from Webtronics, is a programmable tool for setting up customized remote services over the Internet, such as a Web camera or any Web device you can dream up.
I was impressed by how easy all these products are to use. But if you are comfortable installing and administering Internet services on full-fledged Linux or Windows 95 PCs, you will find
the features
of mini Web servers too limiting. In that case, you may be better off purchasing a similar, multipurpose product like the Whistle InterJet 200 or the i-Planet IPS 168, both of which offer Web, Internet, and e-mail functions. Another option -- paying an ISP to host your Web site -- can be expensive, but it helps you avoid the maintenance hassles.
The Same but Different
On my small network with two Windows 95 PCs and a 10Base-T hub, none of these three systems took more than 10 minutes to set up -- from flipping on the power switc
h to getting a Web page on-line. All three are optimized to perform a single task or function; contain both hardware and software; employ a proprietary, stripped-down OS; and require only an HTTP-compliant Web browser. If you have a Remote Access Service (RAS) server, you can manage and update each of these systems over the Web.
Both WebZerver and Twister are simple, inexpensive, and easy to use. Both install quickly and provide design and setup templates. The WebBox offers the same level of convenience, but it goes beyond the other two by allowing you to write your own applications using the Tcl ("tickle") scripting language.
I like Webtronics' WebBox the best. This system has support for the HTTP 1.1 keepalive parameter, which allows access to multiple documents via one connection. Additionally, it has few moving parts and will be great for Web administrators or engineers who seek a small-form-factor system to link with their Web cameras, thermometers, or any other Web-worthy devices. This is n
ot meant to denigrate WebZerver and Twister, both of which simplify content distribution and are friendly to Web users.
Cisco pioneered the category of mini Web server earlier this year with its Micro Webserver. Cisco, however, declined to participate in this review. Company officials said Cisco is planning to release a new line of slim servers optimized to work with network computers (NCs).
Webtronics WebBox
What gives
WebBox
its edge are its two programmable 115.2-Kbps serial ports. Using Tcl, a small scripting language from Sun, you can program its one serial device to do a variety of things. For example, you might turn the system into a monitoring device by hooking up a Connectix camera and programming it to upload data to a Web page at certain intervals. You can also write CGI scripts using Tcl, and sample code is available in the help section.
Webtronics has put some nice touches on the box, such as extensive link lights. These LEDs indicate network tra
ffic, such as packet errors and collisions; the ones on the WebZerver and the Twister are not as detailed. Like the Twister, the WebBox allows for out-of-band management via its external serial port. But unlike the other two, the WebBox has no moving parts, which adds to its reliability. Instead of a hard drive, it uses 4 to 20 MB of flash ROM, in addition to 512 KB of ROM. Its memory consists of 4 MB of DRAM.
All three mini Web servers have password ability at all levels. The WebBox, however, bests the others with a front-mounted switch that lets you set the system to "read only." I was also impressed by the depth of some of the other configuration features, like the ability to change the media access control (MAC) address by manually reinitializing the WebBox (i.e., erasing the flash memory) from another front-panel switch.
The one thing the WebBox lacks, however, is an HTML editor. Instead, you need to use a third-party HTML editor like FrontPage and import your premade pages, or know HTML and
type in your own tags. To get my Web page up, I cut and pasted prefab HTML code into the WebBox's index.html directory.
Navigating the WebBox is easy. Its menus contain few graphic elements yet provide a lot of information. I found extensive help available on-line, including an operation FAQ, a problem-solving section, a reference manual, and sample code.
For the technically elite, WebBox is not only a fun toy but a quick and practical means of Web connectivity for a branch office or workgroup. It is scheduled to ship in late fall for $1299.
Microtest WebZerver
The need for reduced administration and overhead and the desire to get on the Web quickly and inexpensively don't always go hand in hand. Both Microtest's WebZerver and Compact Devices' Twister eliminate the complexities of a traditional Web server. They also are excellent tools for workgroups that want to post pages to a corporate intranet.
I found
WebZerver
at least as easy to implement as the
WebBox. As soon as I attached it to a hub linked to a few PCs, WebZerver tried to get an IP address automatically, using Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), BootP (a TCP/IP protocol used to enable diskless PCs to find their own logical IP addresses at start-up), and Reverse Address Resolution Protocol (RARP). During setup I noticed Easy Site Layout, a utility that lets you choose different Web templates for different groups. Engineering, corporate, and human resources were among the choices. At press time, WebZerver didn't offer much in the way of automatically customizing those pages, however. Microtest officials say the unit will ship with a 30-day trial version of NetObjects' Fusion HTML editor.
At $1595, WebZerver is the most pricey of the three. However, it's the only one with 10/100Base-T Ethernet support. This improves performance and extends the WebZerver's useful life as people move up to 100-Mbps networks. Its 133-MHz AMD 486 (P75-class) processor, 2.1-GB hard drive, and 8 MB of RAM m
ake it the most powerfully configured system.
Because WebZerver was in early beta stage at press time, many of its capabilities, such as monitoring site activity and usage, creating users and groups, and backup and security functions, were not yet implemented. According to Microtest officials, when the product ships it will also allow seven read/write SCSI devices to connect to its SCSI port for further expandability.
Other features, like the Web page setup wizard and the context-sensitive file search tool, were very useful. In the administration menu, there is a pointer to download a demo copy of WS FTP. I used this utility to transfer premade HTML files to the hard drive.
Though they were not available when I tested the WebZerver, EasyPrint (which converts documents to HTML) and EasyTalk (a newsgroup feature) utilities are expected to ship with the product.
WebZerver will work well in a small office or workgroup, especially for those people who don't want to bother with programming.
In terms of sheer speed in getting an internal Web site up and running, it is hard to beat.
Compact Devices Twister
Like WebZerver,
Twister
took little effort to install and use. After I entered the MAC address and assigned the unit an IP address, the Instant IP configuration utility got Twister up and running in minutes. I easily created user accounts with the setup wizard. With the development wizard, I created departmental and personal home pages from templates.
I was even able to customize my pages and add URL links, select basic decor and colors, and add pictures and icons using templates supplied with the system. With a copy of Claris HomePage (also included), I authored pages on-the-fly. Another bundled demo, Net It Now, converts documents to HTML. A Windows file-mover utility has an intuitive interface that proved extremely useful in transferring files.
The hardware comes equipped with a 1.2-GB hard drive and a SCSI connection, which can support one
read/write and five read-only external SCSI devices for added expandability. Twister, priced at $1295, is ideal for a small company that needs an intranet Web site quickly.
At first glance, mini Web servers might seem like a bad idea. For a few hundred dollars more, you can buy a cheap Pentium PC and run free or shareware Web server software. But if you're like most people, you place a higher value on the time you save by using one of these turnkey systems. Web server appliances are much more practical and feature-rich than they were when they first appeared roughly a year ago. If you have a particular need, there's likely a small Web server to address it.
Product Information
Twister............................$1295
Compact Devices
Campbell, CA
Phone: 408-255-4200
Fax: 408-253-4200
Internet:
http://www.devices.com
Enter 1079 on Inquiry Card.
Information on
this product
and similar products (web)
Web Servers Get Skinny
