Linux Server Advice

Synkro

Hi all,

Could someone please advise on which Linux distribution is best to support a small network of pcs. Are the following services included with the distribution or would you normally add these after?

Pop3 Email server
Firewall
VPN server
Web Caching Proxy
File server (which would support a tape drive for automatic backups)
Some sort of virus scanner to scan outgoing/incoming emails
DHCP server
Raid support

Is it true that with Linuux it isnt necessary to reboot the pc when installing patches/updates unlike windows where almost all SP's and updates require a reboot?

I would like access to the box services (email/proxy etc) to be restricted to VPN only, Is there any limit to the number of concurrent VPN connections to the linux box?


Thanks,
Adrian

mneylon

The proxy and the AV would not be standard, but you would be able to implement something without too much difficulty.
Regarding flavour of OS it seems that you are a "newbie", so you would probably be advised to stick with an rpm based system such as redhat or Suse.

flamegrill

Originally posted by Synkro
Hi all,

Could someone please advise on which Linux distribution is best to support a small network of pcs. Are the following services included with the distribution or would you normally add these after?

Pop3 Email server - any pop3 server really, qpopper, courier etc
Firewall - IPtables - google for iptables firewall scripts
VPN server - OpenVPN
Web Caching Proxy - Squid
File server (which would support a tape drive for automatic backups) - er file servers dont do backups period. Arcserve can be got for linux to backup files etc

Some sort of virus scanner to scan outgoing/incoming emails - F-prot
DHCP server - comes as standard on most distributions
Raid support - they all support it, redhat has a nice gui in the installer for software raid


Is it true that with Linuux it isnt necessary to reboot the pc when installing patches/updates unlike windows where almost all SP's and updates require a reboot?

Yes and no. Sometimes upgrades to glibc etc can be exploited as the code is memory resident. But 99% of the time a reboot isn't nessesary.

I would like access to the box services (email/proxy etc) to be restricted to VPN only, Is there any limit to the number of concurrent VPN connections to the linux box?

No.



Thanks,
Adrian

See my answers above.

As blacknight said, its probably easiest to go with Redhat or something similar.

Paul

Red Alert

On the question of the backup system, if you want the server to backup the client PC#s harddisks then take a look at the AMANDA backup system - google will help you out on this one.

Synkro

Thanks for the tips. I downloaded the 6 Debian-Stable iso's from esat mirror last night and hope to install later today when i get home from work. I'll probably try to start with a simple samba fileserver then try implement proxy and firewall services next. Im dreading the postfix config as it looks quite daunting.

Quick question. Im plan to leave this box in work, then vpn into it from a windows client for proxy/web and mail services. Any idea how many concurrant vpn sessions Debian could support? Would it be better to have some VPN hardware infront of the box or can linux do just as good a job?

Ive been looking at

http://www.provantage.com/buy-7lnkr009-etherfast-cable-dsl-vpn-router-linksys-routers-modems-befvp41-shopping.htm

This is a DSL VPN Router, it apparently supports up to 70 IPSEC tunnels simultaneously. Would this be a better solution that using windows software based VPN connecitons at the client side? Im hoping to have 3/4 users working offsite, but with access to a dsl line.

Any ideas?