[NTLUG:Discuss] New to the list and to Linux

[mike]

On Thursday 23 May 2002 23:50, you wrote:
> Hi all.
>
> I'm new to this list and am brand new to Linux.  In fact, I'm new to any of
> the nix's.  I know just enough Unix to be dangerous.  I'm learning though.
>
> To give you some background, I have an old copy of Red Hat 5.2 

There are several known issues with red hat linux that old.  If you are 
getting online with that box (even thru a firewall,) you should upgrade:

1. FTP server (and other servers) do not allow your box to be an FTP 
server... If you're new to linux its too easy to leave webservices open and 
not realize it.  The best way to tell is to type in a browser window:

	ftp://localhost

If you don't get a 'denied' or 'not found' error, you have  an ftp server 
turned on. FTP in that era (especially red hat) was based on a program from 
washington university (WUFTP)   This program allowed some web trojans to self 
propogate. If I remember the discussions correctly, there were no negative 
effects to your box... but the trojan could crash other (MS?) systems,  
leaving you open to liability.  Its an interesting coincidence that WUFTP was 
written in washington, which also happens to be the home of microsoft... that 
area and quality software seem to cancel each other out. 

2. Netscape - Netscape that came with red hat 5.2 (3.X  or 4.0x) was riddled 
with lots of issues. They are well documented on the netscape website. The 
linux box was never in jeopardy, but individual user data was at risk from 
these security problems.  Netscape recommends not using these old versions.

3. no standards - for multimedia anything that wasn't in the X protocol (this 
mostly means sound) wasn't standardized at all.. for EACH program expect to 
spend weeks trying to setup sound to work.. and don't expect changing from 
one sound enabled program to another to be as easy as a single program.. many 
had to have 'helpers' that couldn't be left on for other sound programs to 
work.  This has (mostly) worked it self out by redhat 7 (don't run 7.0 tho.. 
7.1 or later.

If you are going to upgrade.. I suggest looking at the latest offerings from 
different vendors before spending lots of $$ on a prepackaged commercial 
distribution.  I personally like mandrake best, followed by SuSE, followed by 
Caldera, followed by red hat.  For a low end pentium, red hat is probably the 
best alternative performance-wise, if you can stomach the interface.  
Opinions vary greatly.. but the point is, you can try different distributions 
very cheaply and find one you are more comfortable with, then spend time 
making it work completely for you.