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Embedded Web Servers

Embedded Web Servers. Dave Piscitello, Core Competence, Inc. Lisa Phifer, Core Competence, Inc. David Strom, David Strom, Inc. Our backgrounds. We write about and test products for a living. We consult for some of the vendors involved. What is an embedded web server?. Software-only

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Embedded Web Servers

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  1. Embedded Web Servers Dave Piscitello, Core Competence, Inc. Lisa Phifer, Core Competence, Inc. David Strom, David Strom, Inc.

  2. Our backgrounds We write about and test products for a living. We consult for some of the vendors involved.

  3. What is an embedded web server? • Software-only • QNX, Spyglass • Hardware for managing and configuring something else • routers, switches, hubs, printers • Hardware for deploying Intranet services • what we’ll demonstrate today

  4. What is an Intranet appliance? • Systems that • support HTTP, HTML • serve up files for browser-enabled clients • and more! • and are used to • host a corporate, workgroup, or small business web site, establishing its identity • provide Internet access and LAN services to corporation, workgroup, small biz, K12

  5. Kinds of appliances • Shared disk, filesystem web server • No-frills web server • basic HTML/HTTP • Advanced web server • CGI, Java support, web-enabled discussion groups, eCommerce, etc. • Multi-server appliances • web and file server plus email, router, DNS, DHCP, web cache, firewall, gateway

  6. Products demonstrated • Cisco Micro Webserver 200 • http://www.cisco.com • Microtest WebZerver • http://www.zerver.com • Cobalt Microserver Qube 2700WG • http://www.cobaltmicro.com • Apexx TEAM Internet • http:// www.apexxtech.com

  7. Possible applications • Small business Extranet • SOHO/ROBO Intranet server • Discussion Forum server • Workgroup file/CD ROM sharing • Firewall/Router for Internet access • Remote access router • Office email server • Extranet

  8. Our Design Goals for Appliances • Plug and play • Attach power, connect to Ethernet and go! • User interface • Should be simple, not overly constrained • Access controls for users and groups • Configuration, management via browser • Pre-installed web content, utilities, scripts • Easy integration of these into published site

  9. General State of Appliances • Almost plug and play • User interfaces somewhat limited • Setup of users and groups is tedious • Not well integrated with NOS access controls • Not ready for certain extranet applications • No SSL, PKI, eCommerce support • Not for high-performance web serving • Expect to support ~50 users, <T1 access

  10. What features do you need? Ask yourself, ask your vendor: • Types of network attachment? • How extensible is the web server? • DHCP, DNS, Mail servers included? • Type of built-in OS, web server software? • How many different ways to upload files? • What other tools are bundled with the box? • Are design, content templates included?

  11. Feature comparison

  12. Appliances: Pros • Simplicity over NT & UNIX servers, • esp. for organizations with little orno OS admin expertise • Reduced total cost of ownership • Can lock down web site easier than with general purpose computing platform server

  13. Appliances: Cons • Can’t find and manage on corporate net • not issue for those that support SMB/CIFS/AppleShare • May need more than browser to manage • telnet, proprietary wizards, • Difficult to apply uniform user and group access controls across both appliances and NOS systems • How scalable is CPU, storage, network?

  14. My favorite appliance Lisa: TEAMInternet Why: “I want a one-box-does-it-all turn-key solution for small biz LANs.” Dave P: Cobalt Why: “I want DNS, web and mail in an appliance behind my own firewall, router.” David S: Zerver Why: “I want the easiest web publishing appliance available."

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