Baslinux mailing list

[baslinux AT lists.ibiblio.org]

On Tue, 26 Jun 2007, baslinux AT lists.ibiblio.org wrote:

> On Wed, Jun 27, 2007 at 02:20:40AM +0000, baslinux AT lists.ibiblio.org wrote:
> > Someone asked for our help installing some operating system to a laptop
> <snip>
> > works with a 2.2 kernel?  What is a Remote Desktop client?  Is he trying
> > to use the laptop as a wireless remote terminal to a desktop or maybe just
> > to share a broadband connection?

> Without inquiring further it's hard to say what he's asking for. Remote 
> Desktop is a terminology I most often associate with Windows and the 
> ability of more recent versions of Windows to allow other machines to 
> log in and use the desktop remotely. Certain versions of Win2K can do 
> this and XP Pro has it built in. A Linux client has been developed for 
> this, but it's alot newer than BL: I first started hearing about it 
> about 3 years ago. Unless you were to compile something and do alot of 
> troubleshooting, I wouldn't expect that client to work on BL. If he 
> would be satisfied with something like VNC, I'd say chances of getting a 
> version of that running under BL are much better--though it would 
> probably still involve some work. My experiences with VNC have been a 
> bit disappointing: it can be useful in a pinch, but I'd hate to have to 
> rely on it on a regular basis.

Would VNC installed on a Windows desktop and a linux laptop allow the 
linux laptop to run programs on the desktop?  It seems to be something 
that uses a web browser with Java support to access the desktop and do 
file transfers.  You could already do that with fttpd on the laptop.

> On a separate note concerning wireless (mentioned in your post). Having 
> done some more research recently on wireless networking, I'm beginning 
> to think that older wireless cards, though they can be made to work 
> under BL, really should be avoided--or at least should be used only in 
> certain circumstances. It is just too easy to eavesdrop on wireless 
> networks that don't have the latest encryption schemes implemented (WPA, 
> WPA2), and older wireless cards, by definition, cannot handle that sort 
> of encryption. I would hesitate to send any username/password 
> information using such a connection, and would definitely _never_ do any 
> sort of financial transactions using one (credit card purchases, 
> banking).
 > > James

Thanks for the warning.  Yesterday a friend mentioned he had used his 
laptop with wireless connection at a friend's house, and someone put a 
trojan on his (WinXP) computer (he found and removed it) which allowed 
them to steal banking data while he was doing a banking transaction, and 
run up a $100 bill (for downloaded videos) on his debit card (which he 
discovered lets him withdraw more than is in the account, with a $35 
fine).

Is there any danger in using any wireless card for just browsing at 
the public library via their fast connection?  Should I avoid connecting 
to my sdf account via wireless?  I think the library uses some sort of 
encryption, but do I need to set it up on my computer?

I have a Cisco Aironet (340) which works with kernel 2.2 and has a fairly 
good range (between rooms).

340 350 PCM341 PCM342 PCM352 etc. at ebay sold for $10-33 plus $4-10 
shipping.  11Mbps is non-cardbus.  There are plenty avaiable, probably 
because newer laptops come with built-in wireless.

The 340 series is designed for larger indoor facilities.  There are 
instructions on the web for adding an external antenna.

I will ask what is on the desktop and what exactly he wants to do besides 
browse.  Would scp work over a LAN for file transfer?

Sindi
keesan AT sdf.lonestar.org
SDF Public Access UNIX System - http://sdf.lonestar.org