Not a long reply at all. Thanks. This is a new install, and SBS was purchased but I can convince the big boss to put it on the shelf. :) So, there is no migration, email, etc. Its for a startup company. Shawn - does that change your response? Although the time is of the essence as well - if I could do the basic install and then continue with the config from my home (that is the reason for remote access requirement), then I could devote a lot more time. As far as security goes, there is a dlink router, the server box has 2 nics. Can something be done with this setup so negating the need for a separate firewall box? Is one distro better than another for firewall?
I am looking to gain from in terms of experience, and deliver to customer a good server that hopefully will require little maintenance, will not have MS exchange, Dharam ----- Original Message ----- From: Shawn <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Tuesday, September 20, 2005 12:23 pm Subject: Re: [clug-talk] Server questions > 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 > _______________________________________________ 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
