[Soc2006] MHCP: Summer of Code Application

[Jonas Weismueller]

Hi list members,
I've already sent my project proposal to Neal Norwitz. He has recommended me to send my proposal to the list, because there are more people giving advice, help and hints.
Thanks for all the feedback in advance.
Below you will find my application:



Summer of Code 2006

Application

Project Proposal
***************
Design and implementation of a completely modular hosting control
panel (MHCP) written in pure Python. MHCP should be
able to handle and configure well known services(such as web, dns,
ftp-server) and utilize a database in the backend to facilitate
plugins/modules for each service. MHCP will be a complete hosting
automation platform. MHCP should consist of an user interface (web
based GUI) and a (possibly distributed) daemon to collect and
manipulate configurations on different machines. The target audience
of MHCP are large scale hosting providers that need to control
multiple servers with different services like mail, web and ftp via an
unified and functionally extensible interface.

With MHCP you can configure your server and applications, create
user with domains using minimal point-and-click operations.

MHCP is Open Source Software and dedicated to giving users,
administrators and developers the ultimate level of control over their
servers, and their data.

In particular, the administrator should be able to switch easily
between different modules for different kind of applications.

MHCP will be developed to be multilingual, where every piece of
MHCP software can be translated into any desired natural language.

I have completed all my necessary course work in my course, and
can work full time on this project without distraction.



Experiences
***********

Academic
------------
Study at Aalen University 1 http://www.international.htw-aalen.de/
* March 2001 – September 2004, October 2005 – now

Study at Cork Inistitute of Technology 2 http://www.cit.ie/
* October 2004 – September 2005


Industry
----------
Internships:

Computer Center at University of Saarbruecken 3
http://www.rz.uni-saarland.de/
Fresenuius Medical Care 4 http://www.fmc-ag.com
Suewag Energie AG 5 http://www.suewag.de


Open Source Development
************************
Years of experience in system administration without the aid of
various hosting panels, a multitude of Open-Source Operating Systems
and their associated system services and daemons.

Explanation of Development Methodology
**************************************
MHCP will not reinvent the wheel, it makes heavy usage of well known
and stable Python modules like Cheetah template engine and
Cherrypy webserver. Concrete:

GUI: Cherrypy + Cheetah Templates
Server-Engine: SSH based daemon (Paramiko)
Database: SQLAlchemy

Brief list of deliverables:
------------------------------
* Fully functional modular hosting control panel
* GUI for Administrators
* GUI for Resellers
* GUI for Customers
* Modular service system with following main Components: DNS (default:
Bind), FTP (default: proftpd), MAIL (default: Postfix and Courier),
WEBSERVER (default Apache), DATABASE (default Postgresql), etc...
* Daemon managing tasks (secure distributed daemons, if spare time)
* Automated creation of users and domains
* Control of reseller's and user's traffic.
* DNS/WEBSERVER-Component: Virtual hosts management (Name-based, IP-based)
* DNS-Component: Domains and Sub-Domain management
* FTP-Component: ftp user management
* MAIL-Component: managing mail addresses (forwarders and real
postboxes) - POP3 and IMAP accounts
* WEBSERVER-Component: CGI, PHP configuration and management, password
protection (.htaccess files), Custom error files
* DATABASE-Component: user databases
* Potential features (time permitting): Disk quotas, manage IP
addresses, Backup and restore, SSL-secured domains, Traffic accounting,
Skin-based GUI - with pre-installed skins