1182 lines
47 KiB
HTML
1182 lines
47 KiB
HTML
|
<!--startcut ==========================================================-->
|
|||
|
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 3.2//EN">
|
|||
|
<html>
|
|||
|
<head>
|
|||
|
<title> News Bytes LG #72 </title>
|
|||
|
</head>
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<BODY BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#000000" LINK="#0000FF" VLINK="#0000AF"
|
|||
|
ALINK="#FF0000">
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<CENTER>
|
|||
|
<A HREF="http://www.linuxgazette.com/">
|
|||
|
<H1><IMG ALT="LINUX GAZETTE" SRC="../gx/lglogo.png"
|
|||
|
WIDTH="600" HEIGHT="124" border="0"></H1></A>
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<!-- *** BEGIN navbar *** -->
|
|||
|
<IMG ALT="" SRC="../gx/navbar/left.jpg" WIDTH="14" HEIGHT="45" BORDER="0" ALIGN="bottom"><A HREF="lg_mail72.html"><IMG ALT="[ Prev ]" SRC="../gx/navbar/prev.jpg" WIDTH="16" HEIGHT="45" BORDER="0" ALIGN="bottom"></A><A HREF="index.html"><IMG ALT="[ Table of Contents ]" SRC="../gx/navbar/toc.jpg" WIDTH="220" HEIGHT="45" BORDER="0" ALIGN="bottom" ></A><A HREF="../index.html"><IMG ALT="[ Front Page ]" SRC="../gx/navbar/frontpage.jpg" WIDTH="137" HEIGHT="45" BORDER="0" ALIGN="bottom"></A><A HREF="../faq/index.html"><IMG ALT="[ FAQ ]" SRC="./../gx/navbar/faq.jpg"WIDTH="62" HEIGHT="45" BORDER="0" ALIGN="bottom"></A><A HREF="lg_answer72.html"><IMG ALT="[ Next ]" SRC="../gx/navbar/next.jpg" WIDTH="15" HEIGHT="45" BORDER="0" ALIGN="bottom" ></A><IMG ALT="" SRC="../gx/navbar/right.jpg" WIDTH="15" HEIGHT="45" ALIGN="bottom">
|
|||
|
<!-- *** END navbar *** -->
|
|||
|
<P>
|
|||
|
</CENTER>
|
|||
|
<!--endcut ============================================================-->
|
|||
|
<H4 ALIGN="center">"Linux Gazette...<I>making Linux just a little more fun!</I>"</H4>
|
|||
|
<HR>
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<center>
|
|||
|
<table cellpadding=7><tr><td>
|
|||
|
<IMG SRC="../gx/bytes.gif" border=1 ALT="News Bytes">
|
|||
|
</td><td>
|
|||
|
<H3>Contents:</H3>
|
|||
|
<ul>
|
|||
|
<li><a HREF="#leg">Legislation and More Legislation</a>
|
|||
|
<li><a HREF="#links">Linux Links</a>
|
|||
|
<li><a HREF="#conferences">Conferences and Events</a>
|
|||
|
<li><a HREF="#general">News in General</a>
|
|||
|
<li><a HREF="#distro">Distro News</A>
|
|||
|
<li><a HREF="#commercial">Software and Product News</a>
|
|||
|
</ul>
|
|||
|
</td></tr></table>
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<STRONG>Selected and formatted by <A HREF="mailto:michael.conry@softhome.net">Michael Conry</A></STRONG>
|
|||
|
</center>
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<P> Submitters, send your News Bytes items in
|
|||
|
<FONT SIZE="+2"><STRONG>PLAIN TEXT</STRONG></FONT>
|
|||
|
format. Other formats may be rejected without reading. You have been
|
|||
|
warned! A one- or two-paragraph summary plus URL gets you a better
|
|||
|
announcement than an entire press release.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<P> <hr> <P>
|
|||
|
<!-- =================================================================== -->
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<H3><IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
|
|||
|
<font color="green">
|
|||
|
November 2001 <I>Linux Journal</I>
|
|||
|
</font>
|
|||
|
</H3>
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<IMG ALT=" " SRC="misc/lj-cover91.png" WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=268
|
|||
|
ALIGN="left" HSPACE="20">
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<P>
|
|||
|
The November issue of <A HREF="http://www.linuxjournal.com/"><I>Linux
|
|||
|
Journal</I></A> is on newsstands now.
|
|||
|
This issue focuses on Linux Enterprise and presents the results from the annual
|
|||
|
Readers' Choice Awards. Click
|
|||
|
<A HREF="http://www.linuxjournal.com/lj-issues/issue91/index.html">here</A>
|
|||
|
to view the table of contents, or
|
|||
|
<A HREF="http://www.linuxjournal.com/subscribe/index.html">here</A>
|
|||
|
to subscribe.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<P>
|
|||
|
<FONT COLOR="green">All articles through December 1999 are available for
|
|||
|
public reading at
|
|||
|
<A HREF="http://www.linuxjournal.com/lj-issues/mags.html">http://www.linuxjournal.com/lj-issues/mags.html</A></FONT>.
|
|||
|
Recent articles are available on-line for subscribers only at
|
|||
|
<A HREF="http://interactive.linuxjournal.com">http://interactive.linuxjournal.com/</A>.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<BR CLEAR="all">
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<P> <hr> <P>
|
|||
|
<!-- =================================================================== -->
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<H3><IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
|
|||
|
<font color="green">
|
|||
|
November/December 2001 <I>Embedded Linux Journal</I>
|
|||
|
</font>
|
|||
|
</H3>
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<IMG ALT=" " SRC="misc/elj-cover06.png" WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=268
|
|||
|
ALIGN="left" HSPACE="20">
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<P> Issue #6 of <I>Embedded Linux Journal</I> has articles about choosing an
|
|||
|
embedded distribution, building a minimal glibc, Linux single-board computers,
|
|||
|
and more. Plus a cool chicks-on-a-motherboard cover.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<P> <A HREF="http://embedded.linuxjournal.com/magazine/issue06/">Click here for the table of contents.</A>
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<P> <I>Embedded Linux Journal</I> is available free to qualified subscribers in the
|
|||
|
USA, Canada and Mexico.
|
|||
|
<A HREF="http://embedded.linuxjournal.com/subscribe/">Click here to subscribe.</A>
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<BR CLEAR="all">
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<a name="leg"></a>
|
|||
|
<p><hr><p>
|
|||
|
<!-- =================================================================== -->
|
|||
|
<center><H3><font color="green">Legislation and More Legislation</font></H3></center>
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<P> <hr> <P>
|
|||
|
<!-- =================================================================== -->
|
|||
|
<H3><IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
|
|||
|
<FONT COLOR="green">Alan Cox Censors Kernel Changelog In Response To DMCA
|
|||
|
</FONT>
|
|||
|
</H3>
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<P> In Linux 2.2.20-pre10's
|
|||
|
<a href="http://marc.theaimsgroup.com/?l=linux-kernel&m=100374609914587&w=2">
|
|||
|
changelog</a>, Alan Cox refuses to list the
|
|||
|
details for some "security fixes", writing, "Details censored in
|
|||
|
accordance with the US DMCA". Apparently file ownership and permissions
|
|||
|
might be used to protect a copyright, and highlighting the fixes in a
|
|||
|
changelog could thus be seen as publishing information on copyright
|
|||
|
circumvention. There was a thread of discussion leading from this decision
|
|||
|
on linux-kernel, with some list-members feeling that Alan was
|
|||
|
overreacting. Others made the very fair point that it was up to Alan
|
|||
|
whether or not he wanted to take the risk of potentially violating the
|
|||
|
DMCA. Alan's position is that he has taken legal advice, and that this is
|
|||
|
the most prudent course of action.
|
|||
|
<p>
|
|||
|
LWN's
|
|||
|
<a href="http://lwn.net/2001/1025/">
|
|||
|
coverage</a> of this story highlighted the fact that although the
|
|||
|
changelog is censored, the actual code and patches are not.
|
|||
|
This was also noted on linux-kernel.
|
|||
|
Rik van Riel posted a link (on Slashdot and linux-kernel) to
|
|||
|
<a href="http://thefreeworld.net/">
|
|||
|
http://thefreeworld.net/</a> where you can get the changelog, along with
|
|||
|
other information/tools not allowed in the US (this is for non-US visitors).
|
|||
|
Further comments can be
|
|||
|
<a href="http://slashdot.org/yro/01/10/22/172200.shtml">
|
|||
|
found</a> on Slashdot, where the story popped up, and
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/4/22536.html">here</a> on The
|
|||
|
Register.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<P> <hr> <P>
|
|||
|
<!-- =================================================================== -->
|
|||
|
<H3><IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
|
|||
|
<FONT COLOR="green">An Irish Perspective
|
|||
|
</FONT>
|
|||
|
</H3>
|
|||
|
With the current confusion and controversy regarding US law relating to
|
|||
|
software and technology (<A HREF="../issue71/lg_bytes71.html#leg">reported last month</A>
|
|||
|
in News Bytes),
|
|||
|
it might be of interest to take a glance at how
|
|||
|
these issues play out elsewhere, such as Ireland.
|
|||
|
The IT sector has been a big contributor to
|
|||
|
Ireland's recent economic
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.irlgov.ie/finance/publications/meb/mebjun00.htm">
|
|||
|
upturn</a>.
|
|||
|
However, there have been relatively few policy developments in the area.
|
|||
|
One of the more significant government initiatives has been the
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.entemp.ie/ecd/ecommact.pdf">
|
|||
|
Electronic Commerce Act(2000)</a>(PDF). A more readable
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.gov.ie/tec/communications/technology/electronicenvironment.htm">
|
|||
|
commentary</a>
|
|||
|
on the act is available. One important, and encouraging, inclusion is the
|
|||
|
recognition of the right to strong cryptography. As is pointed out in the
|
|||
|
commentary,
|
|||
|
<blockquote>
|
|||
|
"...the Act provides for a court order to be issued requiring a person to
|
|||
|
disclose the encrypted evidence in a plain-text form. However, section 27
|
|||
|
of the Act specifically provides that nothing in the Act shall have the
|
|||
|
effect of requiring the disclosure of unique data such as codes, passwords,
|
|||
|
algorithms, private cryptographic keys..."
|
|||
|
</blockquote>
|
|||
|
There is also a rejection of the concept of
|
|||
|
key escrow, which is reiterated in the Government
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.gov.ie/tec/communications/ecommerce/signat.htm">
|
|||
|
Policy on Cryptography and Electronic Signatures</a>, which also asserts
|
|||
|
the right to free choice of cryptographic method. Partly, these policies
|
|||
|
were adopted because they were seen as pro-business: technology companies
|
|||
|
are more important to the Irish economy than media companies.
|
|||
|
Another factor that may have influenced this decision is the fact that
|
|||
|
Ireland's communications are vulnerable to monitoring by other
|
|||
|
states for conventional or industrial espionage. Such allegations were
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.channel4.com/news/sr/sr.pages/sr4.what/sr4.scr4.htm">
|
|||
|
made</a>
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.rte.ie/news/1999/0715/tapping.html">
|
|||
|
against</a>
|
|||
|
the UK regarding Capenhurst Tower. On a European wide
|
|||
|
level, similar concerns have been
|
|||
|
<a href="http://cryptome.org/echelon-ep.htm">
|
|||
|
raised</a> regarding UK and USA involvement in Echelon.
|
|||
|
<p>
|
|||
|
The UK has taken a less liberal approach, in particular in the
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.fipr.org/rip/">
|
|||
|
Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act</a>. The Irish Government was keen
|
|||
|
to follow a different route, in the
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/finance/2000/0324/tech1.htm">
|
|||
|
hope</a> that this would encourage inward investment in the electronic
|
|||
|
commerce and software sectors. The
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/ireland/1998/0905/clinton14.htm">
|
|||
|
electronic signing</a>
|
|||
|
by Bill Clinton and Bertie Ahern of a communique on
|
|||
|
electronic commerce in September 1998 was a high profile publicity stunt to
|
|||
|
reinforce this image.
|
|||
|
This, and other pro-business policies, were successful,
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.enterprise-ireland.com/connect-profiles.asp?sectorid=19">
|
|||
|
moving</a> Ireland
|
|||
|
to the position of second largest exporter of software in the world.
|
|||
|
<p>
|
|||
|
Another significant influence on
|
|||
|
Irish policy is the
|
|||
|
<a href="http://europa.eu.int/">
|
|||
|
European Union</a>. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as some good
|
|||
|
policies have come from the EU. The
|
|||
|
<a href="http://cryptome.org/echelon-ep.htm">
|
|||
|
Echelon document</a> mentioned earlier states
|
|||
|
"...e-mails can and should be encrypted by everyone", and is a valuable
|
|||
|
wake-up call to the importance of security.
|
|||
|
Bruce Schneier has
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.counterpane.com/crypto-gram-0108.html#8">lauded</a> the
|
|||
|
EU for taking on board security professionals
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.cerias.purdue.edu/homes/spaf/coe/TREATY_LETTER.html">
|
|||
|
concerns</a> regarding the new EU Cybercrime Treaty. Additionally,
|
|||
|
the European Patent office
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.european-patent-office.org/ap_gd/english/b-i-e.htm">
|
|||
|
does not</a> grant software patents. A much more disturbing development is
|
|||
|
the
|
|||
|
<a href="http://cryptome.org/eu-copyright.htm">
|
|||
|
The EU Copyright Directive</a>.
|
|||
|
Like the DMCA, this is inspired by the
|
|||
|
World Intellectual Property Organization, and it has some
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.eurorights.org/eudmca/index.html">
|
|||
|
similar provisions</a>.
|
|||
|
However, European directives are guidelines for national laws,
|
|||
|
and certainly do not override national constitutions, so there should be a
|
|||
|
longer road before the EU is fully subject to DMCA style rigour.
|
|||
|
<p>
|
|||
|
On the broader theme of civil liberties and misuse of power, there are
|
|||
|
valuable lessons to be learned from Ireland's experiences. Ireland's
|
|||
|
troubled political history has in the past led to some very
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.iccl.ie/criminalj/emergency/reports.html">
|
|||
|
harsh laws</a> such as the anti-terrorist <em>Offences Against the State
|
|||
|
Act</em>, repeatedly condemned by Amnesty International. Also, there was
|
|||
|
significant abuse of 'phone tapping, with both
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/ireland/2001/1017/hom11.htm">
|
|||
|
journalists</a>
|
|||
|
and
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/ireland/2001/0508/hom17.htm">
|
|||
|
politicians</a> the victims.
|
|||
|
Phone tapping has valid security uses, as might some of the measures
|
|||
|
which has just been enacted enacted in the United States, but it is very easy
|
|||
|
to misuse. Although the current Taoiseach (Prime Minister) has apologised
|
|||
|
for the abuse, much harm has already been done. Indeed this controversy has
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/breaking/2001/0927/breaking39.htm">
|
|||
|
flared up again</a>,
|
|||
|
as one of the ex-ministers responsible for the wiretaps (and opposed to
|
|||
|
apologies) is now chairing a government telecoms enquiry.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<P> <hr> <P>
|
|||
|
<!-- =================================================================== -->
|
|||
|
<H3><IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
|
|||
|
<FONT COLOR="green">Anti-Terrorism Bills Compared
|
|||
|
</FONT>
|
|||
|
</H3>
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<P>
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.aclu.org/">
|
|||
|
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)</a> have prepared a
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.aclu.org/congress/patriot_chart.html">
|
|||
|
chart</a>
|
|||
|
showing the differences wiretapping/surveillance provisions
|
|||
|
between current law and various Anti Terrorism bills: The originally
|
|||
|
proposed Bush Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), the House Judiciary compromise
|
|||
|
Patriot Act, the Senat-Passed USA Act, and the House Passed USA Act. There
|
|||
|
are also ACLU comments on each.
|
|||
|
<p>
|
|||
|
At Security Focus, Richard Forno has
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.securityfocus.com/columnists/25">
|
|||
|
written</a>
|
|||
|
on these issues, and on the danger of too-readily sacrificing freedoms.
|
|||
|
Richard Stallman has also
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.newsforge.com/article.pl?sid=01/10/22/1417238">
|
|||
|
commented</a>
|
|||
|
on the dangers of erosion of civil
|
|||
|
liberties, in particular under the USA Act.
|
|||
|
<p>
|
|||
|
On Wednesday 24th October, the USA Patriot Act (HR 3162) was
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.aclu.org/news/2001/n102401a.html">
|
|||
|
passed</a>
|
|||
|
by the house of representatives 357-66, and the following day by the
|
|||
|
Senate, 98-1, with Russ Feingold the only
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.senate.gov/~feingold/releases/01/10/102501at.html">
|
|||
|
dissenter</a>.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<P> <hr> <P>
|
|||
|
<!-- =================================================================== -->
|
|||
|
<H3><IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
|
|||
|
<FONT COLOR="green">James Love on Lobbying and Hague Conventions
|
|||
|
</FONT>
|
|||
|
</H3>
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<P>
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.slashdot.org/">Slashdot</a> had a recent
|
|||
|
<a href="http://slashdot.org/interviews/01/10/09/1014241.shtml">
|
|||
|
interview</a>
|
|||
|
with consumer advocate James Love. He has some ideas on getting decision
|
|||
|
makers' attention which may be of special interest to Linux advocates. In
|
|||
|
particular, he recommends writing to congressional staffers that are
|
|||
|
working on the specific issue, rather than just to congress members. Also,
|
|||
|
he mentions that it is worth writing letters to well-read newspapers (or
|
|||
|
local newspapers of a Congress member you want to reach).
|
|||
|
<p>
|
|||
|
This tactic could be surprisingly effective. I know for a fact that in
|
|||
|
government departments in my own country, Ireland, that civil servants are
|
|||
|
assigned to read the major newspapers and cut out articles that are
|
|||
|
relevant to their department. Particular attention is given to the letters
|
|||
|
page, and these clippings are seen by the head civil servants and ministers
|
|||
|
(i.e. decision/policy makers) in each department.
|
|||
|
<p>
|
|||
|
One other issue, raised by Love, which might be of particular relevance
|
|||
|
here, is the
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.hcch.net/e/workprog/jdgm.html">
|
|||
|
Hague Convention on Jurisdiction and Foreign Judgements</a>. This is a
|
|||
|
subject on which James has
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.cptech.org/ecom/jurisdiction/hague.html">
|
|||
|
commented</a> extensively.
|
|||
|
The convention in question is a treaty that would implement, among
|
|||
|
other things, cross-border patent enforcement.
|
|||
|
"Everyone would be liable for infringement of foreign
|
|||
|
patents, and the Hague Convention would give exclusive jurisdiction for
|
|||
|
both validity and infringement in the county of registration." There is an
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.cptech.org/ecom/jurisdiction/whatyoushouldknow.html">
|
|||
|
an online introduction</a> to this subject, by James Love. The official
|
|||
|
website is at:
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.hcch.net/">http://www.hcch.net/</a>.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<P> <hr> <P>
|
|||
|
<!-- =================================================================== -->
|
|||
|
<H3><IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
|
|||
|
<FONT COLOR="green">RIAA mischief
|
|||
|
</FONT>
|
|||
|
</H3>
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<P> Slashdot
|
|||
|
<a href="http://slashdot.org/yro/01/10/15/138258.shtml">
|
|||
|
quotes</a>
|
|||
|
Wired's
|
|||
|
<a href="http://wired.com/news/conflict/0,2100,47552,00.html">
|
|||
|
allegation</a>
|
|||
|
that the Recording Industry
|
|||
|
Association of America (RIAA) tried (and failed) to get inserted
|
|||
|
into the Anti-Terrorism bill a provision that would allow it to
|
|||
|
hack into your computer to see if you had any unauthorized MP3s
|
|||
|
and delete them. It seems they think they had this right all along (!) but
|
|||
|
are afraid they might get branded as Cyber-Terrorists if they tried it under the
|
|||
|
new
|
|||
|
<a href="http://wired.com/news/conflict/0,2100,47552,00.html">
|
|||
|
USA-Act</a>! Of course, the biggest concern is collateral damage to
|
|||
|
your computer, which RIAA wants to shirk responsibility for. This story
|
|||
|
was also
|
|||
|
<a href="http://arstechnica.infopop.net/OpenTopic/page?a=tpc&s=50009562&f=174096756&m=8890985492&r=8890985492">
|
|||
|
picked up</a> by
|
|||
|
<a href="http://arstechnica.com">ArsTechnica</a>. The RIAA later
|
|||
|
published a
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.riaa.org/PR_story.cfm?id=462">
|
|||
|
rebuttal</a>, which doesn't really contradict much of what was written, but
|
|||
|
spins differently.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<P> In a similar vein, though perhaps inaccurately, The Register
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/6/22087.html">
|
|||
|
reported</a>
|
|||
|
on a secret meeting between Senators Fritz
|
|||
|
Hollings, Ted Stevens, and representatives of RIAA and the big
|
|||
|
media companies. Interesting reading, but now comes the caveat:
|
|||
|
"Our source may not be all he or she claimed to be, and serious doubts have
|
|||
|
been cast on the veracity of the comments attributed to the RIAA's Rosen
|
|||
|
and co."
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<P> <hr> <P>
|
|||
|
<!-- =================================================================== -->
|
|||
|
<H3><IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
|
|||
|
<FONT COLOR="green">But Didn't the Hijackers Already Present Valid ID?
|
|||
|
</FONT>
|
|||
|
</H3>
|
|||
|
Slashdot ran a story on how
|
|||
|
both
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.oracle.com/">Oracle</a> and
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.sun.com/">Sun</a>
|
|||
|
are pressing for
|
|||
|
<a href="http://slashdot.org/articles/01/10/12/003242.shtml">
|
|||
|
a national ID card</a>, powered
|
|||
|
by their own systems. Nice business trick, cashing in on current hunger
|
|||
|
for any available and visible security measure. This was also covered by
|
|||
|
The Mercury News
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www0.mercurycenter.com/local/center/id101701.htm">
|
|||
|
here</a>.
|
|||
|
For a rational assessment of current security concerns take a look at Bruce
|
|||
|
Schneier's
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.counterpane.com/crypto-gram.html">
|
|||
|
Crypto-Gram</a> special issue devoted to
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.counterpane.com/crypto-gram-0109a.html">
|
|||
|
the September 11 terrorist attacks and their aftermath</a>. It is also an
|
|||
|
excellent source of links. A fine point he makes is that many new
|
|||
|
"security" measures are aimed at making people think they are more secure,
|
|||
|
rather than actually improving real security. If you then throw into the
|
|||
|
mix the interests of powerful lobbies opposed to free communication, you
|
|||
|
get an unpleasant mix.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<P> <hr> <P>
|
|||
|
<!-- =================================================================== -->
|
|||
|
<H3><IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
|
|||
|
<FONT COLOR="green">SSSCA update
|
|||
|
</FONT>
|
|||
|
</H3>
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
ZDNet <a href="http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/news/0,4586,5098618,00.html">
|
|||
|
report</a> that some tech heavyweights (Intel, IBM, Microsoft, etc.,)
|
|||
|
have objections to the proposed
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.politechbot.com/docs/hollings.090701.html">SSSCA</a>
|
|||
|
bill. Indeed Slashdot later
|
|||
|
<a href="http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=01/10/26/126230&mode=nested">highlighted</a>
|
|||
|
reports that the Senate Commerce Committee's hearings
|
|||
|
on the Bill have been postponed due to mounting opposition. It's not
|
|||
|
dead yet, but this should be positive.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<a name="links"></a>
|
|||
|
<p><hr><p>
|
|||
|
<!-- =================================================================== -->
|
|||
|
<center><H3><font color="green">Linux Links</font></H3></center>
|
|||
|
<p><hr><p>
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<IMG ALT="Linux Focus" SRC="../gx/linuxfocus.jpg" WIDTH="143" HEIGHT="45">
|
|||
|
<BR CLEAR="all">
|
|||
|
The following articles are in the November-December issue of the E-zine
|
|||
|
<A HREF="http://www.linuxfocus.org/">LinuxFocus</A>:
|
|||
|
<ul>
|
|||
|
<li><a href="http://www.linuxfocus.org/English/November2001/article116.shtml">
|
|||
|
Freefont, TrueType and patterns with The Gimp</a><br></li>
|
|||
|
<li><a href="http://www.linuxfocus.org/English/November2001/article121.shtml">
|
|||
|
Gimp: using mask layers</a><br></li>
|
|||
|
<li><a href="http://www.linuxfocus.org/English/November2001/article163.shtml">
|
|||
|
Yellow Pages 3: The Server Side</a><br></li>
|
|||
|
<li><a href="http://www.linuxfocus.org/English/November2001/article203.shtml">
|
|||
|
Avoiding security holes when developing an application - Part 6: CGI scripts</a><br></li>
|
|||
|
<li><a href="http://www.linuxfocus.org/English/November2001/article217.shtml">
|
|||
|
Nessus : another brick in the (security) wall</a><br></li>
|
|||
|
<li><a href="http://www.linuxfocus.org/English/November2001/article219.shtml">
|
|||
|
MOSIXVIEW, a management-GUI for MOSIX-cluster</a><br></li>
|
|||
|
<li><a href="http://linuxfocus.org/English/November2001/article220.shtml">
|
|||
|
Atek Super Mini Optical Mouse</a><br></li>
|
|||
|
<li><a href="http://linuxfocus.org/English/November2001/article221.shtml">
|
|||
|
A whole new world: A guided tour with Tux through the land of the penguin</a><br></li>
|
|||
|
<li><a href="http://linuxfocus.org/English/November2001/article223.shtml">
|
|||
|
How to use your ATEN UC-232A USB adapter with Linux</a><br></li>
|
|||
|
</ul>
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Some links found recently on
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.slashdot.org/">Slashdot</a>
|
|||
|
<ul>
|
|||
|
<li> <a href="http://www.linuxworld.com/ic_717468_6995_1-3133.html">
|
|||
|
Linux on Sony Playstation 2</a>, to be released in US soon
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<li> <a href="http://66.129.1.101/top20.htm">
|
|||
|
Top 20 Internet vulnerabilities</a>, continuously updated, and covering
|
|||
|
Windows, Unix, and general security. Lots of common sense as well as tech
|
|||
|
sense.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<li> Slashdot has
|
|||
|
<a href="http://slashdot.org/articles/01/10/07/1411232.shtml">
|
|||
|
links</a>
|
|||
|
about Sharp's upcoming Linux PDA.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<li> <a href="http://www.adequacy.org/?op=displaystory;sid=2001/10/2/33542/4010">
|
|||
|
Comments</a> from a disgruntled Linux user.
|
|||
|
A Cautionary commentary on Linux advocates.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<li>
|
|||
|
ZDNet has a
|
|||
|
<a href="http://techupdate.zdnet.com/techupdate/stories/main/0,14179,2816203,00.html">
|
|||
|
report</a> on upcoming revamps of
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.mysql.com/">MySQL</a>.
|
|||
|
New features: Version 4.0 (October): Unicode,
|
|||
|
multitable updates, SSL, etc. Version 4.1 (to be released in December):
|
|||
|
nested queries, stored
|
|||
|
procedures, etc.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<li>
|
|||
|
OS News have an
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.osnews.com/story.php?news_id=161">
|
|||
|
Interview</a>
|
|||
|
with Linus.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<li> Sony
|
|||
|
<a href="http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=01/10/28/005233&mode=nested">
|
|||
|
uses</a> DMCA to stop AIBO hacking.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<li>Linux powered
|
|||
|
<a href="http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/cn/20011025/tc/humanoid_robot_runs_on_linux_power_1.html">
|
|||
|
humanoid</a>, pics and more details
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.dh.aist.go.jp/h6/H6_H7.html">here</a>.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<li>
|
|||
|
<a href="http://slashdot.org/articles/01/10/23/1252214.shtml">
|
|||
|
Story</a> about
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.directfb.org/">
|
|||
|
DirectFB</a>, a framebuffer toolbox that could be an alternative to
|
|||
|
X-windows.
|
|||
|
</ul>
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<p>
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.thedukeofurl.org">
|
|||
|
The Duke of URL</a> have
|
|||
|
<ul>
|
|||
|
<li>A <a href="http://www.thedukeofurl.org/reviews/misc/suse72">
|
|||
|
review</a> of
|
|||
|
SuSE Linux 7.2 Professional, in all its 7 CD and 1 DVD Glory.
|
|||
|
<li>A <a href="http://www.thedukeofurl.org/reviews/misc/caldera31">
|
|||
|
review</a> of Caldera OpenLinux Workstation 3.1.
|
|||
|
<li>Linux <a href="http://www.thedukeofurl.org/reviews/misc/linuxguide13">
|
|||
|
Buyers Guide #13</a>.
|
|||
|
</ul>
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<p>CNET have
|
|||
|
<a href="http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-200-7720536.html?tag=owv">
|
|||
|
reported</a> that
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/">Amazon.com</a> significantly reduced its
|
|||
|
IT budget by migrating to Linux.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<!-- p>
|
|||
|
Cartoons by Timothy Musson of
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.ozemail.com.au/~geisha/projects.html">
|
|||
|
Linux stereotypes</a>, featuring Debian, Redhat, Suse and Mandrake Geeks ;-) -->
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<p>
|
|||
|
<a href="http://cryptome.org/ms-drm.htm">
|
|||
|
Details</a>, at Cryptome.org, on the "Beale Screamer" anti-DMCA MS Digital
|
|||
|
Rights Management circumvention. Further
|
|||
|
<a href="http://cryptome.quintessenz.at/cgi-bin/htsearch?config=cryptome&restrict=&exclude=&method=and&format=builtin-long&sort=score&words=beale+screamer">
|
|||
|
information</a>.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<p>
|
|||
|
<a href="http://lwn.net/">
|
|||
|
Linux Weekly News</a>
|
|||
|
<a href="http://lwn.net/2001/1004/">
|
|||
|
reported</a> that the W3C is eager to adopt patented technology in
|
|||
|
standards. More details on LWN and summary <a href="#w3cstory">here</a>.
|
|||
|
<p>
|
|||
|
Opera (among others) had a bit of a tussle with Microsoft over MSN not
|
|||
|
allowing connections from non MS browsers. MS
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.opera.com/pressreleases/20011026.html">
|
|||
|
backed down</a>.
|
|||
|
<p>
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www-106.ibm.com/developerworks/linux/library/l-cli?open&t=grl,l<>7,p=LxClient">
|
|||
|
What good is a Linux client?</a>
|
|||
|
IBM's Mark Chapman give you the benefit of his own experience as a Linux
|
|||
|
newbie changing over from Windows.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<p>
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/56/22423.html">
|
|||
|
Virus writers are industrial terrorists</a> says Microsoft, as reported by
|
|||
|
The Register.
|
|||
|
<p>
|
|||
|
Linux.com have an
|
|||
|
<a href="http://linux.com/newsitem.phtml?sid=1&aid=12549">
|
|||
|
introduction</a> to using the
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.snort.org">
|
|||
|
Snort</a> Intrusion Detection System. Further reading
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.linux.ie/articles/portsentryandsnortcompared.php">
|
|||
|
here</a>, courtesy <a href="http://www.linux.ie/">ILUG</a>.
|
|||
|
<p>
|
|||
|
In LWN, Michael Hammel, who used to write LG's _The Graphics Muse_ column, surveys
|
|||
|
<a href="http://lwn.net/2001/1004/desktop.php3">
|
|||
|
Linux's repitoire of games</a>, both old and new, free and commercial. This is
|
|||
|
a very quick overview of the kinds of games Linux has, and its support for
|
|||
|
gaming technology.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<P> IBM is working with Citizen Watch to develop a
|
|||
|
<a href="http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1006-200-7489545.html?tag=lh">
|
|||
|
Linux watch</a>.
|
|||
|
There's a photo of a prototype showing Tux on the screen.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<a name="conferences"></a>
|
|||
|
<p><hr><p>
|
|||
|
<!-- =================================================================== -->
|
|||
|
<center><H3><font color="green">Upcoming conferences and events</font></H3></center>
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<P> Listings courtesy <EM>Linux Journal</EM>. See <EM>LJ</EM>'s
|
|||
|
<A HREF="http://noframes.linuxjournal.com/events/">Events</A> page for the
|
|||
|
latest goings-on.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<!-- *** BEGIN events table [this line needed by Linux Gazette events.py *** -->
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<table cellpadding=5 border=0 width=100%>
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<tr><td colspan=2><HR size=5 width=100% noshade align=center></td></tr>
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<tr><td valign=top>
|
|||
|
<b>5th Annual Linux Showcase & Conference</b><BR>
|
|||
|
<td valign=top>November 6-10, 2001<BR>Oakland, CA<BR>
|
|||
|
<A HREF="http://www.linuxshowcase.org/" target=_blank>
|
|||
|
http://www.linuxshowcase.org/</A><BR>
|
|||
|
</td></tr>
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<tr><td colspan=2><HR size=5 width=100% noshade align=center></td></tr>
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<tr><td valign=top>
|
|||
|
<b>Strictly e-Business Solutions Expo</b><BR>
|
|||
|
<td valign=top>November 7-8, 2001<BR>Houston, TX<BR>
|
|||
|
<A HREF="http://www.strictlyebusinessexpo.com/" target=_blank>
|
|||
|
http://www.strictlyebusinessexpo.com</A><BR>
|
|||
|
</td></tr>
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<tr><td colspan=2><HR size=5 width=100% noshade align=center></td></tr>
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<tr><td valign=top>
|
|||
|
<b>LINUX Business Expo</b><BR>Co-located with COMDEX<br>
|
|||
|
<td valign=top>November 12-16, 2001<BR>Las Vegas, NV<BR>
|
|||
|
<A HREF="http://www.linuxbusinessexpo.com" target=_blank>
|
|||
|
http://www.linuxbusinessexpo.com</A><BR>
|
|||
|
</td></tr>
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<tr><td colspan=2><HR size=5 width=100% noshade align=center></td></tr>
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<tr><td valign=top>
|
|||
|
<b>15th Systems Administration Conference/LISA 2001</b><BR>
|
|||
|
<td valign=top>December 2-7, 2001<BR>San Diego, CA<BR>
|
|||
|
<A HREF="http://www.usenix.org/events/lisa2001/" target=_blank>
|
|||
|
http://www.usenix.org/events/lisa2001</A><BR>
|
|||
|
</td></tr>
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<tr><td colspan=2><HR size=5 width=100% noshade align=center></td></tr>
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
</table>
|
|||
|
<!-- *** END events table [this line needed by Linux Gazette events.py *** -->
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<a name="general"></a>
|
|||
|
<p><hr><p>
|
|||
|
<!-- =================================================================== -->
|
|||
|
<center><H3><font color="green">News in General</font></H3></center>
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<P> <hr> <P>
|
|||
|
<a name="w3cstory"></a>
|
|||
|
<!-- =================================================================== -->
|
|||
|
<H3><IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
|
|||
|
<FONT COLOR="green">W3C and Patents
|
|||
|
</FONT>
|
|||
|
</H3>
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<P>
|
|||
|
<a href="http://lwn.net/">
|
|||
|
Linux Weekly News</a> recently
|
|||
|
<a href="http://lwn.net/2001/1004/">
|
|||
|
reported</a>
|
|||
|
that
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.w3.org/">
|
|||
|
W3C</a>
|
|||
|
has a
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.w3.org/TR/2001/WD-patent-policy-20010816/">
|
|||
|
draft policy</a> which would allow patented technology to be
|
|||
|
included in web standards. LWN has a good commentary on the issues, which
|
|||
|
could ultimately endanger the future of free software on the internet.
|
|||
|
The "Scalable Vector Graphics" (SVG) standard, already adopted by the W3C,
|
|||
|
includes patented technology from Apple. The W3C is already behaving as if
|
|||
|
the new policy were in force. <P> What most disturbed many observers was
|
|||
|
the under hand way in which the change was apparently being sneaked through.
|
|||
|
The "consultation period" came to most peoples attention thanks largely to
|
|||
|
LWN's Adam Warner who posted
|
|||
|
<a href="http://lwn.net/2001/1004/a/w3c-patents.php3">
|
|||
|
this message</a>.
|
|||
|
Following this comments in W3C's
|
|||
|
<a href="http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/www-patentpolicy-comment/2001Oct/thread.html">
|
|||
|
comment thread</a>
|
|||
|
turned sharply against the idea once it became generally known.
|
|||
|
Included are comments by Linux bigwigs. Many of the most important posts
|
|||
|
are linked from LWN.
|
|||
|
Some predict that this could lead to a situation similar to the one
|
|||
|
following the
|
|||
|
<A HREF="http://www.burnallgifs.org">
|
|||
|
patent rows</A> surrounding GIF's, and the subsequent development of PNG's.
|
|||
|
LWN suggests the possibility that in the future, the free software
|
|||
|
community may have to form another web standards committee to compete
|
|||
|
with W3C if W3C starts destroying the web with non-open technology
|
|||
|
that threatens the web's universal viewability.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<P> <hr> <P>
|
|||
|
<!-- =================================================================== -->
|
|||
|
<H3><IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
|
|||
|
<FONT COLOR="green">LWN in Difficulties
|
|||
|
</FONT>
|
|||
|
</H3>
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<P>Unhappy news,
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.lwn.net/">
|
|||
|
Linux Weekly News</a> is facing the
|
|||
|
<a href="http://lwn.net/2001/1011/">
|
|||
|
budget shortfalls</a>
|
|||
|
common to free web
|
|||
|
news sites. In particular, Tucows is
|
|||
|
no longer able to continue providing support.
|
|||
|
As a result, Michael Hammel, LWN "On the Desktop" columnist (and former LG
|
|||
|
"The Graphics Muse" columnist) is leaving LWN. We wish Michael well.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<P> More disturbing is LWN's prediction that, "Unless we can come up with a
|
|||
|
way of paying salaries soon, LWN risks dropping off the net entirely."
|
|||
|
There is a mailing list to discuss LWN's future at
|
|||
|
<a href="http://vena.lwn.net/mailman/listinfo/discussion">
|
|||
|
http://vena.lwn.net/mailman/listinfo/discussion</a> (now needs
|
|||
|
registration). This news was also
|
|||
|
<a href="http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=01/10/11/1255249&mode=nested">
|
|||
|
discussed</a>
|
|||
|
on Slashdot.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<P> <hr> <P>
|
|||
|
<!-- =================================================================== -->
|
|||
|
<H3><IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
|
|||
|
<FONT COLOR="green">Kernel Vulnerability
|
|||
|
</FONT>
|
|||
|
</H3>
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Slashdot
|
|||
|
<a href="http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=01/10/19/141229&mode=nested">
|
|||
|
reported</a> on a recently spotted kernel vulnerability. Details are
|
|||
|
available in a
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.securityfocus.com/cgi-bin/archive.pl?id=1&start=2001-10-15&end=2001-10-21&threads=0&mid=20011018173540.A6671@emperor.7bulls.com">mail</a> from
|
|||
|
Rafal Wojtczuk. Briefly,
|
|||
|
There are two bugs present in Linux kernels 2.2.19 and below, and 2.4.9
|
|||
|
and below (2.4.10 may be vulnerable too). The first vulnerability results
|
|||
|
in <em>local</em> DoS (based on deeply nested symlinks. The second one,
|
|||
|
involving ptrace, can be used to gain root privileges <em>locally</em> (in
|
|||
|
case of default install of most popular distributions). Linux 2.0.x is not
|
|||
|
vulnerable to the ptrace bug mentioned. Kernel patch is included at the end
|
|||
|
of the mail and
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.securityfocus.com/cgi-bin/archive.pl?id=1&mid=221337&start01-10-15&end01-10-21">
|
|||
|
here</a>. Red Hat have updated kernel packages available for
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2001-129.html">
|
|||
|
2.4</a> and
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2001-130.html">
|
|||
|
2.2</a> kernel series.<br>
|
|||
|
Details of updated Debian source packages (i386) are available in
|
|||
|
<a href="http://lists.debian.org/debian-changes/2001/debian-changes-200110/msg00016.html">
|
|||
|
this post</a>, updated kernel images are also available.
|
|||
|
Check your own distro's web-page for updates.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<P> <hr> <P>
|
|||
|
<!-- =================================================================== -->
|
|||
|
<H3><IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
|
|||
|
<FONT COLOR="green">Linux Making Inroads
|
|||
|
</FONT>
|
|||
|
</H3>
|
|||
|
Three separate stories pointing towards possibly more widespread adoption
|
|||
|
of Linux in the near future. First, in what one might call the birthplace
|
|||
|
of Linux (and certainly Linus!), The Register
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/4/22070.html">
|
|||
|
reports</a>
|
|||
|
That Finnish local government is leaning away from Windows and towards Linux.
|
|||
|
The city of Turku, population around 200,000, has reacted to Microsoft's
|
|||
|
latest licensing changes by kicking off a study of Linux alternatives.
|
|||
|
<p>
|
|||
|
Also in Europe, IDG.net have reported that
|
|||
|
Germany's lower parliament (the Bundestag) is
|
|||
|
<a href="http://idg.net/ic_712902_1794_9-10000.html">
|
|||
|
considering</a> switching
|
|||
|
from Windows to Linux for its 5000 computers. The main reasons
|
|||
|
are for security, stability and (again) to save money in the face of MS's
|
|||
|
new upgrade terms. The parliamentary committee will decide late
|
|||
|
this year or early next year which OS will replace its current
|
|||
|
version of Windows NT.
|
|||
|
<p>
|
|||
|
Finally, Technews.com have run a
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.technews.com/news/01/171244.html">
|
|||
|
Thai story</a>:
|
|||
|
that Thailand's government will back the idea of using free, Thai-language
|
|||
|
'open source' software as a way of reducing spending and software piracy.
|
|||
|
An official is quoted:
|
|||
|
"To be independent from foreign software, the country needs to build a
|
|||
|
knowledge base along with developing human resources and work based on
|
|||
|
open source software."
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<P> <hr> <P>
|
|||
|
<!-- =================================================================== -->
|
|||
|
<H3><IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
|
|||
|
<FONT COLOR="green">Linux NetworX Cluster Aids BioCryst in Medical Development
|
|||
|
</FONT>
|
|||
|
</H3>
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<P>
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.linuxnetworx.com">
|
|||
|
Linux NetworX</a>, have
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.linuxnetworx.com/news/10.9.2001.57-Linux_NetworX_C.html">
|
|||
|
announced</a>
|
|||
|
that
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.biocryst.com/">BioCryst Pharmaceuticals</a>,
|
|||
|
is now using a Linux NetworX Evolocity cluster to aid in creating
|
|||
|
pharmaceuticals for the treatment of human disease and illness such as
|
|||
|
influenza and hepatitis C. Implementing an innovative drug discovery
|
|||
|
approach, scientists at BioCryst create synthetic small-molecule
|
|||
|
inhibitors, atom by atom, to bind with specific disease-causing proteins or
|
|||
|
targets.
|
|||
|
<P> BioCryst's new Evolocity cluster includes 32 Pentium III 933 MHz
|
|||
|
processors, with 16 GB of memory and a 10/100 Ethernet network. Linux
|
|||
|
NetworX configured the cluster to handle complex computer modelling
|
|||
|
applications, such as X-ray crystallography and combinatorial chemistry.
|
|||
|
BioCryst utilizes the Linux NetworX ClusterWorX management software and
|
|||
|
signed an on-going service agreement as well.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<P> <hr> <P>
|
|||
|
<!-- =================================================================== -->
|
|||
|
<H3><IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
|
|||
|
<FONT COLOR="green">ALS for free: Oakland November 5th-10th
|
|||
|
</FONT>
|
|||
|
</H3>
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<P>In response to an uncertain
|
|||
|
political climate and the recent economic downturn, the
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.usenix.org">USENIX</a>
|
|||
|
Association and the
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.linuxshowcase.org">
|
|||
|
Atlanta Linux Showcase, Inc.</a>
|
|||
|
jointly announced today that they will offer free registration to everyone
|
|||
|
wishing to attend technical sessions at next month's Annual Linux Showcase
|
|||
|
& Conference in Oakland, California. USENIX and ALS are making this
|
|||
|
unprecedented offer because they believe the networking opportunities and
|
|||
|
high-calibre technical content at this conference provide an important
|
|||
|
service to their membership and the general open source community.
|
|||
|
<P> "We recognize this may only be a temporary readjustment until the
|
|||
|
'brick and mortar' companies start using open source products to a greater
|
|||
|
degree. Therefore, we feel that it is crucial to provide current technical
|
|||
|
information to the community at this time," said Jon "maddog" Hall, USENIX
|
|||
|
Director and ALS Invited Talks Program Chair. "There are also several
|
|||
|
political issues facing the open source community right now such as DMCA,
|
|||
|
SSSCA, copyrights, and software patents. The ALS invited talks track
|
|||
|
reflects this and we felt that we could not put off these important
|
|||
|
discussions to a later time."
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<P> <hr> <P>
|
|||
|
<!-- =================================================================== -->
|
|||
|
<H3><IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
|
|||
|
<FONT COLOR="green">SAIR Linux and GNU
|
|||
|
</FONT>
|
|||
|
</H3>
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<P>"For the third consecutive show,
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.linuxcertification.com">
|
|||
|
SAIR Linux and GNU</a>'s partnership with IDG was a huge success. As the
|
|||
|
leading developer of vendor neutral training curriculum and
|
|||
|
certification materials for open source software, SAIR Linux and GNU
|
|||
|
offered free Linux review sessions and free certification testing at
|
|||
|
the LinuxWorld Conference and Expo event which took place at San
|
|||
|
Francisco's Moscone Center. SAIR Linux and GNU served as the official
|
|||
|
Certification Sponsor for the August 27 thru August 30 event which
|
|||
|
welcomed more than 18,000 attendees and 180 exhibitors."
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<P> For more information on the success of the LinuxWorld Expo, visit
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.linuxcertification.com/linuxworld/">
|
|||
|
http://www.linuxcertification.com/linuxworld/</a> or
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.linuxworldexpo.com">
|
|||
|
http://www.linuxworldexpo.com</a> . You can also access additional
|
|||
|
information about SAIR Linux and GNU Certification or locate a
|
|||
|
training center, by visiting
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.linuxcertification.com">
|
|||
|
www.linuxcertification.com</a>.
|
|||
|
Additional information about testing can be found at
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.2test.com">
|
|||
|
www.2test.com</a> or
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.vue.com">
|
|||
|
www.vue.com</a>.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<a name="distro"></a>
|
|||
|
<p><hr><p>
|
|||
|
<!-- =================================================================== -->
|
|||
|
<center><H3><font color="green">Distro News</font></H3></center>
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<P> <hr> <P>
|
|||
|
<!-- =================================================================== -->
|
|||
|
<H3><IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
|
|||
|
<FONT COLOR="green">Debian
|
|||
|
</FONT>
|
|||
|
</H3>
|
|||
|
<p>
|
|||
|
The Debian
|
|||
|
<a href="http://kt.zork.net/debian-hurd/latest.html">
|
|||
|
HURD</a>
|
|||
|
iso images are
|
|||
|
<a href="http://lists.debian.org/debian-hurd/2001/debian-hurd-200110/msg00054.html">
|
|||
|
now available</a>
|
|||
|
from your local ftp.gnu.org mirror. There are 3 iso's available, but you
|
|||
|
only need the first one to get a system going, so get downloading now!"
|
|||
|
<hr noshade width="20%">
|
|||
|
<p>
|
|||
|
The position of Debian Security Secretary has been
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.debian.org/News/2001/20011017">
|
|||
|
filled</a>, with the appointment of Matt Zimmerman and Noah Meyerhans to
|
|||
|
the role.
|
|||
|
<hr noshade width="20%">
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<p>
|
|||
|
<a href="http://lists.debian.org/debian-changes/2001/debian-changes-200110/msg00001.html">
|
|||
|
Details</a> of an updated webalizer package were posted on Debian Changes.
|
|||
|
It fixes a bug whereby Webalizer stopped working on Oct 5th, 2001.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<P> <hr> <P>
|
|||
|
<!-- =================================================================== -->
|
|||
|
<H3><IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
|
|||
|
<FONT COLOR="green">Red Hat
|
|||
|
</FONT>
|
|||
|
</H3>
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.redhat.com">
|
|||
|
Red Hat</a> have released
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.redhat.com/software/linux/7-2_standard.html">
|
|||
|
Red Hat Linux 7.2</a>. Naturally, there is a
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.redhat.com/about/presscenter/2001/press_7-2.html">
|
|||
|
press release</a>, with details of the new features (includes Gnome 1.4,
|
|||
|
Nautilus, and ext3).
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<P> <hr> <P>
|
|||
|
<!-- =================================================================== -->
|
|||
|
<H3><IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
|
|||
|
<FONT COLOR="green">SuSE
|
|||
|
</FONT>
|
|||
|
</H3>
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<P>
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.suse.de/en">SuSE Linux</a>,
|
|||
|
have announced
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.suse.de/en/products/suse_linux/i386/index.html">
|
|||
|
SuSE Linux 7.3</a>, in both Professional and Personal editions.
|
|||
|
Recognising security concerns SuSE Linux 7.3 offers Features include KDE
|
|||
|
2.2.1, Linux Kernel 2.4.10 with glibc 2.2.4, an extended range of drivers
|
|||
|
and improved USB support, with better automatic hardware detection.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<hr noshade width="20%">
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<P>SuSE Linux presented the third generation of its e-mail solution at the
|
|||
|
IT expo SYSTEMS, held in October in Munich. SuSE Linux
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.suse.de/en/products/suse_business/email_server/index.h">
|
|||
|
eMail Server III</a>
|
|||
|
is a solution for small and medium-size enterprises, dedicated workgroups
|
|||
|
and government administrations. A new feature is
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.skyrix.com">Skyrix</a>
|
|||
|
which provides calendar and scheduling functionalities for booking
|
|||
|
appointments, rooms, or other resources.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<a name="commercial"></a>
|
|||
|
<p><hr><p>
|
|||
|
<!-- =================================================================== -->
|
|||
|
<center><H3><font color="green">Software and Product News</font></H3></center>
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<P> <hr> <P>
|
|||
|
<!-- =================================================================== -->
|
|||
|
<H3><IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
|
|||
|
<FONT COLOR="green">Gnect
|
|||
|
</FONT>
|
|||
|
</H3>
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<P>
|
|||
|
<a href="http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~trmusson/gnect.html">
|
|||
|
Gnect</a> is a theme-able "four in a row" game for GNOME. Similar to Tetris,
|
|||
|
but the object is to get four marbles/tiles in a row in any direction
|
|||
|
within a 7x7 grid. The tiles do not automatically descend, so there's no
|
|||
|
time limit. You choose the column and the tile drops from the top.
|
|||
|
License GPL, including the Velena strategy engine.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<P> <hr> <P>
|
|||
|
<!-- =================================================================== -->
|
|||
|
<H3><IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
|
|||
|
<FONT COLOR="green">Loki
|
|||
|
</FONT>
|
|||
|
</H3>
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<P>
|
|||
|
Courtesy of
|
|||
|
<a href="http://slashdot.org">
|
|||
|
Slashdot</a>, comes the news of
|
|||
|
Loki's upcoming game:
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.lokigames.com/products/postal/">
|
|||
|
Postal Plus</a>. Loki have a
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.lokigames.com/press/archive.php3?10082001">
|
|||
|
press release</a> with more information.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<P> <hr> <P>
|
|||
|
<!-- =================================================================== -->
|
|||
|
<H3><IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
|
|||
|
<FONT COLOR="green">MOSIXVIEW Cluster Management Software
|
|||
|
</FONT>
|
|||
|
</H3>
|
|||
|
Matthias Rechenburg, in co-operation with the Technical University of
|
|||
|
Jerusalem, has developed a new
|
|||
|
Cluster-management software for Linux:
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.mosixview.com">
|
|||
|
MOSIXVIEW</a>.
|
|||
|
This software is based on the
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.mosix.org">MOSIX-Cluster</a> technology,
|
|||
|
and contains some helpful, MOSIX-specific applications for
|
|||
|
cluster-management.
|
|||
|
MOSIXVIEW was developed to simplify management activities and provide a
|
|||
|
graphical user-interface. You could manage a nearly infinite number of
|
|||
|
hosts with it.
|
|||
|
<P> MOSIXVIEW is free for download and is based on the GPL-licence model.
|
|||
|
For more information, consult
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.mosixview.com">
|
|||
|
http://www.mosixview.com</a>
|
|||
|
or
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.waplocater.de/mosixview/">
|
|||
|
http://www.waplocater.de/mosixview/</a>. Also, Linux Focus have taken a
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.linuxfocus.org/English/November2001/article219.shtml">
|
|||
|
look at</a>
|
|||
|
this package.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<P> <hr> <P>
|
|||
|
<!-- =================================================================== -->
|
|||
|
<H3><IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
|
|||
|
<FONT COLOR="green">webMathematica Brings Computation to the Web
|
|||
|
</FONT>
|
|||
|
</H3>
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<P>
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.wolfram.com">
|
|||
|
Wolfram Research</a>,
|
|||
|
maker of Mathematica technical computing
|
|||
|
software, have announced the release of
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.wolfram.com/webmathematica">
|
|||
|
webMathematica</a>.
|
|||
|
webMathematica is built on Java servlets, making it compatible
|
|||
|
with any web server, servlet engine, or application server that
|
|||
|
supports the Servlet 2.0 API or higher.
|
|||
|
webMathematica is initially available for Windows
|
|||
|
95/98/Me/NT/2000 and Intel-based Linux platforms.
|
|||
|
webMathematica enables
|
|||
|
users to:
|
|||
|
<ul>
|
|||
|
<li> Build custom web sites that provide specialized calculations
|
|||
|
<li> Compute, visualize, and analyze data using a web browser
|
|||
|
<li> Deliver sophisticated courseware and publish interactive books
|
|||
|
<li> Provide active functionality for technical documentation that
|
|||
|
can be instantly updated from a centralized location
|
|||
|
<li> Integrate computation into existing enterprise infrastructure
|
|||
|
</ul>
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<P> <hr> <P>
|
|||
|
<!-- =================================================================== -->
|
|||
|
<H3><IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
|
|||
|
<FONT COLOR="green">PHP Black Book, new from Coriolis
|
|||
|
</FONT>
|
|||
|
</H3>
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.coriolis.com">
|
|||
|
Coriolis</a>
|
|||
|
will soon be releasing their first book in the
|
|||
|
PHP field: the PHP Black
|
|||
|
Book is a reference to the PHP open source
|
|||
|
scripting language version 4, written by
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.petermoulding.com">
|
|||
|
Peter Moulding</a>.
|
|||
|
The book is oriented toward creating business applications, written by an
|
|||
|
experienced author and developed as a problem-solving reference rather
|
|||
|
than a tutorial.
|
|||
|
The author has contributed to
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.phpbuilder.com">www.phpbuilder.com</a>.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<P> <hr> <P>
|
|||
|
<!-- =================================================================== -->
|
|||
|
<H3><IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
|
|||
|
<FONT COLOR="green">Micro Sharp Technology and Astaro Firewall Partnership
|
|||
|
</FONT>
|
|||
|
</H3>
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<P>
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.netule.com">
|
|||
|
Micro Sharp Technology</a>
|
|||
|
have announced an agreement
|
|||
|
with
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.astaro.com">
|
|||
|
Astaro</a> to market their Firewall software product as
|
|||
|
part of the Netule line of products. Netule is a robust, thin server
|
|||
|
appliance solution. The OEM version will allow hardware systems builders to
|
|||
|
supply a low cost, robust server appliance solution for small and medium
|
|||
|
sized business.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<P> <hr> <P>
|
|||
|
<!-- =================================================================== -->
|
|||
|
<H3><IMG ALT=" " SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
|
|||
|
<FONT COLOR="green">IMA Internet Exchange Messaging Server 5.1
|
|||
|
</FONT>
|
|||
|
</H3>
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<P>
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.ima.com">
|
|||
|
International Messaging Associates</a>
|
|||
|
has just released the latest in its top Messaging
|
|||
|
Solution - Internet Exchange Messaging Server (IEMS) 5.1.
|
|||
|
Among other features, IEMS 5.1
|
|||
|
has enhanced virus and spam detection control and adds an Attachment Removal
|
|||
|
Filter Module.
|
|||
|
In an introductory offer,
|
|||
|
IMA is giving away 15-user licenses for free.
|
|||
|
IEMS5.1 is interoperable in Linux and Windows and will
|
|||
|
add support for Solaris and HP-UX by late-October.
|
|||
|
Government and enterprises planning to shift their messaging
|
|||
|
platform from Windows to Linux will be able to simply auto-migrate their MS
|
|||
|
Exchange mailboxes to IEMS. IEMS 5.1 can be downloaded from
|
|||
|
<a href="http://www.ima.com/download/v5eval.html">
|
|||
|
http://www.ima.com/download/v5eval.html</a>.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<!-- *** BEGIN copyright *** -->
|
|||
|
<P> <hr> <P>
|
|||
|
<H5 ALIGN=center>
|
|||
|
Copyright © 2001, Michael Conry and
|
|||
|
the Editors of <A HREF="mailto:gazette@ssc.com"><I>Linux Gazette</I></A>.<BR>
|
|||
|
Copying license <A HREF="../copying.html">http://www.linuxgazette.com/copying.html</A><BR>
|
|||
|
Published in Issue 72 of <i>Linux Gazette</i>, November 2001</H5>
|
|||
|
<!-- *** END copyright *** -->
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<!-- startcut ============================================================-->
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
<CENTER>
|
|||
|
<!-- *** BEGIN navbar *** -->
|
|||
|
<IMG ALT="" SRC="../gx/navbar/left.jpg" WIDTH="14" HEIGHT="45" BORDER="0" ALIGN="bottom"><A HREF="lg_mail72.html"><IMG ALT="[ Prev ]" SRC="../gx/navbar/prev.jpg" WIDTH="16" HEIGHT="45" BORDER="0" ALIGN="bottom"></A><A HREF="index.html"><IMG ALT="[ Table of Contents ]" SRC="../gx/navbar/toc.jpg" WIDTH="220" HEIGHT="45" BORDER="0" ALIGN="bottom" ></A><A HREF="../index.html"><IMG ALT="[ Front Page ]" SRC="../gx/navbar/frontpage.jpg" WIDTH="137" HEIGHT="45" BORDER="0" ALIGN="bottom"></A><A HREF="../faq/index.html"><IMG ALT="[ FAQ ]" SRC="./../gx/navbar/faq.jpg"WIDTH="62" HEIGHT="45" BORDER="0" ALIGN="bottom"></A><A HREF="lg_answer72.html"><IMG ALT="[ Next ]" SRC="../gx/navbar/next.jpg" WIDTH="15" HEIGHT="45" BORDER="0" ALIGN="bottom" ></A><IMG ALT="" SRC="../gx/navbar/right.jpg" WIDTH="15" HEIGHT="45" ALIGN="bottom">
|
|||
|
<!-- *** END navbar *** -->
|
|||
|
</CENTER>
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
</BODY></HTML>
|
|||
|
<!-- endcut ============================================================-->
|