Koozali.org: home of the SME Server
Legacy Forums => General Discussion (Legacy) => Topic started by: swilson on June 02, 2000, 02:56:57 AM
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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.
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Oops, sorry. That should be Mime association.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Try MC (midnight commander)
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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.