Strongbolt News

Strongbolt2 is currently undergoing beta testing

After months of hard work, we are now testing our new product codename SB2.
SB2 installs from a specially crafted USB key and installs using anaconda.
The software payload include a monolithic enterprise kernel, which will provide support for new USB devices and PCI cards.
Please see the following URL for more details: http://www.osoffice.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=654
Strongbolt2 is based on the TeraQube project. Click here for more details.

New Kernel released!

Please visit the following URL for more details, including how to install it:
http://www.osoffice.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?p=3015

Strongbolt is now widely accepted as the new OS for Cobalt microservers with customers worldwide. The installation method developed for the original Cobalt OS has been utilised and enhanced effectively to install the OS without a problem.

We have now introduced more options to configure the software, such as the choice of installing BlueQuartz, and editing partition sizes

Read the CD Install Notes here

Please click here for more details on the Strongbolt Linux Installer

Click here for frequently asked questions about Strongbolt Linux

About Strongbolt Linux

The Strongbolt project is the revival of Sun Cobalt's server appliance product family. Sun Microsystems discontinued the Cobalt line of servers in 2004, and the last patch was released April 19, 2004.Cobalt servers are very popular amongst web developers, as they are easy to use, versatile and were ready to go 'out of the box'. The Strongbolt server is built on Centos.

Coupled with this, the ease of use of a Cobalt RaQ is provided by the Open Source version of the cobalt control panel: BlueQuartz. This combination of security, reliability and 'ease of use' provides a 'class A' web hosting solution. The Strongbolt server is a rom patched, highly tuned operating system inside the sleek blue box that has proven to be reliable and robust for many years. Hosting basic html web pages does not require 2.8GHz Pentium 64bit state-of-the-art hardware, you can run a reliable web server on a Pentium 1 and you would probably not notice the difference in performance!

What does the Strongbolt installer do, and how does it work?

Installs Centos and BlueQuartz to Cobalt RaQ 3's Cobalt RaQ 4's and Cobalt RaQ 550's, Qubes and RaQ XTR's . It will configure and install RAID1 (mirrored) drives if the installer detects 2 hard drives in the appliance.

The installer works in the same way as RaQ install disks! Simply boot up a pc with the install disk, and power up your RaQ!

More Details

• Installs Centos 4.4 and a 2.6 kernel
• Easy to use interface
• Simply boot a pc, and connect the RaQ via ethernet
• Installs in approximately 25 minutes
• Working LCD buttons
• SSH login on initial boot (for maintenance)

Why update?

Cobalt servers were the most popular application server for several years. They have been ideal for commercial web sites, online shops and all sorts of online applications. With their easy to use administration panel and excellent range of features, Cobalt server appliances included everything a web developer could want!
Unfortunately after Sun Microsystems decided to discontinue this popular line of servers, which has left them with no security updates. You can get third party updates from sites such as Nuonce.net and solarspeed, but the operating system itself is not being maintained by anybody. This is a serious security issue, and is something not to be taken lightly.

Features

The appliance integrates the hardware, software, database and development tools needed to deploy applications quickly without any prior server experience. All of these integrated functions translate into an extremely simple system to deploy, use, and manage, all for a total cost well below conventional servers.

The Strongbolt server appliance offers a true plug and play web hosting platform for Internet Service Providers. Millions of web sites are hosted on Sun Cobalt RaQ server appliances worldwide. Furthermore, with an enhanced modular software architecture and a full suite of development tools, the Strongbolt server appliance offers the perfect environment for the developer community to customize and rapidly deploy their applications.

History

High-Performance Server Appliance Brings Reliable Network Applications to Service Providers and Small to Medium Enterprises

SANTA CLARA, CA -- May 13, 2002 -- Sun Microsystems, Inc. is making the delivery of network applications simpler and more affordable than ever with the introduction of the Sun Cobalt RaQ(tm) 550 server appliance. Starting at only $1699, Sun's highest performing server appliance is pre-configured with the hardware and software companies need to deploy e-mail, Web hosting and other Internet applications in minutes -- without prior server experience. The new appliance expands Sun's network edge offerings and brings reliable turnkey services to small and medium enterprises.

Sun's 1U rack-mountable server appliance offers customers a total cost of ownership well below conventional servers. The RaQ 550 is extremely easy to deploy, reduces power consumption and virtually eliminates administration and management costs. Sun has integrated the hardware, Linux operating system, applications, database, key aspects of the Sun(tm) ONE platform and point-and-click user interface to make deploying network applications as simple and reliable as plugging in a household appliance.

"Customers want a no-hassle solution for delivering content and network applications," said Vivek Mehra, vice president and general manager of Sun Cobalt. "The RaQ 550 is the perfect server appliance for network infrastructure applications because it's easy to implement, highly affordable and simple to manage. The RaQ 550 is built to help companies reduce administration costs and get a fast return on investment."

The RaQ 550 is ideal for small to medium enterprises and companies in markets, such as retail and education, seeking to bring their Web hosting infrastructure in-house. The new server appliance also offers improved performance to the thousands of service providers currently using Sun Cobalt appliances as a platform for shared, dedicated and co-location Web hosting.

Developers can use the RaQ 550 to create appliance solutions by adding customer specific applications such as firewall software, CRM or eCommerce software. The Linux developer community and members of Sun's 8,500-plus Cobalt Developer Network will benefit from the improved modular software architecture and a full suite of development tools for customizing and deploying applications in record time.

"Sun Cobalt server appliances extend the value proposition in the server appliance market by integrating the tools and applications into a low-cost, reliable appliance platform," said John Humphreys, server analyst, IDC. "By introducing the RaQ 550, Sun Cobalt continues to innovate and create momentum in the server appliance space as they focus on delivering services to the edge of the network."

The Strongbolt server appliance comes pre-configured with high-value software including the latest versions of the Apache Web server, ProFTPd FTP server, Sendmail Email services, Bind DNS server, MySQL, PHP, Perl, Python, SSHv2 server, 128-bit SSL, Telnet server, SNMP agent, and bandwidth Management service.

Supported Systems

The Strongbolt install system currently supports Cobalt RaQ 3's, RaQ 4's, Qubes, RaQ 550's and RaQ XTR's.

Downloads

Strongbolt Linux Installer version 1.0.6

The Strongbolt installation disk is available to purchase here

Install notes are located here

Strongbolt FAQ is located here