Re: GNU rant


Dave wrote:
Rich,
If you download Sources, you have to already have a compiler...
If you go to IBM's web site, you can get the RPM's for the pre-built
binaries...
If you go to Bull Freeware, they are there as well, as well as UCLA's
AIX freeware site.
Sometimes it's not the hardware or software, but the problem lies
between the keyboard and chair...

It's not too difficult to compile up the GNU tools, but there are alot
of steps required if you want something like Firefox. There also are
(or at least were) incompatibilities between gcc and xlc (Gnu C
Compiler is a darn site more obvious than whatever xlc stands for!)
Easiest to get a pre-compiled version:

http://pdslib4aix.seas.ucla.edu/aixpdslib.html
http://www.bullfreeware.com/
http://www-03.ibm.com/servers/aix/products/aixos/linux/download.html
http://www.zipworld.com.au/~dtucker/openssh/

Often these are old versions (of which IBM certainly used to be the
worst offender, which for a security product like openssh is
unforgivable). The only place to get openssh from is Darren Tucker's
site (Darren ports the openssh code to AIX, adding tweaks and
enhancements when neccessary - great job!)

Of course the geninstall mess really doesn't help - whose brain dead
idea was that? Debian GNU/Linux has a similar issue - it uses .deb
files not .rpm (.debs were always far superiour and still are in many
ways). However if you really, really want to install an rpm you use
"alien" which converts the .rpm to a .deb format. Naturally you can
lose some information such as dependencies, but you are installing a
foreign package. I've also not seen geninstall track rpm/lpp
dependencies (or installshield (ewww!), or that other format which
no-one uses).

I'd actually put the blame in IBMs lap. It should not be upto the AIX
community to package these products - IBM should be doing it already to
support its customers. In over ten years I've only once discovered a
feature in an IBM tool which didn't exist in GNU (-p for grep).

Particularly when you read posts like this - Theo de Raadt is the
OpenBSD project leader (and OpenBSD develop openssh).
http://marc.theaimsgroup.com/?l=openssh-unix-dev&m=114316224627520&w=2

There are hundreds of Linux distibutions out there, most of whom
automatically build packages. I'm sure UCLA and Bull have some
automation, but there doesn't seem to be sufficient community spirit to
help. If I was more of an "up and at 'em" guy I'd have given it a shot
myself several years ago, however I've now moved from AIX work to Linux
work where I don't have this struggle any more (and 99% of the time if
there is a problem there is source code I can read to fix the problem).

Shame, AIX is a darn nice Unix in many ways.

(end of IBM rant :-))

Adrian

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: SSH/openSSH on AIX 5.2
    ... The version of OpenSSH that is provided by IBM is supported by IBM, ... Check out the links from the AIX Toolbox ... "Avoid putting a paging file on a fault-tolerant drive, ...
    (comp.unix.aix)
  • Re: ssh for Aix 4.3.3
    ... I wrote a tutorial for IBM on setting up OpenSSH on AIX ... unauthorized review, distribution or other use ...
    (AIX-L)
  • [UNIX] IBM AIX Multiple Vulnerabilities
    ... Multiple vulnerabilities have been discovered in IBM AIX. ... IBM AIX ftp domacro Parameter Buffer Overflow Vulnerability ... IBM AIX bellmail Stack Buffer Overflow Vulnerability ...
    (Securiteam)
  • Re: New AIX user from Solaris background
    ... Is there a good simple reference to volume management on AIX? ... I saw a post on this group for 2 drawers of SSA disk for $50 must be picked ... IBM Documentation Center ...
    (comp.unix.aix)
  • Re: IBM extends support for AIX 5.1.
    ... I don't totally agree (not with you, but rather your customers ... IBM got the word out long ago about their direction on ... AIX Administrator, Komatsu America ... is because they are withdrawing support of 4.3.3. ...
    (AIX-L)