News from PANUG/BizNix - January 06, 2003
http://panug.org - http://biznix.org


BIZNIX MEETING

This Thursday is the monthly BizNix meeting. The main
presentation will cover hard disk performance and using
the hdparm and bonnie programs to tweak your system to
optimize performance.


PANUG MEETING

The monthly PANUG meeting is Thursday, January 16. We'll
have details about the presentation topic(s) soon.


DNS MARKET SHARE
by Ed Sawicki - Accelerated Learning Center / Tailored Computers

Market share percentages for DNS software have always
been based on a survey conducted by the Internet Software
Consortium - the organization that produces the BIND
software. The surveys show BIND's market share as very
high - in the 90s percent. I question these results.
I've conducted an informal survey of my own and many
DNS servers do not reveal the identity or version of
their software to anyone that asks. Surveys can count
the number of DNS servers visible to the Internet but
I question whether current surveys can accurately
determine what software is running.

BIND is still the most popular DNS server but I think
(there's no way to be certain) its market share is eroding.
Windows DNS and Tinydns are gaining popularity. Tinydns is
the only one not to have had security issues. It uses far
less system resources, is more reliable, faster, and can be
reconfigured on the fly (you can modify your zones) with no
impact on performance. One Tinydns enthusiast joked that
it should be easy for a survey to identify servers running
Tinydns software - it's the one that's RFC-compliant.

Next week's DNS Boot Camp has been redesigned to cover the
details of Tinydns as well as focus more on how to better
secure your DNS - even if you do decide to run BIND or
Windows DNS.

If you've attended the course before and want to attend it
again for a significant discount, contact ALC at 503-635-6370.


LINUX, DNS, AND APACHE CLASSES

PANUG and BizNix members earn discounts on Linux, DNS, and Apache
training that will be conducted the week of January 13. These are
hybrid classes - part classroom time and part distance learning.
You'll learn from a live instructor in a classroom and later
go on line to conduct additional learning and hands-on exercises.
Answers to questions are available anytime after the course from
your instructor via email or instant messaging. Visit the PANUG
and BizNix web sites for details. Phone ALC at 503-635-6370 for
more information or to sign up.


NETWARE TRAINING

PANUG and BizNix members earn a $100 discount on NetWare-
related training. Refer to this Web page for courses and
pre-discount prices:

http://www.touchstonetech.com/Schedule/schedule.html