I recently had to reinstall my server. I decided I would take a look at ClarkConnect and compare it to SME 6.01-01.
ClarkConnect and SME have simular installtion routines.
ClarkConnect requires you to enter an IP address for your ISP's DNS, where SME does not require it since it has a built-in DNS.
ClarkConnect install does not allow you to swap your NICs like SME does.
ClarkConnect does not give you a simple option of installing to a RAID1/Software mirror like SME.
Once the system is installed, the console is not as nice as SME. The CC console is the lynx browser in stead of a GUI (color menus) like SME.
The equivalent server manager is very impressive. I felt I had more control of the CC server through the web interface than I do with SME. Also, CC home edition comes with a lot of options that you have to install manually in SME. Another nice feature of CC is that it uses apt-get to update the system. One drawback however is that it is not templeted like SME. I really like having the ability to modify my configuration through the template system, so if I upgrade a package it does not kill my configuration settings, or if I have to revert to the default config for troubleshoot it is simple to not include the templates.
I believe that if SME were to switch from the form magic server manager to a PHP based system, I would be able to make a contribution as well as many other so the server manager could be even more rubust than CC and the current SME version.
Now, if only we could have the combined features of SME and CC, as well as a robust PHP based server-manager that has an interface to show updates and contribs and allow you to install them from a central repository, like apt-get.
3 Replies
1211 Views