>>1. If you have Sun's, and are inexperienced as a manager of this
OS (as I was!!), beware. You should get comfortable with the OS
before connecting the systems up.
2. If you have SGI's, the security issues are less, so you're
probably ok.
<<
I have to disagree with.
We have had no break-ins (that we know of) to our Suns. We have had
several to our non-spectrometer (for off-spectrometer processing) SGI.
If you read the admin newsgroups, you will find that SGIs are well known
to have many easy-to-access security holes.
I have spent (too) much time tightening up security on our SGIs. I
agree that the advantages of networks are such that it is worth the
security risks. Take the time (or hire someone to take the time) to
plug known holes; run security checking programs such as Securscan or
Satan and plug the holes they find. Monitor your systems. I found one
breakin because I checked my disk usage and found my new 4 giga disk
over half-full!! Think about connecting your computers together, but
perhaps only connecting one to the outside world. Then you can be very
tight about the security on that machine.
Karen Ann
Karen Ann Smith kasmith@iastate.edu
Chemical Instrument Services (515) 294-4057
Iowa State University Ames, IA 50011
(Insert favorite quote here)