The Linux platform can be used for a variety of server functions and is gaining recognition as a network infrastructure solution, against competition from industry heavyweights such as IBM, Microsoft, Novell, and Sun. Caldera's eServer product, based on its OpenLinux distribution, is designed specifically for network server installations. What distinguishes eServer from similar offerings by Red Hat, SuSE, Turbolinux, and others is its lean, mean, ready-for-business approach, featuring a remarkably small disk-space footprint, an extensive array of timesaving features, and a carefully chosen set of applications. Caldera eServer is an excellent choice for serving printers, files, applications, and entire networks at the enterprise level.
Easy installation
Installing eServer is a swift and painless procedure. Like its cousin eDesktop, eServer uses the Lizard graphical installation interface, which is arguably one of the most refined installation systems available for a Linux distribution. We installed eServer on a Pentium-II 266 with 64MB of RAM. This configuration was far from leading-edge technology, but Lizard excels at hardware detection and network configuration and had no problem identifying our vintage hardware.
eServer offers four preset installation profiles: Web server, file/print server, network server, or minimum server. You can also choose to run a complete installation of all packages or perform a custom installation. The installation profiles are meant to provide optimized software architecture for single-purpose servers; each installation option weighs in at less than 300MB. Each server-specific installation is streamlined for its task, and eServer provides configuration options specific to each server's function.
Lean, mean machine
Many Linux distributions include an oppressive amount of applications, most of which are unnecessary for network server operations. In contrast, the eServer distribution excludes most nonserver software, save for a small set of client-side maintenance tools. But don't worry--Caldera has packed this distribution with all the right stuff. eServer ships with a rich set of third-party applications that enhance its utility as a server platform, including Samba File and Print, Sendmail, DHCP and DNS servers, and the ubiquitous Apache Web Server (version 1.3.14), to name just a few. And eServer supports browser-based remote administration using Caldera's Webmin tool. In total, eServer includes more than 20 server-specific applications and 10 major server products and can be integrated into existing network infrastructures with relative ease. For users who'd rather not do without a graphical desktop environment, eServer also includes the user-friendly KDE desktop. An important caveat is that eServer 2.3 is among the list of products and distributions that won't install on Pentium 4 systems.
Documentation and support
The documentation for eServer, which resides primarily on Caldera's Web site, is practical, concise, and easily digestible, especially for first-time users. In addition, Caldera offers user guides, administration manuals, and how-tos on its Web site; the sections on security and print server configuration are particularly helpful. Caldera also maintains an online knowledge base that's well-organized and easy to use, but because it's a repository of information for all of Caldera's products, you'll have to run an advanced search to return eServer-specific results. As for tech support, Caldera offers a number of free support options; registering a Caldera product entitles you to e-mail and Web-based technical support for 90 days or five incidents, whichever occurs first. You can also purchase additional phone or e-mail support.
Bottom line
OpenLinux eServer is an ideal server solution for enterprise environments--especially for organizations with limited resources, less-experienced system administrators, or older hardware. By omitting the bales of extraneous applications that weigh down less specialized distributions, Caldera has instilled its strengths--organization, efficiency, and ease of use--into this product. While the level of technology in eServer is comparable to offerings from other Linux vendors, Caldera has put a considerable amount of thought into making eServer a more usable, focused product; eServer's combination of a small disk footprint, customized installations, and automation of tedious tasks represents a big leap forward for server-based Linux distributions. eServer is listed at $199 but is widely available for less than $80.
