[Cialug] Meeting Suggestion

[Josh More]

Lance,

Your points are well taken.  Sadly, I am not a networking expert (see my recent post where I got rid of a netbook because I couldn't get that part working right).  There are those who are, but it's really tricky to figure out sometimes.  Is there anyone out there who would like to volunteer to help Lance with his wireless NIC issue?  This would be a good opportunity for someone who wants to play with Linux and doesn't get to in their regular job.  (hint hint)

I can, however, address your firewall issue.  The default firewall on Linux is iptables.   You can tell if it's running with the command "iptables -L".  It's a bit complicated to set up... so don't bother.  Under OpenSUSE, it automatically loads in a reasonable configuration that blocks traffic coming in unless it's related to pre-existing traffic that has gone out.  I've not checked other distros, but I wouldn't be surprised if that's the default for desktop distros these days.  (Can anyone out there chime in on the Ubuntu world?)


-Josh More, CISSP, GIAC-GSLC, GIAC-GCIH, RHCE, NCLP
morej at alliancetechnologies.net<mailto:morej at alliancetechnologies.net>
515-245-7701
________________________________
From: cialug-bounces at cialug.org [cialug-bounces at cialug.org] on behalf of Lance Pickett [lancepickett00 at yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, February 16, 2010 17:02
To: cialug at cialug.org
Subject: [Cialug] Meeting Suggestion

John, well spoken, so here's a little more;

When someone from an all Windows shop starts coming to your meetings and wants to learn linux, take a little time to help him.  Don't answer his question about  the 60+ charcatar CLU you just typed in 10 seconds (which of course everyone BUT HIM totally understood), try answering with something that resembles English, rather than a brusk barely undertandable mumble that everyone in the room BUT HIM understands. They already know the answer.

And when he brings in his laptop, and you can't get his wifi card to work (Yes that's about a dozen or two linux wizards depending on the meeting of which about 2 tried for a while, and 1 or two chimed in their thoughts),  don't just say  something like  " go try an NDIS wrapper, where are we going for drinks"   To me that sounds like a NLM I use to load on my Netware servers.   Which  tells me you either can't  do it or don't care.    Either way, I'm on my own.

You guys have a ton of knowledge, and actually can speak quite well.  You just tend to leave everyone else in the dust.  After a while they take a different - less dusty road.
In my case I still play with the occasional ubuntu CD, but I don't have the time to learn linux as well as I can manage and lock down a windows box.

I still  hope to migrate one day, but  not before I can get all my windows apps working and KNOW I have a working firewall.   I still read this because you guys have some great ideas, and I can pick apart some your answers until I understand them.

Lance


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