Hi Good points raised and not ones we are ignoring. To make sure we are not re-inventing the wheel, we have started a download of SuSE Standard Server 9 eval and once it is here, I will copy it and distribute it to all that are interested. In the meantime, a concensus needs to be reached as to what the server will support. I know that it would be nice to have a server that supplies all things to all people, but we feel that covering all bases may be too broad and it would be easier to sell a server solution that carries out basic although vital tasks, with ease, in such a way that the market comes to accept the solutions and products as stable and secure. For this reason and to keep things simple, we have a list of 'basics' that should be setup, standard and easy to use, troubleshoot and maintain, they are: DNS DHCP SAMBA / File and Print NETWORK SERVICES / Routing SECURITY / Firewall and authentication WEB / Proxy MAIL / IMAP and or Webmail The server design will be setup and tested as rigourisly as possible, fully documented, have a scripted install (or an aesy to follow install path that is well documented) that enables an easy setup / rebuild. The above services will become available within hours of arriving at a new site and with minimal 'tweaking / hacking'. The base idea that we don't want to lose here is that it must be easy to understand / support / install and must be reliable and stable enough that the end users start to change thier ideas about proprietry software and operating systems and the open source model is then promoted. Many of my customers are still 'fiddling' with LINUX and many of them are still concerned about what is a good desktop and what is a good word processor and I think that those discussions will go on forever until sombody realises that actual value of an installed and established system. So I am hoping we can spend time deciding on and testing and proving the best means of setting up and supplying the above services to sites that need them in a stable configuration at a fair cost in terms of resource (money or time). It has been my experience that most smaller companies will not really worry too much about what is running at the back-end and the mid to larger ones want clearly defined proceedures and best-practices before a solution can be considered, so as much as I hate paperwork, part of this project will be to supply those, as part of the bundle / solution. Now you can all start throwing chairs. Please address feedback direclty to the group unless it is trivial and please 'snip' this msg when replying. Many thanks Gund -----Original Message----- From: Oliver Jones [mailto:oliver(a)deeper.co.nz] Sent: Fri 20/08/2004 16:50 To: Waikato Linux Users Group Cc: Subject: Re: [wlug] LINUX Servers in the SMB Workspace. I personally think a turn key solution for SMB customers is a great idea. There are a few already out there already. The hardest thing I think you will find is defining exactly what features you solution should have. There is also a lot of work involved in making it self manageable. If you're going to offer management services as well that removes some of that integration work. Regards On Fri, 2004-08-20 at 15:10, Daniel Lawson wrote: >I will try to clarify what I asked yesterday and then we can start a chair fight. > > Excellent :) > >I am looking at starting a discussion / dialogue / knowledge transfer between all interested with the view to testing and building a single working solution that can be installed / sold to small to medium businesses. > >We (my colleagues and I) would like to build this on SuSE Server 9. At this moment, we think we have a viable product if we can all agree on what services this server will provide and how. Then, strip away the unnecessary packages and rpms till there is a 'standard' build that can easily be supported / installed. > > Ah, ok. Yes, this sounds like a good thing to work on. >I asked this becasue I wanted to get away from a discussions about desktop applications and processes and preferences and start focussing on an actual server product that can be sold or installed with the associated services. > > A wise move! >Anyhow, I hope this is not too vauge, nothing is actually written down yet, so we are starting fresh and anybody interested can join in or we can discuss it here if this forum will support that. > > As far as I'm concerned , it's fine to carry it on here, although it's trivial to move to another list if we find that it gets annoying. Daniel _______________________________________________ wlug mailing list | wlug(a)list.waikato.ac.nz Unsubscribe: http://list.waikato.ac.nz/mailman/listinfo/wlug <http://list.waikato.ac.nz/mailman/listinfo/wlug> -- Oliver Jones » Director » oliver(a)deeperdesign.com <mailto:oliver.jones(a)deeperdesign.com> » +64 (21) 41 2238 Deeper Design Limited » +64 (7) 377 3328 » www.deeperdesign.com <http://www.deeperdesign.com>