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.