From: dufresne at winternet.com (Ron DuFresne)
Subject: irc over ssl 

On Tue, 25 May 2004, Dave Howe wrote:

> > Hmm.. so the company is hiring them as a "unix/cisco tech weenie"
> > and then forcing them to use Windows?
> *Sigh* you have given a name to my Ongoing Horror.
>
> I am *forced* to use MS Office - Word, Excel and Outlook - on Windows.  My
> job dutes are to look after the Solaris, HPUX, Compaq Tru64 and Cisco
> kit - but still, my workstation is and must remain Spawn Of Microsoft.
>
> Yes, I know, Crossover Office on linux - but I am not permitted to use
> software that isn't free (and that took a *lot* of work) *or* for which
> there is a licence document and purchase order reference in the office
> safe (and my boss refuses to spring for a copy) - Plus I am under orders
> not to run Linux at all (for such diverse reasons as "our licence
> compliance checking package [aka Evil Spyware] doesn't run on it").
>
> Yes, I know OpenOffice is there too - but that has been nixed. It still
> isn't 100% compatable (particularly given my boss insists on doing the
> master network diagrams using Excel drawing objects)
>
> Still, I have cygwin and openssh on here - and vnc. that's something at
> least.

One makes due in the env they are forced to play in...


I've hated those times I've been given a hammer to drive a screw, and
despised having to set a nut and bolt with two pairsof channel lock
pliers.  And sometimes all I want to do is dust the nail with a feather,
rather then Whack the sucker with a sledge.  The fuller the toolbox, the
more flexible and accurate/precise the work/skills

In the original thread, before I'd have given up the argument for a tool,
I'd have mentioned the use of a secured unix server to run the ircd <do
they even have an ircd for windows that can support with the same HW
the same population as a simple linux/*bsd intel tossaway?>.  And if I had
to set further, in a windows centric env, I'd have suggested for even more
security, make the only host allowed be a tech/admin only accessible *nix
server.  And make folks ssh to that and shell into a comandline client in
the limited OS toolset one was provided.  Pad up your argument with
mention about how each *nix server was stripped and devoted to the
service at hand, how it advances the skillset or is a walk through woods
not tread in awhile...  My last choice would likely never be to argue
for a toolset that required mirc.  Not in a security context by any means.


But, that's just me, my choices and experience.  Let others fight the
battles how they best see fit.  I just didn't see that the horse was dead
yet, when it appeared all ya had to do was turn him around to get him to
drink...


Thanks,


Ron DuFresne
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Cutting the space budget really restores my faith in humanity.  It
eliminates dreams, goals, and ideals and lets us get straight to the
business of hate, debauchery, and self-annihilation." -- Johnny Hart
	***testing, only testing, and damn good at it too!***

OK, so you're a Ph.D.  Just don't touch anything.

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