Wireless, E-Smith
09/06/2001 at 12:00 AM
Ever since Qwest announced its DSL service will be assimilated by the Borg ..(err Microsoft)..
And @ home has reported to be in financial difficulty, many people have voiced the need for a Wireless high-speed network throughout Bellingham to keep us connected to the internet.
Michael Dodd works at OpenAccess.org, a Non-Profit ISP in Bellingham providing dial-up, DSL, and internet hosting to companies non-profit and regular.
Wireless Notes:
* Have interested BLUG members serve as relays, and get a discounted access price (around $20/month)
* Antenna is a white tube that connects to an embedded Linux system which serves as a gateway to everything on the relay.
* Speeds would be up to 11mb/sec throughout Bellingham, but 1mb to the internet. As more people join, possibility of increasing Bandwidth
* No major companies to go through, (no Qwest or AT&T)
* No TOS.. Run all the servers you want and you can request a static IP for your server.
* In order for the link to work, we need to place relays in strategic places such as:
– Alabama Hill
– BTC area
– Squalicum Harbor
– Lummi Island
– Toad Lake
– And more, depending on how far we wish to expand.
We have started mapping out some existing BLUG members who have submitted addresses in the past. If you wish to submit your address, send an Email to japerry@bigfoot.comand we will add you to the map.
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In other topics, John Blanford introduced to BLUG the E-Smith server. It is a web-administration server which allows easy control of a Linux machine without needing to know a whole lot about Linux.
E-smith is its own server, meaning you cannot install it over a preexisting system, but it is built on Red hat 7, so anything that runs on RH7 will work with E-Smith.
Some of E-Smith’s Features:
– E-smith Manager: a simple Web-Interface for your network. You can create new users, change system security, change email settings, set up shares, etc.
– Gateway & Firewall: Can act as a firewall out to the real world or just forward your internal clients
– E-mail server: Secure (Qmail) reliable email server for POP3, IMAP4, and SMTP accounts.
– File and Printer Sharing: Supports both Windows, Linux, and Mac networks for file sharing and printer sharing.
– i-Bays: Allows a single folder to be shared throughout the network and even the Internet.
– VPNs: Support windows VPNs using PPTP.
– Secure Webmail: Access your mail safely anywhere on the net.
– SSH: Provides a secure connection to your server for console commands.
– Web Server: Works with Apache and also comes with MySQL and PHP.
– FTP Server: Allows people to share files over internet
– DNS Server: Reduces IP address look-up by storing repeatedly used addresses locally.
– Proxy Server: Temporarily stores information that is frequently accessed for better network performance.
– Tape Backup: Can backup to Tape to prevent data-loss.
– RAID1 support: Protects Hard drive Failures
– Company Directory: Provided through LDAP
– Server-Only mode: Allows addition servers to be on the network that don’t act as Gateways
– DHCP: allows clients to dynamically receive IP addresses.
– Dynamic DNS Service: Provides an automated way to notify dynamic DNS services when your IP changes so it can publish a new record for your domain.
– Netlogon: Uses the NT PDC for centralized login
For more information on E-Smith, including the ISO to burn to CD, go to: http://www.e-smith.com
Summertime Party
08/02/2001 at 12:00 AM
A change from last year, we decided to have the summer party outside instead of at Boundary bay. We reserved a shelter at Fairhaven park and people brought their systems to play games and troubleshoot. We also had some good salmon on the BBQ, as well as Chuck Busby’s Gumbo and Jason Pieper’s first Apple Pie.
Mini Install-Fest
07/05/2001 at 12:00 AM
Many people showed up with thier Linux boxes in hand to recieve help of all sorts. People with windoze and Linux machines reinstalled linux or installed it for the first time.
Linuxfest 2001
04/28/2001 at 12:00 AM
LinuxFest 2001 was a HUGE success, and we estimated around 100 – 200 people attened. Presentations were stading room only, Tutorials taught many newcomers to Linux, and many people came home with a raffle item! More Information on the Fest:
* – Linuxfest 2001 Photos Recently Updated (7-13-2001)
* – Linuxfest 2001 Press Release
* – Linuxfest 2001 Schedule
Nessus Security Tool
04/06/2001 at 12:00 AM
John was hoping to present this at the March meeting, but since there was too much Linuxfest things to work on, he decided to wait until April. Nessus is a commonly used tools by admins (And Hackers) to Audit servers for exploits. To get Nessus, goto: http://www.nessus.org to get more info and to download it.
This program also uses Nmap, another commonly used tools by admins(and Hackers) to Audit servers for ports that are open. You can find this program at: http://www.insecure.org – They also have the top ten security tools, which includes a link to Nessus, the number one on thier list.
Planning at Stuarts
03/22/2001 at 12:00 AM
Irvin and John had the BETA versions of the flyers and brouchres to show at this meeting, and we also decided on distribution spots for the flyers.
LinuxFest Planning
03/01/2001 at 12:00 AM
With our confirmation of using D1, D2, D5, C5 as our rooms, we started to plan out the schedule for each room. There is still room for Vendors! If your company uses Linux, and you want to advertise, please Email Bill Wright at bwright@az.com
DNA Web Application
02/01/2001 at 12:00 AM
Max showed how JAVA can be used with an ORACLE database to manage DNA data at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. The server side portion of the application runs on Linux and talks to an Oracle database on Solaris where the genetic data is stored. The user interface includes webforms that talk to an API created by Plands.com and a Java Applet created by Max Sturmia that provides a visual interface to the miroarray slide in a user’s experiment and the data obtained at each location on the slide.
Blug DECEMBER Party!
01/06/2001 at 12:00 AM
The last meeting of 2001!!!
Following in the tradition of the past years, the meeting will be held at Boundary Bay brewery. We have reserved a place in the ‘Family’ Section, so all ages are welcome. Pizza and Coke will be on us, but if you wish to drink, fork over you own cash. See you there!
Samba and Printing to Widoze
01/04/2001 at 12:00 AM
Samba is the tool used for making linux look like a Windows Server in a Windows network. Not only can samba file share, but it can be a logon server, pass passwords to NT domain controlers, and Print. We used RedHat 6.2 With Samba on it to print to a Windows ME machine using an HP970Cse Printer This can also be reversed to allow a windows machine print to a Linux Server.
Sample SMB.conf file:
THE ART OF SAMBA
Samba is an open source software suite that provides seamless file and print services to SMB and
Microsoft clients. Samba is freely available under the GNU General Public License. There is two ways Samba works. First it is a server, secondly it is a client. We will go through the Server Configuration first, and how to connect a Windows 9x computer (Note: Windows 3.1 and Legacy 95 (osr1) DO not work with Samba when it is set to Encrypted.)
=============== Server Setup ==============
Attached is a Configuration file for samba, read through it if you wish to set up your server to take the place of an NT Domain Server (Except for some options).
Your windows box will have to be setup to recognize Samba as a Domain server.
In Network ‘ Client for Microsoft networks -> click logon to NT domain. In the box put in the Domain group.
Also, your IP address must be in the same block to work. Your server cannot be 192.168.0.1, while your clients are 192.168.1.5 or 192.168.1.6, etc.
If your windows box was setup correctly, then you should be able to see the Samba server in Network Neighborhood.
=============== Client Setup ==============
You can use Samba to be a client to another Samba server, or a Windows machine. Here is an example of how to access a windows machine from a Linux Client.
smbclient -L //WINDOWSBOX
Here is an example of what you can get
added interface ip=192.168.1.1 bcast=192.168.1.255 nmask=255.255.255.0
Password:
Sharename Type Comment
PRINTER$ Disk
HP895CSE Printer
CDROM Disk
C Disk
IPC$ IPC Remote Inter Process Communication
The most useful way to get access to a Windows box from a Linux box is to mount it:
mount -t smbfs -o uid=USERID,gid=GROUPID //COMPNAME/SHARE /mnt/MNTPT
To mount a Printer, use the REDHAT printer manager to add a SMB printer. Put in the print share and
username, and select the correct Printer Driver. Now you should be able to print in Color / BW to Windows.
This is an example of a WORKING smb.conf file. With minor adjustment, your sever can become an NT Domain server for your windows clients
#============= Global Settings ================
[global]
#Housekeeping things
workgroup = FCDNET
server string = Samba Server
;hosts allow = 192.168.1. 192.168.2. 127.
#Printers
printcap name = /etc/printcap
load printers = yes
;printing = bsd
#Loging
log file = /var/log/samba/log.%m
max log size = 50
#User Sync and Passwords
security = user
password level = 8
username level = 8
encrypt passwords = yes
smb passwd file = /etc/smbpasswd
; unix password sync = Yes
; passwd program = /usr/bin/passwd %u
; passwd chat = *New*UNIX*password* %n *ReType*new*UNIX*password* %n *passwd:*all*authentication*tokens*updated*successfully*
; username map = /etc/smbusers
#Interface Options
socket options = TCP_NODELAY SO_RCVBUF=8192 SO_SNDBUF=8192
; interfaces = 192.168.12.2/24 192.168.13.2/24
#NT Server options (All the server without the NT!)
local master = yes
os level = 88
domain master = yes
preferred master = yes
domain logons = yes
# run a specific logon batch file per workstation (machine)
; logon script = %m.bat
# run a specific logon batch file per username
logon script = %U.bat
dns proxy = no
#============== Share Definitions==============
[homes]
comment = Home Directories
browseable = no
writable = yes
# Un-comment the following and create the netlogon directory for Domain Logons
[netlogon]
comment = Network Logon Service
path = /home/netlogon
guest ok = yes
writable = no
share modes = no
# NOTE: If you have a BSD-style print system there is no need to
# specifically define each individual printer
[printers]
comment = All Printers
path = /var/spool/samba
browseable = no
# Set public = yes to allow user ‘guest account’ to print
guest ok = no
writable = no
printable = yes
# A publicly accessible directory,
[web]
comment = Local Intranet
path = /www/local
public = yes
writable = yes
printable = no
#(Option: if you want only some people to WRITE to the share, then add:)
write list = @(Group Name)
[public]
comment = public server
path = /public
public = yes
writable = yes
printable = no