My usual setup nowadays is a server-only configuration with a external ADSL Router with integrated security and tunneling capabilities (usualliy a draytek vigor 2600, which is btw an excellent product).
I've tried with router and with network card - being straight hardware a router with dhcp is probably preferable and if the system should go down you still have the ability to get online and maybe download a repair. So my question is if there is anyone else who has the desire for a "full blown office/communiation server" which is usable also as an application and communication server. Since this box would be installed behind an external firewall and not necessarily be used as a gateway system, external security would be less of a concern.
For this kind of application i am thinking of:
-some kind of groupware (maybe opengroupware or something to replace exchange)
I am experimenting with PHProjekt - its almost ready.>-vbox as an corporate answering machine (using an ISDN Card)
Have you tried this - much as I hate getting a mechanical response when calling - which is why I put up with my 4 line portable garbage Brother phones. So people get a person.
>-a fax server support (may incoming fax to e-mail conversion, hylafax?)
Again have you tried this if so what modem works well, I'ld like to give this a try, though for outgoing so I only need 1 modem, 1 line.
>-central office scanner support
This may be moot. Personal scanners are so cheap and high volume ones such as digital copiers already have the networking.
-Accounting Package (WEB Interface/SQL-Ledger?)
This could make Linux or any other vendor - as the last accounting package, of course it needs integration with ecommerce capabilities for instore or on web use. Like the touch terminals used in restaurants.
-Project Management/time reporting (with web interface)
PHprojekt.org - just working out the bugs.
-Postgres DB Server
?????
-better support for spam and antivirus detection and management
http://sme.swerts-knudsen.dk or perhaps the dungon from australia thing
-how about a terminal server for using the SME whith some thumb clients?
For what pupose?
-site configuration support (m23 or the like)
-video surveillance and alarming (zoneminder)
Have you tried? Anything with video is going to pretty much take its own separate unit. I think.
-sms gateway
-network/system monitoring for internal network (bigsister?)
-inclusion of an OpenMosix Kernel and tools for clustering
-maybe some more suggestions...
It would be great if these applications could be activated/deactivated throug the server-manager.
What do others think?
Nice idea but not likely to happen for free. Pretty much everything being developed in Linux thrown into 1 big pot and always the bugs are being worked out of something. Causing a problem with something else
Ken