[KLUG Members] KLUG Meeting Notes for 02/18/2003

[mag00]

KLUG Meeting Notes:  Tuesday - February 18, 2003  7:00PM       

I.	PRESENTATION RECAP  		  
II.	NEXT WEEK'S MEETING INFO   <=== NOT ANNOUNCED YET!!!
III.	KLUG MAILING LISTS              
IV.	KLUG NEWS FLASHES
V.      KLUG CONTACT & MEETING INFO

Tonight's Meeting Moderator:  KLUG Chairperson Todd Pillars

During tonight's introduction of attendees, Todd asked us
to name our favorite e-mail client.  Evolution and Mutt
were the popularity contest winners!  Funny nobody mentioned
Outlook Express or Outlook...  <wink>  Eudora was mentioned.

I.  PRESENTATION RECAP         
THIS WEEK'S KLUG PRESENTATION:   (23 active KLUG participants)
*****************************************************************
Practical SSH
by Dirk Bartley
                            
Tonight Dirk discussed the secure shell and the Open SSH
Project.  The following questions were completely answered:
What ssh is!  
What ssh is not!  
Why ssh is an important package to understand!
How to use ssh to obtain a remote secure login!
How to use ssh to use ssh to transfer files!  
How to use private key technology to get a remote login without
a password!  
How to forward tcp ports remotely.  
Dirk also explained the details of how ssh works.

PRESENTATION SUMMARY:
***************************
Look for Dirk's presentation on the KLUG Web Site!
http://www.kalamazoolinux.org/presentations/

This was a very well organized and detailed technical 
explanation of the features and function of the Secure
Shell remote access technology tools.
 
Q. What Open Source project has a Freshmeat rating of 9
and a popularity index of 20?  
A. OpenSSH!

Why use SSH?  It makes security EASY!

Dirk presented all the technical details about OpenSSH just
as described in the content description listed above and
then some.  This presentation was so detailed it could have
been split into a couple of 2 hour meeting sessions.  He 
packed it all into 2 1/2 hours and even took time out for
numerous questions.  He used the KLUG LTSP server running
BSWare v8.0 and the KLUG SVGA projector to display his 
multitude of OpenOffice v1.0.1 Impress slides.  In addition
to his slide display he jumped to the command line to show
us the actual operation of SSH's numerous functions.  We
saw examples of SCP file transfers and port forwarding
combined with live demonstrations.
 
Dirk made good on his threat to make an extensive port
forwarding explanation.  We saw an excellent description
of remote and local login operations.  He used color
coding to differentiate between localhost on the server
and localhost on the client.  This helped to sort out the
confusion between which localhost was being referenced in
his examples.
 
He wanted us to understand that SSH uses asymetric keys to 
establish the actual symetric key empowered transfers.  There
are several types of encryption available for the process
but it is this establishment of the encrypted connection that
makes it efficient and secure.  Asymetric uses a public and 
private key exchange (slower) to then transfer the bulk or
symetric key (faster) used to encrypt the data.  In addition
to the encryption key structures, authorizations can be
automated by the use of keys, passphrases and agents.  The 
agents allow for transparent authorizations.

Dirk highly recommends the O'Reilly SSH book by Daniel Barrett
and Richard Silverman as an excellent reference.  This OpenSSH
presentation was based upon this publication.  Support O'Reilly! 

http://www.openshh.org
http://freshmeat.net/projects/openssh/
http://freshmeat.net/projects/openssh/?topic_id=44
                             
Dirk Bartley, a WMU graduate, works as a systems administrator
for Schupan Aluminum Sales, a division of Schupan and Sons. 
His passion for free software comes second to spending time
with his wife Dawn, an Upper Peninsula native, and taking
Shelly, their sheltie/terrier mix pound pooch, for a walk. 
These interests are only followed by his love of playing ice
hockey.  Dirk was the chairperson of KLUG in 2001 & 2002.
He is working on the KLUG LTSP server and client furiously!!!


II.  NEXT KLUG MEETING - TUESDAY  02/25/2003   
******************************************************************
NO PRESENTATION HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED YET!

THERE *WILL* BE A KLUG MEETING ON TUESDAY NIGHT AT THE CHAMBER!  


III.   K L U G    M A I L I N G    L I S T S
*************************************************************
Diversified mailing lists can be found on the KLUG web site.
http://kalamazoolinux.org/listserv/
Facilitated by - John Bridleman listmaster@kalamazoolinux.org   
Sign up and participate to serve the Open Source community!!!


IV.   K L U G    N E W S    F L A S H E S ! ! !
=====================================================================
RED HAT VERSION 8.1 RUMORED TO HAVE AN APRIL RELEASE PLANNED
This rumor was printed in the February 10, 2003 InfoWorld (p. 17)
=====================================================================
IEEE WANTS CONGRESS TO RE-EXAMINE DMCA!    <submitted by TAZ>
IEEE reports specifically cite concerns over the chilling
effects and misuse of the DMCA against researchers and ISPs.
http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=03/02/11/2124229&mode=thread
&tid=103    
=====================================================================
SHOCKING WEB ACCESS???    <submitted by TAZ>
High-speed Web access via power lines, of all things, 
making every electrical outlet an always-on Web connection.
http://digitalmass.boston.com/news/2003/02/10/broadband.html
=====================================================================
MOTOROLA MOVING CELL PHONES TO LINUX
Motorola Inc. later this year will start selling what the
company says will be the first of many phones based on the
Linux operating system. 
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,3959,887377,00.asp
=====================================================================
LINDOWS LAUNCHES $799 LINUX LAPTOP
"This thing kicks ass!" said Chris Pirillo of Lockergnome and TechTV
http://info.lindows.com/mobilepc/mobilepc.htm
2.9 pounds of penguin power, ready to buy.
http://www.linuxjournal.com/article.php?sid=6662&mode=thread&order=0
http://slashdot.org/articles/03/02/20/1633212.shtml?tid=137
=====================================================================
GCC MYTHS AND FACTS
GCC 3 is the biggest step forward since GCC 2 and represents more
than ten years of work and two of hard development.  It has major
benefits over its predecessor.
http://freshmeat.net/articles/view/730/
=====================================================================
OPEN CODE HAS FEWER BUGS
'The open-source implementation of TCP/IP in the Linux kernel
clearly exhibits a higher code quality than commercial 
implementations in general-purpose operating systems,' 
http://slashdot.org/articles/03/02/20/1322219.shtml?tid=106
http://news.com.com/2100-1001-985221.html
=====================================================================
THE FUTURE OF HARD DRIVES: BALLISTIC MAGNETORESIST
Storage densities of greater than 1 terabit per square inch.
Devices might be on the market in 7 years.
http://slashdot.org/articles/03/02/20/018258.shtml?tid=137
=====================================================================
OPERA V7 FOR LINUX GETTING REALLY CLOSE TO RELEASE DATE
On Friday Opera announced the first Linux preview edition of
Opera 7, the company's next-generation browser, which recently
shipped for Windows. The company stresses that the Linux
version's a preview, so there are rough edges, but it means
that we're moving, and Linux users can more or less keep pace
with what Opera's up to on the Windows platform.  (Article was
pulled from the web for some reason - original news bulletin
was found on http://www.linux.org)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/4/29352.html
=====================================================================
PROGRAMMERS WORKING TO RUN LINUX ON MICROSOFT'S XBOX
The group of programmers working to run Linux on Microsoft's
Xbox video game console is seeking the software giant's seal of 
approval.  In an open letter sent to Microsoft, the organizers
of the Xbox Linux Project requested that the software giant
"sign" its Xbox version of the open-source operating sytem. 
http://news.com.com/2100-1040-985154.html
=====================================================================
UNDERSTANDING MOORE'S LAW
"The misrepresentation of Moore’s Law in the media has always been a
real pet peeve of mine, and this article does a great job of looking
at the flipside of the 'bigger and faster' thesis to show how the Law
isn’t really just about doubling computer power." 
http://slashdot.org/articles/03/02/20/1744250.shtml?tid=118&tid=137
=====================================================================
KLUG CHAIRPERSON APPOINTS BRIAN RITZ AS NEW KLUG TREASURER!
At the volunteer's meeting held on February 19, 2003
Brian Ritz was appointed as the new KLUG Treasurer.
This is one of four elected officer positions of this
501c3 charitable organization which is, incidentally,
also a registered Michigan corporation.  Brian has long
been a KLUG volunteer and now accepts this important
responsibility for the group.  CONGRATULATIONS BRIAN!
=====================================================================
KLUG HAS A VOLUNTEER TAKING OVER THE LINKMASTER DUTIES!
Jon Smitley has volunteered to perform the linkmaster
functions for the KLUG web site.  He will be working with
Wes Leonard to complete and update of the current service.
Wes has written a new link page and Jon will populate it
and maintain the link URL's.  WELCOME TO THE KLUG TEAM JON!
=====================================================================
KLUG NEEDS VOLUNTEERS TO FILL SEVERAL VACANT POSITIONS
Nutrimaster and Education Director volunteer slots are still
vacant.  We need additional volunteers to act as the "Meeting
Firewall" to handle Chamber access control and security issues.
The Chamber has asked us to safeguard their assets as KLUG
members come and go from the meeting room each Tuesday night.
Bob and Zac need help with this function which requires that
you get to the meetings early and see that the everything is
locked up as the last person leaves.  This means being at the
Chamber at 6:30pm and hanging around until 10:00pm. We have 
other volunteer positions available and many of these duties
could be shared if you have an interest.  GET INVOLVED IN KLUG!
Volunteers are needed for Beginner's Nights and Installfests.
Please contact installmaster@kalamazoolinux.org for more details.
See http://kalamazoolinux.org/organize for position descriptions.
=====================================================================
********* - ********* - ********* - ********* - ********* - *********  
KLUG NEEDS SPEAKERS FOR THE WEEKLY LINUX RELATED PRESENTATIONS!
********* - ********* - ********* - ********* - ********* - *********  
Contact Adam if you can give a presentation on any area of Linux
related subject or application.  He would also like to hear your
suggestions for topics and possible speaker referrals.  Do you
know anyone who is using Linux in Southwest Michigan and might
be willing to share their Linux expertise by making a technical 
presentation?  Professional, individual, or commercial speakers
on Linux accepted.  Contact programdirector@kalamazoolinux.org 
with your referrals and ideas.  See the meeting schedule for open
dates.   http://www.kalamazoolinux.org/meetings/schedule.php3
=====================================================================



V.   K L U G    C O N T A C T   &   M E E T I N G    I N F O  
*************************************************************
KLUG WEB SITE  http://kalamazoolinux.org

MEMBERS AND GUESTS - COME JOIN US FOR A MEETING!!!
http://kalamazoolinux.org/meetings           
WE MEET WEEKLY, EACH TUESDAY AT 7:00PM.      
                                             
Our meeting site is the Kalamazoo Chamber    
of Commerce office building downtown.          
346 W. Michigan Ave. - Kalamazoo, MI  49007
http://kazoolug.org/meetings/maps.php3   <=== MAP!

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Kalamazoo Linux Users Group, Inc.
6749 South Westnedge Avenue
Suite K-288
Portage  MI 49002
e-mail address: chairman@kalamazoolinux.org


                         Copyright 2003                 
                 Kalamazoo Linux Users Group, Inc.
  >><< send corrections, additions, flames to the KLUG scribe >><<
                          Ralph Worick 
                recordingsecretary@kalamazoolinux.org
                               = or =
                 KLUG Meeting Notes Assistant Editor
                          Bruce Atherton
                    Taz <htgage3@chartermi.net>