Re: OT - Linux Ubuntu update

On 5 Jul, 14:50, Cynic <cynic_...@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
On Thu, 05 Jul 2007 05:46:54 -0700, Jethro <jethro...@xxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

I worked on a contract with a big multi-site organisation in the late
90's, and all their machines network-booted into Netware, and then ran
Network Windows install onto the F: drive. Basically every time you
booted and logged in, it was a fresh copy of windows running on a
fresh copy of DOS. AFAICS it was totally virusproof.

No, not completely virus proof. The core OS is protected, sure, but
data files have to be stored somewhere and reused from boot to boot,
and a lot of viruses can be transmitted via data files that use
exploits of the application that runs them.

true. That would mean the system would store & forward viruses,
without suffering their payload. I'm sure there's a biological
analogy, but ICBA to look it up

It is very similar to using an OS on a DVD - which is entirely
possible. The hassle is that every time you want to install a new
driver or application, you have to boot from the safe DVD copy,
install the driver/application (preferably without your network
connected), and then burn a completely new DVD to boot from next time.

One of the great things about windows 3.11 was it was possible to
install it, drop (or boot) to DOS, and zip (that's PKzip !) up the
WINDOWS directory and unzip it when required. Was a godsend when
testing installers and software interoperabilty. We used it to prove
that Base Windows+Our Software installed and worked, and therefore if
it didn't on a clients machine it was down to their hardward/software
combinations.

Really with the cost of memory being relatively low, there must be
scope for a flashable 1GB hard drive to hold the OS.

Incidentally, one of my plans back in 1997 was to have a bootable CDR
with a vanilla copy of windows and our software for the tech support
guys to take on site to demonstrate our software worked from scratch.
Sadly it proved impossible because every version of windows needed
machine-specific drivers etc etc.

It's fascinating to see these bootable linux CDs now, which
effectively provide you with a plain OS, on which you can run apps -
seems technology was 10 years behnd me.

I know a few tech support guys who carry 1Gb USB keys with bootable
Linux ("Knoppix" ?) which they use to get dead windoze machines to
boot, and then hoover the data off to DVD before re-installing.
They're not linux-heads, but as they say : "if the tool works ...."





I tried that for a few months but it became too tedious.

--
Cynic


.

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