1) Root access for users on laptops: The dilemma here is that, we don’t want
to give the root password for laptops to the regular users, because of the
changes that they might make to the configuration (intentionally, or
unintentionally), however, the problem is that most of these users, take
their laptops with them on extended trips across the world, and since some of
them have dual boot (Linux/Windows 2000), they might encounter problems that
they would need root privilege, because of support not being available for
them until they return from their trip. Also, they might want to install
applications, etc. I need help to figure out a solution for this. Here are
a few things that I have bounced around:
a) Using sudo. The problem here is how would I enable the users to install
(using rpm) only a certain type of applications, and not other applications?
b) Creating a super-user account, with a UID of zero. How would this work?
What are the pros and cons for this?
c)What is a good solution that other companies are using for this problem?
2) Data Backup – The users here are going to be responsible for their own
backups. What I’m trying to do is recommend a good solution (tools, scripts,
etc.) for the users to be able to easily backup files or even make images of
their drives on a USB external storage device. Also, the solution should
include sync-ing the data on the hard drive with data on the external storage
device if the user decides to configure certain files/directories to do this.
3)I currently have a LaCIE 120 GB USB Hard Drive and I need help with
formatting it and testing it with any backup tools, or scripts (#2 above).
thanks