"Howard Brazee" <howard@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
news:jl00t3lv2pi14u8nfmm44hkslca7jo9r0a@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
>>> http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/bonjourforwindows.html
>>
>>I hadn't heard about it, but read what's on the site you linked.
>>
>>It could be useful. I have two reservations:
>>
>>1. It is an Apple product.
>
> I'm curious. Is this like people not using .net because it is a
> Microsoft product? What difference does it make who makes a
> utility?
It depends on their track record...
I have no experience with Apple products and I run a Microsoft shop. I
honestly don't know whether this prodct is good or not; but if it was MS,
and didn't functuion properly, I would have some recourse. I shouldn't
imagine Apple would be helpful if I am not a user of their products.
I'm not prejudging it; my comment was simply that, for me, that is a
reservation.
>
>>2. I NEED to let my router assign reserved IP addresses to specific MAC
>>addresses, so that only "approved devices" can connect to my WLAN. If
>>something comes along and does this configuration for me, I can't do
that.
>>
>>The idea of sending UDP packets over a specific port to identify
attached
>>hardware is risky, in my opinion. Many network hacks work in this way
and
>>that is why firewalls are designed to prevent it. I have had bad
>>experience
>>in the past with UDP packets and now I have zero tolerance for them,
with
>>the only exception being the "stay alive" packets that my ISP sends to
>>keep
>>me connected.
>>
>>Nevertheless, I haven't used Bonjour so I can't make judgements about
it;
>>many people may find it useful.
>>
>>Pete.
>
> The only reply I got so far is:
> NEED? Why? Spoofing the MAC address is trivial, so it can't be for
> security....
To spoof the MAC address you would need to know WHAT MAC address to spoof.
I
have reserved certain IP addresses for certain MAC addresses. These are
the
ONLY address pairs that my network will recognize. (And I have certain
other
checks that I don't propose to reveal here...)
>
> Still Bonjour doesn't create the LAN, it discovers it.
Not on my network it doesn't. UDP packets are generally blocked blocked,
along with a number of other protocols and ports.
>
> =========================
>
> That seems to be a reasonable statement - if a product such as Bonjour
> looks around and sets up your connection, then that connection is
> available to be made. If having that connection available is a
> concern to you, you can sleep better by not learning about it. But
> it will still be there (without Bonjour).
>
> I believe Bonjour technology is in iTunes - when someone marks his
> iTunes library as shareable, other iTunes users on the LAN can play
> his songs. But I've also seen a different music player's songs
> shared and sharing, so it isn't unique.
>
P2P sharing is quite common for music files and was pioneered by KAZAA and
Morpheus, gradually replaced by the more recent (and much better) Lime
Wire.
I don't really want to get into a debate on a product I haven't used and
probably won't use (only because I have no need of it). As I said earlier,
some people may find Bonjour useful.
Pete.
--
"I used to write COBOL...now I can do anything."
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