General index of the series: Computer Networks for SMEs: Introduction
Hello friends!
We want to do the «first virtual cut»Before diving into the implementation and configuration of the most common network services used in SMEs. We say "virtual cut", since we will surely write again on topics already covered but with other distributions: a desktop with CentOS or with OpenSuSE and others. They are deliveries that I still have to do because I don't have the more or less complete repositories of those distributions at my disposal.
In our articles we only give a Point on each topic covered. It can not be any other way. It is true that we try to delve a little into each of them, with the purpose of serving as a guide for Spanish-speaking readers when implementing a service, whether for testing or for production.
- LThe procedures described in all published articles are functional even for production environments. We do not write about anything that we have not tested and verified several times.
We try to follow a logical order in the deliveries. The first topics were dedicated to making us a Work Station. Then, with Debian and CentOS, to make a hypervisor about Qemu-KVM. Later to manage the hypervisors, either through the Virt-Manager, the commands virt-commands, or through the main interface to manage hypervisors which is the command virsh, closely linked to the bookstore libvirt.
Why do we insist on Qemu-KVM, Virt-Manager and Virsh?
- The above programs are installed and configured in much the same way on the distributions selected as the basis for the SMB series.
- They are found by default in the repositories of these distributions and even on the installation DVDs.
- At least I know that Ubuntu, CentOS, and OpenSuSE, offer in each of their Installers a dedicated option to install a hypervisor.
- They do not depend at all on the desktop environment used.
- A solution based on the previous programs works very well in the following scenarios, varying the selection of the Administration Interface, depending on the number of hypervisors and their virtual machines, or according to personal preferences and tastes:
- Desk - desktop
- Workstation - WorkStation
- Single hypervisor
- Multiple hypervisors as in the case of an SME
- A cloud, Cloud, Data Center, Service Hosting, or whatever you want to call a large set of physical and virtual servers
We cannot deny that a solution based on Qemu-KVM is extremely scalable, and that comes by default in most of the repositories of the Linux operating systems most used in the business environment.
At Data Center where my friend and colleague Julio Cesar Carballo works, they have more than 4000 servers with Qemu-KVM, OpenStack administration interface, and Ubuntu Server operating system. Another friend and colleague, Eduardo Noel Nuñez, has 4 hypervisors with Qemu-KVM, oVirt administration interface, and CentOS 7 operating system. Don't just believe the references that we present as well-known examples. Search the Internet for how many large and small companies have adopted this solution.
Many Readers and Followers of my articles know of my preference for Debian. However, I have always recognized the Leadership of the Red Hat, Inc. company in the business world using Linux, not to mention SuSE Enterprise and derivatives.
- My opinion: The bet of Red Hat, Inc. against VMware solutions, is precisely Qemu-KVM, libvirt, Virt-Manager and oVirt. According to my modest knowledge and understanding, Red Hat, Inc, has long been taking the best part of the pie,
Why don't we write about Ubuntu?
We consider that the topics covered regarding the implementation of network services on Debian, serve as an initial guide for Ubuntu. Canonical is strongly moving its Ubuntu Server distribution towards the enterprise environment. I have even read opinions that he has abandoned his Ubuntu Desktop a bit, an approach with which I do not agree. Ubuntu is the distribution that made the difference in the use of Linux on Desktops. Linux Mint, a direct descendant of Ubuntu, offers -among other improvements- a more complete solution in terms of the number of initial packages needed, to make life easier for a user who has just arrived at Linux.
If we visit many sites dedicated to publishing articles about services, we will find abundance of them about this distribution. On the other hand, there are the official Ubuntu sites dedicated to the topic of network services in which very good articles are offered.
In the article Distribution over time of Linux Distributions we made it clear why we selected Debian, CentOS - RHEL, and OpenSuSe - SuSE, as base distributions for our articles.
What articles have we published so far?
- Computer Networks for SMEs: Introduction
- Workstation installation
- 6 Debian Desktops
- Virtualization on Debian: Introduction
- Qemu-Kvm + Virt-Manager on Debian
- virt-commands on Debian
- CentOS Presentation
- virsh command
- Virt-Manager and virsh: Remote Administration via SSH
- CentOS 7 Hypervisor I
- CentOS 7 Hypervisor II
- Distribution over time of Linux Distributions
What topics will we discuss in the future?
- Implementation of the most common services in SMEs: DNS, DHCP, NTP, etc.
- CentOS and OpenSuSE workstations
- Virtualization with OpenSuSE
- DNS and DHCP with OpenSuSE using Yast
- … and much more
And until the next adventure, friends!
Magnificent series friend Federico. As I already mentioned, I continue to apply it in production with very good results. In addition, I already made my home laboratory to continue with the topics that I will not apply in my company. My respects!.
Glad to hear you took my advice, Zodiac. Wait for the next articles.
What a great job you have done on the blog, my dear Federico, I am one of those who have set up a personal laboratory following your recommendations step by step. It is undoubtedly one of my best hobbies lately to read your accurate and experienced articles in detail.
Thank you very much for every detail and every minute you offer to teach someone like me, we have much, much to learn.
So, dear Lagarto, as there are many visitors to this series - although they do not comment - I will continue writing. Wait for the next ones about openSUSE!