"IT" in a Box

[Admstng]

Hey guys

My buddy is a consultant and is going to start putting out this "all in one" device to some of his smaller clients. Here it is --> IT in a Box (http://www.emergecore.com/products/index.php)

He is not a Linux guy, so I was telling him that he could do just about everythign this is doing on a Linux box. I have not used this product, but I'm assuming that this would just have a more "user friendly" interface for managment. I told my friend that I am going to throw a demo together for him, I will just use an extra box I have laying around.

My questions: What distro should I use? I am currently use Mandrake, and if no other distro would be much better, I would prefer to use that.

I was considering QMail for email and to use a web portal so users can check email from out of the office. Should i use Qmail? and I had a link to a site that showed all different projects for web access for Qmail. Anyone know the best? (or any?)

What Firewall should I use?

I was going to use FreeNX and SSH for the remote administration, Any different suggestions? I have never used FreeNX

One of his clients might be insterested in a E-commerce site, I was going to throw CastleKart on there (if you guys have not checked it out, you should) any other suggestions?

Here is the Features (http://www.emergecore.com/products/features3.php) page for "IT in a box" any other suggestions to put on this demo box to compare to IT in a Box?

Thanks,
Adam

EDIT: If he chooses this, I would put this on somthing like this... http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=536525&Sku=S451-3050, no monitor keyboard, etc.... just to sit next to a server (or by it's self)

or some sloim line so i can fit another hard drive in there for redundancey..

oh yea, as for web and FTP i already know what I am going to use.

[davisfactor]

This IT-in-a-box is not a bad little system. What does one of them cost, do you know?

It might be cheaper to just use one of them than spending the time building one yourself.

Of course, if you did build one yourself, you could sell it and your services of supporting it :)

Keep us updated on how this goes.

As for the programs to use --

Distro: Something Debian based for easy upgrades. You could easily add your own debian source URL and build your own Debian packages that could be used to upgrade all boxes very easily.

Firewall: My only experience is with iptables. I know FWBuilder has a GUI manager for iptables but I've never used it.

Mail server: My only experience here is with Postfix and Sendmail. Postfix is very easy to use and is also very fast, efficient and secure. It's also easy to add third party apps like SpamAssassin, Amavis, ClamAV and other mail essential tools.


I'm not much help but I am interested in the project. I wonder if something like this already exists. It might save you the time of designing one yourself.

[soulestream]

one of the articles said about $1400




soule

[Admstng]

Originally posted by davisfactor
This IT-in-a-box is not a bad little system. What does one of them cost, do you know?

It might be cheaper to just use one of them than spending the time building one yourself.

Of course, if you did build one yourself, you could sell it and your services of supporting it :)

Keep us updated on how this goes.

As for the programs to use --

Distro: Something Debian based for easy upgrades. You could easily add your own debian source URL and build your own Debian packages that could be used to upgrade all boxes very easily.

Firewall: My only experience is with iptables. I know FWBuilder has a GUI manager for iptables but I've never used it.

Mail server: My only experience here is with Postfix and Sendmail. Postfix is very easy to use and is also very fast, efficient and secure. It's also easy to add third party apps like SpamAssassin, Amavis, ClamAV and other mail essential tools.


I'm not much help but I am interested in the project. I wonder if something like this already exists. It might save you the time of designing one yourself.

Yeah, i did try and look somthing "open-source" for this already, i figured someone would already have a project on this on freshmeat or somthing, but i'll i could find is other hardware liek this...

Of course, if you did build one yourself, you could sell it and your services of supporting it :)

ha ha, were after money ;)

And, if this somehow get popular with out clients, I will look into debian.

Thanks for your comments!

Anymore suggestions?

Thanks,
Adam

[psi42]

Sounds interesting.

I suppose you could look into webmin for a web interface, if you really want one.

[Admstng]

thats odd. i was just about to post saying I found Webmin... ha ha.. thnx... that is part of the solution... i will just need to make sure it's solid (never used it) and to figure out a good web portal for email..

Thanks guys,
Adam

[Admstng]

A web interface is exactly what i was looking for... and also for remote administration.. this and freeNX is my complete solution.. thanks for your reply.. i'm also bumping this for the reason for letting users know about WEBMIN.. not sure how popular this is.. but i think every linus user /linux admin should see this.. it's great.. i have everythign up and running smoothly..


THANKS GUYS!

Regards,
Adam