[ale] Linux Distributions

[Jerald Sheets]

What you're missing is that an IT manager doesn't *CARE* the  
condition of your box.  He has guidelines under which you *will*  
work, not conditions under which you tell him you will work.

The point here, after all these keystrokes is not the condition of  
your box.  It is the fact that the  arrogance displayed is  
unbelievable.  We speak of "in the wild", "in a job" and other REAL  
WORLD circumstances, and you have created a non-real-world circumstance.

This "challenge" is  pointless, outlines your arrogance and  
stubbornness, and illustrates that you are making argument for the  
sake of argument by changing the  premise of the debate.

When I started this argument, the guidelines were clear:

DEBIAN  INSTALL (no special bells and  whistles)
NETWORK CONNECTED (broadband or dialup will do just fine)
MULTI-USER (which all UNIX machines are by nature)

While we are a hobbyist list, our conversations revolve around how we  
can do something new or unfamiliar to us or how we can do some "new  
thing" in our work situations.  That is the presumption in discussing  
issues on this forum.

To change the rules of the  game, the context of the original  
argument, and the tools used causes a fallacious non-real-world  
situation that we will be the ones behind the 8-ball on.

If you want a *REAL, FAIR* test, then a neutrally located Intel  
system, fresh install Cd's, a real disk install, a few hours  
configuration time for you, and then delivery of the authentication  
information to those wishing to "crack" the system after your  
preparation is the only real test.

ANYTHING other than real-world circumstances isn't worth the  time of  
your little exercise, as it does not apply to the original premise  
*or* debate.


Jerald M. Sheets jr.
Sr. UNIX Systems Administrator
McKesson, Inc.
404.293.8762


On May 17, 2005, at 4:00 PM, ChangingLINKS.com wrote:

> On Tuesday May 17 2005 14:11, Jerald Sheets wrote:
>
>> Don't you think it's better we hash it all out here instead of being
>> blindsided in an interview with it?
>> Jerald M. Sheets jr.
>> Sr. UNIX Systems Administrator
>>
>
>
> I use Linux for my home system. I am not a pro. admin.
> I will never interview for a computer related job - I avoid  
> interviews.
> Still, if those things were not true, I would be able to  
> professionally defend
> my position within a single sentence.
>
> On lists, I typically put forth a challenge:
> 1. Let's swap our daily use boxes.
> 2. Let's swap root passwords.
> 3. I run commands on your box, you run any command on mine.
> 4. We see who recovers more quickly.
> 5. Winner takes $1000
>
> I specifically set up my box so that I can meet such a challenge at  
> any time.
> I wanted to be able to be hacked, allow for user error and still be  
> able to
> fix any box in the time it takes to transfer the data back.
>
> I run as root because the security issues that have been mentioned  
> simply do
> not affect me or my system. I understand that corporate  
> environments (as well
> as most other home users) have different setups.
> -- 
> Wishing you Happiness, Joy, and Laughter,
> Drew Brown
> http://www.ChangingLINKS.com
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