BEHOLD the POWER of MINIX !!! :)

BLizgreat! · 2017-11-19 13:20:13

^ One more, I'm on a dang BL forum binge dang it. Hoas already covered the open source chippy type stuff in another thread. Also think this is mostly based on people running rampant with FUD, it's natural to fear the unknown or something you don't know. There are legit uses for this, that mostly being remote admin'ing of such systems in wide scale deployment, servers and or even business model laptops or work stations, where a remote admin could need access to this for one reason or another.

From what I've seen Intel knew what they're doing. while it may come enabled out of box, what I read said it also has to be provisioned for any remote exploit to work, which it's supposedly not. Checked on my old laptop, yeap enabled, non-provisioned. Intel isn't stupid by any stretch, makes much sense for them to leave this unprovisioned the AMT thingy built into the chips, so that people who actually need it will know it's got to be provisioned and will do so if desired.

Just 2 pointless cents, shutting it up for awhile. With this forum binge am getting nothing on my stuff to dork around with list any closer to completion ! Arghhhhh ! Vll!

Nope more babble, such things as open source firmware for cpu(s) and stuff like Coreboot/Libreboot are a long way from practical, have a LONGGGGG way to go, if they ever even get there. Not to say I told ya so, I've been babbling about this type of thing for years. That being nobody even knows what's in the lowest levels of the software which runs their system(s). Who da heck knows what's in there and all it's doing ? Good luck replacing it with open source, am sure open source devs will surely quickly drum up firmware that runs your Intel chip better than anything Intel could put out ? It'll run smooth as sandpaper for folks.
This brings to mind another pet peeve, buncha Debian purists beating their chest and constantly exalting open source, it's the only way, it's the cats meow. If they ran a program like "vrms - virtual Richard M. Stallman" they'd find out 1/2 of their OS is proprietary software, lol. Hmmmm, gotta install it now and see how much of my install is composed of such software. Also of course these techie-ninja's never even think about all the proprietary firmware at the lowest levels, without which none of their beloved tech-toys would even be able to function.

HEY INTEL and all other component makers of the WORLD, open source everything ya got and let everybody check it out.

@Intel/replies ... SCREW YOU.

Errrrr, well just thought I'd ask.

Last edited by BLizgreat! (2017-11-19 13:46:20)

martix · 2017-11-19 14:05:23

BLizgreat! wrote:

stuff like Coreboot/Libreboot are a long way from practical, have a LONGGGGG way to go, if they ever even get there.

Although they are not 100% there yet, but at least it's possible to buy several notebook-models without intel ME. I think projects like Coreboot/Libreboot have done fantastic work, machines are available e.g. from minifree or technoethical.

BLizgreat! · 2017-11-19 14:28:25

^ Hey interesting, thanks. Not at all trying to put them or any work in the area down, think they're fighting the good fight. Though look at the prices involved and yeppers going to probably stay that way forever because all of 500 people in the world even care enough about this to buy such a laptop. Ahhhhh a refurbished lappy for a mere $600 bucks !?!?! A steal, I'll take two ! Errrrr ... or at least will the next time I have 1,200 bucks to drop on a refurb'ed laptop.

Sorry am sleep deprived, over caffeinated and thus have morphed into a crabazz. Just keeping it real. Also can't help but wonder how well these systems perform, would like to see some worthwhile benchmarks or whether or not they're prone to odd buggy behavior or whatever else. For real ... would like to see them get all the way there, no matter what.

end stupe babble and cya's later fellow nixers.

Last edited by BLizgreat! (2017-11-19 14:33:01)

martix · 2017-11-19 15:32:14

^I do agree regarding the prices.

On the other hand: Getting something like a T400 for around 100$ and using one of the detailed descriptions for flashing makes it a lot cheaper. There are some devices working very well with Libreboot. Worth to read some post about experiences before buying a machine for such a project.

BLizgreat! · 2017-11-19 16:28:49

^ HEY THANKS, definitely interesting. Goes to show there's more than 1 way to skin a feline or a bios too ! Now you're talking my language aka: Broke.

martix · 2017-11-21 13:12:47

Yeah, it's interesting, but also important. Why? Well, recent article:

https://www.wired.com/story/intel-manag … rvers-iot/

"The researchers also play with a sinister property of the ME: It can run even when a computer is “off” (just so long as the device is plugged in), because it is on a separate microprocessor, and essentially acts as a totally separate computer."

"The newly disclosed vulnerabilities can cause instability or system crashes. They can be used to impersonate the ME, Server Platform Services, and Trusted Execution Engine to erode security verifications. And Intel says they can even be used to “load and execute arbitrary code outside the visibility of the user and operating system.” This is the crucial danger of the ME. If exploited, it can operate totally separate from the main computer, meaning that many ME attacks wouldn’t raise red flags."

bigbenaugust · 2017-11-21 15:41:17

... why not just get an AMD machine? Or an ARM box?

Head_on_a_Stick · 2017-11-21 19:10:43

^ Because they almost certainly have something similar running.

The only way to be sure is to use chips with an open microarchitecture:

http://forums.debian.net/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=134889

martix · 2018-02-28 13:22:54

It's good to see that there are manufacturers which care about avoiding Minix (and Intel ME) on a laptop. Purism has been developing great devices.

BLizgreat! · 2018-03-02 16:41:02

^interesting stuff so thanks for the share Martix. I've been offline for awhile (still am) so haven't had much chance to discuss fellow nixers.

Anyway hope all the good people here are doing well.

VVl!

#21 2017-11-19 13:20:13

Re: BEHOLD the POWER of MINIX !!! :)

#22 2017-11-19 14:05:23

Re: BEHOLD the POWER of MINIX !!! :)

#23 2017-11-19 14:28:25

Re: BEHOLD the POWER of MINIX !!! :)

#24 2017-11-19 15:32:14

Re: BEHOLD the POWER of MINIX !!! :)

#25 2017-11-19 16:28:49

Re: BEHOLD the POWER of MINIX !!! :)

#26 2017-11-21 13:12:47

Re: BEHOLD the POWER of MINIX !!! :)

#27 2017-11-21 15:41:17

Re: BEHOLD the POWER of MINIX !!! :)

#28 2017-11-21 19:10:43

Re: BEHOLD the POWER of MINIX !!! :)

#29 2018-02-28 13:22:54

Re: BEHOLD the POWER of MINIX !!! :)

#30 2018-03-02 16:41:02

Re: BEHOLD the POWER of MINIX !!! :)

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