Damn Small Linux (DSL)
Damn Small Linux or DSL is a free operating system for the x86 family of personal computers. It was designed to run graphical applications on older PC hardware—for example, machines with 486/early Pentium processors and very little memory. I have chosen this Live CD as it shows that an OS can be as small as 50 MB and can be used in machines that are quite old where the memory of the machine could be really low.
DSL consists of three types of technical controls –
Support (Supporting controls are generic and underlie most IT security capabilities. These controls must be in place in order to implement other controls),
Prevent (Preventive controls focus on preventing security breaches from occurring in the first place) and
Detect and Recover (These controls focus on detecting and recovering from a security breach).
DSL follows the following security principle,
Computer Security Supports the Mission of the Organization,
Computer Security is an Integral Element of Sound Management,
Computer Security Should Be Cost-Effective,
Systems Owners Have Security Responsibilities Outside Their Own Organizations,
Computer Security Responsibilities and Accountability Should Be Made Explicit,
Computer Security Requires a Comprehensive and Integrated Approach, Computer Security Should Be Periodically Reassessed and
Computer Security is Constrained by Societal Factors.
Other new principles could be included for specifically Live CDs but the NIST 800-14 just gives the principles for organizations and people to follow security in general.
DSL has the following security practices,
Policy,
Program Management,
Risk Management,
Life Cycle Planning,
Personnel/User Issues,
Preparing for Contingencies and Disasters,
Computer Security Incident Handling,
Awareness and Training,
Security Considerations in Computer Support and Operations,
Physical and Environmental Security,
Identification and Authentication,
Logical Access Control,
Audit Trails and
Cryptography.
Damn Small Linux was primarily designed for users who use older machines and where the memory of usage is not high. DSL supports only x86 PCs. The minimum system requirements are a 486 processor and 8 MB of RAM. DSL has been demonstrated browsing the web with Dillo, running simple games and playing music on systems with a 486 processor and 16 MB of RAM.
The applications on DSL are as follows:
Browser: Dillo
The Dillo browser in Damn Small has been enhanced, it supports SSL, tabs and frames.
Browser: Netrik
A handy and tiny text based browser.
Browser: FireFox
The Firefox used in DSL is built with GTK1.2 bindings and is i386 compatible
Email: Sylpheed
Sylpheed is an e-mail client and news reader based on GTK+ and running on X Window System.
File Manager: emelFM
emelFM is a file manager that implements the popular two-pane design. It features a simple GTK+ interface, a flexible filetyping scheme, and a built-in command line for executing commands without opening an xterm. It’s features are the ones that are given below,
Simple Interface
Bookmarks and History Lists
Flexible filetyping scheme
Multiple actions selectable for each filetype
Filename, Size, and Date Filters
Built-In Command Line
User-defined menu
Configurable Keyboard bindings
Configurable Toolbar
Runtime loadable plugins
Window Manager: FluxBox
Fluxbox is based on the famous BlackBox, but with some really nice enhancements. Window Manager: JWM
A particularly lighter version of JWM, which give a familiar PC interface while being exceedingly light on RAM.
Therefore, it is safe to conclude that the DSL Live CD is worth using in environments where security is required and the system memory is low and the processor is an old one.
References
[1] http://unokitty.freehostia.com/
[2] http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/nistpubs/800-53-Rev1/800-53-rev1-final-clean-sz.pdf
[3] http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/nistpubs/800-14/800-14.pdf
[4] http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/nistpubs/800-30/sp800-30.pdf
[5] http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/
[6] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damn_Small_Linux
Blog Page : sunil86s.blogspot.com
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Monday, October 6, 2008
Live CD Assignment Two
| | Knoppix | Puppy Linux | Damn |
| Pur -pose | Knoppix can be used to back up | Puppy Linux is a Live CD Linux distribution that is very small and focuses on ease of use. If the computer has at least 256 MB of RAM, the entire operating system and all the applications will run from RAM, allowing the boot medium to be removed after the operating system starts. | Damn |
| Size | The size ranges from traditional Compact Disc | Puppy Linux ranges from 40 MB to 333 MB | DSL is a |
| Users | Knoppix is used | Puppy Linux is used by people where the OS on the hard-drive fails and those people want to recover the data on the disk. | DSL was |
| Require -ments | Requirements to run Knoppix: Intel-compatible processor 32 MB of RAM Bootable Standard Serial or | Minimum requirements for Puppy Linux are: CPU : Pentium 166MMX
| DSL |
| Latest Version | Version: 5.3.1 Date 2008-03-27 | Version: 4.00 "Dingo" Date 2008-05-04 | Version: 4.4.6 Date 2008-09-28 |
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