From owner-freebsd-hackers Tue Jan 27 21:11:54 1998 Return-Path: Received: (from majordom@localhost) by hub.freebsd.org (8.8.8/8.8.8) id VAA17127 for hackers-outgoing; Tue, 27 Jan 1998 21:11:54 -0800 (PST) (envelope-from owner-freebsd-hackers@FreeBSD.ORG) Received: from vnode.vmunix.com (vnode.vmunix.com [209.112.4.20]) by hub.freebsd.org (8.8.8/8.8.8) with ESMTP id VAA17100 for ; Tue, 27 Jan 1998 21:11:41 -0800 (PST) (envelope-from mark@vnode.vmunix.com) Received: (from mark@localhost) by vnode.vmunix.com (8.8.8/8.8.8) id XAA02165; Tue, 27 Jan 1998 23:29:54 -0500 (EST) (envelope-from mark) Message-ID: <19980127232953.58903@vmunix.com> Date: Tue, 27 Jan 1998 23:29:53 -0500 From: Mark Mayo To: "Jordan K. Hubbard" Cc: Joe Shevland , hackers@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: /usr/src/release/sysinstall needs YOU. :-) References: <199801280014.LAA15070@oznet11.ozemail.com.au> <29136.885957376@time.cdrom.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii X-Mailer: Mutt 0.88e In-Reply-To: <29136.885957376@time.cdrom.com>; from Jordan K. Hubbard on Tue, Jan 27, 1998 at 07:16:16PM -0800 X-Operating-System: FreeBSD 2.2.5-STABLE i386 Sender: owner-freebsd-hackers@FreeBSD.ORG Precedence: bulk On Tue, Jan 27, 1998 at 07:16:16PM -0800, Jordan K. Hubbard wrote: > > What are peoples' thoughts on a Java administration tool for FreeBSD? One [SNIP] > Unfortunately, it would also seem that most people are only good for > suggesting that a Java or plain-HTML based admin tool would be a good > thing and not so much good for actually coding up the proof-of-concept > that'd be required to make it anything more than a simple and > often-made suggestion. ;-) I have made several attempts at designing a Java GUI admin thang for FreeBSD, but as Jordan said, it ain't easy if you want even the *slightest* amount of security... I was hoping to work this project into a course for school, but it looks like that won't happen until summer at the earliest. I wanted to use Java for 1 simple reason (and it's the only reason really): it would be cool to be able to admin a FreeBSD server from a win95 box. I know lots of peole that stick FreeBSD servers in closets and let them do the dirty work while they have win95 boxes on their desk (usually no choice of their own). It would be a real plus IMHO if they could run some slick admin tools right from the win95 box.. My approach was to write a daemon in C++ that listened on a port and ran on a simple protocol.. the client issues commands to the server which simply runs the normal command-line tools for them. Simple stuff. The complicated part is working in the encryption and actually coming up with a productive interface on the client.. not to mention dealing with the speeding bullet of a target that Java is today. Ugh. Anyhow, I've been dieing to write this system for about 8 months, but as the story goes, "I just don't have the time". If you want to go for it, YIPEE! -Mark > > Jordan -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Mark Mayo mark@vmunix.com RingZero Comp. http://www.vmunix.com/mark finger mark@vmunix.com for my PGP key and GCS code ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Win95/NT - 32 bit extensions and a graphical shell for a 16 bit patch to an an 8 bit operating system originally coded for a 4 bit microprocessor, written by a 2 bit company that can't stand 1 bit of competition. -UGU