Web Hosting Talk : Web Hosting Main Forums : Hosting Software and Control Panels : NSA's security-enhanced Linux?

[Mike S.]

Hi,

I heard about the NSA releasing a version of their 'security-enhanced' Linux. I did a search but didn't come up with anything on the boards here. Has anybody had any experience with this? I think I am going to setup a box tonite and give it a test. I will definately post anything that I find but in the mean time has anybody else had any problems, concerns, or findings with this? Any input would be greatly appreciated!

Mike - WebHosting Newbie

[kunal]

There were a couple of emails on BugTraq about this. I dun exaclty remember what they said [ I get so many of them ]. I think you should go over to securityfocus.com and do a search on it. Something will definately come up.

[Dexter]

the official site is... http://www.nsa.gov/selinux/

but from what I've quickly read they aren't making it more secure as in patching backdoors etc but in adding features to the os to make the process control more secure so that like a standard users program won't have access to be able to modify system files, etc... assuming i read it right

[Mike S.]

Great link kunal, that website is definately going to give me some great tips when I get my servers setup. I did try to give it a shot and the first thing I can say is the NSA's webservers are gimped I sat there and attempted to download a simple 22mb file for hours! Never did see a transfer higher than 4kbps over a T1 line, even though I was pinging them at about 60ms, but oh well. I did find out from a couple friends of mine whom have installed it and they said one would be better off without it.

[kunal]

No problem If you do install it, let me know how it goes. I was planing on testing it out myself, but after hearing what your freinds had to say, I am gonna wait for you to do the honours of installing it

[JTY]

Hmm, maybe I'll have to give it a try.