Hi,

My comments inline.

Saswata Banerjee & Associates wrote:

Prasad wrote:

...

back to the thread, two things first:

1. I work in TCS, but am not here to defend it
2. Starting this thread back only to solve the problems with digital

certificates issued by TCS-CA (I once worked on the digital cerficates and related tools support for GNU/Linux here).

We tested the digital certificates with Firefox and OpenSSL on GNU/Linux and they did work. While I have no information about what M$ windows tools and software are being distributed along with the USB token, but as far as I know all those tools also exist for GNU/Linux - atleast inside TCS ;)

MCA-21 is a new system that the Department of Company Affaires has implemented from today. Under that system, all documents which were earlier submited to them on paper now needs to be done in digital form. The forms are there in digital form, which needs to be filled on your PC / Laptop, then there are buttons that are to be clicked and it takes the digital signature from the token and adds it to the file. Finally, the entire document with the signatures (and I believe encrypted) is uploaded to the MCA-21 server through a portal.

I do not know, first if the form works in linux second if the token will be recorgnised from linux (the TCS guys told me it will - I mentioned that in the OP, but only for basic features.) Since I know very little about digital certificates, I thought the LUG, and people like Dr. Nagarjuna will be able to ensure it works properly and that we dont get locked out.

I will *try* to get TCS-CA put a proper how-to on using the digital certificates on GNU/Linux. The how-to should include information on installing the usb-token, documentation on how to sign/encrypt files using tools available on GNU/Linux.

In addition, TCS is giving some software that will make it easier to manage the digital signing of documents and to use the digital signature / digital certificate for all other purposes (other than MCA-21). They have not demonstrated that software, they just mentioned it. When I asked the question specifically about linux and mac, they told me that it has been made on windows as most computers work on windows only.

If the software works on Linux, that is the best, if it does not, and there are alternate tools in linux which do the same thing, it is also acceptable. If the TCS reps and their partners inform people how they can get such features to work on Linux, it would be an added advantage. Ofcourse they didnt expect an accountant to come over and ask them about Linux and drivers....... :-)

That is my intention of posting the message here.

Would even try to contact the MCA-21 team and tell them that there are users looking forward for GNU/Linux support.

Prasad

...

We normally associate the lack of awareness of issues like vendor lock-in and the philosophy of FOSS etc., with non-IT people. The sad truth is that even with the IT community, there are lots of people who are not aware of these issues - lots of them in big companies like TCS. The older have an excuse but there are a huge number of youngsters who are not aware too!

Well, in my opinion (a) this is not something done intentionally and knowingly; at best it is ignorance, at worst it is succumbing to a perceived convenience (http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/software/0,2000061733,39168780,00.htm) and (b) as many people as possible should protest -- the objective is to raise awareness of the issue both in the user and the developer communities, not to blame or malign someone.

will see if we can do anything about it, from inside!

Prasad