(sorry it is long and ends a bit opinionated ) (first part may be useful for NT users ! )
> I'm getting weary of looking in a dozen or more locations for the > patches I need to keep my Windows NT systems up to date. As you know, > Microsoft locates patches in various directories on its FTP site and in > various locations on its Web sites. As an example of the At one point I would have agreed with this. I now administer both a Debian server and an NT server. Microsoft now has Debian apt-get like functionality on their web page. Not original, but it works similarly. They download a small app which compares what you have with the latest version(s) and gives you a menu of updates with description(s). It works well. This is another case where Microsoft didn't invent the wheel, they just implemented the idea pretty well. For that matter, I am not sure Debian invented the wheel. A lot of network purchased apps have offered this for some time. I do think debian is the first OS provider with the gusto to use it at the OS level. Now don't take me as a Microsoft evangelist. I'm certainly not. I'm simply using the tools I need for the specific jobs I need them for. There are some areas where Linux is a poor fit (non-networkable windows printers comes to mind). There are other where I think it is a toss up. I.e. The web server issue is a toss up. Personally, I think it is awesome that a bunch of volunteers can make the richest man in the world running the one of the most powerful software companies ever need an impromptu trouser change once in a while. The great news is the trouser change frequency appears to be increasing :) I would recommend the original poster go back to Microsoft's web site and look for the automated update option listed under downloads tab. Maybe that will help. I don't know how quickly security updates are posted there. Just for the sake of comparison, I don't know how quickly apt-get will reflect security updates either. ( start opinionated part !!! ) Anyway, right tool for the right job. Excellent work Linux and especially Debian. Truly amazing. I try not to show bias when discussing technical matters, but I will admit I am not feeling sorry for Mr. Gates. His previous tactics can't touch Linux. Even if he does give away his OS ! Linux could still say "Show me the source". In the end, I don't so much think Linux will be remembered as much for producing Linux. Instead Linux will be remembered for producing a development model which led to open source businesses like Redhat and competing with (arguably, bias bit=0) monopolistic predators and winning. I have no idea how he will compete with Linux. He's a smart guy. It should get interesting. I just find it hilarious that his own "run out of business by giving it away" model (Internet explorer/Netscape) is now causing him problems. Not to mention open source. Interesting that the other unix suppliers aren't complaining ! For now I guess he will resort to a neo-political style mud slinging attack. He should keep in mind these are not TV zombied political voters. They are technical people parting with cash... -----Original Message----- From: Colin Marquardt [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, October 14, 1999 3:48 PM To: Debian-User Mailing List Subject: Re: OT: MS Security not centralized at all * Fabien Ninoles <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > ----- Forwarded message from WNT Mag Security UPDATE <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ----- [...] > ********************************************************** > WINDOWS NT MAGAZINE SECURITY UPDATE > The weekly Windows NT security update newsletter > http://www.winntmag.com/update/ > ********************************************************** > [snip] > 1. FROM THE EDITOR ========== > Hello everyone, > I'm getting weary of looking in a dozen or more locations for the > patches I need to keep my Windows NT systems up to date. As you know, > Microsoft locates patches in various directories on its FTP site and in > various locations on its Web sites. As an example of the [...] And I quote from http://www.microsoft.com/ntserver/nts/news/msnw/LinuxMyths.asp: | Linux system administrators must spend huge amounts of time | understanding the latest Linux bugs and determining what to do | about them. This is made complex due to the fact that there isn't | a central location for security issues to be reported and | fixed. In contrast Microsoft provides a single security repository | for notification and fixes of security related issues. | Configuring Linux security requires an administrator to be an | expert in the intricacies of the operating system and how | components interact. Misconfigure any part of the operating system | and the system could be vulnerable to attack. Windows NT security | is easy to set up and administer with tools such as the Security | Configuration Editor. See? This "weekly Windows NT security update newsletter" can only be a hoax. Microsoft *themselves* are telling you. "We have never been at war with competitors." -- Colin Marquardt <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> -- Unsubscribe? mail -s unsubscribe [EMAIL PROTECTED] < /dev/null
