Re: about apache, sendmail, qmail, dns

[Kim Carter <aaj15 dial pipex com>]

On Fri, 28 Jan 2000 04:06:24 Bob Lissner wrote:
> Four of us have written quicklist (gtk+).  What's next?
> 
> We are thinking of doing gtk front ends for configuration of
> 
> apache
> sendmail

fetchmail/procmail? 

> qmail
> dns
> radius
> 
> Are they needed (ie, would anyone use them)?

If they add value - Many admin guis simply take a config file and
provide text entry fields for the bits people normally tweak and in 
doing so actually make matters worse (no access to any explanatory
comments in the config file). To add value, they must -

Provide immediate direct access to explanatory info - yes people say
RTFM, fine, but put a direct link to relevant FMs in.

Provide (at least basic) error checking/warnings - with facilities
to turn these off for people who know it all :) .

If done as separate programs, have an identical look and feel. (Or
if one, be self consistent - linuxconf has flaws in this respect,
the mixture of accept/cancel and quit for example).

Ideally the program should provide a mechanism for adding comments
to the config file eg who did what,when,why.


> Are they already done (I looked before I wrote.  I see comanche)?

Those that do exist all break at least 1 and in most cases all 3 of 
the above and I'm not aware of any that permit addition of comments. 

> I looked at linuxconf, and it appears to not be heading in this
> direction (or I can't read).
> 

linuxconf does offer modules for apache, 'mail', dns ... however, it 
does attempt to be the emacs of sysadmin and is prone to 'take over
your system' - I assume due to the use of separate config files, it 
is hostile to manual config editting and AFAIK has no facility to 
update its own files _from_ the system.


> Some of our group says that editing text files will always be better. 
> Some like guis.
>

My personal view is that guis if designed as such, and not just direct
translation of text editing is worthwhile. I definitely  feel being 
able to directly view/tweak the changes the tool proposes in an editor 
pane before acceptance is optimum. This implies it has to use the 
_existing_ config files ... In short gui - yes but provide a 
text mode confirmation (unless turned off).

 
> Some comment from the gtk community would be very appreciated before
> we start on something
> that no one wants.
> 
> -- 

Doubtful if I qualify as either a member of the gtk community, I'm a
beginner with C/gtk and all that implies, nor as a sysadmin (except 
of a home linux system) but FWIW ... 

> =====================================
> + rlissner@LifestyleHomesNevada.com +
> + Bob Lissner 775-971-2000          +
> + Reno Nevada USA Earth             +
> =====================================
> 

Cheers

Kim