We've been using Unix-based software since the mid 80's. In 1995, we built a prototype Internet access server, which allowed a single computer running Unix with a dial-up modem Internet connection to share Internet access with more than a dozen different client computers on the LAN. After demoing the device at a Brussels school, we took the design a few steps further – the WaWserver was born.

Computers were still relatively expensive eight years ago, so we combined several server software packages on a single access server: demand-dialing, Web proxy, mail server, intranet server, DNS cache, DHCP server, ... We had a low-capital-investment gateway solution for connecting a small company to the Internet, while keeping fixed monthly costs carefully in check.

Recently, though, the cost of computer hardware has plummeted. Nowadays, it makes sense to distribute the services your business needs over different machines: the firewall guarding your gateway to the Internet, your private, local file server, your mail server, your public Web site, your intranet database software... The software on each machine can be upgraded easily and securely on each individual server, eliminating the risk of an upgrade to one service breaking another.

All our software is Linux-based. Linux offers a huge developer base and a growing worldwide user base. Linux provides an extremely stable foundation on which we've constructed different servers, each based on world-class Free Software application packages. The flexibility of this architecture, especially the total absence of arbitrary licensing fees or restrictions allows us to tailor your server systems exactly to your current needs. And as your needs evolve, we can add, combine, or re-purpose your servers to meet any future requirements.

We can create specific servers to meet specific needs. For instance, if you needed a server to monitor a bank of fax lines and email each individual incoming fax to employees on your staff, we can build a server to do just that.

More commonly, though, are servers for common Internet communications tasks. We've prepared a series of standard servers, to meet needs common to most companies.

Linux Firewall Internet Access Point

A firewall is the keystone of Internet connectivity. It sits between your Local Area Network (LAN) and the Internet, protecting you from attempts by nasties on the outside from reaching your machines. It filters all Internet traffic coming from or going to your desktop machines.

While not absolutely necessary, putting the firewall on a separate machine is a very good idea from a security point of view. This gatekeeper machine can then filter and re-direct specific requests (like email) to separate, dedicated server computers to handle these services.

Linux Secure Wireless Access Point (WAP)

Wireless networks (WLANs or WiFi networks) are becoming increasingly common today, especially for roaming notebook users. They're very flexible and convenient. However, since they don't need a physical connection to access, they're fairly easy to snoop or abuse, from the office next door, across the street, or even, with an appropriate antenna, from up to several kilometers away.

A secure wireless access point can greatly improve privacy and security, and let you control exactly who can access what over the airwaves.

Linux Mail Server

Email has become so universally accepted that you can sometimes wonder how we got along without it. But now it's" rapidly becoming less usable, because the mail you want to receive is buried under dozens or even hundreds of unwanted messages (spam), not to mention email viruses.

Some ISPs are offering spam filtering on incoming email. The downside is that their filtering can be dangerous for you -- what if an email from a potential client gets lost because it looks like spam to your ISP?

But if you have your own mail server, you can run filters on your incoming mail, and eliminate viruses before they reach your desktop. We've even prepared a spam filter that learns from your reactions what you consider as spam or not.

Our mail server offers a full suite of programs to remove viruses, clean spam and provide email access for everyone you want to authorize, even securely over the Web.

Linux Web/Database server

Extremely reliable database software is available in the Open Source world. For fast simple table lookups on high-traffic websites, MySQL is a common choice. For transaction-oriented work, however, a even more feature-rich database is available: PostgreSQL.

Our database servers offer both MySQL and PostgreSQL, running under Linux, along with the programming languages and tools to connect to and use the database of your choice.

Linux File Server

Linux has great file server capabilities. It can provide network drive space for Windows, Macintosh, or Unix-based clients. The best thing, though, is that for eack type of client computer, the files appear to be served by their native host! For example, Windows clients think they're connecting to a Windows NT server, Macintosh clients think their connecting to an Appleshare server, and Unix machines can see they're connecting to another server.

Thus, with no additional client software, you can seamlessly connect a heterogeneous pool of computers together so that they can all share information and work together.