March 2003 - main

Link to a Story of a Denial of Service Attack
by Keith Watson 25 Mar '03

25 Mar '03

Although this is about holes in the Windows OS, I'd be interested to know what those members of the list who know a bit about TCP etc. think about this, and if any of it applies to GNU/Linux. Follow this link to read an absolutely fascinating story about a denial of service attack on an windows internet security expert's web site and what he did about it. <http://grc.com/dos/grcdos.htm> Keith ____________ CONSOLATION, n. The knowledge that a better man is more unfortunate than yourself. Ambrose Bierce - The Devil's Dictionary

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Grub issues
by Tristan Scott 25 Mar '03

25 Mar '03

I have a 750 pIII with Gentoo on it, got the system cheap cos i work in a computer shop. built OS, kernel and so on, but im having trouble with grub.... now, the help file said to : # grub grub> root (hd0,0) grub> setup (hd0) grub> quit # nano -w /boot/grub/grub.conf nano> default 0 nano> timeout 30 nano> # there is a splash image here, but i cant remember the path, and commenting nano> # it out doesnt change things nano> nano> title Mp3/web server nano> root (hd0,0) nano> kernel (hd0,0)/bzImage root=/dev/hda2 nano> when i run grub> setup (hd0), i get a messages about grub.conf - a positive message. copying it to manu.lst dosent work either. when i boot, i get grub screen, as if i had run grub from the command prompt. no sign of the splash screen. i assume this is a broken config? if i then type: grub> kernel (hd0,0)/bzImage grub> boot the system will boot as normal. BTW hda1 = /boot = 50mb hda2 = / = ~19.8GB hda3 = swap = 150mb ideally i want this booting, then ill build apache, mysql, php and all the other stuff. the 20gb is temporary, will buy an 80GB and serve streaming mp3s from a website over the local lan. YAY-YAY-YAY my new system ariving today: chaintech 7njs deluxe (nforce2, 3 PATA, 2SATA channels) 2600+ 333fsb 2 x 512mb crucial PC2700 2x abit serielle SATA adaptors for PATA drives 550 watt PSU, gold, twin transparent fans 'silent' Volcano 9, dabs eta 2 weeks, Dragon Orb 3 hairdryer for now. total bill? 604 (including paying myself at 35 p/h to build it... he he he) Tristan Scott Computer Engineer PC-Seller PLC 355 Alysham road, opposite boundary pub Norwich NR3 2RX Tel: 01603 442233 Fax: 01603 404410

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If you are a newcomer to Unix/Linux
by Keith Watson 24 Mar '03

24 Mar '03

If you joined ALUG because you've just started to look at GNU/Linux and have no previous experience of unix type operating systems, you might find the article "Unix is a 4 letter word" at this site <http://unix.t-a-y-l-o-r.com/> helpful. Keith ____________ Since it is no part of the words we unthinkingly use, it leaves no trace in the things we say. Dogen

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Linux Enhances..... Shakespeare!
by Craig 24 Mar '03

24 Mar '03

http://slashdot.org/articles/03/03/24/1412226.shtml?tid=186&tid=106 Coolness........ if you can get to the site! -- (o_ - Craig Butcher //\ - IT Technician / Unix Support MTH/ENV @ UEA V_/_ - http://www.wizball.co.uk - Using Gentoo GNU/Linux

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Weekly IRC reminder
by Neill Newman 24 Mar '03

24 Mar '03

This is the automated ALUG IRC meeting reminder sent to remind you that there is an IRC meeting tonight (Monday) at 8.00pm. The meeting takes place on the irc server irc.alug.org.uk in the #alug channel. Most IRC clients should allow you to get there with the commands "/server irc.alug.org.uk" and "/join #alug". Popular IRC clients include tkirc, bitchx, xchat and EPIC on Unix, and Mirc under windows. Here are some links to help you get started with irc. Unix http://www.xchat.org/ http://freshmeat.net/ http://www.epicsol.org/ Windows http://www.mirc.com (loads of help with irc for newbies!)

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How to remove an operating system
by Karl Middleton 22 Mar '03

22 Mar '03

Can anyone advise on how to safely remove an operating system on a dual boot laptop? I have a laptop with a WIN XP partition and a Red Hat 7.2 partition, with GRUB as the boot manager. As I've now got a PC I can use as a dedicated Linux system I now need to put the laptop back to a single operating system Windoze XP. I have Partition Magic 7.0, but I'm concerned about just repartitioning/reformating the Linux partition. I don't want to end up with an unbootable laptop. Preferably I would end up with just one partition (Windows C:) and the laptop would boot straight into Windows without any boot manager program. Has anyone experience in this area got suggestions as to how to proceed safely? Thanks Karl Middleton

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My introduction post. :)
by iD 22 Mar '03

22 Mar '03

Hi, I've been subscribed to the list for some time now, but never actually got around to introducing myself. So here goes: I'm Wayne, 16, from Suffolk. I've been using Linux for just under a year and find it to be one of the most interesting operating systems I've come across. I hope that possibly I can be of some help answering any easier questions on the list. :) iD, id(a)nooped.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The better the state is established, the fainter is humanity. To make the individual uncomfortable, that is my task. -- Nietzsche

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Introduction to the group
by Neil Marjoram 21 Mar '03

21 Mar '03

OK, I've never actually joined a LUG before, which is strange since I've been working with Linux now for 5 years and Unix since 1994, I don't know what to expect from the group, but hope I will be of some help to further the cause. Quick run down of me : Neil Marjoram. Age over 30! Married, no kids, one dog. Based in Ipswich. Interests : Motorsport ( http://www.ecmc.co.uk ) / Local ghost stories / history. Systems at home : 1 x SMP RH 8.0 / 1 x Cyrix 500 RH 8.0 / 1 x Portege 2000 RH 8.0 Systems at work : 35 various RH 7.3 / Solaris 8 / 7 / 2.6 Computer Qualifications : RHCE RH 8.0 / AIX 4.3 I currentlly work for the Victoria & Albert Museum ( http://www.vam.ac.uk ), in charge of all *nix systems. Specialist subjects : Apache / Tomcat / Security / Sysadmin I won't bore you any more, hope I can be of some help to everybody in the group. Neil. PS, wife may be able to answer PHP / Java / Oracle / Mysql questions - but don't quote me! -- Neil Marjoram <n.marjoram(a)vam.ac.uk> Victoria & Albert Museum

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Domain Name Hosting
by tom potts 21 Mar '03

21 Mar '03

Ian, www.ukreg.com are pretty good - less that £10 py for .com, 50 e-mail redirects etc and moderately fast e-mail help. Tom __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Everything you'll ever need on one web page from News and Sport to Email and Music Charts http://uk.my.yahoo.com

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Recommendations for Domain Name hosting?
by Ian Douglas 20 Mar '03

20 Mar '03

Hi Folks, I am currently toying with the idea of registering a domain name. It is something I have never done before so would appreciate advice from more experienced ALUGers on which hosting company to choose. I do not currently have a webpage/website so, although I would like to choose a company which would allow this so as to keep my options open for the future, my main purpose for registering a domain name is to be able to quote it to people to use for sending me email. I would preferably like the hosting company to allow me an infinite number of username mailboxes for incoming emails for my domain name (i.e so I can use ian(a)mydomainname.com, usefullmail(a)mydomainname.com, unwantedspam(a)mydomainname.com, deleteonreciept(a)mydomainname.com etc). I am not bothered whether I need to collect incoming emails from the hosting company myself via POP or whether they simply automatically redirect my incoming emails to my existing email account with my existing ISP. Are there any particular domain name hosting companies more experienced ALUGers could recommend? Or, alternatively, any horror stories about experiences with other companies that people would like to share with me to warn me about them (though these negative comments may be best sent privately to me rather than posted on the public ALUG list)? I live in Ipswich. If I find any small, local, domain name hosting companies would ALUGers recommend I use them or should I choose one of the big companies based in America? Finally, a practical question about actually registering my domain name: I have noticed that some companies entries in the WHOIS database include their address and telephone number as well as a contact name. Obviously, as a private individual, I am not too keen on the entire world knowing my address and telephone number as I have enough problems with email spam and don't want this nuisance expanded with loads of unsolicited paper mail and telephone calls as well. Is the publication of address and telephone number information compulsory or is it possible to just register a contact name when registering a domain name? Thanks in advance for your patience in answering my dumb questions! Ian.

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