Hi,
Some thoughts. IMHO. IMHO, what's really needed for a "SMB server" is easy configuration through some gui/web/.. Once you have this, the rest is just about setting up the base server and installing packages. I don't think putting something in place to remaster the default setup, would all be that helpfull. Most servers mentioned by the OP are already on the server cd. Maybe focus on a post installation script? ebox is the frontend of choice by the ubuntu-server team, though at its present state in LTS release rather buggy and incomplete; I used it at one project, and will not re use it or test it until the next LTS release I guess. Furthermore, manual changes in samba.conf are overwriten by the ebox engine, which is a major no-go in my book. GUI configuration may not interfere with manual configuration and vice-versa > apache intraweb > apache internet > mysql > php > bind Which web apps are you talking about here? > dhcpd > postfix > dovecot > sugarcrm > webmail > clamav > spamassassin I'd stick with Zimbra for that. > samba Maybe have a look at the zimbra plugins to manage samba? Another one I keep hearing good things about (but never used so far) is GOSA http://alioth.debian.org/projects/gosa > shorewall > nat routing Well, shoot me, but I don't believe having a local firewall on a SMB server is usefull. Proper perimeter security should suffice for most small businesses. And totalaly forget about NAT routing. Why would you use a major server as your firewall and NAT router, when there are plenty cheap alternatives (ranging from Linksys home routers to projects like IPCOP of MONOWALL) > asterisk + freepbx might be a good idea, dunno about freepbx > weboffice ? don't know that one either > installer options for server or desktop so only 1 disk is needed. > desktop containing no games, multimedia only basic business > applications. no, keep desktop a separate thing, there is no reason why to mix this > any more ideas? The key thing here is integration. All have a look on how Microsoft markets Small Business Server. Technically, it's terrible, but to the enduser, it really delivers a product that everyone's manager could (start to) administer. The major problem here is that most applications all have their own little configs, their own user database, ... Personally I don't believe an ideal SMB server is do-able. At least not with the present state of OSS. But I'd place my bets on Ubuntu (the server team) to deliver something like that, if they can spend enough resources to it. You might read the -server team list archives, there have been already some discussions on this. Serge Serge van Ginderachter http://www.vanginderachter.be/ Kreeg u een "odt" bestand en kan u deze niet openen? Zie http://ginsys.be/odf -- ubuntu-be mailing list / mailto:ubuntu-be@lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-be
