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Jabber could be a very powerful tool for fleet management or service organizations setting up internal private messaging.

Webmin also manages Samba, MySQL, Apache, and Postfix based mail. It is also possible to use Samba's standard tool, SWAT, to manage Samba. A Java based file manager is also integrated into Webmin. This makes it easy to perform copy, delete, paste, move and other file management functions without having to go to the command line.

Webmin also integrates its own webmail program so that you can remotely access your mail from the server. ELX Power Server includes PPTP based VPN Webmin as well as SSL tunnels, both managed by Webmin.

It would be possible to add Horde to provide a web based mail tool with integrated calendar, project management and other organizational tools.

ELX Power Server uses Trustix' SwUp to upgrade all software components. SwUp is written in Python and works in conjunction with RdfGen to keep ELX Power Server up-to-date. SwUp can even update the kernel. SwUp can be used to upgrade any RPM based Linux but it requires a dedicated repository using RdfGen.

In the past, I had to choose between two approaches. One was to use a dedicated server distribution such as e-smith or IPCOP or to create my own server using Slackware, Fedora or a version of BSD. The problem using a generic distribution is that you wind up installing a lot more than you need and the resulting solution is not all that tightly integrated or easy to use.

ELX Power Server gives me the ability to create a dedicated secure server that is easy to install, easy to administer and easy to upgrade. ELX Power Server is extensible so I can create custom servers. Because ELX Power Server is not bogged down with X Windows or sound, ELX Power Server provides better performance than distributions that need to support multi-media functions.

I asked Abhi about the future for Power Server. Abhi said that they plan to add Webmin support for Snort and HylaFax. They also will be adding a variety of wizards. He also said they are working on a toolkit that will allow users to create their own wizards without needing to use X Windows.

Abhi said that he is focused on high availability clustering more than high performance clustering. He said that Power Server is designed to be the first complete deployment ready enterprise solution that can be installed and running in less than an hour. Abhi went on to explain that while secure enterprise solutions are available commercially and in Open Source, the learning curve has been an obstical and the result is that critical data is not adequately protected.

ELX is offering ELX Power Server as Open Source and is actively looking to build a community around the product. ELX is providing professional services from their India and Malaysia offices for organizations that would like customized or supported versions of ELX Power Server. Abhi told me that ELX will be offering dedicated server packages designed for hospitals and for Internet Data Centers and Internet Service Providers (ISPs).

I asked Abhi about the differences between Power Server and Trustix. He stated that both Trusix and ELX are essentially based on Red Hat. Trustix uses a hardened kernel and only software that is known to be trustworthy. Abhi said that Power Server has many additions and even changes to the Kernel to allow the applications ELX has added to behave securely.

ELX Power Server is probably the only deployment ready secure server available. ELX Power Server is highly recommended.

About the author
Michael C. Barnes, is president of NorhTec, a company dedicated to building small, energy efficient, fanless servers for standalone embedded applications. Mr. Barnes has over 25 years of experience in the computer industry. Mr. Barnes has currently resides with his family in Bangkok, Thailand.