Novell rant, and other assorted Linux rants

[Jeremy Fowler]

Luckily Novell has been working with Linux for a long time now and already ported a lot of their 
software, including eDirectory. 

Installing Novell eDirectory on Linux
Many of you have asked for information about how to install eDirectory
on Linux. Here's the info. And if you have anything to add, let us know.

http://www.novell.com/coolsolutions/nds/features/a_install_edir_linux_edir.html

How to Configure Linux to Authenticate to eDirectory via LDAP
Here are the steps necessary to configure system authentication of a
Linux host to Novell eDirectory over LDAP.
http://www.novell.com/coolsolutions/nds/features/a_config_linux_auth_ldap_edir.html

GUI tools for Linux - dTk (ndsrepair), nTk (ndsconfig)
Check this out. These two useful eDirectory tools, formerly known as
NDSREPAIR and NDSCONFIG are now available in the Novell Forge. 
http://www.novell.com/coolsolutions/nds/features/tips/t_ndsrepair_unix_nds.html

Login Problem on RedHat Linux
If you're having problems logging in to the tree on RedHat, here's a
workaround from Martin Wong.
http://www.novell.com/coolsolutions/nds/features/tips/t_login_redhat_edir.html

Got Linux? We're Here for You.
Update: The NNLS open beta is now available. If your company is
planning to incorporate Linux desktops or servers any time soon, you'll
want to get up to speed in our brand-new Nterprise Linux Services Cool
Solutions, set to launch in December 2003. Come subscribe to the
newsletter, take a survey (for a chance at a cool prize) and give us a
piece of your mind.
http://www.novell.com/coolsolutions/nds/features/tips/t_linux_cool_nnls.html

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Kris Bodenheimer [mailto:numa at thenuma.com]
> Sent: Thursday, November 06, 2003 9:19 AM
> To: KCLug
> Subject: Re: Novell rant, and other assorted linux rants
> 
> 
> Yep that letter was BS, Please find your sense of humour.
> 
> The funny thing is someone thought it wasn't.
> 
> I guess I don't understand what the big deal is with Novell.  
> I suppose 
> a lot of people have very emotional ties to them.  strange.
> 
> 
> I would  argue that most of the Novell implementations people 
> here have 
> worked with were probably vastly undermaintained, overworked, and 
> cobbled setups. This leads to a high FUD factor.
> 
> Also, whats the deal with linux people pissing on another server OS. 
> Isn't that sorta like calling the kettle black?  Hell, linux doesn't 
> even HAVE an effective unified login console for windows 
> clients (And I 
> want one).  I know of shops here in KC that the secretary administers 
> the novell server, or windows server.  Nice GUI tools, reset 
> password is 
> right there, they don't need a guru to run the damn thing.  
> But look at 
> the amount of effort recquired to set up a file sharing, email, 
> database, authentication, and vpn server in windows, then look at the 
> amount of effort to do it on a new novell rig, then look at 
> the amount 
> of effort to do it on a linux box.  The linux box will be the 
> lower cost 
> way, but, jesus, it would take a long ass time.
> Why?  Because setting up a site wide authentication system is total 
> hell.  Linux sucks at it.  I have tried to figure out LDAP 
> for 2 weeks 
> now, and all I end up with is dead machiens that don't let anything 
> logon.  Personally, I am tired of it.  So, now I have 2 servers, a 
> windows box, and linux box.  All because Samba+PDC+LDAP = unmitigated 
> hell that I don't have time for.  If there is any ONE thing 
> that the OSS 
> world needs to fix, it's a directory system that your average 
> new user 
> can set up.
> 
> Anyone here know of a linux distro that just abandons this crap of 
> passwd files? One that ships with a  complete out of the box database 
> authentication?  What, too processor intensive?  Yeah right.  
> Oh I know, 
> its because in typical linux fashion no 3 projects can get 
> together and 
> agree on anything.  The X people, and the samba people, and sendmail 
> people, and the KDE/gnome poeple, and everyone can't just wholesale 
> chuck stupid and obviously dated unix standards.
> 
> Have you guys tried out windows 2k3?  Come over sometime, I will show 
> off my server in my house.  It's scary good, slow as crap.  
> Performance 
> sucks, but it WORKS!!!!  Get real people, linux REALLY REALLY REALLY 
> needs to get into the 21st century.  If any one thing is the 
> downfall of 
> linux its the authentication structure.
> 
> Course I am sure I have offended someone with this, and I will get 4 
> emails back explaining how kerberos would do everything I 
> want... blah 
> blah blah.  And after 2 more weeks of messing around with out of date 
> documentation, and 3 different distros, I still won't have it 
> working. 
> no thanks.
> 
> 
> Novell is EXACTLY what needs to happen to linux.  Perhaps Redhat is 
> changing its support/product line to go head to head with Novell.  As 
> far as companies that have barrells of money to throw at an 
> issue, well, 
> it will be a VERY interesting battle.
> 
> 
> A person can make a REALLY crappy linux server, or a win2k3 
> server, or a 
> crappy novell server.  I have done all three.  Though my most bungled 
> effort was the win2k3 server and gross incompetency on my part.
> 
> kris
> 
> 
> 
> 
> majordomo at kclug.org
>