[geeks] While I'm at it, another Ubunut grouse

[velociraptor]

On Wed, Jun 10, 2009 at 9:59 AM, Phil Stracchino<alaric at metrocast.net> wrote:
> Jochen Kunz wrote:
>> Ubuntu is maybe the worst. I had to fsck(8) the Ubuntu instalation of a
>> workmate. He misconfigured NIS and thus disabled his local account. I
>> tried a root-login on the local text console, but _all_ root logins are
>> disabled.
>
> That's the _very first thing_ I fix on any *Ubuntu install - enable root
> logins, both locally and via ssh.

I haven't bothered to do that, since I always have a live cd around.
But it is a good point.

Ubuntu server is not that "protective" of itself, since it's expected
if you install server you have good reason to.  I sort of see the
logic behind the choice for desktop.  In my opinion, though, it would
be better to force the user to create a user account during the setup
process, and then, later in the install process, ask the user to put
in a root password as well.

There have been malicious postings on the Ubuntu forums whereby system
destructive things are posted--and people have blithely typed in the
commands.  Given that Ubuntu is trying to spread Linux use, it's no
surprise that the knowledge level of their end-users is lower--this is
no different than the rest of the intarwebs, though.  I can't fault
canonical for trying to protect these people from themselves, really.

In the long run, this lack of understanding about the "guts" of
computer systems is just going to get worse.  Think about how much
"early adopters" knew about automobiles--now think about how much a
random individual driving a modern car knows.  There will always be
pockets of "hackers," but by and large most people don't know about
the guts, and don't *want* to know about the guts.

I haven't attempted to use a BSD other than OS X in a long time, I
should try the recent releases since I have a nice VM host running
now.

=Nadine=