Remote workers and telecommuting can help small business save money and boost morale, and we've got five tips to help you set up a structure that benefits employees and management.

Looking for an alternative to mainstream small business accounting software? We list the five best open source software programs -- and their features -- for small business accounting.

Is your Internet too slow? Many factors affect network performance, and a slow domain name server is one of them. Here are three easy, free tools to test your name servers and find faster ones.

We've got the lowdown on the best online data backup services for small business. Take a look and start your offsite backup today. You'll sleep a lot better tonight.

Part 2 of our series on Monowall, an open source firewall, focuses on using it to set up secure remote access.

In part one of this two-part series, we review how to set up strong network security with Monowall, an open source firewall.

Open source graphics programs offer affordable alternatives to commercially available software; we recently looked at five. Now Carla Schroder adds her six picks to help SMBs get the picture.

Choosing an open source messaging server can save you money and admin time without losing out on features. Take a look at what our favorite alternatives to Microsoft Exchange have to offer.

Looking for an economical, ecological way to help your computers avoid overheating? We've got a fresh look at compressed air that'll blow a refreshing breeze through your entire office.

Our resident Linux expert, not known for holding back, says if your IT support team doesn't have Linux skills, they're perpetrating IT malpractice.

Linux has all the power and flexibility you need, both for servers and networking devices. Carla Schroder shows you how to select hardware, software, and not spend money unnecessarily on pricey commercial software.

The best phone system for your business is the one you've thought about carefully.

Video telephony—an application we've been anticipating for decades—is now available for free over IP connections.

Webcams are everywhere these days and decent standalone USB Webcams cost less than $40. In this two-part series we'll set up a Webcam on Linux, and then use it to perform a number of amazing and fun tasks.

Customized hardware/software communication bundle will support businesses with as many as 150 phones.

Voice-mail is an essential piece of any business phone system. In this installment, we master the basics of Asterisk voice-mail.

Once your firewall is protecting your Linux appliance, you need to poke a few holes in it to allow visitors access to network services.

In which we examine the delicate matter of configuring calls to the outside while keeping outsiders from hijacking your system.

In this installment, we complete configuration of the phone interface card, register users and phones, and set up incoming calls.

In the latest installment, we take a quick tour of Webmin and set up an iptables Internet-connection sharing firewall.

Setting up a small voice network with both analog and IP phone service is easy. An interface card, some software and IP phones are all you need.

In this installment, we learn how to configure the two network interfaces and then lock down the firewall box.

A Linux-based iptables firewall is especially robust and configurable. In the latest installment of our how-to series on building a Linux appliance, we'll set up system administration using Webmin

In the second installment in our series on building your own Linux-based network appliance, the construction begins with an Internet firewall/gateway for sharing a broadband Internet connection.

Welcome to our series on how to build your own Linux-based network appliance. Don't worry, we'll walk you through each tech step. Whether your network runs Windows, Mac or something else, your Linux appliance will serve them all.

While you should never just assume your wireless communication is secure, securing your WLAN doesn't have to be a trial. However, it does help to be aware of — and to understand — the complexities.

Until recently, there haven't been many viable choices for groupware, especially for mid-sized offices reluctant to run expensive servers. OpenExchange from SuSE bucks that trend and merits nomination as bargain of the year in the groupware field.

After you've locked down your firewall and secured your IT perimeter, it may be time to assess how safe your shop is for the people who work in it.