Topic: x-windows

[swilson]

Is it possible to install xwindows on ver 4.0b7?
I would like to have some sort of file manager on the system for dir navigation and mims association.

[swilson]

Oops, sorry. That should be Mime association.

[cryblood]

Theoretically.?..... yes....

But why bother using e-smith if what you really want is a full blown RedHat box?

IMHO e-smith is set up to be a SIMPLE to use, SIMPLE to own piece of equiptment,  It's verry beauty is in it's "built in" KISS principal (Keep It Simple Smiley)  To add X to it would take away from it's simple beauty and make it just another RedHat copycat distro.  I liken it to taking an expensive sportscar and putting a hich and ball on it and using it to tow a U-haul trailor.  Please... there are enough cars on the road that wouldn't look rediculous hauling a trailor, but a Lambroginni isn't one of them!

ALSO... on another front.  (Also IMHO)  Putting X on a system that is used as a firewall is another of those many things that add complexity and hackability to what is, for many LANs, the only firewall they'll ever get.  

Gee... I guess I AM the opinionated snob that ppl say I am...  Oh well....

cryblood

[swilson]

I see what you mean.  I guess what i'm really looking for is a dual panel directory and file management utility that i can use to learn the file structure of the system.

[Carl Enset]

X-Windows _is_ a security risk... due to the protocols it uses. X was developed for a LAN environment where network security is much tighter.  So it is advisable to X behind a firewall to protect it from the flames of the internet.

People who run X-Windows on their machine directly connected to the internet commonly (should) use a host based firewall.  This is a firewall running on the same computer, filtering packets before they reach X-Windows.  Running a firewall on a stand alone machine ideally provides a higher level of security than a host based firewall.  The e-smith gateway is designed to allow the user/system administrator to easily and securely create such a stand alone gateway/firewall.

(see any good Unix networking text for information regarding the  protocols of X-Windows, their advantages and potential problems) - Though recent version of X have implemented changes that provide much higher security.  It should still be remembered that X is a very complex system, so there are many places where security breaches could occur.

       ==================================================
If you just want a file manager there are a number console based file managers,  that give a "graphical" display of the file system without the need for X-Windows.  Some even mimic file managers of old such a Xtree Gold or Nortons Commander, indeed may people find the Linux version Midnight Commander a friendly and and powerful tool.

http://linuxberg.tucows.com/conhtml/fil_managers.html

"...it is simplicity that is difficult to make."
        - Bertholdt Brecht

[swilson]

Thanks for the info Carl.
I'm trying to install Midnight Commander as root right now using "rpm -ivh filename.rpm" but the system says that it cannot be installed.  i've even attempted to install one of the customised patches from the e-smith site and i get the same error.

[Orville Carter]

When faced with the same problem I simply installed Samba on the e-smith machine.
Then "very carefully shared directories I created. I can browse those directories from any Win98 machine on my home lan.
All other work on the e-smith pc are done in text mode.
Last note. I also have IPTRAF running on the e-smith gateway machine. Its very cool!

OC

[swilson]

The shares that the system created are fine.  I can access them from the NT and 98 machines on the network but that really doesn't help me.  i'm actually interested in more than just the end user front end. I need to be able to read and write from  dir to dir with slightly more visual support than command line but less than x-windows.

Sorry if this offends anyone but  "if it works take it apart and find out why."  E-Smith got my attention because it does what it does very well for an end user.

My problem is that i need to know it front and back end before i can feel  comfortable recommending it to my clients.

[Jerry]

If one does a needs analysis of the client and if e-smith meets those needs then install it an use it as it is for what it is. I have installed e-smith at a number of clients sites. It is very stable and does what it claims. That should be enough for anyone. I doubt that anyone would insist on seeing the schmatics of a video card or mother board before using it. Why should software be any different.

[swilson]

As a Network admin and IS support specialist for Architectural and Engineering Services Bureaus it is not enough for me to simply install a piece of software or hardware and hope that it works.   The e-smith server and gateway seems stable and works quite well, no doubt about that; nevertheless, I did read "open source"  somewhere.

I understand that what I want to do is unsupported.


No need to self-righteously pontificate or assume dictatorial postures on what should be enough for other people.

[John Burden]

Try MC (midnight  commander)

[Rob]

Why not install X on that computer youre turning inside out,just dont use it as router or server.

swilson wrote:

> The shares that the system created are fine.  I can access them
> from the NT and 98 machines on the network but that really
> doesn't help me.  i'm actually interested in more than just the
> end user front end. I need to be able to read and write from
> dir to dir with slightly more visual support than command line
> but less than x-windows.
>
> Sorry if this offends anyone but  "if it works take it
> apart and find out why."  E-Smith got my attention because
> it does what it does very well for an end user.
>
> My problem is that i need to know it front and back end before
> i can feel  comfortable recommending it to my clients.