Re: [PATCH] Single user linux

Mohammad A. Haque
2001-04-25T13:42:24Z

imel96@trustix.co.id wrote:
> for those who didn't read that patch, i #define capable(),
> suser(), and fsuser() to 1. the implication is all users
> will have root capabilities.

And this is better than just having the system auto-login as root because......?

>
> then i tried to bring up the single user thing to hear
> opinions (not flames). and by that, i actually didn't mean
> to have users share the same uid/gid 0. i know somebody
> will need to differentiate user.
>
> so when everybody suggested playing with login, getty, etc.
> i know you have got the wrong idea. if i wanted to play
> on user space, i'd rather use capset() to set all users
> capability to "all cap". that's the perfect equivalent.
>
> so the user space solution (capset()) works, but then came
> the idea to optimize away. that's what blow everybody up.
> don't get me wrong, i always agree with rik farrow when he
> wrote in ;login: that we should build software with security
> in mind.
>
> but i also hate bloat. lets not go to arm devices, how about
> a notebook. it's a personal thing, naturally to people who
> doesn't know about computer, personal doesn't go with multi
> user. by that i mean user with different capabilities, not
> different persons.
>

So don't install any services. The security in the kernel is not even
bloat compared to some of the cruft that you can just not install.

> - with that patch, people will still have authentication.
> so ssh for example, will still prevent illegal access, if
> you had an exploit you're screwed up anyway.
> sure httpd will give permission to everybody to browse
> a computer, but i don't think a notebook need to run it.

See above.

>
> so i guess i deserve opinions instead of flames. the
> approach is from personal use, not the usual server use.
> if you think a server setup is best for all use just say so,
> i'm listening.

I have Linux on my PowerBook. I don't have sendmail, httpd, mysql, and a
billion other 'server' processes running. Does that still make it a server?

We're not flaming (well some of us anyways). Just pointing out (loudly)
where your thinking is flawed.

> nah, performance was never my consideration. i do save about
> 3kb from my zImage, but i'm not interested.

But you just said you hate bloat. What other reason do you have for
hating bloat?

--

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Mohammad A. Haque http://www.haque.net/
mhaque@haque.net

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