Linux-Based Combo Servers

A new class of Linux computers — combination e-mail/web/file servers — are being introduced in the sub-$1,000 range.

Also known as Small Business Servers (SBS):

• These compact tower or rack-mount computers are capable of handling hundreds of e-mail users and thousands of e-mail messages per day, while providing industrial-strength spam filters and virus protection. They support Linux, Windows and Mac e-mail clients.
• The integrated web servers offer web-based administration, e-mail clients, virtual domains and dynamic web sites with PHP and MySQL support. This offers each business the huge opportunity to take advantage of all the Open Source Software web projects on their own server. Many projects simply plug into the Linux/Apache/MySQL/PHP platform with minimal configuration, and provide major business services like accounting, inventory control, content management, project management and so on.
• In addition, the networked file server serves as a central archive for sharing Linux, Windows and Mac files. By centralizing the business documents, you reduce the need for backing up individual workstations (using multiple archival software products) and all documents are instantly shared across multiple platforms.
• As a bonus, a combo server also acts as a hardened firewall between the Internet and your local office network.

The benefits of managing your own e-mail and web servers are huge: no need for a monthly subscription to an ISP, full control over the server configuration, direct administration of email users, and unlimited flexibility in choosing and installing software applications. On the other hand, you give up the 24x7 management of servers provided by an ISP: their monitoring of electrical power, cooling and Internet connectivity, and their expertise in applying software patches. You can remedy most of these issues by buying a battery backup, providing a good operating environment (temperature-controlled room and good Internet connection) and having good consultants on-call.

Here are some off-the-shelf combo servers, and even some software if you want to build your own server:

• Fusion — saves 80% on TCO verses a Dell running MS Small Business Server.
  Simplified Web Based Management, and Point, Click Deploy Technology, in a turnkey package.
• Axentra — Server Appliances for Small Offices.
  Corporate-grade all-in-one, pre-configured internet gateway, firewall, web, email and file server for small office.
• Linuxon — Affordable, reliable, secure multi-domain e-mail and web servers.
  Software with manual, $99; Tower computer, $759; Rack-mount server, $1619.
• Net Integration Technologies, Inc. — "What if you could switch all of your servers to Linux and no one would even notice?"
  Enjoy the convenience of an integrated software/hardware solution with the Net Integrator line of server products. A Mark I server gives small to medium-size companies the power and flexibility of traditional servers with advanced features such as disaster recovery and secure data storage.
• Excel Meridian Data Inc. — The Sentry Linux Servers and Workstation products are designed to meet the growing demands of small and medium size businesses. They are built with redundant and fault tolerant architecture to insure security, productivity and continuous service uptime for your user network.
• Radiant Data — The PeerFS platform is the first peer-to-peer software solution that enables secure, semi-synchronous replication of data and guarantees consistency of that data among all copies throughout your network, sensing and replicating only the data that has changed.