 June Linux Shareware Are You being Served? This month, we look at some of the more recent additions to the Linux server space. Since a typical Linux distribution comes with enough software to perform most of the tasks and basic network services required, we investigate some of the newer and rarer gems of Linux server software.
By Mike McCana
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| Chili!soft ASP | |||||
| Active Server Page, or ASP (not to be confused with Application Service Provider) is a server-side scripting language similar to PHP, Coldfusion or Perl. Like its multiplatform contemporaries, ASP's strength is its ability to provide database integration with minimal processor-load at the server end, and without requiring the user to compile or reveal customised code. Microsoft's version of ASP is developed to integrate with Windows technologies such as ActiveX and COM. ASP is a popular language, but it can only be served from Microsoft's proprietary Web server which may be a barrier to using the skills of any Windows developers you employ inhouse if you use Web service software such as Apache (which is more widely used, and considered to be more stable and secure). Chili!soft ASP removes this barrier; it's a plug-in that allows Apache and other Web service software to serve ASP. | |||||
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Download the version for your
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| Author/Publisher: | Chili!soft | ||||
| License: | 30-day trial version. Full version is $US495.00 per server if purchased before the end of 2000. | ||||
| Requirements: | Redhat Linux 6.0 or 6.1, Apache [version 1.2.6, 1.3.3, 1.3.4, 1.3.9, 1.3.11] | ||||
| Installation: | http://www.chilisoft.com/ | ||||
 Links online: |
http://www.chilisoft.com/ | ||||
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| Citrix Metaframe Client | |||||
| The Citrix ICA Client allows applications on remote Windows, Unix and Linux servers running Citrix Winframe or Metaframe, to be displayed and operated locally. ICA is a proprietary protocol that provides compact transmission of control input data and display information between the server and client. Its performance is far superior to NT and Unix's native protocols (RDP and X respectively). Among other things, the ICA client provides a way to use software that isn't currently ported to the Linux platform on a Linux desktop. Currently, the Metaframe server software, is only available for Windows NT and Solaris, but a Linux version should be available towards the end of the year. This demo connects to Citrix's servers in the US, which has a noticeable impact on its performance. | |||||
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Download the version for your
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| Author/Publisher: | Citrix Systems, Inc | ||||
| License: | Client Demo version. Full Linux client is provided free, but needs a Metaframe server to connect to. | ||||
| Requirements: | Linux, X windows, an Internet connection. | ||||
| Links online: |
http://www.citrix.com/ | ||||
| Rating: |  |
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| Ethereal | |||||
| Ethereal is a packet analyser. It captures data packets circulating around a live network connection, identifies the information contained within those packets, and allows the user to view it in a simple hierarchical tree. It is a handy tool for analysing and resolving problems that arise in large-scale networks; similar products are typically only found in network management suites costing thousands of dollars. Ethereal supports a wide variety of interface and packet types, and supports captures files from 13 other major competing utilities. It supports capture and display filters that sort the useful data from the guff. You can operate the program through a simple GUI or in text mode, compress and decompress on the fly; and the program will output as simple text or postscript. | |||||
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Download the version for your
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| Author/Publisher: | The Ethereal Team | ||||
| License: | GNU Public License | ||||
| Requirements: | GTK, Perl. | ||||
| Links online: |
http://ethereal.zing.org | ||||
| Rating: |  |
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| Nessus | |||||
| Nessus
is a security auditing system that identifies network vulnerability. It
will remotely detect potential security problems that may arise with
operating systems, applications, network hardware, inadequate
administration and so on. The application is built using client-server and
plug-in architecture. The server component performs a series of attacks on
the network, but its front end is a client that can be run on a separate,
remote system. The client features an elegant user interface and it has a
vast range of reporting capabilities (HTML, LaTex, and Postscript). The
applications also incorporate plug-in architecture. Each security test
that the application performs is written as a separate plug-in so you can
make and add your own tests without reading the Nessus source code. It
also has portable and secure scripting capabilities, and does not run its
tests with the expectation that any network service will be running on a
particular port in accordance with networking conventions. Nessus updates
are available within hours of a trusted source publicising any newly
discovered network vulnerability (versus weeks or months for similar
products). Nessus' source code is publicly available and published
independently of any one commercial security firm. This excellent product
is the best in its class.
Note: Please be aware that using Nessus to scan a network you do not administer is considered a malicious act. Please refrain from scanning any target you do not not have authority to scan. |
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Download the version for your
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| Author/Publisher: | Nessus team | ||||
| License: | Library GNU Public License | ||||
| Requirements: | GTK 1.2, GTK 1.2 Devel [most recent Linux distributions] | ||||
| Links online: |
http://www.nessus.org | ||||
| Rating: |  |
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| Virtual Network Computing | |||||
| Invented by the UK research division of American telecom giant AT&T, Virtual Network Computing (VNC) allows a Linux administrator to take control of a remote machine on any platform. The remote machine appears as a window on the Linux administrator's desktop. The remote machine acts as a remote server, allowing the Linux administrator to control it by transmitting keyboard and mouse movement back to the VNC client window. VNC is fast, stable, and best of all, it's much more flexible than its counterparts (eg. many cannot send a Ctrl-Alt-Del signal using the keyboard). Combined with with the Secure Shell (see APC April 2000, page 38), it can provide highly secure remote administration. The product also makes an excellent desktop support solution, eliminating the need for tiresome telephone conversations or travel. | |||||
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Download the version for your
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| Author/Publisher: | AT&T Research | ||||
| License: | GNU Public License | ||||
| Requirements: | Perl, Xwindows, Glibc 6 and other common libraries | ||||
| Links online: |
http://www.uk.research.att.com/vnc/ | ||||
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Australian Consolidated Press 2000. All rights reserved.
