Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> espoused:
> UPDATE: Cisco not releasing NAC client as open-source code
>
> ,----[ Quote ]
>| "Cisco is not open-sourcing CTA," said a Cisco spokesperson this
>| week. "Cisco is taking a different approach to being open via
>| standards" regarding NAC.
> `----
>
> http://www.networkworld.com/news/2007/022007-cisco-nac.html
>
> Shouldn't standards be fundamental, if not mandatory as well? I guess Cisco
> learned from its ally Microsoft that standards don't help build and sustain
> a monopoly. Never mind the customer and the rest of the industry
> (interoperability, see below).
>
Ah, now you are getting close to the nub of my argument regarding the
need for the use of source-code to describe state machines in
standardisation bodies. Once any system reaches a particular degree of
complexity, it needs to be abstracted into higher-layer objects of some
kind, and as the complexity continues to grow, those objects need to
become layered as well as showing linear paths between flexibility
points.
There is no philosophical difference between "open standards" and "open
source"; in both cases, a description of the operation of some
abstracted function is given. There is, however, a fundamental
practical difference between the two, which is that open-source can be
compiled into a functioning capability of some kind, or if it cannot, it
will be fixed until it can, whereas in open-standards, there is no
possibility to compile anything, as the descriptive language chosen is
typically a subset of normal spoken language. The result is that the
open-standards versions are ambiguous, complex and difficult to
integrate, and offer no guarantee of interoperability, whereas the
open-source versions will allow interoperability.
Cue Tim Smith to fail to grasp this point again.
> Closed Skype wants open networks
>
> ,----[ Quote ]
>| For Skype is a closed system itself, using a proprietary signalling
>| protocol, in contrast to the open SIP (Session Initiation Protocol)
>| family of industry standards. In addition, the Skype client is closed
>| proprietary software - in contrast to the software libre WengoPhone
>| project, and in contrast to much of the core infrastructure used by
>| VoIP service providers, which is often based on Asterisk, which isa
>| vailable under GPL.
> `----
>
> http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/02/22/skype_fcc_open_up/
>
Skype's transport protocol is also proprietary, as is its codec. The
clients are binary proprietary blobs. Having said that, Skype have
achieved a respectable degree of penetration, and served to make the
idea of voice between computers acceptable to most people. Of course,
they cannot get around the fundamental problems associated with trying
to send streams across a packet-switched connectionless transport,
namely IP, so quality comparable with Telco networks cannot be achieved,
at least, until carrier-grade ethernet becomes more commonly available.
>
> Related:
>
> (FALSE:) Cisco going open source with NAC client
>
> ,----[ Quote ]
>| As it develops the next generation of network security infrastructure,
>| Cisco Systems Inc. is planning to cease development on its network
>| admission control (NAC) client, the Cisco Trust Agent (CTA), and
>| submit the source code for the software client to the open
>| source community, Bob Gleichauf, CTO of Cisco's Security
>| Technology Group, told InfoWorld.
> `----
>
> http://news.yahoo.com/s/infoworld/20070208/tc_infoworld/85864_1
>
>
> Why the world needs openness, not interoperability.
>
> ,----[ Quote ]
>| This NAC/NAP lovefest would be laughable if it weren't such
>| a kick-in-the-teeth to the rest of the industry, enterprise IT, and
>| all Internet users. A Cisco/Microsoft oligopoly stalls implementation,
>| stifles innovation, and makes the network less secure. In this way, Cisco
>| and Microsoft are standing in the way of progress.
> `----
>
> http://news.com.com/2061-11203_3-6112960.html?part=rss&tag=6112960&subj=news
>
>
> Open source router on par with Cisco, users say
>
> ,----[ Quote ]
>| "I'd say that any PC we could put [Vyatta OFR] on today is going to be
>| way faster than Cisco. I would not be doing backbone routing with this,
>| but I would not hesitate to say this will compete against Cisco
>| either," Newnam said. "Well, as long as we're not switching half of
>| the U.S. of course."
> `----
>
> http://searchopensource.techtarget.com/originalContent/0,289142,sid39_gci1218088,00.html
>
>
> Cisco exec: Windows Vista is scary
>
> ,----[ Quote ]
>| "Parts of Vista scare me," Gleichauf said at the Gartner Security Summit
>| here on Monday. "Anything with that level of systems complexity will have
>| new threats, as well as bringing new solutions. It's always a struggle
>| in security, trying to build for what you don't know."
> `----
>
> http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1009_22-6116823.html
>
>
> University dumps Cisco VOIP for open-source Asterisk
>
> ,----[ Quote ]
>| SHSU is in the process of moving its 6,000 students, faculty and staff off
>| of Cisco CallManager IP PBXs and a legacy Nortel Meridian PBX over to Linux
>| servers running Asterisk...
> `----
>
> http://www.computerworld.com.au/index.php/id;1646405846;fp;4;fpid;78268965
>
>
> Skype Reads Your BIOS and Motherboard Serial Number
>
> ,----[ Quote ]
>| An unreadable executable file coming from Skype sounds interesting,
>| so I look at it. It's 46 bytes long. For copyright reasons I can't
>| post the file or a complete disassembly. However, I can describe
>| the program in terms of 16-bit DOS C:
>|
>| int main(void)
>| {
>| fwrite((const void far*) 0xF0000000, 1, 0xFFFF, stdout);
>| fwrite((const void far*) 0xF000FFFF, 1, 1, stdout);
>| return 0;
>| }
>|
>| It's dumping your system BIOS, which usually includes your
>| motherboard's serial number, and pipes it to the Skype application.
>| I have no idea what they're using it for, or whether they send
>| anything to their servers, but I bet whatever they?re doing is no
>| good given their track record.
> `----
>
> http://www.pagetable.com/?p=27
>
>
> Dumping Cisco for open-source
>
> ,----[ Quote ]
>| Open-source networking trend is limited so far, but it
>| could grow fast
>|
>| The open-source movement, which has long made inroads
>| into corporations via Linux and other enterprise-level
>| software, now has a potentially bigger target in its
>| cross hairs: the PBXs and network routers from companies
>| such as Cisco Systems Inc. that form the basis of
>| networking infrastructure.
> `----
>
> http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9004223
> http://tinyurl.com/t8cfw
>
>
> Open source router tempts company to bid Cisco firewall farewell
>
> ,----[ Quote ]
>| As open source router start-up Vyatta is scheduled to formally launches
>| its first appliance this week, one early adopter is using the
>| Linux-based gear to replace Cisco technologies.
> `----
>
> http://www.networkworld.com/news/2006/100206-vyatta.html
>
>
> Cisco warns of vulnerabilities in NAC product
>
> ,----[ Quote ]
>| The two issues could allow remote attackers to gain control
>| of the devices, or glean sensitive data from Clean Access
>| customers that could be used to compromise the Clean Access
>| Manager (CAM) product, the company said.
> `----
>
> http://news.yahoo.com/s/infoworld/20070104/tc_infoworld/84861
>
>
> Linux to power super-router
>
> ,----[ Quote ]
>| While the Open Linux Router project is at an early stage, it is
>| part of a growing interest in using open source to compete with
>| companies such as Cisco in the realms of routers and PBXs.
>|
>| [...]
>|
>| Other Linux-based projects targeting firewall and network server include
>| ClarkConnect, IPCop, m0n0wall, and Smoothwall. [and Vyatta]
> `----
>
> http://www.techworld.com/networking/news/index.cfm?newsID=7983&pagtype=all
>
>
> Cisco warns of more router vulnerabilities
>
> ,----[ Quote ]
>| The intrusion prevention capabilities of Cisco Systems' routers
>| could be prone to attack, after the networking giant revealed
>| two vulnerabilities in its key operating system.
> `----
>
> http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1009_22-6159336.html
--
| Mark Kent -- mark at ellandroad dot demon dot co dot uk |
| Cola faq: http://www.faqs.org/faqs/linux/advocacy/faq-and-primer/ |
| Cola trolls: http://colatrolls.blogspot.com/ |
|
|