Server/Network/Database? Not sure what I need for small office?

http://www.salesforce.com/au/?ir=1 http://www.jcurvesolutions.com/ http://www.netsuite.com.au/portal/au/home.shtml OR the haed way .... 1) Zimbra (MS-Exchange replacement); proprietary email shouldn't go thru google or yahoo mail servers. 2a) OpenVPN - whatever location you are at is bugged. Assume this. 2b) TrueCrypt - every laptop has this and all our data is stored in TC volumes, including PST files for those who insist on Outlook still. 3) vTiger - FOSS CRM application 4) Alfresco - FOSS document management done really well 5) MediaWiki - for quick communications and idea capture. We try to capture meeting notes, and other internal process docs in this tool. It is easy to change the content when something needs to be updated. 6) dotProject - project management/tracking and issue tracking. If you are late, that customer won't be back. 7) Tons of FOSS infrastructure - Ubuntu, Xen, openldap, postfix, clamav, openoffice, pidgin, apache, rdiff-backup, samba, cups ... the list goes on and on. 8) Skype - 123Conference isn't bad either 9) dd-wrt/open-wrt/tomato - turn your $20 router into a $600 router with VLAN support. 10) VirtualBox - laptop virtualization; not for production use IMHO. 11) Microsoft tools because you can't get completely away from some of them. MS-Office, MS-Visio, MS-Server 2003/2008 (for our customers). 12) Assorted other apps: pdf995, Quicken H&B, Quickbooks, Indesign, etc. We looked at 37folders/basecamp and were very impressed, but our security needs don't allow for external hosting except at the VM level. We are paranoid because we know what can happen. Our customers are paranoid too. http://www.dotproject.net/ for comments for business use. http://getsatisfaction.com/

Oh boy. You sound like you know enough to be dangerous. First off, I would highly recommend you look into third party software that already does what you want. There is tons of software that is already been designed to do what you are asking so why reinvent the wheel? It will take you literally thousands of hours to duplicate what you can purchase for a couple hundred bucks or less. Second, I would also recommend that whatever you go with have it run off a hosted server. It is much cheaper up front to pay monthly than to buy and hire a tech to configure a server (although you will still need a tech if you want employees sharing files in your office.). Also, with a remote hosted server, you can setup access from any internet connection and your data is safer and protected from theft or fire.

Kim, Start with a business plan. Planning in advance will help you avoid many common mistakes. Most startups and small businesses need not buy or rent a server. There are literally millions of servers available for your use as a service at a price far below the cost to buy and maintain your own. Google alone has over 900,000 servers available for your use. I suggest you register your domain and set up Google Apps. Keep your data in the cloud, where it's protected by world class security that no small business can afford. I also would avoid buying workstations unless you really need to install local software. Every employee who does not absolutely require locally installed software should get a Chromebook, which will vastly simplify and reduce your administration, maintenance, and cost. Chromebooks are less expensive than many workstations at around $300 to $500. With Chromebooks, you don't pay Microsoft $200 to license Windows, you don't have to worry about antivirus, back ups, constantly patching your software, etc. and they go from off to the Internet in under 10 seconds. There are many off the shelf solutions for ecommerce as a service, but that's another question. Let me know if I can help you.