building a server - what to do?

[estesflyer]

I'm trying to get up a linux server running... I want to eventually install php, mysql, some ftp server, qmail, the works! I've installed apache, and I know where-is/what-to-do-with the httpd.conf file, and how to edit and place html files in the httpd directory, but that's about it... My first goal is to learn how to use apache like the back of my hand... I am fairly new to linux, but I'm yet still young, and eager to learn. I am extremely comfortable with a linux style environment, as I loved dos as a kid.

Now, anyone willing to tell me what I should start fiddling with next? Sofar, i've picked up things on my own, and am not scared to again, but I am kinda stuck atm, not knowing what exactly to do next. Anything big about apache that I should really start digging into? What about downloading some kinda special patches for apache, something useful would be prefered.. But in any case, I'm eager to get this heavenly wonder up and running. I have this machine temporarily on a LAN, but will soon have it running on multiple t1 connections... So I'm trying to get down to business, as you may have guessed.
I'm open to buying books, but only if its a good book, as books tend to be outdated as soon as they are published...

Anyways, TIA!

- Rusty - Rusty

 

[StarTAC]

hi... seems u in for alot then.. well, Linux, is really, learn as you go.. but some piece of advice.. learn how to work your way thru Linux first.. find out its hic ups and how to solve them.. before u go into packages.. learn all the tools that help u find out how your system is doing.. such as top, ps, netstat and stuff like that.. how to recover from system crashes and that kinda stuff...

good books would include the O' Reilly collection.. they have books on UNIX admin and BIND, to sendmail and apache... it's all there, but also a good place for knowledge and help is on mailing lists.. such as bugtraq, this one here, and more... chat rooms on the net are also a good source for quick, easy information.. a good server is irc.linux.com

as u go along, u will gain more and more experience, but i wouldn't wanna dive head first into serious packages such as apache and mysql, until u are comfortable with getting teh fact that any problems u will have won't be related to the OSs failure to deleiver, but to a mis-config in the package, or a bug... i hope u understand, take it slow and u will be more confident.. there is alot of time..one step at a time.. it takes some of the best that long... and it's worth it too..

good luck.

 

[RhythmAce]

Amen to that one StarTAC. It looks like estesflyer has the right idea taking things one step at a time. Too many people try to set everything up at once without knowing what they are doing then wonder where the problem is. It's a lot easier to trouble shoot when you know what you did just before the problem occured. Books are fine but the linux server world is a big place and would require a lot of books to "know it all". You could go to the website for the package you are learning and check out their forums and online manuals. Most of them have webrings with links to websites that have users groups for thier software. And most importantly, don't forget your roots. You are always welcome here at home. )

 

[estesflyer]

thanks a lot guys, I think I'm going to finish getting building my machine and run a fresh install of one of the latest versions of Red Hat - Either 7.1 or 7.2 - If I do 7.1 then I will have to be downloading a lot of drivers and installing them, which I have no idea how to do, so I will prolly take that route. =)

I will be using linux as my MAIN OS! I don't want any bloody windows partitions eating away @ my hard disks... (Nothing personal microsoft, I just don't like you.)

By the way, since I won't be digging away @ apache anytime REALLY soon, I might as well lay out another set of questions.

1.) What is the best way to play dvd movies in linux (considering you have a dvd player, and a computer)

2.) What is the best software for viewing mpeg/avi files?

3.) What is the best web browser? What is the best file manager?

4.) What is the best irc client?

5.) Where can I get some really nice desktop themes for ximian?

6.) What is something very unique about linux that I should START digging into first?

7.) also, for some odd reason, Whenever I have a dark background, and a lightly colored window (white), and I move the window around, the side of the screen will move... It's somewhat hard to explain, but it does this more so than windows.

Oh yeah, it's not a flat screen, would having a flat screen moniter solve this problem?

p.s. I'm posting this message in the linux (desktop) forums, so don't get mad at me for posting the same thing on two forums...

TIA

- Rusty - Rusty

 

[Dragonfish]

Hi,

try this website

http://rute.sourceforge.net/.

He´s writen some good documentation that you can download - free.

have fun
DavidinGermany

 

[630111]

One more thing, estesflyer. I, too, started with RedHat and that's ok. However, don't limit yourself to it. Once you're comfortable, try other distributions as well and maybe venture into the FreeBSD/OpenBSD world. And now that you're on the "right side of the tracks" don't worry too much that your knowledge will be antiquated before you have a good handle on it. Those days are over, and most things that people have learned over 10 years ago in the *NIX world still apply. Best of luck to ya, and welcome!

630111