You describe the basic server I use for my own organization, and it is totally Linux based. However, there is a gotcha here...
If you already have the SBS server, you need to look at the databases you are using. Can they be easily moved to a different database server? SBS uses a variant of the MS SQL Server, which can have some specializations that do not work in other database systems. So migration can be an issue. On the otherhand, if you are just starting out and don't have any databases set up yet, then this is a non issue. Another consideration is the email system. Do you already have mailboxes on the system, receiving mail? Do you need to keep that existing mail? If so, there are methods to migrate mail from exchange to an open source solution, but this must be considered as part of your decision. The only other consideration to make is the time you have available. Because you feel your skills are weaker with server side packages (with Linux), you will need to go through the learning process. We can help you with that, but it's not a one day process. It will take time to really understand how to set up an email server with proper authentication, and Samba for file/print sharing (again with proper authentication), and the database system of your choice, etc. In contrast, you have already set up an SBS server which covers most of the items already. (A word of caution though - my experience with the MS SBS Server packages is that they are horrendously bad. They work fine for a VERY narrow subset of requirements, but once you try to do something outside this subset, or even try to upgrade, you will suffer a lot of grief.) If you have the time to build your system and skills at the same pace, we would be very happy to help you out. A number of us have gone through this sort of thing before. Also, the workshops we have been trying to do are targeted at this type of environment. Depending on your time and other requirements, I would encourage you to walk down this learning path. You will end up much better off for it in the long run, and at the very least will gain the core knowledge to understand how these services work at a lower level - always useful when you have to compare systems, or work on a new but similar system. If you do decide to go with the Linux server, then I would suggest the following: - distro of your choice (some are better than others for behaving as a server) - Samba server for file/print sharing - Simple scripts for backup (the TAR package IS meant for this) - MySQL or PostgreSQL (or both) for database - Apache Web Server with PHP support Most of these are configured with simple text files, but there are helpful tools (like Webmin) for this. The hard part is understanding what those config files do, and what changes make sense. Best of luck on your project. (sorry for the long response) Shawn On Tuesday 20 September 2005 09:15, D Bhardwaj wrote: > Seems like I missed a good instalfest where I could have asked these > questions. I have an opportunity to build a server. I would like it to be > Linux but my experience lacks. > > Right now windows sbs 2003 has just been installed. I am thinking of > removing it and putting a linux distro. > > Is this too big a project with my limited linux know how? All this is for a > small venture but could grow. > > Ok. server needs to do server stuff (file server, database server, web > server, print server, security, backup, remotely accessible). Ok. my > current abilities (nervously) - I can install mandrake, suse, and others I > am sure via default settings. Past the initial install I will probably cry > help!! with guidance, I could probably install/configure apache, mysql, > postgres, some pop3 email server thing. > > The constraints - I should be able to manage the install and subsequent > maintenance. If this is too much, then I need avoid this path. > > If your responses are going to cheer me on :) - please advise what flavour > distro to use (ease of use for me, configurable, etc) > > I hope I did not ramble too much ;) - > > Dharam _______________________________________________ clug-talk mailing list [email protected] http://clug.ca/mailman/listinfo/clug-talk_clug.ca Mailing List Guidelines (http://clug.ca/ml_guidelines.php) **Please remove these lines when replying
