Linux servers

Pitbull

Pitbull

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Hi Guys

I'm planning on creating 4 servers (Linux) to rent out to Small & Medium companies. This includes installation and on site support 2 hours a day (to do back ups and requests) as well as 24/7 remote support.

Any ideas how to go about this ?
 
Sorry, what exactly are you asking? :) The question can be interpreted in many ways. I am interested in your business idea as well - love linux servers but don't want to spend time managing them all the time.
 
Well, recession should motivate cost effective solutions - no licensing fee.
 
Are you only planning on supporting the OS, or some of the applications companies want to run as well (Database, webservers etc.), then there are those native apps like sendmail, samba, LDAP etc etc.
 
Install four ClarkConnect boxes, and if the sites have to communicate get them VPN`ing. Its not hard.
 
Veroland said:
IPCop on the VPN server and normal openVPN on the clients works well for me
Click to expand...

Yeah.. if you just want connectivity servers. Say you want file sharing with PDC`s with flexishares and a fully functional mail server, and http proxy with ldap authentication.

IPCop is nice.. for a firewall or gateway only server.
 
I have 2 SME's that need servers (inhouse programs, e-mails, web and so forth). This is on a rental agreement including support.

So I figured I might as well make 2 extra and find homes for them so to speak. Now this is a business venture which is in place already I just need to supply the servers. I just figured going with Linux would decrease the overheads instead of MS. But if Linux is too buggy and going to give me headaches I might as well just get userlicenses.
 
w1z4rd said:
Yeah.. if you just want connectivity servers. Say you want file sharing with PDC`s with flexishares and a fully functional mail server, and http proxy with ldap authentication.

IPCop is nice.. for a firewall or gateway only server.
Click to expand...

For mail server we have been using OpenXchange but recently moved to SmarterMail. They both offer mail, caledar, collaboration etc. facilities. As for web we used Apache2 set up to use LDAP and for all the other stuff use WebDav with apache2 to auth in the same LDAP server - Jabber, bugzilla etc. etc.
 
Pitbull said:
I have 2 SME's that need servers (inhouse programs, e-mails, web and so forth). This is on a rental agreement including support.

So I figured I might as well make 2 extra and find homes for them so to speak. Now this is a business venture which is in place already I just need to supply the servers. I just figured going with Linux would decrease the overheads instead of MS. But if Linux is too buggy and going to give me headaches I might as well just get userlicenses.
Click to expand...

Go ClarkConnect.. its simple to setup and manage.. and its well designed.

Veroland said:
For mail server we have been using OpenXchange but recently moved to SmarterMail. They both offer mail, caledar, collaboration etc. facilities. As for web we used Apache2 set up to use LDAP and for all the other stuff use WebDav with apache2 to auth in the same LDAP server - Jabber, bugzilla etc. etc.
Click to expand...

Fantastic.. now you ganna get someone new to Linux to change an IPCop server to have that kinda functionality?
 
w1z4rd said:
Fantastic.. now you ganna get someone new to Linux to change an IPCop server to have that kinda functionality?
Click to expand...

Thats the best way to learn :D:D

IPCop is only used for the VPN side and is on its own box, the reset are mostley seperate apps that use the LDAP directory for auth.
 
Ok looks like I'll have to get a student who studies this to help me out :D

You guys are confsckulating me :D
 
Ok, if you can tell us exactly what applications you need we can probably give you ideas which is the easiest to configure and maintain.
 
Check this website out Pitbull.. http://www.clarkconnect.com/

See if it does what you want it to do. The install is simple and painless, and setting up is done through a www gui.. the only requirement from you is to understand enough about how services to work to know what values to put into the fields.
 
Veroland said:
Ok, if you can tell us exactly what applications you need we can probably give you ideas which is the easiest to configure and maintain.
Click to expand...

Both these companies have 3 main things that need to be catered for.

1. Client data base, Client's address contact details and so forth (They have an in-house program for this they also use to generate the billing on the same system. (This needs to be hosted on the server serving a network of about 20 - 30 users.) And a client base pretty huge.
2. Billing system. This they use to generate reports, financial statements and historic financial data. (Also an in-house program, needs to be hosted on the server)
3. Normal network services (Mail, internet, file sharing and so forth)

Obvious things will include: security (Antivirus; Firewall and and and), user profiles with set security privileges and remote connectivity

w1z4rd said:
Check this website out Pitbull.. http://www.clarkconnect.com/

See if it does what you want it to do. The install is simple and painless, and setting up is done through a www gui.. the only requirement from you is to understand enough about how services to work to know what values to put into the fields.
Click to expand...

Will give it a scroll over thanx :)
 
Veroland said:
WHOA, looks REALLY nice w1z4rd. Can you cluster it over multiple machines? For instance, firewall on one machine, email another etc etc.
Click to expand...

I would imagine it would not be pretty hard, but I havent tried that yet. I use these for SME`s.... so they dont have the budgets for multiple servers.

One nice thing about ClarkConnect is if you pay for the full version (there is a 10 mailbox limit.. multiple WAN, multiple DMZ limit on the community version).. you get great support.

I have a load of these out in the wild now.. and I love the central management of all of them.
 
w1z4rd said:
I would imagine it would not be pretty hard, but I havent tried that yet. I use these for SME`s.... so they dont have the budgets for multiple servers.

One nice thing about ClarkConnect is if you pay for the full version (there is a 10 mailbox limit.. multiple WAN, multiple DMZ limit on the community version).. you get great support.

I have a load of these out in the wild now.. and I love the central management of all of them.
Click to expand...

What's the price on this W1z4rd ?
 
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