SME Server (formerly e-smith Server and Gateway): A Cool and Nice Linux Distro.

Solely built for the defending networks be it a LAN or WAN from all the dangers that Internet connected computer networks are been subjected to on a minute by minute basis, SME Server has now become my distro of choice lately.

Since any computer system/device connected to the Internet can/will come under 2-10 probes/intrusions within 10 minutes of been connected. It’s obviously imperative the usefulness of a firewall.

First created by MITEL Networks and based on Redhat 7.2 it's one of the various Linux distros that were designed from the ground up to act as server for small to medium sized enterprises. SME Server converts a normal PC into an easy to administer yet powerful firewall and router that will cater for a company’s IT needs from email, web and proxy workhorse. It also come with the well known statefull packet filtering firewall IPTABLES (work of Paul 'Rusty' Russell). SME Server administration can easily be carried out through a web interface, this makes it administration an easy task for people that are not that so tech savvy.

I first heard about SME Server in 2003, I did downloaded it and run it on a network I managed back then, but I discovered I don’t really like it because there are some features like bandwidth shaping that I want but weren’t or I didn’t know exist in SME Server, I did uninstall it and I used stuffs like IPCOP and Smoothwall instead since I can find and easily get that feature in them.

Fast forward to 2005.

One of my major reasons why I did not use SME was also due to the fact that it was not in the mainstream like ClarkConnet, IPCOP and Smoothwall, but now I know am wrong about that perception. I did some search on good ol’ Google and I did discovered an Australian forum , the forum has a good number of users that are using SME Server.

I managed to burn the ISO that I have downloaded in 2003 SME Server 6.0 from LinuxIso and I installed it. Now I have a “Complete New Song” about SME Server, since my Linux skills has increased a lot since then, I am now more comfortable and at home with it.

What that really made SME Server to standout of the pack is it template features, it enable you to revert back to the original scripts should you screw up with the initial configuration files. Another wonderful stuff I have discovered about it is the software blade features it has, the software blade (secret of getting bandwidth shaping, mail server antivirus) features enable you to add/remove software modules form third parties.

Using the web and file filtering capabilities of Squid, I have been able to block over 5500 websites and lots of file extensions, (am only doing this to protect the systems and network from viruses, am not a censor board chairman).

Although am yet to try the all new version 7 release, infact I don’t really need it since the curent one is doing a great job.

To see the planed future of SME Server visit this link.

In conclusion, I say a big thank you to all those great guys that are empowering people like me to run great softwares that would have cost thousands of Dollars if they where to be released under any other licensing option other than GNU/Open Source scheme.

No Sleep No Rest, thanks to WAEC and NECO.

It’s not been easy, this blog have been dormant for some time now. Not that am down right lazy but due to running a business in the most unconducive environment (Naija) for young entrepreneurs and business.

I have really been busy trying to register students for the forthcoming NECO GCE Nov/Dec exam. That would have been an easy task if not for the unresponsive nature of  NECOs registration website. The site design is so bad that some people have been reporting their woes getting to the site and losing money and entering the wrong information and uploading the wrong pictures of candidates.

Before now WAEC exam registration hold sway in the Bad Website sphere, WAEC problem arises from wrong planning and design of the website that can make or mar students future and career. Most of the people that registered for the ongoing WAEC Nov/Dec. exam are unable to go for the examinations due to the fact that they were placed in the wrong examination town and center.

Students that picked Ondo West Local Govt. Area in Ondo State as their examination town ended up been asked to go and write their exams in Ifon (about 250KM from Ondo).

WAEC and NECO resort to the use of the Internet registration in order to reduce/remove paper based entries that would have cost them lots of money and much hassles. But they fail to envisage the intense load that their server(s) will come under due to many queries from users.

Thanks be to God I have been through with WAEC registration and the exam is now is it’s last week, but not with some bitter complaint from people like me. Right now it’s NECO registration that am battling with. But when I was thinking am getting through another batch of entries are arriving in drove, this was due to those that are have to hurriedly grab NECO GCE registration form after failing in the just released result of last WAEC May/June exam (about 800,000 – 1,000,000) results were cancelled and withheld

For 4 days now I have not been able to get some good sleep and this has really been taking it’s toll in some ways but am up to the task afterall  I have been used to this regime of little or no sleep since 2002. LOL

Before I stop I will like NECO and WAEC to replan their online registration plan or else they will witness a showdown that won’t be too good for them and their intending candidates.