On Tue, Dec 03, 2002 at 09:22:06PM +0800, M. Yu wrote: > I was recently installing RedHat 8.0 in my office PC and noticed that it now > comes with a package group labeled "Server Configuration Tools". Clicking > on Details show that the set contain RPMs that RH put together to provide > GUI front ends to configuration tools (others are config tools in > themselves) - they are named redhat-config-<something>.rpm. It seems to me > that RH is now leaning towards using a GUI-based system. Brings me memories > of when I had access to a Sun Netra-I running Solaris/SunOS, and x86 > machines running WinNT/2K. Using a GUI is not that bad, as long as you takle the time to learn to configure the system by editing the files directly. My usual approach to configuring a new system is to use the GUI tools for initial configuration and then fine tune with good'ol vi. > > Anyway, I think this goes against keeping server installations as lean as > possible. Personally, I install and run servers using text mode only (most > are headless machines with VERY low end video cards - most of my linux > routers/firewalls/VPN gateways are even using ISA cards!!!). To me, running > X on a server is not only illogical but a waste of precious resources and > introducing a potential security risk. Remember that the GUI tools are essentially X apps, and thus you can have them run on the server and display on your workstation. Thus no X server on the server. Only X clients. > I also think that using text mode > forces one to actually see/learn what is being done instead of hiding it > behind GUI front-ends. Then again, I know RH is just trying to make it easy > for new hostmasters (I'll refrain from calling them sysads) to use/configure > these machines. In the end though, IMHO, it'll only introduce more > incompetent hostmasters who call themselves sysadmins as soon as they learn > the intricacies of the concept of point-and-click. And when the proverbial > sh*t hits the fan, i.e. X wouldn't load, they're stuck there staring at the > screen feverishly typing in MS-DOS commands like HELP and wondering why > typing a command followed by "/?" doesn't show a syntax/help screen (ok a > bit harsh, but you get the point). Just remember those guys will most likely be out of a job when they can fix a problem in a critical system. > > So, what about you guys, where do you stand? Do think running X on servers > is the way to go? Again, X clients on servers is fine. X servers are better left for workstations. Cheers, -- Javier Gostling Ingeniero de Sistemas Virtualia S.A. jgostling@virtualia.cl Fono: +56 (2) 202-6264 x 130 Fax: +56 (2) 342-8763 Av. Kennedy 5757, of 1502 Las Condes Santiago Chile
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