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Linux Software

Preconfigured Linux Servers for Sale? 44

Posted by Cliff from the penguins-included? dept.
a-singularity writes "I work for several small businesses and try to promote Linux and Open Source Software use amongst them. Several of them now use Open Office and have deployed Linux servers. Recently one of them acquired an InstagateEX2 for email serving. A Linux-running closed appliance, that does quite a few things including web serving. It doesn't, however, use MySQL which is something that their website runs. They can't configure a Linux server for themselves, and I don't have the security experience. Is there a place to buy preconfigured Linux servers that will run Apache, PHP, and MySQL out of the box?"
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Preconfigured Linux Servers for Sale? More

Preconfigured Linux Servers for Sale?

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  • Another Option.... (Score:4, Insightful)

    by zulux ( 112259 ) on Saturday July 20, 2002 @01:18PM (#3922985) Homepage Journal
    You mentioned that you had no security experience....

    First things first - your database server should be behind a firewall. Databaases are big peices of software and it's unreasonable to assume that they are bug/exploit free.

    Secondly - and importantly, consider using OpenBSD. It runs MySQL just fine, and importantly, it has good security built in. Instead of noodeling around with a Linux distribution to get it secure, with OpenBSD - you have to explicitly create the security holes yourself. It's no magic bullit but it's a good start.

    If OpenBSD, for what ever reason, is not an option, I would still recommend you install Linux yourself - someone at your company needs to understand what it going on, and it looks like the learing experience would help.

    If even that is not an option, get someone with Linux experience to do the install for you - it will be a better solution that buying a server and hoping it works out of the box. Someone needs to actually verify that the computer is working process wise, security wise and backup wise. And somthing form a box wont do that - you need sombody competent to verify.

    • If OpenBSD, for what ever reason, is not an option, I would still recommend you install Linux yourself - someone at your company needs
      to understand what it going on, and it looks like the learing experience would help.

      I second your vote for OpenBSD. It is a top-notch OS for single processor servers. I just had my first look at Red Hat 7.3, and it really made me want to run back to OpenBSD and fast. I'm going to look at Slackware next; it looks more promising.

      Anyway, I honestly think OpenBSD provides for the quickest and highest quality learning experience of the systems I've seen. It is thoughtfully put together and it has the best man pages around. It's unfortunate that many people whine at anything not totally GUI-based; OpenBSD's text-based installer is quick, reliable, and pretty intuitive. Additionally, I think OpenBSD's approach of allowing the user to add functionality rather than just enabling everything plus the kitchen sink is much more sound.

      After seeing Red Hat 7.3's 500+ line /etc/services file, I have to say that any self-installation effort should not use Red Hat, because it just spells doom for the inexperienced when security is an issue. Perhaps others out there can recommend linux distributions with more sane default installations?
      • Ehm.../etc/services is just a file describing which ports different services use. It's not a list of actual services that run on the machine in question.

        • You are right. I was tired and didn't think that sentence through very well. Anyway, the rest of my earlier post looks okay. The point I was trying to make is that Red Hat leaves a lot more loose ends from a security standpoint and abstracts many of them through GUIs, which can make life difficult for an inexperienced administrator. OpenBSD's default install is just much closer to a secure configuration, and its file layout is generally easier to work with.
        • Yeah, he probably meant inetd.conf, which I think still is nasty in redhat default
          • Yeah, he probably meant inetd.conf, which I think still is nasty in redhat default

            So what?? If you don't know how to put "#" signs before every line that you don't need, you shouldn't be running a Unix variant in the first place.

            Besides RedHat by default also installs a firewall scripts that blocks off all incoming ports (except ssh and smtp if you chose to do so).

          • I hope not, since Red Hat hasn't used inetd for at least 2 years. They're using xinetd now and in the last few releases, everything is off by default, blocked by the basic firewall rules, or only listening on localhost.

            In fact, it's hard to imagine 500 lines of inetd or xinetd configuration. He almost surely means /etc/services, which makes him pretty clueless.

    • If you are familiar with, and like OpenBSD, check out DataHive [datahiveserver.com]. They make pre-configured openbsd-based servers in a variety of hardware/software configurations, which have friendly web-based GUI's and all of the services it sounds like you need built right in, plus the ability to expand as with a typical OpenBSD installation.

      Its a great way to utilize a product that you know is secure, and have help, documentation, and a real company's support behind it.
  • It is not that difficult to secure a server running the above services. By the time you find a vendor/ Value Added Reseller that will fit your needs, you can educate yourself on how to secure the thing, as well as ensure that you are getting something that fits your needs. Knowledge of security is imperative these days, regardless of whether you decide to build this server or not.
  • These Sun Server Appliances [sun.com] seem to be a good hcoice you, you don't need a lot of experience with Linux as you can set up everything via web-interface.

    I personally don't like them that much because i like to configure my own machines, but Cobalt's are suited for people who don't have the time or the experience to manage a custom server.
  • Although mandrake is not the most stable I'll admit. I like its easy to use configuration wizards. They are probably the easiest and best to use in the Linux server market. Many people actually use it for servers, and it has tools for apache, SQL, samba, mail, and much more. You should look into this, it is really nice.

  • Most vendors... (Score:3, Informative)

    by OneFix ( 18661 ) on Saturday July 20, 2002 @01:58PM (#3923176)
    Most vendors will install Linux on a new system (IBM, Dell, HP/Compaq, etc). It sounds like you probably need RedHat, which just so happens to be the most widely used distro for pre-configured systems.

    All you have to do is call one of those vendors (like Dell) and tell em what you need, and that you need Linux pre-installed and what you want with it. This is a pretty standard configuration for small (workstation class) servers. Anything bigger and you should really go with something like an RS/6000 which still has Linux support as well (if you don't wanna use AIX).
  • I recommend that you start by reading "Building Internet Firewalls" (forget the authors names, but published by Oreilly (www.ora.com)). This will gove you a basic understanding of secure network design (something you should probably have anyway) and then read the security documentation related to the products you are installing. No magic bullet, but it is a very good start-- at least that way you can understand what you are doing.

  • Use a ready-to-use distro (Score:2, Interesting)

    by Kz ( 4332 )
    I like e-smith, now called something like SME, but you still can download the CD from e-smith.org [e-smith.org]. It's really easy to use and admin. You can also buy support from them if you want.
    • Damn, somebody beat me to boasting about the e-smith :)

      A friend of mine works for Mitel (who bought out e-smith a while back), and develops blades for the e-smith. I've had a chance to test it and it's pretty much what you're looking for.

      Basically the e-smith gives you the power of linux (can't remember what distrib they use) without needing much knowledge about it. It's basically controlled using a web-browser. Installing blades (packages) and upgrades is done via the web. You never go in thru CLI. It's basically for small businesses who don't have a sysadmin. It's pretty impressive.
      • a view points:
        if you want any more than the securityblades you have to pay... and I find it rather expensive.

        E-smith (SME) offers My-SQL out of the box. SME is based on Red Hat 7.1 (with a lot of patches and updates)
        If you need a more recent Perl than included you might run in to problems. The configuration relies havily on Perl.

        It has some powerfull features often forgotten. Such as a decent backup system build in. If you don't want to buy a tape streamer, you can also 'backup to workstation'. Which works really easy.
  • IBM ships their xSeries, pSeries, iSeries, zSeries all with Linux installed.

    Check out IBM's Linux page [ibm.com].
  • Looks like this is one of those rare cases where a shameless plug [sunsetsystems.com] is on-topic. Hope that's OK. :-)
  • I have bought prebuilt Linux systems from Penguin Computing [penguincomputing.com] and ASL [aslab.com] with success.

    If the people don't know how to run a server, I'd go with Red Hat and subscribe to Red Hat's automatic security update program. Make sure they use one of the user-friendly tools to turn off all the stuff they don't need, though.

    If that's not enough, they should probably just hire somebody to help them. A custom off-the-shelf system is a contradiction in terms; if you want something a little different than everybody else, then you can't just open the box and plug it in: cash or elbow grease is required.

  • If you look in your local computer monthly (most cities have at least one) or newspapers, you're almost certainly going to find a handful of local consultants, who will be happy to build a system for you and install it just as you want it.

    I do this, although I generally work locally (in the Portland, Oregon area). I'd be glad to help if you'd like to pay the extra shipping (there's usually shipping to get the parts to me, then I deliver the system myself). I can do post-installation customization if you want to allow an incoming external connection via SSH or FreeS/WAN. I'm building a mail server for a client just this week; cost with on-site installation, local admin training, and integration with their existing systems is going to be around $3000.

    I'd even be glad to give you hands-on training and on-site installation if you want to pick up the cost for the flight. (Most don't, which is why I mostly work locally.)

    See Naked Ape Consutling [nakedape.cc].

  • http://www.penguincomputing.com [penguincomputing.com] sells rackmount servers, and can probably do workstation server sales without any problems.

    Cheers-
    JB

  • Answer his question. (Score:3)

    by Zapdos ( 70654 ) on Sunday July 21, 2002 @10:22AM (#3925829)
    He didn't ask how, why, or where to get security experience. He didn't ask which Distribution was best, He didn't want to know anything more then his question. Where can I buy a preconfigured box with this on it. To answer your question I do not know of any off hand. But you may find several at http://dmoz.org/Computers/Hardware/Systems/Linux/

  • We resell them..
    Go to www.nexserver.com

  • Looks like you need a Net Integrator. It does all of what you ask for, has a cool backup system, RAID support, and is winning all of the awards in magazine reviews (yes, kicking the ass of Cobalts soundly). For example, PC Magazine got pretty happy about the NI [pcmag.com].

    Disclaimer: I do work for Net Integration Technologies [net-itech.com], check out our web site for more info. It's a pretty cool place to work at, with bright people and supportive of open source software [open.nit.ca].

    Yeah, we're the guys behind the famous WvDial [open.nit.ca] program.

  • (An on-topic shameless plug)
    We offer custom configured linux servers at Backwatcher [backwatcher.com]. We're really a security company, but we sell preconfigured boxes and do sysadmin work as well.
  • ... or the Server Formerly Known As E-Smith [e-smith.org].

    Been using it for years. It's a file and print server (Samba), email server (Qmail, with Imp webmail), web server (Apache, for internet and intranet), database server (MySQL), and it's all run from a handy web interface. It installs in 30 mins max, and it just works.

    They have some value-added features that you can pay for, like support and antivirus and stuff, but the ISO itself is a free download.

  • You could try Open Network Architecture's [openna.com] secure linux solutions.

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