Do not use on any
shared computer
August 29, 2008 03:26pm pdt
 
[x]
Attachment Details

Recommendation/explanation - Best "bang for buck" network OS w/email server capability

Tags: All, All, All
I need to setup a domain at home for my girlfriend's business. I need recommendations for a cost effective solution that can manage the network/domain/email. I know that Microsoft's SBS is a viable product. I am willing to get into Linux based products as well. Please advise.

Thanks.

Flakkman
Start your free trial to view this solution
[x]
The Solution Rating System

With so many solutions, how can you tell which solutions are most likely to help you and which ones are not? To provide you with a tool to use, we rate our solutions based on various elements that most accurately determine if a solution is a quality solution. To explain what factors affect the solution rating, here are the elements we take into consideration when formulating our solution rating.

  • The Grade of the Solution
  • The Zone Rank of the Expert Providing the Solution
  • The Number of Author and Expert Comments
  • The Number of Experts Contributing
  • The Feedback of the Community

Your Input Matters
Because of the way the system is set up, the most important variable in this equation is you. As a member of Experts Exchange, you are able to cast your vote on the quality of the solutions in regard to how complete, accurate, helpful and easy to understand each solution is. When you provide your feedback, each rating is adjusted accordingly. So, if you see a solution that has a poor rating that you think is a good solution, let us know by rating it. As you do, the rating will be adjusted and will become more accurate for other members of our site.

If you have any suggestions that you would like to make for our rating system, please ask a question in the Suggestions Zone of Community Support.

Thank you!

Question Stats
Zone: Software
Question Asked By: flakkman
Solution Provided By: jfields71
Participating Experts: 4
Solution Grade: A
Views: 0
Translate:
Loading Advertisement...
 
[+][-]Expert Comment by KCTS

Rank: Wizard

Expert Comment by KCTS:

All comments and solutions are available to Premium Service Members only.

Start your 7-day free trial and see for yourself why Experts Exchange is the easiest and most proven technology resource in the world. Get Started

Already a member? Login to view this solution.

 
 
[+][-]Assisted Solution by ormerodrutter

Rank: Guru

Assisted Solution by ormerodrutter:

All comments and solutions are available to Premium Service Members only.

Start your 7-day free trial and see for yourself why Experts Exchange is the easiest and most proven technology resource in the world. Get Started

Already a member? Login to view this solution.

 
 
[+][-]Accepted Solution by jfields71
Accepted Solution by jfields71:

All comments and solutions are available to Premium Service Members only.

Start your 7-day free trial and see for yourself why Experts Exchange is the easiest and most proven technology resource in the world. Get Started

Already a member? Login to view this solution.

 
 
[+][-]Author Comment by flakkman
Author Comment by flakkman:

All comments and solutions are available to Premium Service Members only.

Start your 7-day free trial and see for yourself why Experts Exchange is the easiest and most proven technology resource in the world. Get Started

Already a member? Login to view this solution.

 
 
[+][-]Expert Comment by jfields71
Expert Comment by jfields71:

All comments and solutions are available to Premium Service Members only.

Start your 7-day free trial and see for yourself why Experts Exchange is the easiest and most proven technology resource in the world. Get Started

Already a member? Login to view this solution.

 
 
[+][-]Assisted Solution by namol
Assisted Solution by namol:

All comments and solutions are available to Premium Service Members only.

Start your 7-day free trial and see for yourself why Experts Exchange is the easiest and most proven technology resource in the world. Get Started

Already a member? Login to view this solution.

 
 
[+][-]Administrative Comment by Computer101
Administrative Comment by Computer101:

All comments and solutions are available to Premium Service Members only.

Start your 7-day free trial and see for yourself why Experts Exchange is the easiest and most proven technology resource in the world. Get Started

Already a member? Login to view this solution.

 
 
Loading Advertisement...
Open Discussion
Open Discussion
 
Comment by jfields71
CentOS is very reliable.  http://www.enterprisenetworkingplanet.com/netos/article.php/3673966.  I have seen it run for about a year without reboots.  Of course, if you apply a new kernel, then a reboot is needed to get that applied.  It does not require as many reboots as a Windows Server, which is a big difference.  Another difference is administration.  If you are well versed on Windows Server, then you will not find linux to be intuitive to admin.  It is not really that similar at all and the commands are quite different.  Getting a linux box up and running is very easy (as easy as Windows), but fixing it when problems occur is harder if you don't know linux.

We use it for our ticketing system and to run some other server apps as VMs on ESX.  For enterprise apps that have to be up, I would use Red Hat.  We use Zimbra Network Edition, which costs money.  We have to have commercial support, in the event of a problem we need quick resolution.
 
 
Comment by jfields71
It is not true that linux server distros don't come with a GUI.  Red Hat and CentOS come with a GUI installed, if you simply choose it during the install.  You can install various environments, such as KDE and GNOME, right from the graphical installer.  Aside from partitioning (which it can automate), it is as easy or easier than a Windows install.
 
 
Comment by namol
They don't usually come with a GUI option because running the X server opens your server up to more possible avenues of attack than if it wasn't running an X server.
 
 
Comment by jfields71
They come with a GUI option. I am not disagreeing it isn't better to install the server without one.  For new linux admins though, it is either a GUI or something like webmin.  Command line only would be too complex for them.
 
 
20080723-EE-VQP-34 / EE_QW_2_20070628