PostgreSQL and LDAP Backends

[ch_larsen]

Dear All,
I am in the process to setting up SysCP for a multi-server cluster environment (which would also work in virtualised environments via linux-vserver or xen). There are a few interesting issues, as it is ever so easy to see how much more resource-intensive MySQL (which I never liked for mission-critical applications, but isn't it easy to administer?!) is when compared to LDAP... and even PostgreSQL!!! We are talking about a factor of 5-10
Why not looking into ADOdb which seems to make every backend happy? This would seriously boost SysCP's architecture, make it compatible with multi-server setups, especially, if we think abut Cyrus integretion which can communicate with Postfix (or Exim, or QMail) via LMTP, and does not need shared files access to, for instance the server instance server the customers' web pages. For this to work, the customer - web
              - mail
hierarchy needs to be changed, as we want to separate mail and web data completely.
Shared file serving/mounting could be done by sshfs, nice and encrypted through unsafe networks.
All we need, really, is a BETTER, more PROFESSIONAL database backend! MySQL is good for customers, and we need it for them. But I would completely separate the admin database from the customers' database!
Just some ideas, but I guess I made some valid points... to boost SysCP's versatility.  I DO love its low degree of aggressiveness on the system, its transparency, etc. Great!!!
Warmest regards from Vietnam,
Chris

[EleRas]

Hi Chris,
Yes, PostgreSQL - support is planned, one of the next steps we want to do with the development-version 1.3 is switching the database-abstraction to propel. That allows MySQL, PostgreSQL, sqlite and some other backends. And due to the modularisation even dividing between the SysCP-backend-database and the customer-databases is rather simple. LDAP - support is planned as a module (flo and croessner at least want to write one if I remember correct).
Greetings to Vietnam (nice to see where SysCP is used )
So long,
Florian

[ch_larsen]

Dear Flo,
Thanks a lot for your reply. I think the direction of SysCP trying to be cross-backend compatible is terrific.
I am trying to get SysCP going in a multi-server environment, and nearly there when I realised that one customer cannot have several domains --- which made it suddenly unsuitable for my purpose. HOWEVER, you promised that this issue would be tackled with the next development version, too.
Flexible database backend will be crucial for such multi-server setups. Plus, maybe, Cyrus support (which I know a bit), as it does not have to share filesystem access with the MTA, but can run in a completely separate box, communicating via POP3(S), IMAP(S) and LMTP, possible tunnelled.
Let me know, if I can help.
Chris