Server platforms Toolkit

Uncrackable web server?

Ray Geroski Tech Republic

Published: 28 Jul 2002 19:52 BST

Other features and advantages
Bodacion claims that in addition to being invulnerable, HYDRA offers high reliability, again due mainly to the embedded system. Think about the problems that typically cause a Web server to fail. Applications fail, operating systems fail, and server hardware fails. Bodacion says that HYDRA is far more reliable than the typical server because it doesn't run any applications or a traditional OS. The elimination of the most typical points of failure could result in big improvements.

The performance issue is also key. Embedded systems typically perform better than systems running operating systems, which consume lots of hardware resources. Bodacion says that HYDRA's multithreaded architecture is designed for efficient performance and can process multiple requests at once. The company claims that HYDRA's performance with a single processor rivals that of multiple dual-processor servers running complex operating systems. If Bodacion is right about what HYDRA can do, all this translates into improved availability and customer satisfaction, which speaks directly to company success. Marketing boasts aside, HYDRA is HTTP 1.1 compliant and can be used as a Web server out of the box because the necessary software is embedded into the system. Users upload content to HYDRA via FTP and configure the system via a Web browser interface. The administrator can also use the Web interface to set access permissions to secure HYDRA's configuration.

Money matters
So now the big question is, how much does the HYDRA cost? The price for a single HYDRA is $120,000, which includes installation. Bodacion says that HYDRA is targeted to mid- to large-enterprises. The company is particularly targeting financial institutions as enterprises that can immensely benefit from HYDRA because of their need for supreme security and high reliability.

The price tag may be a bit high, but you also have to consider the costs HYDRA could potentially eliminate. If Bodacion's claims about the product's security are true, HYDRA could reduce some of the costs associated with antivirus software, firewalls, and other appliances that companies install to secure their Web servers. Costs associated with downtime and administrative tasks could also be reduced, so HYDRA's ROI may take some of the edge off the high price tag. It all comes down to how much companies are willing and able to pay for security and reliability.

If you're in the market for a secure Web server and high price tags don't scare you, you should see what HYDRA has to offer. At the very least, it introduces a new way of thinking about Web servers and how to secure them.

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