RE: [cobalt-developers] First steps into Sausalito

[Richard Davis <richard.davis@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Thu, 08 Feb, Mat Schaffer  wrote:
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Richard Davis [mailto:richard.davis@xxxxxxxxxxxx]
> > I am just taking my first look into the Sausolito
> > Architecture trying to
> > produce a VPN package for the Qube3.
> > I have managed to add the menu items and produce the ui with
> > a form entry.
> > All I need to be able to do is read data from the vpn config
> > file into the
> > ui and write it back out.
> > Does anyone have any documentation on creating a simple
> > system or a simple
> > pkg that I can use for reference. I have the latest beta of
> > the Developers
> > Guide, but it seems short on simple examples.
> > It seems from what I have seen so far, that it is a very
> > powerful system,
> > once you get your head around it all.
> 
> The .pkg format isn't quite as powerful as you might think.  It's main
> strength comes from it's pre/post-install/uninstall scripts.  Other than
> that, it can really only handle rpms.  The best way I've found to work
> with .pkgs is to use another .pkg as an example.  The sausalito
> developers guide doesn't talk much about pkgs in depth, if I recall.
> What do you need to know exactally?
> As for reading and writing the vpn config, that's gonna be all PHP
> really.  And will probably have to be done directly, as CCE doesn't have
> any holds for vpn config.  It might be creatable though (CCE isn't
> something I know incredibly well).

Putting the pkg together and installing the software is not a problem. The
query is whether there is a way to add functionality to the cce to achieve
this or whether is it better to simply bipass this and query the
configuration direct using php.

> Also.  What are you using for VPN.  The company I'm working with is
> currently very interested in the possibility of VPN on the Qube3.  I
> experimented with frees/wan, but I was nervous about the idea of
> recompiling the Qube's kernel.  If there's another option, I'd love to
> know.

We currently have a VPN solution for the Cobalt Qube Hardware, which
utilises our own release of Linux (based around Red Hat) and our own
WebOffice software, which replaces the current software build. I am looking
to back port the vpn part of this solution as a plug in for the Qube 3,
running the original software package and cobalt kernel.

The back end is in place and is working well on a linux - linux connection,
using a kernel module compiled for the Qube's current kernel.

Regards

-- 
Richard Davis                    	 	richard.davis@xxxxxxxxxxxx 
Systems Developer     				http://www.navaho.co.uk 
Navaho Technologies Ltd           	 	Tel: +44 (0)870 703 4015
Fairchild House, Southampton Street, 
Southampton, Hants, SO15 2ED