Since last four years we have used NethServer 7.9.xxxx { by Nethesis SRL} (community editions...). Which is basically based on Rocky Linux. A well architected with web user interface and also supports SSH for almost all kind of administrative monitoring and control. Designed to be used for Small and Medium business, MsMe's, Startups [even SoHo users would enjoy using - if they would be setting-it-up correctly!]
We started using for some of our local clients (mainly YouTubers, Small office business owners like Charted accountants, Attorney/Advocates/MsMe..) which makes us showcase it to few SMB's where we found that there business needs want more 'aggressive' features (e.g collaboration tools, Backup/Restorage and archival of data securely) like High-Availability, scalability with better networking throughputs, which makes us go extra miles in exploring more and it delivers! All this on a Commodity (readily available) hardware, and trained the technical team to handle and operate of their own. (Would update more...)
Firstly we were not sure as how it would come-out, but, when we tried at our end it stared flying in no time (the community edition) then few of our known once have been given a live demo, then they asked to access of there own, we configured our firewall and VPN for them to directly access our NATed IP and then they did developed some confidence. When we stared perfected the SI capabilities of this platform it helped us to have better goodwill with customers. The most important question every time we face is Platforms Operability, Support, Quality of services, and its setup costing with Bill of Material. Which we work with our customers seamlessly.
Now, since it is based on Open Source technologies and principles and most of the consumer prefer local (in-person) support, we started showcasing architecture more resilient highly available architecture which would be near to Fail-Safe, and would recommend consumer to have their Digital IT Infrastructure over 'Dynamic - Abstracted layer' i.e Virtualized environment(s) over Proxmox - Virtualization platform [which many of our customers are already using] ! Keeping 'Data security Engineering - DSE' as our primary goal!
Point to Ponder :-
- Since we know the nature, pattern and behavior of Open Source and its "patching" (keeping supply-chain security guidelines in mind...) firstly we prefer to chk. the most stable image to be used locally before patching..
- 2ndly, we chk. the patches at our end a prefer to have one level of VAPT done before recommend it to consumers.
