Embedded Web Servers

1
Embedded Web Servers

• Dave Piscitello, Core Competence, Inc.
• Lisa Phifer, Core Competence, Inc.
• David Strom, David Strom, Inc.

2
Our backgrounds

• We write about and test products for a living.
• We consult for some of the vendors involved.

3
What is an embedded web server?

• Software-only
• QNX, Spyglass
• Hardware for managing and configuring something
  else
• routers, switches, hubs, printers
• Hardware for deploying Intranet services
• what well demonstrate today

4
What is an Intranet appliance?

• Systems that
• support HTTP, HTML
• serve up files for browser-enabled clients
• and more!
• and are used to
• host a corporate, workgroup, or small business
  web site, establishing its identity
• provide Internet access and LAN services to
  corporation, workgroup, small biz, K12

5
Kinds of appliances

• Shared disk, filesystem web server
• No-frills web server
• basic HTML/HTTP
• Advanced web server
• CGI, Java support, web-enabled discussion groups,
  eCommerce, etc.
• Multi-server appliances
• web and file server plus email, router, DNS,
  DHCP, web cache, firewall, gateway

6
Products demonstrated

• Cisco Micro Webserver 200
• http//www.cisco.com
• Microtest WebZerver
• http//www.zerver.com
• Cobalt Microserver Qube 2700WG
• http//www.cobaltmicro.com
• Apexx TEAM Internet
• http// www.apexxtech.com

7
Possible applications

• Small business Extranet
• SOHO/ROBO Intranet server
• Discussion Forum server
• Workgroup file/CD ROM sharing
• Firewall/Router for Internet access
• Remote access router
• Office email server
• Extranet

8
Our Design Goals for Appliances

• Plug and play
• Attach power, connect to Ethernet and go!
• User interface
• Should be simple, not overly constrained
• Access controls for users and groups
• Configuration, management via browser
• Pre-installed web content, utilities, scripts
• Easy integration of these into published site

9
General State of Appliances

• Almost plug and play
• User interfaces somewhat limited
• Setup of users and groups is tedious
• Not well integrated with NOS access controls
• Not ready for certain extranet applications
• No SSL, PKI, eCommerce support
• Not for high-performance web serving
• Expect to support 50 users, ltT1 access

10
What features do you need?

• Ask yourself, ask your vendor
• Types of network attachment?
• How extensible is the web server?
• DHCP, DNS, Mail servers included?
• Type of built-in OS, web server software?
• How many different ways to upload files?
• What other tools are bundled with the box?
• Are design, content templates included?

11
Feature comparison
12
Appliances Pros

• Simplicity over NT UNIX servers,
• esp. for organizations with little orno OS admin
  expertise
• Reduced total cost of ownership
• Can lock down web site easier than with general
  purpose computing platform server

13
Appliances Cons

• Cant find and manage on corporate net
• not issue for those that support
  SMB/CIFS/AppleShare
• May need more than browser to manage
• telnet, proprietary wizards,
• Difficult to apply uniform user and group access
  controls across both appliances and NOS systems
• How scalable is CPU, storage, network?

14
My favorite appliance

• Lisa TEAMInternet
• Why I want a one-box-does-it-all turn-key
  solution for small biz LANs.
• Dave P Cobalt
• Why I want DNS, web and mail in an appliance
  behind my own firewall, router.
• David S Zerver
• Why I want the easiest web publishing appliance
  available."