pam_sshauth, lightdm, ltspfs2...

So, I'm continuing on my quest to update a bunch of the components of LTSP.

pam_sshauth seems to be working well for me.  I'd like a bit more
error-checking in the code, which I'll continue to plink away on, but for the
most part, I'm thinking it's "feature complete" insofar as it's doing what we
need it to do.

I'm currently beginning to play around with lightdm, as we discussed at the
last hackfest this would probably be the way to go.

Finally, I'm beginning to map out what I'm hoping will be the next
implementation of ltspfs.  I've done some testing, and I think Keith P's
derision of my idea might be unfounded.  At any rate, I'll never know the truth
unless I code it.  Here's what I'm thinking about:

I've never really liked the fact that ltspfs communicates over a socket.  Since
we do everything over X/SSH tunnel, really, ltspfs should use the same tunnel.

I'd like to rewrite ltspfs to use the X server (specifically, X atoms) as the
communications medium between client and server.  This will have the benefit of
more securely tying ltspfs transactions to the display, and, if someone tunnels
the display through ssh, also automatically encrypts the filesystem traffic as
well, a feature we currently do not have.

As well, we can use the asynchronous nature of X events to pick up dbus events
on the client, and drop the events onto the server's dbus, for adding,
removing, etc. devices.

Alternatively, it might be worthwhile eliminating ltspfs entirely: perhaps we
can use iSCSI, or something similar, to provide access to devices; that way, we
might be able to provide access to burners on thin clients.

Either way, I think X atoms are the prefered way to handle the plumbing aspect.

Thoughts?

Scott


-- 
Scott L. Balneaves | The dissemination of knowledge is one of the
Systems Department | cornerstones of civilization.
Legal Aid Manitoba |     -- John F. Budd

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