Trustix Secure Linux, The Server Distribution

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(Last updated: Jun. 29, 2000)

Trustix Secure Linux (TSL) is a Linux distribution aimed towards the server market. Its packages are carefully selected to provide the services in the most secure manner. Trustix was created by using carefully selected components from well-known reliable sources like the GNU Project and the Linux Kernel, in addition to software created specifically for Trustix.

Features provided by TSL 1.1

Some excerpts from the Trustix FAQ

Q: Why make another linux distribution when there are already so many others?

A: After installing other distributions on various servers we came to the conclusion that it was just too much work. Many packages unneeded on a server, like the X windows system and its libraries were included, and hard to remove. Also most distributions come with many services running, which would have been nice if the world consisted only of nice people, but as the internet of today is plagued with both "script kiddies" and more evil computer criminals, running unneeded services is a no-no.

We wanted something that an experienced sysadmin could install and have configured in as short a time as possible, while still going easy on the inexperienced user. We wanted less bloat and more focus on security. We wanted Trustix Secure Linux.

Q: How does Trustix Secure Linux differ from other distributions?

A: Perhaps most noticable we have included no X windows system. This makes sense as TSL is a Unix-like system and therefore very friendly to remote administration. A GUI would only waste memory, CPU cycles, and disk space.

We also try to maintain secure defaults. As it is easier to know what is needed than what is not needed, the default configuration for the system is not to run any services at all. An admin will know what services to run, but as admins are people too, not all admins would bother to close down the services they do not have to run.

As most other distributions we also strive to update our programs both for features and for security reasons. It is a goal that no known security problem in Trustix Secure Linux should be there for long.

Q: What specific security enhancements have you made?

A: As said earlier, we try to maintain secure defaults. We also try to avoid programs with a long history of bad security, like sendmail and wu-ftpd, when possible.

We are considering other enhancements like Immunix StackGuard or libsafe, but these are as of today not part of the distribution. Any suggestions to how we can improve security even further are, as always, most welcome.

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