Surprisingly, there are more than 70% of professional firms and small- and medium-size industries operators are not aware of the importance of a good file server with centralised and multi-version backup. They only realise the pain while some serious human errors or disasters happen to them. Many companies argues that it is the software cost that deters them from adopting and implementing such backup measures.

ITWIN Technology now addresses the problem with Linux Samba File Server with centralised and multi-version backup.

Highligted Features

• Share files or folders across the network
• Permission control base on individual users 
• Permission control base on  group or by department
• Full access or read only access for certain users on folders
• Centralized backup
• Graphical user interface for user and permission management
• Fast and reliable and less vulnerable to viruses
• No user limits (No Client Access License needed)
• Simple and easy to manage web browsers, i.e. Internet Explorer and FireFox
• Minimum hardware investment (any branded entry level server will do!)

Key Advantages 

1. 1. Cost Effective: No Windows Client Access License (CAL) is needed for any computers that want to store the data to the server.
2. 2. High Performance: Linux and Samba are both industrial proven technology that delivers excellent performance in enterprise environment. The server comes with embedded gigabit Ethernet port that delivers superb throughput with gigabit managed switch.
3. 3. Good Protection: The server itself is almost virus-proof. The OS is stringent in security and less vulnerable compared to Windows OS.
4. 4. Ease of Management: Samba Server supports roaming profile feature that is commonly used in Windows environment so that all users profiles (including Desktop, My Documents, etc. information) can be retrieved from server and come into action while the users logon to different computers.
5. 5. Disaster Recovery: The multiple versions backup allows the users to recover the important deleted or overwritten files in no time.
    

Our solution consists of the following components:

CentOS is an Enterprise-class Linux Distribution derived from sources freely provided to the public by a prominent North American Enterprise Linux vendor.  CentOS conforms fully with the upstream vendors redistribution policy and aims to be 100% binary compatible. CentOS commits longer update life cycle with stable and tested quality to ensure the users free from worry and licensing burdens.

Samba is an extremely useful networking tool for anyone who has both Windows and Linux systems in the corporate network. Like what the slogan says in Samba website-"Opening windows to a wider world", it allows Windows to share files and printers on the Unix host, and it also allows Linux users to access resources shared by Windows systems.

The use of Samba can provide all users an efficient and seamless integration with all desktop computers and laptop computers that runs Windows OS.

The great direct benefit from the implementation is that - the company does not need to pay Microsoft for any server operating system and its client access license. Meanwhile, it utilizes very low computing resources that save the company from purchasing high end server. It supports all Windows OS platforms irregardless of 32-bit or 64-bit OS.

From the corporate point of view, Samba file service in Linux provides companies a very cost-effective alternative, without paying any Client Access License (CAL), to set up servers for file sharing as well as backup purpose.