Re: [cobalt-users] Attackalert

["Nico Meijer" <cobalt-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Dan, Rodolfo,

> >You might think so, but Cobalt gives no information on that and markets
the
> >product specifically against using Telnet. Finding any Telnet info in the
> >manuals is a task. "The browser-based UI shields the administrator from
> >technical complexities and minimizes the need for trained staff."
>
> Gotta agree with Dan here... the box is sold as being idiot-proof. And I
> do, in fact now have an idiot successfully running one so the marketing is
> true AFAIAC. However, idiots should only run these things when backed up
by
> a decent sysadmin to do security, et al. which *cannot* properly be done
> without the CLI.

You are both right, IMHO, but then both of you (and I humbly include myself
just for argument's sake) know better than to trust a marketing guy/gal with
some type of suit on with *that* kind of statement, but let's have a closer
look, once more:

"The browser-based UI shields the administrator from technical complexities
and minimizes the need for trained staff."

The UI does exactly what it says... It doesn't state that you need to know
absolutely nothing about sysadmin type o' stuff, just that the UI
"minimizes" the need for trained personnel. And guess what? My partner, with
very limited technical Linux skills, can actually provide services to our
(new) customers with this UI. Woohoo! Yes, this can also be done with Plesk
or Webmin, but that's not part of my point right now.

Let me put in another, more practical way, a reason why someone may purchase
a RaQ. I was looking for a new server. Our current setup consists of
towercase stuff, but we now need rackmountable stuff. Plus, we want to
greatly enhance the speed with which we provide new customers. Setting stuff
up by hand (CLI-based) could take me up to half an hour per customer,
depending on the needs of the customer. With the RaQ, this time will
shorten, I am sure. Of course, you might be 'forced' to change some of your
business model, but I am convinced it'll be worth it. FYI, our 'business
model' has only improved towards customers because of the purchase. :-)

Yet another plus, it's well priced. We got a fully loaded RaQ for half the
price of a 'standard' server. Bonus: I don't have to spend three full
consecutive days to get the new server up and running, install the software
on it, configure the hell out of it (excuzes le mot) but it'll probably take
about one. Heck, that's two extra days of money making instead of spending,
come to think of it. :-)

I see my purchase of the Cobalt RaQ3 as a win-win situation: on the one
hand, it matches my current hardware setup, which is still proficient and
really needn't be replaced, it runs the OS I've come to love n' cherish and
it can be handled to some degree (the money making degree!) by a non techie.
On the other hand, I am proficient enough to know how to secure a box up to
a point and could run the thing solely from the CLI when needed. I don't
even dismiss the factor that that might once happen.

The RaQ was advertised to me to do what it does: serve web, ftp, dns, snmp,
etc. data. It does that, you can't take that away from Cobalt. The
proficiency and security with which it does that can and *should* of course
be discussed, yes.

For me, it was the package deal that made the sale. Who knows what it might
be next time? The Netra X1 looks nice... ;-)

And yes, that's a personal story. I truly can't think of *anyone* plugging a
device whatsoever straight out of the box onto the net. Apparently, it has
been done more than once or this list wouldn't have such hefty discussions.

Have a great day... Nico