Server
Plug-Ins
Xandros Server features a complete suite of server plug-ins to power your business. Each plug-in is managed through the all-graphical Xandros Management Console. Click on each plug-in icon below to learn more about how it can help your business.
BRU Backup Server
The BRU Backup Server is an enterprise-class backup and recovery solution for your Xandros Linux Server, or for other computers on the network. Back up your server and important data to disk, network storage, or tape.
Xandros has integrated the management of the BRU Backup Server into the Xandros Management Console with a special plug-in which enables administrators to configure and manage BRU with the same graphical interface as they use for most other features of Xandros Server.
Learn more about the BRU Backup Server.
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Certificate Manager
Xandros Server provides a central Certificate Manager for keeping track of all of a company’s certificates. Xandros Certificate Manager simplifies the complex process of certificate setup and management with task-oriented wizards. The Certificate Manager can serve multiple web sites spread over multiple servers from a central machine. It supports both trusted (authenticated by a third party) and untrusted (self-authenticated) certificates.
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Computer Management
The Computer Management plug-in enables administrators to view in xMC a real-time snapshot of the hardware and software installed on the server. Using the plug-in, administrators can add and remove software and services and install updates with a single click. This powerful tool helps administrators monitor and maintain server hardware and software in the same management console they use to manage the server’s services and applications.
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DHCP Server
Based on ISC, a well-known, powerful open source DHCP server, the Xandros DHCP plug-in provides powerful functionality in an easy-to-use interface. The DHCP plug-in lets administrators manage IP address pools, reserve IP addresses, view leases, configure log options, monitor DHCP servers and more.
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DNS Server
The DNS Server plug-in of Xandros Server is used to establish and manage DNS servers, allowing you to set up a DNS server, add zone and domain information, set default values such as how long to keep query information, configure user computers and clients to make use of the DNS server, and finally, to allow them to use the DNS server. All of these functions and more are performed through an easy-to-use, graphical interface that eliminates the complexities often associated with configuring a DNS server on Linux. The Xandros DNS service supports WINS and DNS integrated services.
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Event Viewer
The Event Viewer lets administrators view default log reports for each plug-in as well as design custom reports to view system activity for monitoring purposes, to identify and diagnose the source of system problems, and to proactively identify potential system or application problems. Samples of several common reports are provided as a default to help you get started. With its powerful report filters, administrators can create and save reports filters based upon keywords, time period and severity. Reports can be generated from single or multiple plug-ins, allowing an administrator to get a quick snapshot of the activity of one plug-in or create a detailed report across a variety of plug-ins for a robust look at inter-related aspects of your system. The reports generated by Xandros Server’s Event Viewer are infinitely customizable, placing the exact information that you need at your finger tips. Any system’s log files provide an abundance of valuable information, but Xandros Server’s Event Viewer adds the granularity of multiple filters and the ability to choose plug-ins from which to capture information. Xandros makes integrating, accessing and configuring these logs easy, allowing you to take full advantage of them.
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File Server
The Xandros File Server lets administrators configure and manage Windows and NFS file shares. Xandros Server removes the complexity of configuring similar file sharing capabilities on other Linux servers with a graphical user interface and setup wizard. Simple setup, seamless interoperability and robust access list control make File Server a powerful file and access management tool. Xandros Server can easily migrate existing Windows and NFS file servers.
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Firewall
The Firewall plug-in enables administrators to protect the network by controlling access to and from the desktops, servers, applications and services on your network. An easy-to-use wizard guides you through processes like setting up firewalls with LAN, Internet and DMZ zones.
Monitoring and managing the settings of your firewall is simple through Xandros Server’s Firewall plug-in. Functions like starting and stopping the firewall, changing zones, changing traffic acceptance or denial, setting TCP/UDP rules, setting ICMP rules, setting IP blacklist rules and enabling logging are all accomplished through a graphical interface. You can view the activity of your firewall through Xandros Server’s Event Viewer with a custom report.
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FTP Server
Xandros Server’s FTP Server plug-in allows you to establish, configure, manage and use FTP sites based on the Very Secure FTP (vsftp) protocol.Using the FTP plug-in within xMC, administrators can follow a simple wizard to configure an FTP server, set up FTP sites on that server, and then perform a variety of functions like assigning user and group permissions, configuring encryption, time-outs, and thresholds and configuring log files.
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Helix Streaming Media Server
Helix Server is a streaming media server for delivering the highest quality experience to wired and wireless devices. The Xandros Server with Helix provides a powerful new means for Xandros’ customers to communicate with the public as well as a broad range of organizations, including corporations, governments, schools, and non-profits. The Helix Streaming Media Server is an integrated plug-in in the Xandros Management console that makes the process of configuring and managing video streams easy.
Learn more about the RealNetworks Helix Streaming Media Server.
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Local Accounts
This plug-in allows administrators to create server-specific user accounts on individual servers within the managed community. The feature enables administrators to easily grant users permissions to services that are localized to specific servers.
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Managed Community
The Managed Community plug-in provides administrators with a summary view of the community of servers. It shows all the machines and management licenses within the community (both online and offline), and enables administrators to select the machine they want to manage.
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Management Licenses
The Management Licenses plug-in enables administrators to manage permissions of machines attempting to join the managed community. Administrators can renew licenses and add additional licenses to join new machines to the managed community.
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Network Accounts
Xandros Network Accounts are the Xandros equivalent of Windows domain accounts. They are used to authenticate users to any of the services and applications installed on your server when connecting from Xandros desktops, Windows desktops, and any other Linux desktop. In addition, Network Accounts can be used as administrator accounts for Xandros Servers and their managed communities, meaning that all of the user management for your system resides in one, easy-to-use plug-in within the Xandros Management Console. Simply define each user’s rights to administer servers, server groups, and individual services.
From the graphical Network Accounts plug-in, you can manage accounts, templates, groups, storage locations and computers. When you create an account, group or template, Xandros Server’s Network Accounts plug-in provides you with a list of the available plug-ins, like Scalix E-mail and Calendaring, or your file server, for example, and prompts you to specify whether or not the new account, group or template has permission to use that plug-in.
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Performance Monitor
The Performance Monitor enables systems administrators to monitor key metrics of a server such as CPU load, physical and SWAP memory. The plug-in also provides visibility into individual processes, and enables administrators to terminate them, without having to open up a console. The Performance Monitor helps administrators quickly assess how heavily a server is being taxed, and the root causes for the heavy loads.
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Print Server
A Print Server allows administrators to share printers, manage printers, print queues and jobs, and print across the network. Both Xandros Server’s Print Server component and user computers can run on any TCP/IP network. For example, you can have a Windows network to which Xandros Desktop OS and Windows XP computers are connected and submitting print jobs.
Xandros Server manages its Print Server component as a Common UNIX Printing System (CUPS) print server, but removes the complexity of CUPS with a graphical interface. Common functions like adding a new local or network printer, creating printer groups and managing printers and print jobs are all accomplished through the graphical interface rather than from the command line.
The powerful CUPS engine is integrated with a large database of printer drivers. Most printers are automatically recognized and installed by the Print Server. Adding drivers for a printer is a step-by-step process found within the wizard where you can add drivers to support all Windows versions.
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Proxy Server
By reducing exposure to the Internet, your company will enjoy increased security. Clients will be kept safe behind a firewall and only the Proxy Server will have direct contact. Xandros Proxy Server allows you to define access control simply, based on LAN source / destination and user name and password. In addition, Xandros’ Proxy Server supports NTLM secure connections between the Proxy Server and browser and between the Proxy and website. These are done based on challenge – response so passwords are not sent over the Internet.
In addition to increased security, the Proxy Server increases efficiency by caching content. This reduces bandwidth requirements and enables load levelling.
Routing all Internet browsing through the Proxy Server also offers additional control. User activity can be monitored with log files. Domains may even be limited.
You can easily migrate from a Windows-based proxy server. Xandros Proxy Server is interoperable with Windows. It can be used on either a Windows or Linux network. Clients employing its service may also be either Windows or Linux.
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Remote xMC Service
The Remote xMC Service plug-in allows administrators to run the Xandros Management Console remotely over the network from any Windows workstation. This important feature enables remote management of Xandros Servers, and enables servers to run headless.
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Routing
Xandros Routing plug-in comes automatically when you install the Xandros Server. Use it to redirect traffic, for example when you have one subnet connected to another subnet. Setting up the Xandros Routing plug-in is as easy as entering three values: Network address, subnet mask and gateway. You can also enable or deny IP packet forwarding between connections.
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Scalix E-mail and Calendaring
Xandros Server includes Scalix Xandros Edition – the award winning, MS Exchange alternative e-mail and group calendaring solution. It offers e-mail, shared calendaring, group folders and other collaboration features, on a platform that is more stable and secure than Exchange. The Scalix enterprise-class messaging and collaboration platform takes the cost and complexity out of administration and upgrades, and gives you the freedom to choose the applications and desktops that best suit your business needs. As a result, your total cost of ownership is dramatically reduced, and your investment in current and future messaging products is protected.
Learn more about Scalix Xandros Edition E-mail and Calendaring.
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SSH Server
The SSH Server provides a secure connection between two computers. Enabling the SSH Server plug-in allows an administrator to execute commands, and copy and transfer files remotely on Xandros Server over a network or over the Internet with encryption for password authentication, ensuring that only authorized users can access the system. This makes centralized, remote management of Xandros Servers a seamless process and is a key part of the integrated interoperability of Xandros Server’s suite of plug-ins. Administration can be performed from a computer running Linux, UNIX, Windows or MAC-OS and uses a graphical interface to enable, configure, manage and maintain SSH access.
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Storage Manager
Organizing storage into partitions is initially done through the Xandros Server installation wizard. It automatically recognizes your hard drives and suggests effective defaults. Through the installation wizard, administrators can change the proposed defaults, for example, to choose another file system and create partitions.
Once the server is installed, the Storage Manager plug-in in Xandros Management Console is there to seamlessly support your system’s changing needs for storage space, using both physical drives or logical volume management (LVM). LVM makes it easy to add space where needed and it allows you to bundle partitions into groups.
Through the easy-to-use GUI, administrators can add, mount, unmount, format and delete partitions or logical volumes. Xandros provides workflow-based wizards for many of these tasks. In most cases, the changes are implemented without even needing to reboot.
With Xandros, your company can benefit from powerful Linux file services in the efficient, easy to use Xandros Management Console with its seamless support and integration.
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System Monitor
Xandros Server’s System Monitor provides a snapshot of the real time situation of the system and allows you to manage processes on the system. In addition, an administrator can choose from a list of predefined events and set the System Monitor to immediately perform one or several actions.
For example, you could configure System Monitor to alert the system administrator in your London office with an email and a message on his Xandros Management Console when any of the London servers’ CPU core temperatures exceed 55 degrees. Another example is to create an event to monitor memory loads on the system or even on specific processes. If these memory levels are unusually high for an extended period of time, this can be a serious indicator where an action from e-mailing the administrator to automatically restarting the service can be performed.
System Monitor gives an administrator all of the tools to manage processes, diagnose problems and proactively prevent them within a simple, graphical interface.
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Time Server
The Time Server ensures that the time on the computers within a network are always synchronized using Network Time Protocol (NTP). With important implications for file/document version control, encryption and other important business functions, a properly configured time server is a core element to any server-based network. Xandros Server makes configuring and managing syncs with network time servers easy.
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UPS Monitor
The UPS monitor enables administrators to protect servers and data when there is a loss of power. The monitor communicates with attached UPS devices to automatically discover when power is lost, or when the server is being powered by backup batteries. Administrators can create rules for terminating applications, backing up data and shutting down servers based on changes in the power supply.
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Virtual Machine Manager
Virtualization enables companies to run multiple operating systems “virtually” on a single machine. This enables companies to save money by achieving much greater capacity utilization on each physical server. It also helps IT organizations to better respond to business needs by enabling greater flexibility of servers and the applications that run on them.
The Virtual Machine Manager included in Xandros Server greatly simplifies the complex and challenging process of configuring, monitoring and managing virtual machines. Using VMM’s wizards administrators can easily provision and manage multiple virtual machines. Each virtual machine can be configured and managed with the all-graphical Xandros Management Console, just like any other physical server in the Managed Community.
VMM eliminates the headaches of patching kernels and navigating complex command line entries to enable virtualization and set up virtual machines.
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VPN Server
A Virtual Private Network is vital in today’s business environment, where mobile workers need to access a company’s network from around the world. A VPN connects a computer at one location to a computer or network at another location. Employees can log in to the office computer with a user ID and password which are passed to Xandros Server’s User Accounts plug-in for authentication. Once authenticated, the employees can access their files on the network. Encryption is used to secure the connection, compression is used and the VPN server monitors the connection to ensure that data is not altered.
Xandros Server’s VPN Server component takes you through the process of establishing a VPN server, setting up VPN addresses, specifying VPN users, controlling connections, and monitoring the VPN server.
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Web Server
Xandros Server includes the Apache HTTP Server for Web and intranet sites. Apache supports a variety of languages including PHP, Perl, Java (JSP), TCL, Python, Microsoft .NET, ASP, and ISAPI. While Apache is both secure and powerful, configuring a new website on an Apache Server requires some advanced knowledge. Xandros Server removes complexity with an easy-to-use wizard that helps an administrator set up a new intranet, extranet or Public website in minutes. The Xandros Web Server plug-in also integrates wiki and blogging tools to help administrators easily add these collaborative capabilities to their internal and external Web sites.
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Windows Networking
The Windows Networking plug-in within the Xandros Server allows administrators to connect Xandros Server to existing Windows Networks and Windows desktops. Xandros Server can authenticate to a Windows Active Directory Server or Domain controller. It can also operate as a Windows PDC to provide a seamless transition for your business’ current Windows desktop users.
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