Anybody got a problem with Linux?

[shy001]

thanks for asking
not good hey
i have gotten a list of problems now i gotta try and research them and solve them
some more sleepless nights instore for me

in case anyone feels like helping --- this is the list of problems and below the assignment question

1)Any user can change the root user password and become the root user by
forcing single user mode - allow anyone to hack into the pc.
2)lack of a unified installation method is a problem
- RPM's for Red hat/WhiteBox Linux
- Deb for Debian/ubuntu
- Yum for SUSE
3) Changing configurations often requires some research on websites to find
the specific ways to fix one's problems.
4) Wireless freezing kernel on laptop at irregular intervals
5) Post Install Blues: shiny new Linux boots up, and starts blinking and then
gives an error saying X could not start, and shows a login prompt. We
login, but How can we fix it?
6) Laptop Support: Some laptops will work, some will not, some will seem to
work, but actually will not, and so on. Suspend, hibernate and power
management, which are extremely important for a laptop may or may not
work. Most people have gone back to shutting down and starting up the
entire operating system every time. This is the one area in which Linux
really needs to get its act together.


Question for Assignment
Hone in and thoroughly research major problems faced by organisations in regard to using Linux. Formulate a research topic from these problems and using various research methodologies, present a research document outlining the various components of the problem and supply a model or solution to these problems. Carry out quantitative or qualitative research investigation on the area and give full justifications for approach

 

[nic777]

No offence intended but I do not think you current list of "problems" is really answering the assignment question and getting to the point of the assignment. Anyone see what I mean?

I think they want to know is what problems businesses face if they try to implement Linux in their organization. Examples being little professional support being available and Microsoft office not working on linux natively (meaning, difficulty for users to cross over or compatibilty with current document format).

I think the best would be to search for linux in the organization and see what common problems they face.

I personally think this assignment is very negative and at least they should have included what positives are gained. But thats just my opinion

What course is this assignment for? What is your major?

thanks for asking
not good hey
i have gotten a list of problems now i gotta try and research them and solve them
some more sleepless nights instore for me

in case anyone feels like helping --- this is the list of problems and below the assignment question

1)Any user can change the root user password and become the root user by
forcing single user mode - allow anyone to hack into the pc.
2)lack of a unified installation method is a problem
- RPM's for Red hat/WhiteBox Linux
- Deb for Debian/ubuntu
- Yum for SUSE
3) Changing configurations often requires some research on websites to find
the specific ways to fix one's problems.
4) Wireless freezing kernel on laptop at irregular intervals
5) Post Install Blues: shiny new Linux boots up, and starts blinking and then
gives an error saying X could not start, and shows a login prompt. We
login, but How can we fix it?
6) Laptop Support: Some laptops will work, some will not, some will seem to
work, but actually will not, and so on. Suspend, hibernate and power
management, which are extremely important for a laptop may or may not
work. Most people have gone back to shutting down and starting up the
entire operating system every time. This is the one area in which Linux
really needs to get its act together.


Question for Assignment
Hone in and thoroughly research major problems faced by organisations in regard to using Linux. Formulate a research topic from these problems and using various research methodologies, present a research document outlining the various components of the problem and supply a model or solution to these problems. Carry out quantitative or qualitative research investigation on the area and give full justifications for approach

 

[chiskop]

1)Any user can change the root user password and become the root user by
forcing single user mode - allow anyone to hack into the pc.

What? How do you go about just changing the root password as a normal, unpriviledged user? (If you're a part of the sudoers group you're essentially root, so that doesn't count.)

But more importantly, I think nic777's comments are spot on. In this thread you've got a list of niggles, few of which I've ever come across. Look at the bigger picture.

 

[shy001]

the subject is called operating systems
i am doing my bachelors degree in IT
my major is devleopment software

this assignment is in 2 parts
the first part was to find an org that uses linux and see how it is being used
form a relation with that company

the way i understand the question
this second part of the assignment is to hone in and focus on the problwms this particular organisation is having with linux and how i can solve their problems through research

the problem about changing the root password was explained like this
"Even if u not the root user, u can change the root user password and become root user by forcing single user mode.This can be done by editing at boot up, and passing the parameter “linux single” or just “single” .This enters u into the shell where u can user the passwd command to change the password and then reboot n login.This can allow anyone with unix knowledge to hack ur pc to bits."

if you still feel i interpreted question wrong, plz tell me
it would be highly apprciated
thanx for the help guys

 

[fskmh]

the problem about changing the root password was explained like this
"Even if u not the root user, u can change the root user password and become root user by forcing single user mode.This can be done by editing at boot up, and passing the parameter “linux single” or just “single” .This enters u into the shell where u can user the passwd command to change the password and then reboot n login.This can allow anyone with unix knowledge to hack ur pc to bits."

if you still feel i interpreted question wrong, plz tell me
it would be highly apprciated
thanx for the help guys

3rd result supplied by google search for "lilo single user with password":
http://www.linuxdevcenter.com/pub/a/linux/2008/01/22/lilo-and-grub-boot-loaders-made-simple.html
2nd last paragraph:

LILO and GRUB allows users—the root users—to boot into single-user mode. Both have a password protection feature with a difference. While GRUB allows for MD5 encrypted passwords, LILO manages only text passwords, which anyone can read from the lilo.conf file with the command cat /etc/lilo.conf.

Do you really think any PC is safe when people have physical access to it?

 

[Kasyx]

the subject is called operating systems
i am doing my bachelors degree in IT
my major is devleopment software

this assignment is in 2 parts
the first part was to find an org that uses linux and see how it is being used
form a relation with that company

the way i understand the question
this second part of the assignment is to hone in and focus on the problwms this particular organisation is having with linux and how i can solve their problems through research

the problem about changing the root password was explained like this
"Even if u not the root user, u can change the root user password and become root user by forcing single user mode.This can be done by editing at boot up, and passing the parameter “linux single” or just “single” .This enters u into the shell where u can user the passwd command to change the password and then reboot n login.This can allow anyone with unix knowledge to hack ur pc to bits."

if you still feel i interpreted question wrong, plz tell me
it would be highly apprciated
thanx for the help guys

Chances are I could get Administrator access to your Windows server simply by booting it into safemode. If one can physically access a server, it becomes a lot easier to break into. Why do you think servers are usually locked away in cabinets, locked away in server rooms? You can't say that the fact that one can get root on a Linux box by having physical access to it is a fault with Linux, but rather a fault with the company's security.

Kinda like saying a car is at fault because a carjacker could start it if they have the key...

 

[chiskop]

Ah okay if you're allowed physical access and allowed to reboot - sure. But then what OS would pass that test?