“Many of the key barriers to Linux’s acceptance in the business marketplace are falling, according to CRN’s Monthly Solution Provider Survey.”
Of particular interest are the “customer acceptance” and “application availability” numbers in their recent survey compared to just 6 months ago.”
“The culmination of three (3) years’ work, our vision of a complete hosting automation system is now realized,” said Serguei Beloussov, CEO of SWsoft. “Hosting businesses will now follow the trends of developed manufacturing factories that produce goods in high volume with high efficiency. We enable a fully automated robotic production line for hosting that uses technology to free the hosting worker from the drudgery of manual tasks, like billing, accounting, etc. The need for HSPs to automate and efficiently scalable business processes has never been more important.”
To meet this need, SWsoft redesigned HSPcomplete to incorporate hundreds of new features . The redesign was developed over 18 months and the software subjected to an additional 9 months of testing, including a test phase in which 30 select hosting customers were brought online using a controlled release version of HSPcomplete 2.0. SWsoft went to great lengths to ensure that every feature went live with rock-solid reliability and carrier-grade scalability.
Andreas Barth, CEO of Alexandria, VA-based hosting provider AWorldWIdeMall.com, needed a way to quickly sign-up new customers, offer promotions and support his current client base and scale his business. According to Barth, “With dozens of custom hosting plans, incomplete automation systems are useless to me. After investigating other solutions, it seemed that there was always at least one process that needed to be done manually. With HSPcomplete, everything is automated, from beginning to end!”
The unique modular design consists of four “Directors,” each tool managing one component of an hosting business:
1. Operations – Manages hardware, backups, domains, IP pools, service levels> and virtual partitions (or `virtual environments’)
2. Business – Controls accounts, resellers, partners, enterprise accounts, billing and e-commerce systems
3. System – Configures the system and allows the HSP to mange security, Web site content, licenses and events and to customize the look and feel of the control panels
4. Application – A single point to administer application and OS templates for mass deployment of thousands of system updates, applications or other resources
These modules comprise the only pre-integrated and scalable infrastructure that automates all points in the business lifecycle of an HSP. The unique benefits of using HSPcomplete 2.0 include:
* Comprehensive – the only pre-integrated and scalable full business life-cycle solution
* Flexible Billing – powerful usage based billing with promotions support
* Integrated Billing – complete billing/accounting integration with automatic account provisioning and management capabilities
* Resellers – Tools to build a multi-tier sales channel that can be fully rebranded with fully anonymous resellers
* VPS – scalable VPS hosting capabilities and Server Consolidation technology
* Application Hosting – completely automated and integrated application templating with advanced license management
* Customizable – Ability to customize, extend and integrate. Source code available for purchase
* Unified – One unified platform to manage all hosting – basic shared, VPS, complex dedicated.
In addition to a comprehensive feature-set proven in live use, HSPcomplete 2.0 offers powerful tools and processes to configure, customize, integrate, and extend HSPcomplete 2.0, enabling HSPs to differentiate themselves in a crowded marketplace. For example, HSPcomplete 2.0 is designed to be easily integrated into the HSP’s existing infrastructure with its open API and use of standard SQL.
Jeb Bolding, Senior Analyst, Enterprise Management Associates, says that, “HSPcomplete 2.0 is a comprehensive automation solution, flexible and powerful enough to manage hosting businesses of any size.”
“I needed a low-cost way to break free from the requirements of my manual operations,” said Todd Robison, CEO, Penguix.com. “I migrated to HSPcomplete [2.0] from `another leading automation system’ and was able to automate all aspects of my business, giving me more time to market and sell a wider range of hosting plans.”
To achieve a $5,000 promotional price goal, SWsoft developed all components internally rather than licensing third party solutions. According to SWsoft’s VP of Business Development, Craig Oda, “Our competitors license 3rd party solutions like billing and accounting systems, and then force the HSP to pay for integration. We decided to aggressively grow the HSP market with pre-integrated entry pricing for small HSPs and scalable payment terms for mid and large HSPs that require integration and customization services.”
Medium HSPs can quickly generate more revenue by offering new products such as VPS, managed hosting and managed applications by easily integrating HSPcomplete into their existing systems. SWsoft provides complete support options to large HSPs to allow them to use HSPcomplete’s fully anonymous reseller features to develop new sales and service channels by selling through rack space and bandwidth to small HSPs.
HSPcomplete 2.0 is a true ready to run, “out of the box” system and comes pre-integrated with a large library of software and plugins that provide additional capability such as automated payment through LinkPoint, WorldPay, or Authorize.net and automated domain registration through OpenSRS and enom. Example ISVs include Miva, Macromedia, Sun, Tucows.
Web Seminar
SWsoft will host an online forum to discuss the costs, business models, hardware and software requirements, bandwidth utilization, and usage requirements of HSP administrators, resellers, and end-users in a free web seminar at 10:00am PDT, September 4, 2002. Register at http://www.sw-soft.com/en/seminar/
For more information on how HSPcomplete 2.0, please see www.hspcomplete.com or contact the SWsoft sales team at 1-800-422-3593 www.sw-soft.com
About SWsoft
SWsoft is an advanced server and networking software technology company focused on the development of its patent-pending VirtuozzoTM technology with end-to-end solutions and services for hosting service providers such as Internet data centers, application service providers, managed hosting providers and Web hosters. SWsoft’s products deliver powerful, comprehensive solutions that can help data centers automate management, accelerate operations and provide excellent return on investments.
For more information about SWsoft, please visit www.sw-soft.com.”
Category:
FreeBSD 4.0, HPUX 11, Solaris 2.5.1 Sparc, Solaris 7 Sparc,
Solaris 7 X86
It’s not necessary to unzip the file you can start the
installation straight away, but at first you should check the
ownership and permissions of the file and , if necessary, you
have to change it.
chown owner:group dateiname
chmod xxx dateiname
example:
chown frank:webmaster roxen-2.2.xxx-lrh6.2.sh
chmod 700 roxen-2.2.xxx-lrh6.2.sh
Next you can start the installation with the following command
directly from your download folder:
The default installation path is
this.
Installation prefix (“roxen” will be added):
Next you have to confirm the name of the “Administration
Interface”.
Hit to except the name
Server name: Administartion Interface
Now it is necessary to confirm the “Administration
Interface” port.
You can later type that URL into the browser and administer the
whole server.
Hit to except the port or change it. Please make a note or
memorise the port number.
Port URL: http://*:24519/
Next you have to confirm administrator’s user name. Hit to except
this or change it. Please make a note or memorise the
administrator’s user name.
Administrator user name: administrator
Next you have to type administrator’s password in twice.
Administrator password: xxxxxxxxx Administrator password
(again): xxxxxxxx
Is all correct? Than hit Y!
Are the settings above correct [Y/n]?
I recommend the answer the next question with -no-
Do you want to enable this [Y/n]?
Now you can start Roxen Webserver and hit Y.
Would you like to start the server now [Y/n]?
Congratulation! Roxen has started. You may now proceed with
the installation from the administration interface using a web
browser:
That’s it. How easy can it be.
Screenshots and tips and tricks you can find here.
“
Category:
Its hardened operating system, stateful packet inspection,
content filtering (virus & surf protection), application
proxies and IPsec based VPN provides a powerful solution to today’s
security issues. The new version 3.2 is now ready for a download.
The user interface allows ease use and manageability of all Open
Source Firewall components, as well as the Up2Date service via
the Internet. Take a look at the intuitive management tool with a
online demo.
User: admin Password:admin
Astaro Security Linux is one of the safest and one of the most
popular Firewalls on the market. This innovative solution is
based on the most secure Open Source software developed by
leading specialists and accepted worldwide as the most secure
platform.
Astaro Security Linux is free for Home Use
Private home users can register via Astaro’s registration portal
to request a free home use license. Also the Virus Protection and
Surf Protection option can be obtained at a reduced price for the
home use-version.
Benefits
Hardware Requirements (minimum):
More Information,
Screenshots and Downloads.
“
In 2002, ShaoLin successfully developed Aptus, a simplified Linux workstation deployment and management solution for organizations which are planning Linux on the desktop. It is a Linux middle-ware that turns PC network into a “Fit Client” network, a powerful hybrid combining the central management and reliability of thin client, and the performance and flexibility of PC’s. With ShaoLin’s unique IUA technology, Aptus installed on a Linux server enables all desktops to run Linux in minutes, without the installation of Linux on the desktops at all. Users can keep using existing hardware to run most Linux distributions, drivers, and applications on the desktop, while increasing manageability and security. Aptus delivers zero-administration and high performance Linux workstations with central management in lowest running cost.
Only a week after, ShaoLin will announce the release of Cogo File System (CogoFS) at LinuxWorld Conference & Expo, San Francisco. CogoFS is a high-performance stackable compression file system for Linux to reduce network traffic, file server load and disk space usage. It is a kernel compression technology which works transparently on top of all common Linux file systems for performance, reliability, and easy migration. CogoFS can transfer compressed files over network and decompress at the client kernel. The performance of the server and network is improved due to educe disk I/O and lower network bandwidth usage. CogoFS uses ShaoLin’s powerful Kypertec compression engine which works in the kernel space with state-of-the-art memory management and CPU utilization. With its high compression ratio, CogoFS also significantly reduces disk access to all compressed files, resulting in reduced power consumption and extended hard disk life.
About ShaoLin Microsystems Ltd.
ShaoLin Microsystems Ltd. is focused on the creation and development of Linux-based systems and solutions. ShaoLin gives customers full command over their desktop computing networks with end-to-end software solutions based on our cutting-edge Linux kernel, file system, and network management technology. ShaoLin Microsystems was founded in 2000 with a mission to develop and market superior Linux-based solutions to multiply efficiency in organizations, increase productivity, and reduce costs. We committed our 3R strategy, the “Right thing at the Right time for the Right person”.
For more information, please come to view our live demonstration located at Booth #R2 in LinuxWorld Expo – San Francisco, during Aug 13-15, or visit our web site www.shaolinmicro.com
For press and analyst inquiries, please contact:
Ms. Sufan Kan, Marketing & Public Relations
ShaoLin Microsystems Ltd.
E-mail: sufankan@shaolinmicro.com
Tel: +852 2352 5568
“
It appears, so far, that all the recent “Sun is going to offer Linux” hoopla comes down to a new box, preloaded with Linux, that is targeted at the edge and grid/cluster server market. It is supposed to be a dual-i86 piece, fast but no world beater, that will be sold at “white box” prices even though it will carry the Sun brand name. The purpose of this new model is obviously to recapture the business Sun is losing to server vendors that install Linux on generic boxes and undercut Sun’s traditional Unix-based, high-powered servers on the TCO front.
In other words, someone at Sun has been reading all of those “Linux is hurting Sun more than it’s hurting Microsoft in the server marketplace” articles you’ve seen all over the tech media for the last year, and has decided to do something about it.
If you can’t beat them, almost join them
Word is, Sun has talked with Red Hat about offering official, licensed Red Hat Linux on Sun’s new (branded) white boxes, but balked at paying fees to use Red Hat’s name, so Sun will come up with its own name for the flavor of Linux it loads on its new servers.
This is a cautious step into the Linux marketplace.
This first step may not be Sun’s last, even if it is the only one Sun makes in the next few months. As another industry insider reminds us, Mandrake started off as a rebranded Red Hat knockoff, and grew from there until, only a few years later, it became a powerful distribution in its own right.
Perhaps this is Sun’s plan: to gradually diverge from Red Hat until it has a complete server distribution that will (one would expect) work seamlessly with Solaris and, perhaps, even with thin clients or other desktop devices Sun could easily build using StarOffice as its user-level software base.
This would add an interesting bit of drama to the “Linux in the enterprise” gold rush that has sucked in nearly every hardware and software vendor, besides Microsoft, that has a few employees who can pronounce “Linux” correctly.
No one really knows what Sun plans to do with Linux right now, apparently including Sun’s own management. The only thing that seems certain is that, whatever those plans are, we aren’t going to get more than a taste of them at the upcoming LinuxWorld.
Category:
http://theage.com.au/articles/2002/07/26/10274974
It was a week of big tech companies having second thoughts. Hewlett-Packard threatened to sic the DMCA on security researchers, then backed off; Sun may have talked about releasing StarOffice for the Mac, then said it wasn’t so sure; and Microsoft gave a deadline for its new scheme to bleed more money out of software licenses, then extended that deadline.
Let’s start with HP, the company that’s been courting the Linux community heavily lately. HP first threatened to sue SnoSoft under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act after the security collective exposed a flaw in HP’s Tru64 Unix operating system.
As most NewsForge readers know, the Linux and Free Software communities aren’t huge fans of the DMCA, because they see its anti-circumvention provisions as an assault on freedom to do research and to program. Even HP’s in-house Linux advocate Bruce Perens expressed surprise at the company’s threats. Within a matter of hours after the news broke, HP issued a short statement saying it would not pursue a DMCA action against SnoSoft, saying the company will not use the law to prevent research.
StarOffice for Mac: Yes or no?
Just over a week ago, C|Net’s News.com reported that Sun and Apple were working together on a StarOffice port to the Mac. Then, Sun said no, that wasn’t the case. Then, C|Net reviewed its first story and noted that the Open Source project OpenOffice continues to move toward a OS X port, even if Sun doesn’t.
In the meantime, Robin “Roblimo” Miller wrote a column on why a StarOffice port to the Mac would also be good for Linux.
What if you tried to sell a license and no one came?
Microsoft first gave July 31 for the deadline as its new licensing scheme, then must have thought, “Oh, what the heck — we’re such nice guys, let’s give our customers another day to send us their money.” Some Microsoft resellers were telling customers they had an extra day to sign up for what essentially is a license rental scheme.
Maybe that deadline extension had something to do with the little problem of many Microsoft customers looking elsewhere instead of paying the new license fees.
Speaking of licenses
Tina Gasperson reports that the Open Source Initiative board is mulling whether to allow click-wrap agreements on Open Source licenses. From the discussion on the story, that may not be a popular move.
Also, we report that RealNetworks is seeking public comment on its proposed Public Source License.
Odds ‘n’ ends
Success story of the week
More reports this week of non-North American countries embracing Open Source software: One major South African newspaper says Linux is becoming mainstream there, while the Spanish Public Administration is experimenting with Linux on the desktop and other Free Software.
Newly released
Newly reviewed
New at NewsForge/Linux.com
Among the other stories we reported first this week:
Stock news
Despite some rebounds during the week, the Nasdaq again closed lower this past dropping from 1,262.12, July 26 to 1.247.92 this Friday. Our list of 11 Open Source-related stocks didn’t fare quite so badly, with six up and one even for the week.
Here’s how Open Source and related stocks ended this past week:
| Company Name | Symbol | 7/26 Close | 8/2 Close |
| Apple | AAPL | 14.34 | 14.45 |
| Borland Software Int’l | BORL | 8.05 | 8.58 |
| Caldera International | CALD | 1.02 | 1.15 |
| Hewlett-Packard | HPQ | 11.66 | 12.80 |
| IBM | IBM | 66.40 | 67.88 |
| MandrakeSoft | 4477.PA | e2.15 | e2.20 |
| Red Hat | RHAT | 4.71 | 4.40 |
| Sun Microsystems | SUNW | 3.78 | 3.66 |
| TiVo | TIVO | 3.00 | 2.67 |
| VA Software | LNUX | .66 | .66 |
| Wind River Systems | WIND | 5.62 | 4.60 |
