OpenVPN

OpenVPN - An Open Source SSL VPN Solution by James Yonan

"OpenVPN is a full-featured SSL VPN solution which can accomodate a wide range of configurations, including remote access, site-to-site VPNs, WiFi security, and enterprise-scale remote access solutions with load balancing, failover, and fine-grained access-controls"

Speedtest.net - Bandwidth Speed Testing

Speedtest.net - A free bandwidth speed testing site with a very slick interface.

"Speedtest.net is a broadband connection analysis tool with a huge selection of geographically dispersed testing servers."

Free WinUnRAR

"Free WinUnRAR is a little and easy to use utility. If you have it installed, you are able to decompress '.RAR' files in a fast and simple way (shell context menu - right click on file)."

Works great. A nice alternative to commercial products such as WinRAR when all you need to do is decompress the occasional RAR compressed file.

ICSWEEP – Free Command-Line Tool to Clear the Temporary Internet Files Cache of ALL User Profiles

"ICSWEEP is a command-line utility to clear the Temporary Internet Files cache of ALL user profiles that are NOT in use when this command is executed.

This utility was written for the purpose of allowing a SINGLE command to identify and clear Temporary Internet Files cache of ALL user profiles currently NOT in use. This tool could be simply run from the command line at any time, or added as a SCHEDULED TASK for regular cleaning of user profiles, reducing the overall size of a profile and saving disk space for locally based profiles."

Inkscape

Inkscape is "An Open Source vector graphics editor, with capabilities similar to Illustrator, CorelDraw, or Xara X, using the W3C standard Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) file format.

Inkscape supports many advanced SVG features (markers, clones, alpha blending, etc.) and great care is taken in designing a streamlined interface. It is very easy to edit nodes, perform complex path operations, trace bitmaps and much more."

"Aiming for capabilities similar to Illustrator, CorelDraw, Visio, etc."

Miro

Miro - free, open source internet tv and video player.
"Play virtually any type of video file."

ImgBurn

"ImgBurn is a lightweight CD / DVD / HD DVD / Blu-ray burning application that everyone should have in their toolkit!
It has several 'Modes', each one for performing a different task:
Read - Read a disc to an image file
Build - Create an image file (ISO) from files on your computer or network - or you can write the files directly to a disc
Write - Write an image file (ISO) to a disc
Verify - Check a disc is 100% readable. Optionally, you can also have ImgBurn compare it against a given image file to ensure the actual data is correct
Discovery - Put your drive / media to the test! Used in combination with DVDInfoPro, you can check the quality of the burns your drive is producing."

Alfresco

"Alfresco is the Open Source Alternative for Enterprise Content Management (ECM), providing Document Management, Collaboration, Records Management, Knowledge Management, Web Content Management and Imaging."

Seems to have good workflow support. Interesting use of regular file system and folders interface.

MailArchiva

"MailArchiva is a state-of-the-art email archiving system for companies of all sizes. It works in conjunction with popular mail systems, such as a Microsoft Exchange, to archive all incoming, outgoing and internal emails."

Foxit Software

Foxit Software - PDF Tools

A whole array of free and not free PDF reading, creating, editing tools including (among others):

• Foxit Reader - a small fast, free PDF reader
• Foxit PDF Editor - allows editing of PDF page contents (not free)
  
• Foxit PDF Page Organizer - split, merge, re-arrange pages, etc. (not free)

Alberta Recycling Management Authority

"The Alberta Recycling Management Authority (Alberta Recycling) is the not-for-profit
organization responsible for managing Alberta’s tire and electronics recycling programs. Known
simply as “Alberta Recycling,” the organization reports to the Minister of Environment and is run
by a Board of Directors representing many stakeholder groups."

SpamTitan

SpamTitan is "the most comprehensive solution to email threats on the market today". I have implemented this solution to provide "protection from Viruses, Spam, Malware, Phishing and unwanted content" and it works very well. I used the VMware virtual machine image and converted it to run on ESX server.

• The interface is very impressive and setup was quite straight forward - no reading of the manual required.
• Uses two anti-virus engines: Kaspersky and ClamAV
• Uses OCR to detect image-spam
• Multi-layer anti-spam approach - scoring from several algorithms is compiled to provide a single spam score.
  
• The product checks for valid recipients (including aliases) against my Exchange server.
• Logging and reporting are excellent.
• There have been some false positives and initially it didn't block as much spam as I had hoped but as the Beyesian analysis has improved so have the detection rates.
• I have been monitoring the quarantine and whitelisting the domains from which we often see mail.
  
• I am not yet sending outgoing mail through my SpamTitan but this should improve the filters as well.
• After an upgrade, the ClamAV definitions were no longer being updated. I contacted support and they connected from remote (via a tunnel I opened) and fixed the problem. An excellent support experience.

I was surprised to find that in the two weeks or so that I have been filtering my SMTP traffic that we are averaging only approximately 20% legitimate mail.

NASLite-2 CDD

"NASLite-2 CDD is a Network Attached Storage (NAS) Server Operating System designed to transform a basic computer into a dedicated SMB/CIFS, NFS, FTP, HTTP and RSYNC file server. NASLite-2 CDD is specifically designed to boot directly from a CD-ROM and is intended for use in any low-security environment or application that requires the simultaneous availability of large amounts of inexpensive networked storage. A single NASLite-2 CDD server is capable of exporting terabytes of networked storage and is capable of handling 50 or more networked users easily and efficiently even when running on modest hardware. By design, NASLite-2 CDD is a community workgroup server and does not support features such as user management, disk quotas or the ability to join domains. However, it is very easy to set-up, to administer and to use."

Not free but inexpensive and looks quite slick. Also consider FreeNAS.

Iperf - Bandwidth Testing Tool

Iperf is "a tool to measure maximum TCP bandwidth, allowing the tuning of various parameters and UDP characteristics. Iperf reports bandwidth, delay jitter, datagram loss."

This is an interesting tool used to test network throughput. I stumbled across it in an Ars Technica Forum thread.

The recommended syntax and options (from the Ars thread):
server: iperf -s
client: iperf -c server -l 64k -t 15 -i 3 -r

Wireshark

"Wireshark is a network protocol analyzer for UNIX, OS X and Windows. It allows you to examine data from a live network or from a capture file on disk. You can interactively browse the capture data, viewing summary and detail information for each packet." It's a packet sniffer.

Formerly known as 'Ethereal'. Project Page.

Scorched3D

Remember Scorched Earth? The wonderful and addictive little DOS-based game where two players operating tanks lob artillery shells (etc.) at each other?

Well, I stumbled accross the SourceForge Project of the Month for May, 2007, Scorched3D:

"Scorched3D is a 3D remake of the popular 2D artillery game Scorched Earth.
Scorched3D can be played against the computer, other players and remotely across
the Internet or LAN."

Here are links to the project page and official web site.

VMTSPatchManager

VMTSPatchManager -- "The 'Windows Update' for ESX 3.x"

"VMTS Patch Manager addresses a critical need for VMware customers, allowing automatic (or manual) patching of ESX Servers platforms."

Free and looks very slick. Runs on Windows platform using BITS service.

CDex

CDex is a CD-Ripper, extracting digital audio data from an Audio CD. The application supports many Audio encoders, like MPEG (MP2,MP3), VQF, AAC encoders.

Project Site

Pidgin 2.0 Instant Messaging Client

"Pidgin is a multi-protocol Instant Messaging client that allows you to use all of your IM accounts at once.

Pidgin can work with:

AIM Bonjour Gadu-Gadu Groupwise ICQ

IRC MSN QQ SILC SIMPLE

Sametime XMPP Yahoo! Zephyr

"

Formerly GAIM, Pidgin 2.0 is a feature rich client for Windows, Linux, BSD, etc.

ArsTechnica review

JAlbum - free web photo album and photo gallery software

Riley writes:

"I found a great, free, application that webifies galleries very quickly, and very nicely. www.jalbum.net"

I checked out their site and some sample galleries and it looks great! Sure can't beat the price.

VLC media player

The VideoLAN - VLC media player is a free, cross-platform media player. It supports a large number of multimedia formats, using its own codecs and can be used as a streaming server, with features such as video on demand and on the fly transcoding. It's available for Windows, Mac OS X, BeOS, and Linux.

WinDirStat

"WinDirStat (WDS) is a disk usage statistics viewer and cleanup tool for Windows. It shows disk, file and directory sizes in a treelist as well as graphically in a treemap, much like KDirStat or SequoiaView."

Steve Bass from PC World writes:
"Find colossal files the quick and easy way. Then dump erase them to save disk space."

The SourceForge project is here.

QCad - The CAD System For Everyone

An inexpensive, simple and relatively powerful 2-D CAD package. We have used it quite successfully to create formula-driven drawings to feed our CNC controlled plasma cutter.

"QCad is an application for computer aided drafting in two dimensions (2d). With QCad you can create technical drawings such as plans for buildings, interiors, mechanical parts or schemas and diagrams. QCad works on Windows, Mac OS X and many Linux and Unix Systems. The source code of the QCad community edition is released under the GPL (Open Source)."

Wikipedia entry

SquirrelMail - webmail for nuts

SquirrelMail is a standards-based webmail package written in PHP. It includes built-in pure PHP support for the IMAP and SMTP protocols, and all pages render in pure HTML 4.0 (with no JavaScript required) for maximum compatibility across browsers. It has very few requirements and is very easy to configure and install. SquirrelMail has all the functionality you would want from an email client, including strong MIME support, address books, and folder manipulation.

Note: The hMailServer installation includeds two plug-ins for SquirrelMail. One password changer that lets users change their own password via the client, and one auto-reply plug-in that lets user set auto-reply messages when they are out of office.

hMailServer

hMailServer is a free, open source, GPL-licensed e-mail server for Microsoft Windows. It supports all the common e-mail protocols (IMAP, SMTP and POP3) and comes with an easy-to-use COM library that can be used for integration with other software. It also has support for virtual domains, distribution lists, antivirus, antispam, aliases, distributed domains and much more. E-mail data is stored in a database server, MySQL or MS SQL, depending on your choice.

RTFM Education » RTFM Guides

RTFM Education » RTFM Guides

Excellent VMware guides. Includes "Guide to ESX 3 Service Console"

Astaro Security Appliances

http://www.astaro.com/

"Enterprise-class Unified Threat Management appliances."

Hardware firewall / intrusion detection / VPN / Anti-Virus / Anti-malware / etc.
Recommended to me. Looks like a great GUI interface.

Veeam – tools for VMware virtual machines management

Veeam – tools for VMware virtual machines management

"Best-of-Breed Solutions for VM Infrastructure Management"

Veeam offers a Windows implementation of the Unix scp secure copy tool - used to copy files from one host to another. This is a VERY useful (for a Windows guy like me!) tool. I can now browse the ESX machine's folders from my workstation using a GUI, edit the files, etc. Very handy (and free).

Access 2007 Runtime and Developer Tools

"Shortly after the release to the general public of Microsoft Office Access 2007, Microsoft will make available the Access 2007 Developer Extensions and the Access 2007 Runtime. For the first time, both programs will be available as FREE downloads."

http://blogs.msdn.com/clintcovington/archive/2007/01/30/the-runtime-and-developer-extensions-will-be-free.aspx

Install Access 2007 and leave old version(s) functional

Good detailed article on how to do this is located here.

Free antivirus - avast! 4 Home Edition Download

Free antivirus - avast! 4 Home Edition Download

They've now updated it for Vista. The cost? Register for a free serial number every 14 months.

SNMP Tutorial

Tutorial on the simple network management protocol (SNMP):

• Part 1
• Part 2
• Part 3
• Part 4
• Part 5
  

Using vi, the Unix Visual Editor

A handy reference page on the use of vi - the full screen Unix / Linux text editor: http://staff.washington.edu/rells/R110/

Azureus

Azureus is a terrific BitTorrent client. It is updated frequently (painless) and I can highly recommend it. I have found it to be fast, flexible, and stable. It also supports plug-ins but I have not tried any of them.

Azerus is Java-based so you will need the Java Runtime Environment (JRE).

FreeNAS - The Free NAS server

"FreeNAS is a free NAS (Network-Attached Storage) server, supporting: CIFS (samba), FTP, NFS, AFP, RSYNC, iSCSI protocols, S.M.A.R.T., local user authentication, Software RAID (0,1,5) with a Full WEB configuration interface. FreeNAS takes less than 32MB once installed on Compact Flash, hard drive or USB key. The minimal FreeBSD distribution, Web interface, PHP scripts and documentation are based on M0n0wall."

FreeNAS is Sourceforge.net "Project of the Month January 2007"

HowtoForge

"HowtoForge is the source for Linux tutorials." It looks like a high traffic site with a very active discussion forums as well.

I stumbled across an IPCop installation article that looks like a good read: part 1, part 2

Cobian Backup

"Cobian Backup is a backup program that can be executed in 2 ways: as a normal application or as a Windows Service. The program can schedule automatic backups for files and directories locally or to FTP servers and can use compression and encryption."

This looks like a very capable and polished app. (version 8).

Forum is located here.
FAQ is located here.

Update: As of 2007-03-09, this project may now be found at: www.cobian.se

senduit

senduit is a free file transmission service that allows web-based transfer of files up to 100 MB. This is a simple and effective alternative to FTP.

"Senduit's service provides users with the ability to upload a file via HTTP-Protocol and receive a custom URL address to download the file from Senduit's servers. This address can be shared by the user freely and can be used to download the file a reasonable number of times. The address expires in an amount of time designated by the user (between 30 minutes and 1 week) at which point in becomes inaccessible to the public and is removed from Senduit's servers."

TightVNC

TightVNC - Another VNC option. . .

This is the app that came pre-installed on my Wyse Thin Client. Supports viewing of the remote cursor. It also aims to be very efficient with bandwidth.

Looks like a high quality, fairly active project.

Personal Backup (VMware) Appliance

Personal Backup (VMware) Appliance: "The Personal Backup Appliance is a VMware virtual appliance that can clone, backup, and restore your hard disk over the network. Our goal is to provide an open-source bare-metal backup and restore utility that is powerful, simple and easy to use."

http://pba-vm.sourceforge.net/

B2V Guide to VMware ESX Server

An awesome command line (CLI) reference for VMware ESX Server - "compiled by B2V consultants & trainers and is based upon their personal experiences with the VMware ESX Server 3 product and is updated frequently."

For Version 2.x
For Version 3.x

TrueCrypt - Free Open-Source On-The-Fly Disk Encryption Software for Windows XP/2000 and Linux

TrueCrypt

"Free open-source disk encryption software for Windows XP/2000/2003 and Linux"

Notepad++

Notepad++ is a free source code editor (and Notepad replacement), which supports several programming languages, running under the MS Windows environment.

UltraVNC

UltraVNC - Open Source VNC

• Remote desktop support software
• Remote PC access
• Remote desktop connection software
• VNC Compatibility
• FileTransfer
• Encryption plugins
• Text chat
• MS authentication

SIW - System Information for Windows

SIW performs computer configuration analysis and diagnostics. It gives detailed information about your computer properties and settings, detailed specs for:

• Software: Operating System, Installed Programs and Hotfixes, Processes, Services, Users, Open Files, System Uptime, Installed Codecs.
• Hardware: Motherboard, Sensors, BIOS, CPU, chipset, PCI/AGP, USB and ISA/PnP Devices, Memory, Video Card, Monitor, Disk Drives, CD/DVD Devices, SCSI Devices, S.M.A.R.T., Ports, Printers.
• Network: Network Cards, Network Shares, currently active Network Connections, Open Ports.
• Tools: Reveal passwords hidden behind asterisks, Product Keys and Serial Numbers (CD Key), MAC Address Changer, Shutdown / Restart.
• Real-time monitors: CPU, Memory, Page File usage and Network Traffic.
  

SIW can create a report file (CSV, HTML, TXT or XML), and is able to run in batch mode (for PC Auditing and Inventory).
SIW is a standalone utility that does not require installation - one less installed program on your PC as well the fact that you can run the program directly from a USB flash drive (Portable Freeware).

PDFCreator

PDFCreator

"PDFCreator easily creates PDF files from any Windows program. Use it like a printer in Word, StarCalc or any other Windows application. GNU General Public License (GPL)."

pdftk - the pdf toolkit

"If PDF is electronic paper, then pdftk is an electronic staple-remover, hole-punch, binder, secret-decoder-ring, and X-Ray-glasses. Pdftk is a simple tool for doing everyday things with PDF documents. Keep one in the top drawer of your desktop and use it to:

• Merge PDF Documents

• Split PDF Pages into a New Document

• Rotate PDF Pages or Documents

• Decrypt Input as Necessary (Password Required)

• Encrypt Output as Desired

• Fill PDF Forms with FDF Data or XFDF Data and/or Flatten Forms

• Apply a Background Watermark or a Foreground Stamp

• Report on PDF Metrics such as Metadata, Bookmarks, and Page Labels

• Update PDF Metadata

• Attach Files to PDF Pages or the PDF Document

• Unpack PDF Attachments

• Burst a PDF Document into Single Pages

• Uncompress and Re-Compress Page Streams

• Repair Corrupted PDF (Where Possible)

Pdftk allows you to manipulate PDF easily and freely. It does not require Acrobat, and it runs on Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, FreeBSD and Solaris."

Optimizing Microsoft Office Access Applications Linked to SQL Server

Optimizing Microsoft Office Access Applications Linked to SQL Server

"One way to create applications that use Microsoft Office Access for creating user interfaces and that use Microsoft SQL Server for data storage is to link Office Access tables to SQL Server tables. This is the type of application created by using the SQL Server Migration Assistant for Office Access. This white paper presents techniques for improving performance and updatability in Office Access applications that use tables linked to SQL Server."

CamStudio - Free Screen Recording Software

CamStudio - Free Screen Recording Software

CamStudio is able to record all screen and audio activity on your computer and create industry-standard AVI video files and using its built-in SWF Producer can turn those AVIs into lean, mean, bandwidth-friendly Streaming Flash videos (SWFs)

CamStudio on SourceForge: http://sourceforge.net/projects/camstudio/

ProCurve Networking by HP technical training

ProCurve Networking by HP technical training

Self paced, downloadable training modules . . .

Web2FTP

Web2FTP

A web-based FTP client . . .
"What is web2ftp ?
With web2ftp.com, you can access any FTP account through a Web interface - no matter whether there is a firewall or not. You can use webftp for the complete administration of your homepage, downloading files or just making small changes. "

Stock Photos

Fotolia: http://www.fotolia.com/

iStockphoto: http://www.istockphoto.com/index.php

Photos.com: http://www.photos.com/en/

Comstock: http://www.comstockcomplete.com/en/