NethServer has recently announced the release of the project Netserver 8.5, which aims to provide a platform for deploying server applications in isolated containers using a cluster of local or cloud servers. The platform is positioned as a simple container orchestration solution for system administrators of small offices and medium-sized enterprises who prefer not to use complex tools such as Kubernetes.
Prior to the 8.X branch, the project had its own distribution for quick deployment of typical servers, based on CentOS. With the release of NethServer 8, it has transformed into a universal platform that can be installed on Rocky Linux 9, Centos Stream 9, AlmaLinux 9, and Debian 12 distributions. Instead of installing RPM packages, NethServer now launches self-sufficient images with various server applications in isolated containers. The platform’s code is written in Vue, Go, and Python and will be distributed under the GPLv3 license. Ready-made assemblies in qcow2 and VMDK formats are provided for installation in cloud environments and virtual machines.
Applications in containers can be run on different hosts and managed through a centralized web interface. Nodes are interconnected through encrypted VPN, and the installation of selected server components is done with one click, eliminating the need for individual service configurations. The platform supports the transfer of applications between hosts, and backups can be stored locally or on external storage like Amazon S3, BackBlaze B2, and Microsoft Azure.
Various modules are available for quick installation, including mail servers, collaboration tools, telephony servers, exchange systems, web servers, customer interaction platforms, database management systems, wikis, intrusion detection systems, Active Directory controllers, and cloud storage solutions. Users can run multiple versions of server applications on a single node.
