COS 430 SPRING 2009 HW #2  DUE TUESDAY 1/27/09

Here are more detailed instructions on what to do with the activities. In 
general, for the "Activities", be sure to provide enough information about 
what you saw to convince us that you actually did it. For example, if an 
activity says that you look at a title page, you should write down the 
title that you saw there. If the activity says that there is something 
humorous on a page, you should tell us what was humorous about it. 
Alternatively, you can provide images from your sessions if that is easier 
for you. Thus, you can include a screen shot or printout from a webpage, 
etc. Remember, the key idea is that you convince us that you did the 
activity. If you are having problems producing printed screen captures, 
make screen images using a digital camera (cellphone?) and include the 
images in a report. The images must be clear enough (they do not have to 
be the entire screen) to convince me that you did the work.

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SECURITY NOTE: The activities ask you to use Telnet. Telnet is very 
insecure since it sends all its text including passwords unencrypted. Here 
are some options:

1. If the activity does not require you to log in or send a password of 
any sort or any other sensitive data, then use telnet to become familiar 
with it.

2. If you must transmit sensitive information, consider using some form of 
SSH instead of Telnet. In this case document what you used.

3. If you use Telnet to send any passwords, then immediately after the 
exercise change your password.

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STRUCTURED HOMEWORK

1. Do multiple-choice questions 1-20 on pp. 36-38 of EH.

2. Do Activity 2-4 on p. 34 of EH. Just give the answers to the questions.

FREE-FORM HOMEWORK

1. Reach Chapters 4 & 5 of PS and write at least 500 words describing what 
you think are the 3 most significant points made in each chapter.

2. Do Activity 2-1 on p. 23 of EH. Supply convincing evidence that you 
visited the site.

3. Do Activity 2-2 on pp. 25-26 of EH. In this case use your knowledge to 
generate an e-mail to me: markov@umcs.maine.edu. For the 
sender's e-mail use your real name as follows:

FirstName.LastName@homeland.maine.edu

4. Do Activity 2-3 on pp. 26-28 of EH. If you do not have an account on 
gandalf, get one using the form on the website, which you must fill out 
and submit to the CS Department. Do as many screen captures as you can to 
document your attempts in this area.

SYSTEM AND DOCUMENTATION HOMEWORK

You need to select a Linux distribution and install it on the computer 
that you pick up. You can help each other and also ask for help from me or 
Larry Whitsel. If you ask for help from one of your classmates, note that 
they might have valuable insight into your system as a result. You can 
also ask other people. You do, however, need to document where you got 
help as part of your report.

Your system homework will be to turn in your weekly log as discussed in 
class. You must use the template provided on the COS 430 website. For this 
week, you need to explain why you chose the distribution that you did, and 
any problems that you encountered in getting the system installed and 
running.

Your first system homework will be graded based on the amount of effort 
that you show and the quality of the report. I understand that if this is 
the first time you are configuring a server you might not have everything 
up and running by next week.