Preconfigured Linux Servers for Sale? 44
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?"
Another Option.... (Score:4, Insightful)
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.
Re:Another Option.... (Score:2)
Re:Another Option.... (Score:1)
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
Re:Another Option.... (Score:1)
Re:Another Option.... (Score:1)
Re:Another Option.... (Score:2)
Re:Another Option.... (Score:1)
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).
Re:Another Option.... (Score:1)
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.
Re:Another Option.... (Score:1)
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.
Do it yourself (Score:1)
The Sun Cobalt series ... (Score:1)
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.
Re:The Sun Cobalt series ... (Score:2)
-Sean
Mandrake perhaps a choice (Score:1)
Most vendors... (Score:3, Informative)
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).
No security experience (Score:2)
Re:Servers preconfigured with Linux (Score:1)
It's too bad too; I had a couple of VA's 2U boxes and they were really well-engineered.
Use a ready-to-use distro (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Use a ready-to-use distro (Score:1)
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.
Nice but (Score:1)
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 Servers (Score:2)
Check out IBM's Linux page [ibm.com].
I do this (Score:2)
A coupla vendors (Score:1)
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.
Find a local consultant (Score:2, Insightful)
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].
Penguin Computing (Score:1)
Cheers-
JB
Answer his question. (Score:3)
NexServer (Score:1)
Go to www.nexserver.com
Net Integrator (Score:1)
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.
We custom config linux/unix servers (Score:1)
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.
Mitel (Score:1)
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.
Openna.com has pre-configured servers (Score:1)
Preconfigured servers = standard security holes (Score:2)