Sun Improves Qube Server

Jamie Fenton

Do you need an easy-to-run, easy-to-manage server for your small to medium-size business or organization? Sun Microsystems has upgraded its Cobalt Qube line of Linux-based servers, each capable of handling up to 150 users.

Each bright blue Cobalt Qube 3 case is smaller than a four-slice toaster and can provide Web serving, e-mail, FTP, Telnet, domain name service, page caching, site filtering, and file and print serving. About the only thing missing is the ability to use SSL encryption for a shopping cart. I looked at a shipping version of the top-of-the-line, $2099 Sun Cobalt Qube 3 Professional Plus Edition Server Appliance, which includes 512MB of RAM, two 40GB hard drives functioning as a RAID-1 array, and a 450-MHz AMD processor. It also has two 10/100 base-T ethernet interfaces; serial, USB, and SCSI ports; and an LCD screen with a control panel.

Aside from having more RAM and hard disk space within, the hardware is the same as in earlier models and relatively slow. However, the well-organized quick-start guide makes setting up the unit easy, even for a novice.

Sun has revamped the Web administration interface, which is now available in seven languages. And the server's administrative responsibilities can be shared. For example, a company employee may be deputized to assign user names and passwords, but prevented from inadvertently damaging the network configuration. Sun also has improved the Cobalt Qube 3's Windows Networking support. Users can share files, a single local USB printer, and several network printers. And you may employ a Cobalt Qube 3 instead of a Windows server on many simple LANs.

Jamie Fenton

Buying Information

Sun Microsystems Cobalt Qube 3 Professional Plus Edition Server Appliance 4 stars (06/02/2002) Solid, compact server is now beefed up and easier to use. List: $2099