Sunday, November 8, 2009
SSH server for Windows, and the winner is…
I’ve spent part of the weekend testing a pool of candidates for serving as SSH servers on a Windows XP machine (the OS is not chose by me, and cannot be changed).
Requirements:
- The server will be accessed using ssh clients, scp command, sftp, and svn+ssh.
- The server has to be free (as in beer, but open source solutions are preferred).
As I just said, the winner is Copssh, while the losers are freeSSHd and KpyM. Let’s go now to the motivations:
Both freeSSHd and KpyM have simple and intuitive installation processes and user interfaces which made me think they could be easier to handle with respect to the openssh/cygwin solution, but…
Copssh is a wrapper package that wraps an openssh/cygwin installation, and it plays its wrapper role very well.
The installation process requires just a few clicks on a wizard-style interface. Copssh also adds a start menu group with the options for adding and removing ssh users. The add user program allows very easily to create and properly place the private/public keys for public key authentication.
This two features (simple setup and simple user management) are the only thing that were missing from the original openssh/cygwin solution, and copssh completes this gap.
The additional configuration parameters can be changed by modifying a clearly-documented text file.
For example, in order to disable password based authentication, thus leaving active only the public key authentication, one can set
PasswordAuthentication no
in the sshd_config file, and it is all done.
With respect to the quality of the SSH server, I think that it wins hands down on the competitors, with a special mention for the responsiveness of shell and file browsing. On freeSSHd I’ve experienced a number of issues while remotely browsing files from Ubuntu, and also to get public key authentication to work. The fundamental issue with KpyM is the choice of the author of requiring a serial key in order to remove a five second nag screen displayed at shell login.
Do you know any other alternative to test?
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Win for life - Generatore di numeri personali - Personal number generator
Win for life - Generatore di numeri personali - Personal number generator
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Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Going karmic on the eee
I’ve just installed Ubuntu Karmic Koala netbook remix on my Asus eee 901, and everything works fine.
I like the new interface!
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Blueman, bluetooth in Ubuntu made easy
In the last year I’ve found that the bluetooth technology is becoming a real practical alternative to wires.
Unfortunately, the support provided by the standard Ubuntu installation to bluetooth devices is relatively poor.
Fortunately, there is the interesting Blueman project that has produced an effective manager for bluetooth devices under Ubuntu.
Currently, on my eee 901 (Ubuntu 9.04) I’ve succesufully paired my Nokia 6151 phone (using it as a modem, or to type sms on the keyboard of the 901), a Motorola headset (e.g., using it with Skype), a WiiMote (wiimoting in c# :) ), and a Logitech bluetooth mouse (using it as a… mouse).
The Blueman interface provides a useful listing of all the paired devices, and also of the non-paired devices currently visible.
For each device the interface lists the available services, with a direct link for connection.
Blueman is well integrated with the Ubuntu system.
For example, when I connect the dialup service of the Nokia phone, the associated mobile connections automagically appear in the network connection list, and can get connected with a simple click.
Blueman download and installation instruction can be found here.
