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New word usage,or what does this refer to?
2

New word usage,or what does this refer to?

New word usage,or what does this refer to?

(OP)
This was part of an e-mail that I recieved from the UGI connection: "We lack document security and granular control over user access rights". It was number two in a list of 12 engineering documentation management problems. What does 'granular' control refer to? I have never come accross this use for the word granular before. Can anyone shed any light on this?

RE: New word usage,or what does this refer to?

2
Granularity has long been used for document control theoretical discussions.  When I worked in Computer Security in the early '80s (all mainframe stuff) it was a big deal.  Back then you could set up security on a "library" basis (i.e., if someone could get into the library, they could access any document they could find, course granularity).  You could set it up by author or subject (a bit finer granularity).  Or you could set it up by document which is the finest granularity, but the most expensive to implement.  We tried to establish an appropriate mix of "grains".  Documents that were felt to have very low risk if exposed or altered were put into Library level security.  Then we put the documents with some risk into author or subject security.  The highest risk stuff was in document-level security.

Back then, prior-authorization was required to get into any specific grain.  If you were authorized, then your query "saw" the document.  If you weren't authorized then it didn't.  Today that concept is implemented through cascading passwords (i.e., the library has a password, the categories have their own password, and the documents have their own).

No, it isn't a new concept.  Every field will have its own jargon.

David

RE: New word usage,or what does this refer to?

(OP)
Thanks for the clarification, it certainly makes sense in that context.  

RE: New word usage,or what does this refer to?

zdas04,

Where you said "course granularity," I think you meant "coarse granularity."  

Normally no biggie, but considering the forum...

Engineering is not the science behind building.  It is the science behind not building.   

RE: New word usage,or what does this refer to?

I was being so careful to get "granularity" right that I blew "coarse".  Of course you are right, thanks for the catch.

David

RE: New word usage,or what does this refer to?

rwxrwxrwx vs rwxr-xr-x


 

- Steve

RE: New word usage,or what does this refer to?

Quote (SomptingGuy):


rwxrwxrwx vs rwxr-xr-x

   I understood that.  Now how about all those non-UNIX/Linux geeks?

   Also, most of the time, that is for a directory.  The X stands for executable, and would apply to executable code or a script of some sort.

               JHG

RE: New word usage,or what does this refer to?

My experience was in MVS/CICS (UNIX was restricted to University campuses then) and the syntax was similar, but applied to several million files and over 50,000 users.

David

RE: New word usage,or what does this refer to?

We also use the word "granularity" in the simulation world.  It basically means "level of detail", but sounds better in meetings.

- Steve

RE: New word usage,or what does this refer to?

Surely granular control means you take everythinng that is said with a pinch of salt?

Tata  

RE: New word usage,or what does this refer to?

rock or sea?

RE: New word usage,or what does this refer to?

Has to be sea, so you can bring in the coarser granularity of the sand, along with the salt.

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