Andrew Ziem (andrewz(a)springsrescuemission.org) said:
1. If the computer starts with the cable unplugged, then there's
a
start-up message like "Determining IP information for eth0:. Failed or
link not present. Check cable?" First, some people may not read it
because the startup messages are a bunch of technical mumbo-jumbo.
Second, some people may be getting a cup of coffee instead of watching
the screen during (long) startup process.
Use NetworkManager.
2. If the ethernet doesn't work at startup, it dies forever. If
I plug
in my ethernet cable some time later after startup, nothing happens.
Even if the user can figure out the problem, it seems the user has to
have root privileges to do "service network restart" to get the network
back up.
Use NetworkManager. :)
3. If ypbind can't connect at startup, it just dies forever.
Even if
the user can figure out the problem, it seems the user has to have root
privileges to do "service ypbind restart".
This is best solved with proper dependency resolution in the initscripts.
4. If NFS mounting fails at startup, it stays unmounted until
manually
mounted. Even if the user can figure out the problem, it seems the user
has to have root privileges to do mount the directories. Though there
is a setting in /etc/fstab to allow users to mount directories without
root privileges, it also allows them to unmount the directories.
Same here
Based on these problems, here's what would reduce confusion,
eliminate
help desk calls, and make people happy:
1. If the network cable is unplugged and the system requires networking
for authentication (NIS), then display a warning in GDM.
2. Better yet, cache authentication from ypbind. Supposedly, there are
ways to do it, but the only way it's ever worked for me is to configure
the system as a slave NIS server.
See pam_ccreds.
3. If the user is already logged in when the ethernet network goes
down,
display from the system tray using the new pop-up notification system in
Gnome 2.14. Also, a system tray icon may be helpful if the user is away
from his desk when the problem happens.
Use NetworkManager. (Yes, I'm a broken record here.)
Bill