[TAG] lpr works for user not root in Basiclinux 2.1

[Neil Youngman]

On or around Tuesday 30 January 2007 02:17, Sindi Keesan reorganised a bunch 
of electrons to form the message:
>
> All I really want to do is help out a few friends by setting them up with
> small linuxes they can use for the internet and wordprocessing, not become
> a linux networking expert. 

An admirable idea. There are a number of distributions designed for the sort 
of older machines you are using for this. Given what I've heard about 
BasicLinux, I can't help thinking that one of the others might be more 
suitable.

Even if a distribution designed to be run as root is not vulnerable to direct 
attack via the network, it allows many more opportunities for users to shoot 
themselves in the foot.

I appreciate that BasicLinux has the advantage of familiarity and it's not 
always easy to change, but I would suggest considering something else from 
http://lwn.net/Distributions/#smalldisk, 
http://lwn.net/Distributions/#special or http://lwn.net/Distributions/#india

Popular small distributions include Damn Small linux and Puppy Linux. you 
would have to check their project sites to determine if they are suitable for 
your needs.

HTH

Neil Youngman