Comment c't Translation (Score 1) 32
Here is a translation of the c't article (sorry about typos and bad grammar):
Net Diagnosis Using Floppies
Trinux: A Linux Security Toolkit
A boot disk and one or two expansion floppies turn every PC into a well-equipped network administration system. Linux makes it possible.
Once again, the network connection is down: a host can't be contacted or can't connect to certain servers. Even if the installed system has little or no network tools, there is no need to complain: With Trinux, the network administrator can turn any PC in the network into a well-equipped diagnosis platform, and that without changing the installed system.
Trinux is a spezialized Linux distribution aimad at diagnosing network problems. Unlike other distributions, the Trinux Security Toolkit consists of only a boot disk and at least one data disk. After booting the Linux kernel, the system creates a RAM disk on which it installs several network utilities.
Before you get started, you only have to copy your network card's driver module onto the boot disk. When booting, Trinux asks for network parameters such as the IP address, netmask, etc., which it optionally saves on the disk. It can also receive this information from a DHCP server. After Trinux has copied the tools to the RAM disk, the system is ready to use.
The number of the tools makes it impossible to list them all. All the standard Unix tools such as ping, traceroute, and tcpdump are available. They are complemented by monitoring utilities like netwatch, iptraf, and ipgrab. Port scanners, packet sniffers, and tools to test several network services are also included in the distribution.
It is recommended to first install all the packages on a real Linux system and try everything. This will make later use easier. Even experts might discover a few previously unknown programs.
The real strength of Trinux lies in its expandability. The network administrator can create new data disks by simply copying his favorite tools to a disk as a tar archive.
Unix novices will have problems with the Linux Security Toolkit. After booting, they are greeted by a simple command prompt. /* snip stuff about how to make Trinux work with your German keyboard */
The user can't hope for a GUI: all programs work in text mode and usually only take comand line options. In the best case, they provide a small menu. The documentation on the disks is kept to a minimum.
The authors are working on additional data disks to make it possible to use Trinux as an intrusion detection system or a portable security scanner.
Unix newbies will certainly have problems with the mini-Linux's command prompt, but for experienced network administrators, Trinux is a useful portable toolkit.
Net Diagnosis Using Floppies
Trinux: A Linux Security Toolkit
A boot disk and one or two expansion floppies turn every PC into a well-equipped network administration system. Linux makes it possible.
Once again, the network connection is down: a host can't be contacted or can't connect to certain servers. Even if the installed system has little or no network tools, there is no need to complain: With Trinux, the network administrator can turn any PC in the network into a well-equipped diagnosis platform, and that without changing the installed system.
Trinux is a spezialized Linux distribution aimad at diagnosing network problems. Unlike other distributions, the Trinux Security Toolkit consists of only a boot disk and at least one data disk. After booting the Linux kernel, the system creates a RAM disk on which it installs several network utilities.
Before you get started, you only have to copy your network card's driver module onto the boot disk. When booting, Trinux asks for network parameters such as the IP address, netmask, etc., which it optionally saves on the disk. It can also receive this information from a DHCP server. After Trinux has copied the tools to the RAM disk, the system is ready to use.
The number of the tools makes it impossible to list them all. All the standard Unix tools such as ping, traceroute, and tcpdump are available. They are complemented by monitoring utilities like netwatch, iptraf, and ipgrab. Port scanners, packet sniffers, and tools to test several network services are also included in the distribution.
It is recommended to first install all the packages on a real Linux system and try everything. This will make later use easier. Even experts might discover a few previously unknown programs.
The real strength of Trinux lies in its expandability. The network administrator can create new data disks by simply copying his favorite tools to a disk as a tar archive.
Unix novices will have problems with the Linux Security Toolkit. After booting, they are greeted by a simple command prompt.
The user can't hope for a GUI: all programs work in text mode and usually only take comand line options. In the best case, they provide a small menu. The documentation on the disks is kept to a minimum.
The authors are working on additional data disks to make it possible to use Trinux as an intrusion detection system or a portable security scanner.
Unix newbies will certainly have problems with the mini-Linux's command prompt, but for experienced network administrators, Trinux is a useful portable toolkit.
