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Grex > Helpers > #123: Grex System Problems - Fall 2003 |  |
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i
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Grex System Problems - Fall 2003
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Sep 24 10:52 UTC 2003 |
This item is for system problems. If something on Grex isn't working
right (line noise on a modem, weird behavior from a program, etc.),
this is the place to announce it. Except for security holes. If you
find a hole in system security, mail information about it to "staff".
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| 291 responses total. |
dah
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response 1 of 291:
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Sep 24 11:22 UTC 2003 |
Yup.
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rcurl
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response 2 of 291:
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Oct 6 06:11 UTC 2003 |
This isn't a grex "problem", but there being no other item for discussing
grex operations (and this item isn't getting much use):
I discovered that CAEN (UM engineering computer network) has the option to
read and reply to one's unix box mail via the web. This does not require a
client - any browser will do. The functionality is quite limited, though:
for example, one cannot use one's addressbook (but can create a new one).
The mode has some other awkward properties - but for logging in to read
and reply to one's mail when one is travelling and has access only to the
web (not telnet) it is quite useful.
Could grex implement a similar mode?
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gelinas
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response 3 of 291:
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Oct 6 07:16 UTC 2003 |
This has been discussed before and rejected. The argument against is that
grex's primary mission involves getting people into the conferences. A
web-based mail client (also POP and IMAP) would remove an incentive (and
opportunity) to discover the conferences.
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gull
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response 4 of 291:
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Oct 6 12:58 UTC 2003 |
Free web-based email sites tend to be popular, as well...possibly too
popular for our connection and hardware to handle. I suspect it's
unlikely web-based email would attract enough new paying members to pay
for the upgrades that would be necessary.
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jp2
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response 5 of 291:
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Oct 6 13:01 UTC 2003 |
This response has been erased.
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goose
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response 6 of 291:
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Oct 6 13:04 UTC 2003 |
This could be a nice feature to offer members.
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scott
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response 7 of 291:
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Oct 6 13:08 UTC 2003 |
Except that we don't offer special privileges to members. The only exception
is outgoing internet, and that's because of the validation issue.
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goose
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response 8 of 291:
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Oct 6 16:04 UTC 2003 |
Oh well, it could make a nice incentive.
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cmcgee
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response 9 of 291:
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Oct 6 16:34 UTC 2003 |
as much as I'd like web-based email, I'd rather not start creating incentives,
priveleges, etc for members.
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remmers
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response 10 of 291:
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Oct 6 16:41 UTC 2003 |
I agree.
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rcurl
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response 11 of 291:
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Oct 6 19:58 UTC 2003 |
I brought it up because I'd like to be able to access my e-mail on grex
when I am travelling. Telnet capability seems to be disappearing from
publically accessed computers (the one I tried was at WMU). I'm not seeking
special privileges as a member - just remote e-mail access.
At one site I was able to download and install a telnet client on a
public computer, but this capability seems also to be becoming rarer:
I think more public sites don't want their users running telnet.
This doesn't seem "fair".
What really is the difference between accessing e-mail on grex via
a telnet client vs via a browser? (Especially if the browwser access is
as lame as the one on CAEN, at which one cannot access much e-mail
functionality - at CAEN, in addition to not having access to the
addressbook, one also cannot delete mail from the inbox.)
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cross
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response 12 of 291:
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Oct 6 20:24 UTC 2003 |
This response has been erased.
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rcurl
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response 13 of 291:
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Oct 6 20:40 UTC 2003 |
Did you install it? I've only done that on Apple computers, for which I
am familiar with telnet clients (and installing such).
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cmcgee
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response 14 of 291:
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Oct 6 20:46 UTC 2003 |
you could always create a .forward file to hotmail while you are traveling.
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rcurl
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response 15 of 291:
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Oct 6 20:57 UTC 2003 |
That's a thought - I could do the same thing to my CAEN account. Now,
why didn't I think of that.....(probably because I've not used the
.forward function on grex for a long time, and it slipped from my mind).
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aruba
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response 16 of 291:
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Oct 6 21:02 UTC 2003 |
Rane - the arguments against allowing web access to email are
1) Grex doesn't want to compete with HotMail, and we're afraid if we
offered web-accessable mail, we'd be swamped.
2) Grex would like to be a community, where people come to interact with
people, and not just a mail drop. So we require people to log in to get
their mail, in the hopes that they will decide to look around and get
involved.
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rcurl
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response 17 of 291:
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Oct 6 21:22 UTC 2003 |
Am I a problem in that regard? 8^}
Grex hasn't tried (lame) e-mail access by web, so you don't know what
the consequences would be.
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aruba
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response 18 of 291:
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Oct 6 21:27 UTC 2003 |
No, it's nothing personal, Rane. But I think if we just gave access to you,
and no one else, that would be a little unfair. :)
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cross
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response 19 of 291:
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Oct 6 21:57 UTC 2003 |
This response has been erased.
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tpryan
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response 20 of 291:
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Oct 6 23:14 UTC 2003 |
Another solution would be to carry one of those jump drives
in your pocket that would have a USB interface and your choice of
software on it. Then plug in and run your software on the public
machines (install it to the jump drive and that way you take it
with you).
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mcnally
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response 21 of 291:
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Oct 6 23:17 UTC 2003 |
re #12, 13, 19: Rane probably missed the fact that you were talking about
a Java applet that loads from a web server and runs in the browser.
On machines which are locked down to disallow the system telnet app but not
so locked down to prevent running applets, Java ssh and telnet client applets
are a boon to those of us who prefer our e-mail the old-fashioned way.
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mcnally
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response 22 of 291:
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Oct 6 23:18 UTC 2003 |
re #20: machines where the system telnet app is locked out almost never
allow you to install your own applications or run them from removable media.
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drew
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response 23 of 291:
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Oct 7 00:01 UTC 2003 |
I just switched over to the Yale Java ssh applet. It gave me a bunch of stuff
about "do you want to install stuff on this machine" which I answered yes,
but chickened out and said No when it wanted to create a directory. It's
running anyway, though I got some wierd "File functions disabled" message.
Most Lib machines seem to have Java and JS turned on; there are ample pop-up
ads to testify to this. This might be a feasible option, and with password
security as a bonus.
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rcurl
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response 24 of 291:
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Oct 7 05:55 UTC 2003 |
I've only run applets from web sites, so I don't quite know what is
being talked about. For the dummies here (like me), what does one do
to get telnet access with an applet on a public machine?
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