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Henry Bremridge wrote: >I don't know about USP's but I am involved in a small factory in India where >we have just cancelled our anti-virus, anti-firewall licenses, and >instead just used a debian server with antivirus, firewall and a strict >whitelist for contacting outside sites. > >The cost of paying someone to come in and install the server was less >than one year's license fees for the software and we are now trying to >get the consultant to implement new (debian) software to help the office >workload > >So I would have thought that there would be many small businesses >(solicitors, architects, accountants etc etc) with a local network that >could also use with switching to a linux server to: >- Back up local data >- Provide security system (firewall, antivirus) >- Save money on Microsoft Server >Then when the next worm hits, they will not see anything..... > > > Thats what I was thinking of. I've mentioned before about SME Server. I originally started using this as I was looking for a free alternative to Windows/Exchange. I found that I could do exactly the same on an SME Server with lower hardware specs than I could do with a Windows 2000 Small Business Server & Exchange 2000. For little cost (had most of the hardware already), I managed to get a server which provided IMAP e-mail, Webmail, file storage, e-mail & file anti-virus using Clam Antivirus (along with hourly updates - I don't even think McAfee EPO Server does that) and also web proxying/content filtering with Squid/Dans Guardian. I put a mailshot together to send out to some prospective clients (as you mentioned, solicitors, accountants etc), only problem is getting the money together to send them out. I think a good start might be going into town next week and popping into different places and see if I can leave some information with them. I actually think it helps that Microsoft has stopped supporting Windows NT 4.0. I've still seen NT 4.0 on Desktops/Servers when I've been contracting. I guess I could put to some prospective clients some costs... Windows Server 2003 Small Business Standard starts at £226 with 5 client access licences. Thats before including either buying a new server, or upgrading an existing server. At least SME Server would run okay on a server which was spec'd up for NT 4.0 (i.e. Pentium 2/Pentium 3 with about 128/256MB Ram and small hard drives). Rob -- The Mailing List for the Devon & Cornwall LUG Mail majordomo@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with "unsubscribe list" in the message body to unsubscribe. FAQ: www.dcglug.org.uk/linux_adm/list-faq.html