New ZeroConf Spec

[Micah J. Cowan]

On Tue, Jul 04, 2006 at 03:28:55PM -0400, Lukas Sabota wrote:
> On Mon, 2006-07-03 at 23:03 -0400, Rob J. Caskey wrote:
> > https://wiki.ubuntu.com/ZeroConfPolicySpec is now drafting.
> > 
> > This differs from previous specs in that it advocates a change in our
> > one-ports policy.
> > 
> > Please discuss.
> > 
> > --Rob Caskey
> > 
> 	I feel that ZeroConf is a really cool technology, and should be
> embraced by Ubuntu.  However, I don't feel ZeroConf services should be
> started by default; all ZeroConf services should be off by default, so
> that no ports are open.
  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

I agree with those who've said that we should continue to retain this
policy, without exception. This fact takes a little getting used to (at
least for me wrt, say, cupsys), but it's a very comforting feeling when
you realize that this policy is in place. AFAIK, Ubuntu is unique in
this respect, and it is a distinction well worth retaining.

> 	However, these technologies should be fairly easy to start, if the user
> recognizes the risk but would like the functionality.  In MacOSX, iChat
> asks in a first-run wizard if Bonjour should be enabled.  Perhaps a
> preference could be added to Gaim, Rhythmbox, and other ZeroConf
> applications that would start the ZeroConf services and notify the user
> that a port is being opened.   When all ZeroConf applications are
> closed, the ZeroConf daemon could be stopped, closing the port.
> 	What do others feel about the above plan of action?  Please respond
> with criticism.

I do like this. Although as has been pointed out, "port is being opened"
is probably not quite the message we want to convey (at least, without
explaining it).

-- 
Micah J. Cowan
Programmer, musician, typesetting enthusiast, gamer...
http://micah.cowan.name/