "Give this contact control on my desktop". Then if a 
console is needed the geek will start it by itself (gnome-terminal).

The drawback here is that in case X does not start anymore, this would not 
work. But for the most common case of a new Linux user asking "how can I do 
that", this is perfect since you can see what the friend is doing, and 
possibily learn. And this is nicer because you don't give total control on the 
computer to a friend who may install what he wants (even if you trust him, this 
possibility may refrain you from remote help).


A word about openssh-server:
Please don't disable password connexions by default, it is your script
that will have to do so. The defaults now are sane and quick to use.
Many people are behind firewalls and can install a SSH server without
fear of terrible attacks on their LANs.

Only when the user is known to be a newbie not controlling the SSH
server we should secure it the most.


Very nice idea anyway!

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