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linuxconf-1.6
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ANNOUNCE
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1996-08-04
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Linuxconf 1.6
Introduction
This is the seventh release of Linuxconf, a new admin tool for Linux.
After more than two years of development at Solucorp, we are quite
proud of it. It is available from sunsite.unc.edu as
/pub/Linux/system/Admin/linuxconf-1.6.src.tar.gz
/pub/Linux/system/Admin/linuxconf-1.6.bin-aout.tar.gz
/pub/Linux/system/Admin/linuxconf-1.6.bin-elf.tar.gz
1. What is Linuxconf
Linuxconf is a new admin tool for Linux. It goes much further than the
simple set of user interface dialogs and script based utilities. It is
a fully integrated utility which help you maintain a working Linux
system without difficulties.
Linuxconf knows how to manage quite a few things in your system.
2. Why is it "hot"
Linuxconf is both a configurator and an activator. It is the one which
decide if ...
╖ A daemon must be started.
╖ A configuration command must be executed.
╖ A daemon must be killed/restarted.
╖ A daemon must be signaled (kill -HUP ...).
╖ A network interface must be (re)configured.
╖ A network route must be set/remove.
╖ A volume must be (re)mount.
Linuxconf act based on configuration files. It knows about most Linux
configuration files and can compare their status with what is running
currently. Based on this query, Linuxconf can bring your system
"current".
Whether you use Linuxconf's user interface or edit the configuration
files by hand is unimportant. The following command
linuxconf --status
will give you a report of what has to be done to bring the system
"current".
linuxconf --update
will do it for you!
Rebooting is simply not an option anymore. This is really its main
goal. Every time you quit Linuxconf, it will probe all configuration
files and make sure your workstation is "current". If it is not, it
will tell you what have to be done and do it (you are allowed not to
do it).
3. Linuxconf takes control very early
One component of linuxconf is called "askrunlevel". It takes control
very early. A call to /sbin/askrunlevel must be placed at the end of
your /etc/rc.d/rc.S file (or equivalent such as /etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit
on redhat systems). This utility allows you to select a proper
runlevel (logical operation mode) or to completly reconfigured your
system even before the boot sequence is finished.
From this utility, you are allowed to ...
╖ Start Linux in graphical mode (xdm) and fully activate the
networking.
╖ Go graphic, without networking.
╖ Run as an X terminal.
╖ Start in text mode, full networking.
╖ Text mode, no network.
╖ Configure the workstation.
Linuxconf allows you to configure the workstation even before it is
fully booted. This is a winner as it saves you from false start boot
(often with an invalid network configuration).
4. What Linuxconf knows so far
Linuxconf knows how to configure and managed the following things.
╖ System time, time zone, CMOS clock.
╖ LILO management.
╖ Basic networking configuration (IP numbers and net mask) of the
four Ethernets adaptors.
╖ Static routing. Default route.
╖ Filesystems (/etc/fstab).
╖ Routed daemon.
╖ NIS client (ypbind).
╖ NFS server.
╖ PPP client configuration and activation.
╖ Users and groups.
╖ The named daemon. Yes Linuxconf provides a friendly interface to
configure and maintain a DNS. Check this out!
╖ Sendmail. Check this out!
╖ Fire-walling (Packet filtering).
╖ RARP setup.
╖ IP Alias setup.
╖ UUCP management.
Further, Linuxconf provides a friendly interface to configure theses
files and more.
╖ /etc/fstab
╖ /etc/host.conf
╖ /etc/hosts
╖ /etc/networks
╖ /etc/resolv.conf
5. Command line mode
Linuxconf provide a command line mode allowing better integration with
shell scripts. Here is a sample
╖ netconf --runlevel local | client | server
╖ netconf --status
╖ netconf --update
╖ netconf --connect pppaccount
╖ dnsconf --set host ip-number ...
╖ dnsconf --unset host
The dnsconf utility should be easily integrated with the DHCP daemon,
allowing full synchronization with the DNS.
6. Web mode
You can point your favorite web browser to any linuxconf's managed
linux station and fully configure it. This is a major feature for
remote administration.
7. Current state
Linuxconf is now usable and already a big time saver.
Linuxconf install over any standard Slackware system includind the
latest 3.0 and redhat (3.0.3) systems. Just UN-tar linuxconf-1.3.bin-
aout.tar.gz (or bin-elf) in the root and execute /install/doinst.sh.
Read carefully what is written.
Linuxconf may work with other distribution (it should in fact). I
have no experience with other than Slackware (2.x and 3.0) at this
point, so I can only recommend Linuxconf to really experienced users
(Using something different than Slackware or redhat).
This is the seventh public release. Many glitches has been cured.
Linuxconf is now fully translatable. All strings has been moved from
the source files and put in a dictionnary.
8. Documentation
Linuxconf has online help (context) for most screen. (49 out of 69
help screen are done). This represent a lot of work. Comments and some
help are welcome.
9. Technology
Linuxconf is written in C++. It currently has a ncurses interface. It
scores at around 38,500 lines of code.
It currently compiled with GCC 2.6.2 and GCC 2.7.2. For GCC 2.6.2,
define the environement variable OLDGCC
export OLDGCC=on
10. Future
Many more things are expect to be included in Linuxconf. Here are few
of them.
╖ Graphical user interface..
╖ Inittab, and getty management.
╖ inetd.conf
╖ Samba management.
╖ sudo management.
╖ bootp, DHCP.
╖ httpd server configuration (Apache in progress).
11. Mailing list
A mailing list has been setup to discuss bugs and features of
Linuxconf. Join the list by sending a message to
linuxconf-request@solucorp.qc.ca
Send a message to the list using the following address.
linuxconf@solucorp.qc.ca
12. Licensing
Linuxconf is distributed under the GNU GPL license. See the file
LICENSE included in the distribution.
Like most other Linux components, there are very little restrictions
about usage and redistribution. We would like to hear from
distribution maintainer. Linuxconf is certainly a key candidate to
ease Linux acceptance. Comments are welcome!
13. Author
Linuxconf was written at Solucorp by Jacques Gelinas
(jacques@solucorp.qc.ca). Solucorp is installing Linuxconf to customer
site for some time now. Solucorp is a consulting company doing work
in the following fields.
╖ Linux!
╖ Networking (Internet services, fire-walling).
╖ Multi-platform software development.