PostgreSQL hasn’t had much coverage on this site yet and that’s something we’re going to correct now. PostgreSQL has, for the longest time, had a running rivalry with MySQL as the great open source database. MySQL has arguably been more popular but PostgreSQL is not without its share of advocates and adherents.
In this short article, we’re going to take a quick look at two tools written for designing and administering PostrgreSQL databases. These were selected for their recent releases this April.
First up, we have pgDesigner, an open source program for graphic design of PostgreSQL databases. pgDesigner is written in Gambas, a Visual BASIC-like programming language and requires Gambas to run. pgDesigner is currently at version 1.2.3.
Next, we have phpPgAdmin, a web-based administration tool for PostgreSQL databases. phpPgAdmin can administer multiple servers and is ideal for managing remote databases. Almost all aspects of a running PostgreSQL database can be managed using phpPgAdmin. phpPgAdmin is currently at version 4.2.
We’ve covered Hyperic HQ on this site before as part of the set of open source system management products. Hyperic has just announced version 3.2.3 of its HQ product.
To recap: Hyperic HQ provides open source system management of Apache, Tomcat, LAMP, WAMP, WebSphere, JBoss, and WebLogic stacks. It also manages virtualization and VMware machines. The product is under the GPL license and is freely downloadable. On the other hand, the Hyperic HQ Enterprise is only available as an time-limited evaluation download.
Hyperic HQ is deployed in two parts: the HQ server, which collects and presents the information from the agents; and the HQ agents, which run on the monitored system.
Hyperic HQ 3.2.3 is available as a free download.
BitRock InstallBuilder, currently at version 5.4.6, allows you to create multiplatform installers for Linux (x86/PPC/s390/x86_64/Itanium), Windows, Mac OS X, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, Solaris (x86/Sparc), IRIX, AIX, and HP-UX applications. The generated application installers have a native look-and-feel and no external dependencies, and can be run in GUI, text, and unattended modes. In addition to self-contained installers, the installation tool is also able to generate standalone RPM packages.
The latest version features improved file copying speed on Unix, the ability to pass installation variables from the command line, and comment preservation in XML.
Sourceforge announces the release of SBLIM, the Standards Based Linux Instrumentation for Manageability 1.3.0, otherwise pronounced ’sublime.’ This project bears watching as it is an IBM-initiated open source project. It is intended to enhance the manageability of Linux systems by enabling WBEM, the Web Based Enterprise Manager.
WBEM is a set of systems management technologies developed to unify the management of distributed computing environments. It is based on Internet standards and DMTF open standards: CIM infrastructure and schema, CIM-XML, CIM operations over HTTP, WS-Management.
More info on SBLIM at the SBLIM wiki.
ISPConfig 2.2.22 released last April 11.
This ISPConfig release adds support for Fedora 9, Mandriva 2008.1 and Ubuntu 8.04.
It contains many small enhancements and several minor bugs were fixed.
ISPConfig manages webserver, mailserver, BIND DNS, proftpd + vsftpd FTP server, mySQL databases, spamassassin and diskquotas with an easy to use webinterface for administrators, resellers and clients.
It’s not a full-blown system administration framework but it’s a great tool for managing a few servers.
Zenoss Core 2.1.91 (Zenoss 2.2 Beta 2) is now available for download.
We wrote about Zenoss as part of our quick roundup of open source system management frameworks a few days ago. Zenoss Core is an enterprise network and systems management application written in Python/Zope. Zenoss provides an integrated product for monitoring availability, performance, events and configuration across layers and across platforms.
This present release is in anticipation of version 2.2 of Zenoss.
If you’re running a business with less than ten computers, chances are system management is not on top of your agenda. However, beyond this number, it really is something that you should consider, if you haven’t already done so.
System management covers a range of tasks and processes involved with, well, managing your computers. This includes inventory (how many computers you have, their corresponding components, part numbers, the software installed on them), performance (memory, disk space, and CPU usage), monitoring (which systems are up and which ones are down), alerts (which one went down right now), backup / restore, installation / upgrade, remote control, and reporting.
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