[4136] in linux-announce channel archive
Linux-Announce Digest #428
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Digestifier)
Thu May 29 14:14:01 2003
From: Digestifier <Linux-Announce-Request@senator-bedfellow.mit.edu>
To: Linux-Announce@senator-bedfellow.mit.edu
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Date: Thu, 29 May 2003 14:13:06 EDT
Linux-Announce Digest #428, Volume #4 Thu, 29 May 2003 14:13:06 EDT
Contents:
LetterFromIndia: Belgaum lessons... ("Frederick Noronha (FN)")
LINK: Free Software news... from Brazil ("Frederick Noronha (FN)")
CGIpaf 1.3.0pre4 (development) released (staf wagemakers)
"Absolute OpenBSD" from No Starch Press (Janet del Mundo)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "Frederick Noronha (FN)" <fred@bytesforall.org>
Subject: LetterFromIndia: Belgaum lessons...
Date: 29 May 2003 05:45:01 GMT
===================================================================
LetterFromIndia By FN [Frederick Noronha]
===================================================================
Goa turns oppressively humid by March. Taking, therefore, a weekend break at
this time of the year to Belgaum was a pleasant option.
Belgaum? Where's that?
Okay, this city once caught in a border dispute between Karnataka and
Maharashtra, and is just outside the Goa border. It's home to engineering
and medical colleges. In end-March, it also organised a free software
festival -- called GNUBeLUG -- and graciously invited us Free Software fans
from across the inter-state border.
Okay, the food was great. The climate was cool, and the hospitality was
really warm. For us travelling by a small van, it was like a 34-hour
unending GNU/Linux users group meeting. We had jokes, debates and
disagreements as the road took us through scenic forested hilly areas,
adjoining North Goa's dam.
But that's not the point.
More sensible might be to re-look at some lessons learnt. In short, it gave
us a hint of what is possible in a resource-poor, talent-rich country like
India.
Like Pune and the GNUinify festival organised before it, Belgaum's event had
a few hundred students patiently tuned in to various aspects of Free
Software. Open minds, mixed with the right dose of intelligence and
commitment to breaking new ground.
Why so?
Lesson Number One is that for GNU/Linux to grow, evangelists must focus on
small cities and towns. These are most receptive to new ideas, and have the
time and energy and attention span to open up to what's really possible.
Secondly, students need to be given leadership positions in the Free
Software campaign. This was the case at Belgaum, and they did a fine job of
it. Undeniably, the link between Free Software and university-based hackers
-- look at Richard M Stallman's MIT days or Linus Torvalds and Helsinki
University -- has always been strong. Can we rebuild this to create magic
in India too?
One of the most-important realities is the need for hand-holding the spread
of Free Software in India. It's not going to happen just by itself. Those
who are already deep into it, need to set aside time and energy to promote
it elsewhere. If we selfishly forget the community once we attain some
prominence ourselves, that could be disaster. In Belgaum's case, the young
LUG there (which was launched only in the latter half of 2002) got some
initial support from, among others, the Goa G/LUG. In Goa's case, it was
Mumbai that helped up while being set up in 1999. Bigger G/LUGs helping the
smaller ones could spark off exponential growth. This is Lesson Number 3.
Lesson Number 4 is simply this: small steps could bring in huge returns.
Take the case of sharing knowledge. Our friend from Pondicherry, Sukrit D
<sd_root@yahoo.com> came up with a good idea. His concept of a LittleLeague
of GLUGs and LUGs, networked through Yahoogroup, makes sense to share and
mentor each other. We all have something to learn. Can you make it work,
Sukrit?
But we also need to go beyond intangibles. Sharing software is an excellent
way to build interest in non-proprietorial code. Belgaum has been engaged in
this two-way sharing; the engineering campus there has a high-speed download
line. Take a look at Ajay Cuncolienkar's neat sofall.vze.com
(SoftwareForAll) site that helps people record what CDs they have, and what
they're willing to share. Lesson Number 5?
There's one area where our friends at Belgaum are trying to do more. That's
keeping their mailing-list active. There's nothing better than a busy
mailing-list to keep contacts alive between once-a-month (or whatever)
meetings of the GLUG/LUG. Rather, here's a chance to think of each other on
a daily basis, and share one's own learnings. Even if sometimes people
complain over the e-mail load ... and not getting what they want, or getting
what they don't want. Lesson Number 6.
For a seventh lesson, we learnt at Belgaum the importance of never
underestimating even what a single individual can contribute. Just one or
two determined techies can play a pivotal role in launching this
tech-revolution. Aniket in Goa first raised the potential of building links
with Belgaum. Ashutosh, a Gogte student, graduated from being somewhat
unsure of himself when we shared a room at Bangalore, to being a confident
organiser. Rohan was a livewire; and there were many more whom this list is
obviously missing out on. Passing on the passion from one to another,
learning and teach others, expanding the circle, and giving us all some new
ideas, they made it possible.
Given it's implicit nature of sharing freely -- not just software, but also
knowledge, a field which has immense implications to the future of India --
it was but natural that quite a few supporters rallied to the cause. 'Tony'
Singh came from Islampur, while Bhaskar Ghosh rallied from Kolhapur. Trevor
Warren and Warren Noronha were there from the Mumbai LUG. There was a
van-full from Goa. Moral support does make a difference. Let's take it, and
give it, generously.
Lesson nine is that India's engineers need not, rather should not, be sold
GNU/Linux just as a "cheaper" substitute to proprietorial software. This
would detract from its real qualities. Like one young engineer put it
recently, with Free Software the "potential for learning is so high". But,
at the same time, let's be non-arrogant in our canvassing for it. If someone
is not willing to change his operating system merely to test out the power
of Free Software, then maybe we should share a copy of GNUWin (Free Software
programmes for Windows-TM) or even The Open CD, a similar venture using the
Open Source phraseology. Let them then go on to ask questions like whether
proprietorial software is the best way forward, and whether sharing
knowledge or owning it is a priority....
Finally for the tenth lesson: have faith, it happens.
You don't need to be a prophet to recognise that proprietorial software is
going to try to block such possibilities. Or that giants like Microsoft will,
as it has in the past three to four years, suddenly realise that the
educational sector is critical (not for India's future, but for their
corporation's continued dominance of the market). To this end, it now offers
some ultra-low priced software to this sector. In one case, after reports of
once-used PCs trying out GNU/Linux were widely noticed, the giant from
Redmond has promised schools to donate software for free under its Fresh
Start for donated computers program. So far, this is only for the US.
But, at the same time, we need to remember that Free Software has certain
inherent pluses which it's going to be rather difficult to negate. Can we
look out for these hard enough? We need to, as the Belgaum event punch-line
saucily put it, "spread the (Free Software) virus". (ENDS)
--
Copyleft 2003 FN. Permission is granted to copy, distribute this article
verbatim, without changes and with the entire text intact.
--
=========================================================================
Frederick Noronha (FN) | http://www.fredericknoronha.net
Freelance Journalist | http://www.bytesforall.org
http://goalinks.pitas.com | http://joingoanet.shorturl.com
http://linuxinindia.pitas.com | http://www.livejournal.com/users/goalinks
=========================================================================
T: 0091.832.2409490 or 2409783 M: 0 9822 122436
=========================================================================
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------------------------------
From: "Frederick Noronha (FN)" <fred@bytesforall.org>
Subject: LINK: Free Software news... from Brazil
Date: 29 May 2003 08:40:01 GMT
UNIVATES, a university centre committed to Free Software development
HIGHER education institutions aim at the advancement of
human knowledge and the dissemination of such knowledge.
Free software is completely aligned with this task.
UNIVATES, a university centre located in the city of Lajeado,
in the state of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil), has adopted Free
Softwareas the basis for its intranet/Internet servers since 1997.
BY END 1999, Univates started the development of SAGU
(Portuguese acronym for Sistema Aberto de Gestao
Unificada, or Open Unified Management System). SAGU
went live in July 2000 and is now responsible for
managing the academic and financial relationships
between students and the varsity. Incidentally, SAGU is also
the name of a delicious local dessert!
EVEN BEFORE SAGU went live, Univates demonstrated its commitment
to Free Software development by publishing the full source code
of SAGU on the Internet, allowing the coders' community to
see it evolving. It also provided technology-transfer workshops.
UNIVATES has saved more than R$500,000 (about US$
130,000) by *not* acquiring copies of proprietary
software for servers and desktops. It saves
R$200,000 (US$70,000) each year on software upgrades
and maintenance. This is enough to pay the salaries of
the development group. Meaning, Univates can effectively
produce technology for its own use (and which others can
also make use of) at virtually no cost!
THE UNIVATES IT Group is now recognised as the most important
centre of excellence in Free Software development in Brazil.
SOME OF ITS projects:
o MIOLO, a set of PHP-based object-oriented database
connectors, handlers and presentation features that
allow fast system development even for the most complex
needs
It handles transaction and communication between modules
written using MIOLO, thus making life easier for a
programmer who wants to build a system with several
interdependent modules.
http://miolo.codigolivre.org.br
o EasyPHP: a no-database, hassle-free tool for
creating simple web presence with an easy-to-use
administrative tool.
o QUALITAS: document control for quality management systems
o PILA, bookstore system with front-end point-of-sales,
stock, catalog and financial sales reports.
o FRED (content management system), a full-featured system
for creating services portals for MIOLO-based applns.
o IRRATIONAL TULIP: A group of classes and tools for
MIOLO application development, such as dia2sql
(converts database diagrams into SQL database creates and
inserts), MIOLO-IDE (an IDE for developing GTK
applications using MIOLO).
o CODIGOLIVRE2: Hosting and tools for cooperatively
developed Free Software.A MIOLO version of the existing
http://codigolivre.org.br (a SourceForge Brazilian fork
maintained by UNIVATES).
o SCOTTY, support calls and customer relationship
tracking, management and statics system.
GNUTECA http://gnuteca.codigolivre.org.br
GNUTECA is a library automation and catalog-collaboration system.
It includes a circulation control system and, when used in an
educational institution, it integrates with SAGU (though it also
works as a standalone). It is intended to go a step further from
the existing (gratis, but not Free Software) UNESCO CDS/ISIS
program, and it does provide an easy migration path from it. GNUTECA
adheres to all widely-used library standards. It now handles over
80,000 library items offered to over 6,000 students and teachers.
GNUDATA http://gnudata.codigolivre.org.br
This started as the database support for their regional database
which provides demographic and economic information of 40 cities in
the Taquari River Valley. It is a database framework for
implementing nearly every kind of database in which you need to get
comparative/statistical information (demographics, etc). It has a
'query auto-pilot' which allows non-technical users to drill down
the database searching for all kinds of stored data. It does
percentages and other calculations which the user may want to
include in queries. The development version also provides graphics.
SAGU - Free Software for academic administration
http://sagu.codigolivre.org.br
It automates the relationship between students and their educational
institution, from the moment a student enrols for an entrance exam
until she graduates.
SAGU subsystems try to mimic the functions of the university. So
it has modules that handle the entrance exam (optical reading of
the student's answers, classification, classroom assignment), the
enrolment process (which courses the student may chose for a given
term, pre-requisites), the academic data (grades, academic
history), financial and accounting data (payments, credits,
scholarships, interface with the bank and other accounting/ERP
systems) and reporting tools. Today, SAGU is being rewritten using
Object Orientation techniques... (MIOLO is also the Portuguese
word for the inner part of the bread, as well as a brand of a very
fine wine produced in southern Brazil!)
AGATA REPORT http://agata.codigolivre.org.br
Agata Report is a report generator with an EIS tool (graph
generation) written in PHP-GTK that allows you to edit and
get SQL results from several databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL,
Oracle, SyBase, MS-SQL, FrontBase, Informix, and InterBase).
It connects to a database, lists its tables and fields, and allows
you to link among tables... The result is exported to a PostScript,
text file or spreadsheets. It's interface has English, Portuguese,
Italian, French, German and Swedish support....
More details from Cesar Brod <cesar at brod.com.br>
www.univates.br or sagu at univates.br
--
=========================================================================
Frederick Noronha (FN) | http://www.fredericknoronha.net
Freelance Journalist | http://www.bytesforall.org
http://goalinks.pitas.com | http://joingoanet.shorturl.com
http://linuxinindia.pitas.com | http://www.livejournal.com/users/goalinks
=========================================================================
T: 0091.832.2409490 or 2409783 M: 0 9822 122436
=========================================================================
##########################################################################
# Send submissions for comp.os.linux.announce to: cola@stump.algebra.com #
# PLEASE remember a short description of the software and the LOCATION. #
# This group is archived at http://stump.algebra.com/~cola/ #
##########################################################################
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 29 May 2003 12:24:37 CST
From: staf wagemakers <staf@patat.org>
Subject: CGIpaf 1.3.0pre4 (development) released
* What is CGIpaf?
"cgipaf" allows users to change their un*x Password, Autoreply and
mail Forwarding by a web interface.
CGIpaf 1.3.0pre4 is the latest "development" release.
CGIpaf 1.3.0pre4 is available at http://staf.patat.org/develop/
* Requirements
o a Un*x server
o a mailserver that uses procmail
( vacation is supported by an external perl mailcfg script )
o webserver
o gcc, ndbm or gdbm
* License
GNU General Public License.
* Changelog
* version 1.3.0pre4 ( 30 May 2003 )
+ new forward method to avoid mail looping
if i don't get complains it will be merged into the stable release.
* version 1.3.0pre3 ( 28 Apr 2003 )
+ BUGFIX: setuid(0) added before the passwd run_success script, to re-enable
smbpasswd support. which was broken in the previous release.
* version 1.3.0pre2 ( 31 Mar 2003 )
+ NetBSD support
+ BUGFIX: 1.3.0pre1 didn't compile on FreeBSD
+ merged from CGIpaf 1.2.1
- example in Brazilian Portuguese added
( Thanks to Fabricio Machado )
- improved forward_to emailaddress testing
- added test for mail headers like 'Precedence: bulk' to avoid
replying to maillinglists etc.
- code cleanup
* version 1.3.0pre1 ( 2 Jan 2003 )
+ linuxconf virtual mail password files supported added
* Overview
cgipaf is a combination of three cgi programs:
+ passwd.cgi : allows users to update their password
+ viewmailcfg.cgi : allows users to view their current mail
configuration.
+ mailcfg.cgi : update the mail configuration
o All programs use PAM for user authentication, systems without PAM
are only supported if they use the standard password file location
(/etc/passwd ,/etc/shadow) and the standard crypt or md5 passwords.
o If a password is changed it is possible to run a script to update
SAMBA passwords, NIS configuration, etc.
o The mail configuration is done by procmail, mailcfg.cgi creates a
.procmailrc in the user's home directory. If autoreply is enabled
the autoreply message is stored in ~/vacations.txt. When a user
enables mail forwarding the user can choose to keep the messages.
o For user authentication viewmailcfg.cgi creates a cookie, this
cookie is stored in the accessdb. mailcfg.cgi reads the cookie out
the accessdb and compares it with the cookie send by the users
browser.
o User with too many invalid logins can be locked.
o The minimum and maximum uid can be set in the configuration file,
so you can specify a range of uid's that are allowed to use
cgipasswd.
o You can specify html files with a few PHP extensions for the login
screen and error messages.
o It's possible to use a redirect for the error messages, instead of
plain html files.
o It's is possible to define an external script to update the the
mail configuration to support other mail configurations than
procmail a sample script with vacation support is included.
o CGIpaf also contains the "changepass" utility which is basically a
clone of the chpasswd(8) Linux command, it might be useful on
platforms that doesn't have such a command like Solaris.
regards,
--
staf
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------------------------------
Date: Thu, 29 May 2003 12:59:29 CST
From: Janet del Mundo <janet@nostarch.com>
Subject: "Absolute OpenBSD" from No Starch Press
For Immediate Release
May 29, 2003
To schedule an interview, or request a review copy or cover art, contact
Janet del Mundo at janet@nostarch.com or 415.863.9900.
NO STARCH PRESS TO PUBLISH "ABSOLUTE OPENBSD": THE FIRST COMPLETE GUIDE TO
OPENBSD
Independent publisher to release the ultimate guide to the world's most
secure operating system
San Francisco, CA - OpenBSD users believe that without security, there is
no freedom. For OpenBSD users and security conscious people everywhere, No
Starch Press announces the publication of "Absolute OpenBSD" (by Michael W.
Lucas, ISBN 1886411999, $39.95, 504 pages, July 2003), the first book
dedicated to this powerful and famously secure operating system.
With the amount of hacking activity on the Internet at an all time high,
security is fast becoming the primary concern for system administrators.
OpenBSD is popular among the security conscious because it has fewer
security holes than any variety of Linux or Windows. "OpenBSD is the most
secure networked operating system in the world," says author Michael W.
Lucas. "In many operating systems, security is either an afterthought or an
add-on. OpenBSD has integrated a 'practical paranoia' into every layer of
the operating system. While the operating system trusts nothing, it still
allows you to do useful work."
Theo de Raadt, founder of OpenBSD says, "People have been clamoring for an
OpenBSD-specific book for years. Michael has stepped up to provide one."
Lucas, who also authored the critically-acclaimed "Absolute BSD" (No Starch
Press), developed his new book with the support of the tightly-knit OpenBSD
community. "I had extensive feedback and encouragement from the OpenBSD
community, including the project lead. Dozens of OpenBSD developers and
users reviewed the initial manuscript."
No Starch Press is no stranger to interaction with Open Source communities.
Bill Pollock, founder and president of No Starch Press, notes the
communities role: "This book would not have happened without the continued
dedication of the OpenBSD community. Our previous experience with other
Open Source communities definitely helped speed the process along."
"Absolute OpenBSD" gives both novice and intermediate OpenBSD users
unfettered access to this highly-secure operating system. It includes
friendly explanations, background information, troubleshooting suggestions,
and copious examples throughout. Readers will learn how to:
* Install and configure OpenBSD, in both dedicated and multi-boot installs
* Implement security features found only in OpenBSD, such as Systrace, a
system call access manager
* Construct firewalls with "pf," the innovative OpenBSD packet filter
* Make software management quick and effective using the ports and packages
system
* Encrypt filesystems and disk swap for better system security
For experienced UNIX users who want to add OpenBSD to their repertoire,
there is now an ultimate guide: "Absolute OpenBSD."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Michael W. Lucas, author of the critically-acclaimed "Absolute BSD" (No
Starch Press), has been working with BSD-based operating systems since the
late 1980s. His column, "Big Scary Daemons," for the O'Reilly Report is in
its third year. He has worked for several years as a consultant
specializing in security, intrusion response, and network management.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Table of contents: http://www.nostarch.com/frameset.php?startat=openbsd_toc
Sample chapter: http://www.nostarch.com/openbsd_ch6.pdf
ABSOLUTE OPENBSD
Michael W. Lucas
ISBN 1886411999
504 pp., $39.95, $59.95 (Cdn)
July 2003
To order from No Starch Press-email: orders@nostarch.com or call:
800.420.7240 or + 1 415.863.9900
ABOUT NO STARCH PRESS
Since 1994, No Starch Press has published unique books on computing, with a
focus on Open Source, security, hacking, web development, programming,
gaming, and alternative operating systems. Our titles have personality, our
authors are passionate, and our goal is to make computing accessible to
everyone.
Contact: Janet del Mundo, janet@nostarch.com or +1 415.863.9900.
###
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------------------------------
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