Boston University Linux is a customized version of Fedora Core Linux optimized for the specific needs of BU.
Boston University Linux, a Fedora Core Linux-based operating system, has been customized specifically for use in the BU environment. The developers have added security updates, optimized software performance based on BU's needs, and integrated a selection of useful applications.
The server edition of BU Linux is a reliable, long-term deployment platform for various roles throughout the university. Currently, only i686-class machines are supported, while AMD64 and Intel EM64T systems will work in 32-bit mode. A 64-bit version is set to release later this summer.
BU Linux includes three different Mail Transfer Agents (MTA) options in its Server Edition - Postfix, Sendmail and Exim. IBM's Postfix is configured by default, allowing the exchange of mail locally and the sending of messages to external systems. However, BU global accounts appear to come from @bu.edu instead of @hostname.bu.edu, and would require configuration for it to receive mail from the network. BU's traditional Sendmail is also included alongside the new Exim MTA. Users can switch between MTAs using the system-switch-mail utility.
BU Linux provides two options for FTP servers, vsftpd and ProFTPd, with vsftpd being the simpler and more secure option. However, users should note that FTP is an insecure protocol, and it is recommended to use anonymous FTP for file transfer. For user-authenticated file transfers, users can use SSH and SFTP, which are provided by the OpenSSH server and enabled by default.
The web server software included in BU Linux is Apache httpd, accompanied by PHP 4.3 and various other web development tools. To provide authenticated access to web services to BU users, developers would need to contact the team for the University-standard Weblogin module. This module permits single-signon access control for BU users, ensuring powerful and flexible access control for the BU community.
Users can choose between MySQL 4.1 and PostgreSQL 7.4 as their database servers in BU Linux. SQLite 3 is also provided for less intensive SQL applications, enabling fast set-up and maintenance of SQL databases.
Overall, BU Linux is a robust, secure, and optimized platform for users in the BU environment. The included applications and customization increase the efficiency and capabilities of the operating system, with more features and updates in the near future.
The server edition of BU Linux is a reliable, long-term deployment platform for various roles throughout the university. Currently, only i686-class machines are supported, while AMD64 and Intel EM64T systems will work in 32-bit mode. A 64-bit version is set to release later this summer.
BU Linux includes three different Mail Transfer Agents (MTA) options in its Server Edition - Postfix, Sendmail and Exim. IBM's Postfix is configured by default, allowing the exchange of mail locally and the sending of messages to external systems. However, BU global accounts appear to come from @bu.edu instead of @hostname.bu.edu, and would require configuration for it to receive mail from the network. BU's traditional Sendmail is also included alongside the new Exim MTA. Users can switch between MTAs using the system-switch-mail utility.
BU Linux provides two options for FTP servers, vsftpd and ProFTPd, with vsftpd being the simpler and more secure option. However, users should note that FTP is an insecure protocol, and it is recommended to use anonymous FTP for file transfer. For user-authenticated file transfers, users can use SSH and SFTP, which are provided by the OpenSSH server and enabled by default.
The web server software included in BU Linux is Apache httpd, accompanied by PHP 4.3 and various other web development tools. To provide authenticated access to web services to BU users, developers would need to contact the team for the University-standard Weblogin module. This module permits single-signon access control for BU users, ensuring powerful and flexible access control for the BU community.
Users can choose between MySQL 4.1 and PostgreSQL 7.4 as their database servers in BU Linux. SQLite 3 is also provided for less intensive SQL applications, enabling fast set-up and maintenance of SQL databases.
Overall, BU Linux is a robust, secure, and optimized platform for users in the BU environment. The included applications and customization increase the efficiency and capabilities of the operating system, with more features and updates in the near future.
What's New
Version 4.5 Server Edition (Zodiac): N/A