My original question:
> I need access to some sort of system ID for a program I am writing.
> On other UNIX systems we use hostid or sysinfo(SI_HW_SERIAL,..), but
> these both return 0 under DU V3.2c and V4.0. On PC based OS's we usually
> get the serial number of the hard drive via various system calls. I
> can't seem to find a way to do that under DU. Anyone know how I can do
> this? Or any other ideas of a system unique number that cannot be
> changed by the user that I could access?
Thanks to all of the following for their replies:
"Mark E. Glidden" <glidden_at_poseidon.harvard.edu>
Hellebo Knut <Knut.Hellebo_at_nho.hydro.com>
Jeff Penfold <Jeff.Penfold_at_comunion.demon.co.uk>
Thomas Leitner <tom_at_finwds01.tu-graz.ac.at>
Stam Nicolis <nicolis_at_chiral.phys.univ-tours.fr>
Chander Ganesan <chander_at_Hornet.inre.asu.edu>
Ludmila <mala_at_redbck.stl.dec.com>
Jon Craig <jcraig_at_gfs.com>
rbae_at_esri.com (Ryan Bae [ESRI-Redlands])
"Sean O'Connell" <sto_at_stat.Duke.EDU>
John Lucak <JLucak_at_mr.picker.com>
"Craig I. Hagan" <hagan_at_cih.com>
The consensus was that the best "equivalent" of other UNIX system's
hostid was to use the ethernet address. Other suggestions included
using the block numbers on disk which an essential component of the
package occupies, and using the inode number of a particular file.
Of course all of these methods have their problems. The inode and
block number methods would have problems when you have to restore
your files from tape or re-install the software. The ethernet
address has problems if you install another network card in the "wrong"
place or if actually have a hardware problem and have to replace your
network card.
Someone also pointed out that even on systems that have a "real" hostid
it can be fooled. People apparently have written programs to do this.
Thanks again for the help,
Mike
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Michael Galuza
DeJarnette Research Systems mgaluza_at_dejarnette.com
401 Washington Ave Suite 700 Voice: +1(410)583-0680 x691
Towson, MD 21204 Fax: +1(410)583-0696
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Received on Tue Nov 12 1996 - 19:16:33 NZDT