EnGarde Secure Linux
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Software, Information security |
| Founded | 2001 |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | EnGarde Secure Linux (Community and Professional editions) |
| Website | www |
EnGarde Secure Linux was a server-exclusive Linux distribution created by Guardian Digital and distributed as open source. It incorporated widely used open source components such as Postfix, BIND, and the LAMP stack.
This system offered a variety of services including web hosting, DNS management, email handling, and more. Since 2005, it has featured SELinux by default alongside additional security measures like intrusion detection systems, antivirus software, network administration tools, and auditing utilities.
Configuration of services can be performed either through the command line interface or remotely via WebTool, a web-based management interface.
Historical background and development
Introduced in 2001, the distribution concentrated solely on server capabilities with a strong emphasis on security. Initially, it incorporated elements from early Red Hat Linux versions but underwent significant redevelopment within its first year to establish itself as an independent platform with a dedicated RPM package repository.
To improve security robustness, many graphical desktop components were deliberately omitted—most notably the lack of the X Window System. This hardening strategy reflects the company’s commitment to securing server operations.
Core focus
EnGarde Secure Linux was among the pioneers in integrating SELinux to ensure thorough server protection and stood out as one of the earliest Linux server distributions centered entirely on security.
Due to the absence of an X Window System, configuration is managed through a graphical interface best accessed from a separate workstation. A 2005 review by Linux.com described WebTool as innovative and well-designed, facilitating efficient administration. Similarly, PolishLinux.org offered favorable remarks while suggesting the platform could be enhanced with additional popular modules and packages.
Branches of EnGarde Secure Linux
EnGarde Secure Linux is available in two primary editions: Community and Professional.
- Community Edition
- Also called EnGarde Secure Community, this free variant is provided by Guardian Digital, Inc. It does not include official support but users can access help through the engarde-users mailing list and online forums.
- Professional Edition
- Known as EnGarde Secure Professional, this commercial version is officially supported and sold by Guardian Digital, Inc.
Development process
Guardian Digital issues updates roughly every one to two months. These updates are distributed via GDSN (Guardian Digital Secure Network), a support framework that offers software patches, version upgrades, and technical assistance. GDSN connects users with specialized security and application engineers.
Release timeline and progress
Since September 2005, Guardian Digital has launched twenty-one iterations of EnGarde Secure Linux. Early releases featured SELinux integration, support for 64-bit architectures, network intrusion detection interfaces, and translations in Spanish and Italian, with ongoing expansion of language options.
More recent enhancements include a graphical user interface for SELinux configuration, automated hardware inventory creation, a new WebTool API manual for community-developed modules, improvements to the intrusion detection system featuring an Ajax interface, and live support within WebTool.