[H-GEN] Linux IT Support Services

[QuarkAV.com - Hilton Travis]

On 5/05/2010 09:17, Russell Stuart wrote:
> [ Humbug *General* list - semi-serious discussions about Humbug and     ]
> [ Unix-related topics. Posts from non-subscribed addresses will vanish. ]
>
> On Tue, 2010-05-04 at 23:31 +1000, Neil Scott wrote:
>    
>> Hi, The company I work for is currently looking into changing their mail
>> servers and mail clients. I have suggested taking a Linux server route.
>> One concern raised this far is that of the lack of technical support. I
>> am in the process of doing up a proposal to the directors and I was
>> wandering if anyone on this list could provide company names that
>> support Linux in the Brisbane area. The head office is in South Brisbane
>> if that makes any difference. Let me know if you require any further
>> details.
>>      
> A "drop in and forget" solution is http://www.netboxblue.com.au/
>
> Never used them myself so I can't personally vouch for them, but:
>
> - They are based in Brisbane (in the valley),
> - It is Linux based,
> - A remarkable (well remarkable to me) and growing number of local
> companies have their name at the bottom of their emails, implying they
> use netboxblue,
> - They provide the hosting for www.humbug.org.au,
> - They host the Brisbane Python Users Group's monthly meetings.
> http://groups.google.com/group/brispy
>
> If you use some inhouse Microsoft based server solution such as SBS to
> provide an internet interface (email, virus scanning, web proxy, ...),
> and want to replace it with a no-maintenance hands off thingy that is
> better than what MS provides, Netbox Blue isn't a bad choice.  One word
> of caution: if you actually want to have an excuse to get your hands
> dirty and fiddle with the server yourself, Netbox blue isn't what you
> are after.  It is an appliance, remotely maintained by Netbox.  They
> frown on people wanting to fiddle with it.
>    
I've seen these and aren't all that impressed with their performance nor 
feature set.  The box I was dealing with is no longer in service.  I 
know someone else who has them on a couple of client sites and is rather 
ho-hum about them.

- Hilton Travis