[CLUE-Tech] Goodness... a bit of geeky prose.

[David L. Willson]

So the dragon you slew (knocked out) was the WINS dragon.  I thought that
perhaps you had meant Linux.  To my previous post about protocol knowledge
facilitating server configuration, I don't know much about WINS.  I guess I
have some stuff about it in a box somewhere.  But it's not an RFC.  If I had
to learn more, where would I start?
I would start at www.samba.org.  They have some great fundamental
information.  WINS (Windows Internet Name Service) is Microsoft's
implementation of a service more formally known as NBNS (NetBIOS Name
Service).  Essentially, WINS is to NetBIOS names (ex: rochester) what DNS is
to domain names (ex: rochester.thegeek.nu).  Check out RFCs 1001 and 1002
(In fact, I'm in the same boat with PPTP.  I'd like to understand my
laptop's vulnerability when connected - sans firewall - to my DSL modem.
Same as any other machine connected directly to the cloud.  High
vulnerability.  The next question is visibility.  Are you a viable target?
Does it change when I use PPTP?
Only to the extent that the PPTP connection becomes your router.  Therefore,
only those with access to it may hack at thee.
Does PPTP prevent my computer from reacting to stuff that comes outside the
tunnel?
Yes, unless you manually manipulate your routing tables.  More precisely,
your computer will accept input from anywhere that has access to you, but
will only be able to respond through it's default gateway, which is
currently the PPTP connection.
Where would I look for details?)
www.altavista.com, of course.   :-)
True, true, I have more Linux experience than NT admin experience, so
certainly I know where to find Linux info better.  But the several times
I've looked for NT info have been much more frustrating than looking for
Linux info.  Maybe I need to subscribe to MSDN or whatever NT gurus use to
find their info.  (Are there any NT gurus?  I've yet to meet one.)

Lots.  I might even be one...

This is how I say it:  I work with Windows, and I know Windows well.  But I
love Linux.

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