A One-Stop Server Package: 602 LAN Suite 2004

When friends of mine started a new consultancy business to clean and restore damaged museum objects, I set up their IT system and found a one-stop solution for much of what I needed. 602 LAN Suite 2004 is an integrated set of programs with dynamic host configuration tools for networking computers, a built-in firewall, Web servers, fax, e-mail, and proxy servers that can improve network performance and security. It runs on Microsoft Windows, but can also handle cross-platform clients. And, it is free for up to five users.

Granted, this comprehensive server suite might seem like overkill for a network of fewer than five users, but 602 LAN Suite is worth looking into for a small Windows network of between eight to 25 users. Without the optional anti-virus protection, the software costs $150 for 10 users and $300 for 25. The anti-virus edition is a bit pricier at $100 for five users, $300 for 10, and $500 for 25.

Requirements

Hardware requirements increase as you add users, but requirements are fairly modest for a small group (I tested the program with eight users, although the manual provides hardware specs for more than 50). If you are quixotic enough to try it, 602 LAN Suite will even run on Windows 98 (with a maximum of 10 users); however, I suggest running it on Windows 2000 or later.

Be sure to include a back-up system in your hardware budget, as a crashing mail server without backup is always bad news. At the very least, consider buying two removable hard drives (one to use and one to store off-site).

602 LAN Suite supports a dial-up Internet connection or, better, an always-on connection such as a T1 line. If you use the fax server, you will also need a fax modem and a phone line. (Visit the 602 Software site to learn about additional system requirements.)

Setting It Up

Many small organizations have no on-site tech support beyond one person trained in basic administration and troubleshooting. 602 LAN Suite makes the job easier for these "accidental techies" by reducing the number of interfaces they have to learn. While you can find a number of individual programs that together carry out the same functions as this package, your hapless part-time techie must then master half a dozen different interfaces. With 602 LAN Suite, all the settings are accessible through a single-tabbed notebook interface.

Set-up is fairly painless, although a bit of networking savvy always helps. The documentation is clear, and the configuration wizard does a good job of walking you through the set-up process. Simply choose which features to enable when you install the program. (All settings can be edited after the wizard is complete.)

I've listed below an overview of some of the most important set-up options for small nonprofits. (Keep in mind that I have not used or tested all of the services in 602 LAN Suite -- and there are many.)

• Your e-mail needs are covered by SMTP and POP3 servers, SSL for secure mailing, and spam filtering. No spam filter is ever completely effective, but with Bayesian filtering, DNS look-ups, and IP filtering with blacklisting and whitelisting, you should be able to reduce the flood of junk mail to a trickle. On top of this, there is a paid option to add BitDefender's integrated e-mail and attachment virus scanning, which is probably worth considering if you don't already have anti-virus software.
• For users who want to check e-mail outside of the office, you can enable remote access by Web mail and WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) devices.
• On the networking side, Internet sharing is provided by NAT (Network Address Translation) and a proxy server, which are secured by IP address filtering and a packet-filtering firewall. Firewall configuration can be as simple as choosing a preset security level, or you can adjust the individual rules to meet your specifications.
• The software includes a Web server that can be configured to support PHP scripting for dynamic Web pages.
• The DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server distributes IP addresses easily, and by using the one included in this package, you keep all the server application settings in one place.

One year of e-mail support is included with every purchase (additional support, including phone support, is available for a fee), and the 602 Web site includes a free knowledgebase, online support section with documentation, and user forums. The free version does not include e-mail or phone support, but you can purchase either of those services on the company's Web site.

Package Limitations

Of course, no package is right for everyone, and as you consider this one, be aware of its limitations.

Backup and restore is an all-or-nothing operation with 602 LAN Suite, so make sure your users understand this. If the executive director trashes a mailbox, the entire organization could lose a day's worth of messages to recover it.

In addition, if you need sophisticated group work functions, such as the public folder and scheduling capabilities of Microsoft Exchange, then this might not be the package for you. Do keep in mind that there are simpler options if all you want to do is share calendars. The PHP-capable Web server, for example, could be used to run an intranet for your organization.

Given the abundance of features offered in this package, it might seem ungrateful to ask for more, but a list server would have rounded off the e-mail functions nicely, allowing your organization to send e-newsletters or run mailing lists.

If funds are limited, running all of your server applications on one box makes sense. Those with more resources, however, might want to avoid putting all their eggs in one basket. Personally, I generally prefer to have my proxy server separate so that the Internet connection can be used even if the mail server goes down.

Even so, I would recommend 602 LAN Suite without question for small nonprofits with limited IT staff and networks of around eight to 25 users.