On 2003.11.25, Joshua Ginsberg <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> I originally asked the question because I work for a regional ISP
> that's looking to host up to about 5000 virtual servers. And we are
> seriously considering AOLServer because we're anal about security. We
> want any dynamic code that the customers write to be run as their
> system user so that we can be certain that they do not have access to
> resources beyond their small corner of the server. Our other option is
> to use Apache, setuid Perl CGI, and run PHP in protected mode. If we
> could have gotten perchild to work or if AOLServer would run virtual
> servers as different system users easily, then we would choose
> AOLServer without hesitation.

Perhaps it's time to explore a config. option for AOLserver where ADPs
get evaluated within a safe interp ... and a different safe interp per
virtual server.

> AOLServer supports: PHP, Perl CGI, and easy extensibility. It supports
> MySQL and MSSQL. It's fast, it's lightweight, and it's remarkably easy
> to manage because the initialization script is an actual piece of code
> (meaning it's fairly trivial to dynamically generate nsd.tcl from LDAP
> or MySQL). Why would there not be a market for it?

Duh, the answer is easy!  AOLserver doesn't support FrontPage Extensions
(as far as I know).  That's what customers of a low-end virtual hosting
company want.

It sounds like you're looking to host "about 5000 virtual servers" for
mid- to high-end users who have MySQL or MS SQL integration as a
definite need or initial requirement.  Where are you finding these 5000
customers, and what are you charging them?  I'm still unconvinced that
this market -- these 5000 customers -- really exist in the real world.

> Not trying to completely contradict you, but we're a hosting operation
> and we would deploy AOLServer if it did everything we wanted. Because
> Apache doesn't.

Joshua ... other than this "isolated request processing by user per
virtual server" issue, what other gaps are there in what AOLserver does
vs. what you want?

-- Dossy

--
Dossy Shiobara                       mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Panoptic Computer Network             web: http://www.panoptic.com/
  "He realized the fastest way to change is to laugh at your own
    folly -- then you can let go and quickly move on." (p. 70)


--
AOLserver - http://www.aolserver.com/

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