SpamFree said:
Hi anyone tell me if there any free server OS i can use, i want one so users
logon to the server rather than thw workgroup, all work is stored on the
server, i owuld also like a internal mail server and a local intranet. I
have looked at SUSE is this a good one to use?
Given these specific needs and the fact that you sound as if you're new
to Linux, I would recommend the E-Smith distribution. It is explicitly
tailored to this role and is designed so that it can be installed and
maintained by someone with no Linux experience.
You download the installation CD image and burn it. Then you boot a PC
from it and you are stepped through a simplified installation procedure
that asks you only a few questions (e.g. what the local subnet should
be, what you want the local domain to be called etc). Once you are
finished you have a server that can do Windows filesharing, act as a
Windows domain controller, offers POP and IMAP e-mail and can be your
internet gateway/firewall (in which case it also offers PPTP vpn
capability). It's all managed through a simple web interface that
allows you to add/remove/configure users, groups, filesharing areas etc.
(Note: by default, an E-smith server offers simple workgroup
file-sharing butg
The main E-smith site these days is
http://contribs.org/ (unfortunately,
seems to be down at the moment) but you can ISO images on mirrors all
over the place. Here, for instance:
http://www.mirror.ac.uk/sites/e-smith.org/e-smith/
In the last year I've converted all our regional offices to using
E-smith (the older 5.6 version - I have yet to upgrade to 6.0) and I can
vouch for the flexibility and stability of the platform.
