Topic: Suggestions - SME7Pre4

[finchwizard]

I've only just now managed to start to test SME7Pre4.

So far, I'm impressed, it's clean, it's fast. No real dramas.

Things I would like to see, understanding it's still a Pre Release and may not yet have all the features.

- Proxy Authentication

(Under Proxy Settings, a simple check box or drop down to say whether you want Authentication, or Transparent Proxy.

- User Password Limit Enforcing

(I just tried to make a user, with a password of 8 characters, includes numbers, and it refused to accept it. I understand you want to enforce security, but the place I use SME is in a school, with smaller kids, long passwords like that are hard for them to remember, despite the security.

An option to ask whether you want enable strict enforcing of passwords, or at least just a warning to say that the password chosen is not up to scratch.)

- System Graphs etc.
(Sysmon and the other contribs to be installed and enabled by default, monitoring fans if possible, CPU temp, CPU load, Average Users, Traffic on Interfaces etc.)

- More Statistics on servers
(Something like awstats to be built in, showing graphs and information about Email Queues, emails sent etc, Graph showing amount of emails send received)

- Domain Masters/Slaves
(Some type of Domain Master Slave combo, an easy way to set a Master, and have a Slave with copies of the Master, Users, Emails, Data etc.
Then if the Master Fails, the Slave is there to take over.)

- User Import/Exporting
(A really nice feature I'd like, is the ability to upload a text file or CSV file with the Username, Firstname/Lastname, Group, Password. And have the system import the users, with some type of front end to say what it's doing so it shows it's actually doing it. I know Lattools does this, but a frontend would make it perfect indeed.)

- Advanced Proxy Settings
(Looking at something like Endian Firewall and the Advanced Proxy Module allowing times allowed, Blacklists, Subscribed lists of all Proxy address's etc, could be nice.)

That is just a quick list that I can think of at this very moment
I understand if some of these have been mentioned, and apologies if they have, but it's just what I would like to see the most.

Even if there is a base system, and all additional packages are copied to /root/Contribs or something, so they can be installed manually without needing to go hunting for some of the better ones.

Anyway, let me know what you think

[CharlieBrady]

Anyway, let me know what you think

It's much too late for any of your suggestions to go into 7.0.

If you really want something to be in a future release, you should open a bug in the SME Server Future section of the bug tracker.

There are way more ideas than people to implement them. If you really want to see something in SME Server, then the best chance will be for you to do it (or help to do it) yourself, or to pay someone else to do it.

[finchwizard]

I understand that, but they've features that have been requested quite a few times over the time I've been around.

I just saw somewhere that not all features were implemented into the Pre4 ISO and there is still more going in that haven't been in the Pre4 that will be in the Final.

I don't mind that it's not in there, more of a suggestion for future versions to work towards something as feature rich as ClarkConnect etc, but keeping it free.

[gordonr]

I understand that, but they've features that have been requested quite a few times over the time I've been around.

Good suggestions, but they all take developer time to implement. And even if they currently exist as contribs they take quite some time to get ready for a CD release.

I just saw somewhere that not all features were implemented into the Pre4 ISO and there is still more going in that haven't been in the Pre4 that will be in the Final.

I'm not sure where you saw that, but it's incorrect. We're purely fixing bugs which need to be fixed prior to the release.

I don't mind that it's not in there, more of a suggestion for future versions to work towards something as feature rich as ClarkConnect etc, but keeping it free.

Sure, but we have to keep in mind the very small number of developers working on the project. We need more developers, or more people willing to fund development.

[finchwizard]

Not sure where I saw that, thought there were a few little things missing in Pre4 that were going to be in Final.

It seemed very bare, but I am used to using a customized version of SME I suppose.

Thanks for answering, I'm sure things like these would be implemented over time.

It's a shame I don't know more about programming etc, otherwise I would definitely help out, SME is a great project I wish more people would get behind it.

[gordonr]

It's a shame I don't know more about programming etc, otherwise I would definitely help out, SME is a great project I wish more people would get behind it.

There are plenty of ways non-programmers can help - documentation, testing, FAQ writing, helping others, financial support.

[cactus]

- User Password Limit Enforcing

(I just tried to make a user, with a password of 8 characters, includes numbers, and it refused to accept it. I understand you want to enforce security, but the place I use SME is in a school, with smaller kids, long passwords like that are hard for them to remember, despite the security.

An option to ask whether you want enable strict enforcing of passwords, or at least just a warning to say that the password chosen is not up to scratch.)

This is availabale see this section: SME Server 7 password check and settings

[kadybee]

I am using Proxy Auth and Dansguardian through the DUNGOG package.

Squid restrictions and management add to that as well.

If you are dealing with schools, this is the perfect solution.  It is SME7 ready and working well.

See http://www.dungog.net