Secondary School

We decided to implement our own email server about 2 years ago because it would be more secure to have administrative contols and able to monitor our emails better instead of having them hosted with an outside ISP company.

We chose ThizLinux over other platform in comparable to security, reliablility and cose. Linux was no doubt the conceivable substitute especially we would use the server as a web server. The cost savings on Windows users license fee was substantial.

The type of services provided by two ThizLinux servers are web, mail and firewall, serving 80 staffs and about 1000 students each day.

As end users are more concerned with front end application and less attentive to back-end operation of server, users' resistance to back-end servers transition is minimal. Therefore, the project planning was rather easy as long as the front end application is user-friendly.

In addition, the transition was very satisfactory due to the accountable consultant teams from ThizLinux. That greatly lessened our risk management burden. With their expertise, they not only reminded us the hidden bombs but also quickly resolved any obstacles along the installation.

During the implememtation process, there were only a few hiccups in the beginning.

Users experience the network speed was slow after the firewall server was deployed.
Solutions: setup a web proxy for web surfing; optimizing the firewall rules to improve network preformance.

All in all, staff and teachers were very fond of the new system and the new email address system. It is more unique than before. In addition, as the email address is our own school name, it enhances the identity of our school.

Implemetation Process

1. ThizLinux server for web and mail
   Step 1: Installation of Linux server
   Step 2: Apache configuration
   Step 3: Sendmail configuration
   Step 4: Technical briefing
   Deployment time: 3 hours
   
   
2. Linux Firewall
   Step 1: Installation of Linux server
   Step 2: To design packet filtering rules
   Step 3: Setup DMZ for external servers
   Step 4: Integrating the firewall into the existing network
   Deployment time: 6 hourse

We thought of implementing a web mail server was that we saw its advantage in increasing the communication among facilities. Now teachers and staff can work anywhere and anytime where there is an Internet connection. The delivered result provided end users with convenience and freedom, and hopefully, productivity will also be improved.

We implemented ThizLinux servers about 2 years aog. We were very pleased that our upfront investment on hardware and software saving was about 34% as indicated in the following table: