I was going over some of my old links (in backup CDs) and found this interesting link to creating 1.680MB floppy disks for use in floppy-based routers and gateways:
http://www.trevormarshall.com/byte_articles/byte19.htm
This made me think about the whole concept of the PC-based router/bridge. Floppy disks have the write-protect tab on them, making them easily switched (provided you have direct access to the PC) from write-protect to run the router, to flipping the write-protect tab for editing the router, and then flipping it back to write-protect once you are finished with the edit.
What can the modern PC-based router use to duplicate this nice combination of security and ease of editing? You can duplicate the security (and possibly make it better) with a write-once CD-R, but to make changes you have to write an entirely new CD. ReWritable CDs aren't a good idea precisely because they have no "write-protect tab". The same might go for a memory key, since there is no "write-protect tab" for a memory key.
I've been taking training classes with Cisco routers recently, and the one issue they all seem to have is that if someone manages to get past an interface password and then a configuration password (two words: "social engineering"), even without physical access to the router, they can change (and access) what they like. While I've been told there are ways around the write protect tab, it seems to me that having some form of physical write-protect on the media used to store configuration files would be a good idea for modern routers.
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Leo Mauler wrote:
What can the modern PC-based router use to duplicate this nice combination of security and ease of editing? You can duplicate the security (and possibly make it better) with a write-once CD-R, but to make changes you have to write an entirely new CD. ReWritable CDs aren't a good idea precisely because they have no "write-protect tab". The same might go for a memory key, since there is no "write-protect tab" for a memory key.
...depends on your memory key.
There *ARE* flash-memory 'keys' that have write-protect switches. I have seen them in at least USB dongle and PCMCIA card form, and there are probably others.
- -- Charles Steinkuehler charles@steinkuehler.net
First off, writing more than 1.44 MB on a floppy generally shortens the useful life of the floppy, and doesn't always work. There is no garauntee that the diskette will be able to safely store at any density greater than 1.44. I certainly wouldn't recommend it for a mission critical server. That is not to say that lots of people have made these diskettes. I've done it myself and never had any problems, but never on anything that was mission-critical or irreplaceable.
Secondly, an alternate solution to the CDRW is simple. Use a different PC or a detachable CDRW to create the CD and then have a CDR only device as the PC's regular device. Hence the CDRW is effectively read only.
Also as has been stated you can get memory keys that have write-protect switches. I don't happen to have one but you can get them at Walmart, Target, Best Buy, etc.
Personally, I'd like to see a plug-in card with a jumper on it and an EEPROM. I've considered building one ... when I get around to those hobby projects on my list of things to do. The downside there is everytime you make a change you have to open up the box. I've also thought about putting in an infrared "switch" that would enable/disable the write_enable pin on an EEPROM. I know, I know, I think too much.
Brian JD
--- Leo Mauler wrote:
I was going over some of my old links (in backup CDs) and found this interesting link to creating 1.680MB floppy disks for use in floppy-based routers and gateways:
http://www.trevormarshall.com/byte_articles/byte19.htm
... You can duplicate the security (and possibly make it better) with a write-once CD-R, but to make changes you have to write an entirely new CD. ReWritable CDs aren't a good idea precisely because they have no "write-protect tab". The same might go for a memory key, since there is no "write-protect tab" for a memory key.
--- Jack quiet_celt@yahoo.com wrote:
First off, writing more than 1.44 MB on a floppy generally shortens the useful life of the floppy, and doesn't always work. There is no garauntee that the diskette will be able to safely store at any density greater than 1.44. I certainly wouldn't recommend it for a mission critical server. That is not to say that lots of people have made these diskettes. I've done it myself and never had any problems, but never on anything that was mission-critical or irreplaceable.
I do feel the need to mention that back when Microsoft released software on high-density 3-1/2" floppy disks, they released their software on floppy disks formatted to 1.680MB (their term for these disks was "DMF" disks). Apparently Microsoft felt that a DMF disk was more than adequate for "irreplaceable" software, especially given that they did not include any tools in Windows to create backup 1.680MB disks for their software (probably to curb software piracy).
I remember installing Windows95 and (pre-SE) Windows98 from these same 1.680MB floppies.
From the article:
http://www.trevormarshall.com/byte_articles/byte19.htm
"Are 1680K Floppies Reliable?"
"In a word, yes. They use the same data-rate and bit spacing as the 1440K format and are equally reliable, except if you happen to hit a drive that is not spinning at the correct speed. I found all the 486 and Pentium machines in my workshop were fine and I only had problems with one old 386 vintage computer. After all, would Microsoft use these disks to distribute its own software if they were unreliable?"
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Charles Steinkuehler -
Jack -
Leo Mauler