New to Linux, Brand new to servers 2

[benlinkknilneb]

Hi all,

I've never been responsible for servers before and, as a pet project, I've installed RedHat Linux (Enterprise v4) on a box. I want to learn how to run lots of different types of servers: mail, ftp, http, everything on my own. What I need is to know how to get started. Will I need a domain registration to do this on my own, or can I get by without it for a while? What are some good places to go to learn which mail server software to use (sendmail? qmail? what's the best for a n00b?), and how to set it up properly?

While I'm glad for direct help, I'd really appreciate links to good reference sites for these sorts of issues. You know, RTFM, and all that. I just can't seem to find good low-level FM's to R.

Thanks!

Ben

There's no place like 127.0.0.1.

 

[thedaver]

RTFM:

http://www.ldp.org

http://www.linuxjournal.com

DO NOT PUT YOUR BOX ON THE INTERNET IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING YET!! PLEASE! Once you are more comfortable in your knowledge of the services and firewall controls available to you, then you should consider (read CONSIDER) putting the box on the Internet. Thus, you don't need a domain registration now...

An alternative would be to get yourself a cheap VPS (virtual linux server) that is preloaded with a working linux distro and is internet enabled. You can still bork the system and can still expose yourself to hacks, but there's some risk being managed in such an approach.

I HIGHLY recommend that you look into the securing and optimizing linux book from openna.com

http://www.openna.com/osCommerce/product_info.php?products_id=29

D.E.R. Management - IT Project Management Consulting

http://www.dermanagement.com/

 

[Kozusnik]

If you want to configure quick, use webmin. However, if you want to learn the most, read (a lot) and edit config files manually.

Mark

There are 10 types of people in this world, those who undersand binary and those who don't.

 

[3wsparky]

if i was you i would start off with apache and setup a

http://www server

something simple like that for the first step , and i would advise you look into samba this is a very powerful an popular tool for intergrating win clients to a linux domain server. nice to have all them windows clients thinking that there talking to bills windows server .net something or another an really its your linux server.

enjoy

 

[d0nny]

One of those links is wrong:

http://www.tldp.org/

I have already started a thread asking similar questions and thanks to this forum I believe I have enough knowledge to go forth and start some Linux admin.
I've opted to install ubuntu initially, but I think at some point I will re-install with Fedora - just 'cos I feel I might get more experience with that that may be transferrable to business life.

 

[drange]

While RedHat surely is great software, I would recommend Debian for you.

You have to go deep into GNU/Linux and not least the command line before you can set up a server.

You have to learn to use the tools cd, ls, cp, mv, rm and so on, you must learn to know the file tree (man hier) and how to browse it. Learn to use VIM (or Emacs) and how to edit configuration files. You will have to, in order to get X running.

Then you can install apache (all it takes is apt-get install apache2).

It takes a long time to get to know the command line and the GNU tools. But it's worth it!

 

[ericbrunson]

I really wish people would stop espousing their unsolicited, unfounded distribution biases to people on these forums, especially beginners.

Nothing you have said applies to any one distribution more than any other. Fedora does offer a larger suite of graphical configuration tools than debian (I would count that as a positive rather than a negative) but there is nothing preventing you from doing all your administration from the command line. I administrate dozens of production Fedora servers from the command line.

Ubuntu is based on Debian, why would Vanilla Deb be any better or worse than Ubuntu? Why didn't you just tell him to stick to Ubuntu? And if your motivation is to get a beginner to use the command line and learn the internal of the OS, why not Gentoo, which will really force him to learn it.

Ubuntu has an easier installer than sarge or woody, but it's still Debian. Fedora has more user friendly tools for a beginner so he's not stuck at the command line not knowing what to do while learning to administrate his server. Fedora is also very similar to RedHat's commercial products (far more prevalent in business than debian) and the poster mentioned wanting business transferrable skills. Gentoo is more command line and internals oriented than Debian, if that's whay you want. All in all, I think you picked just about the worst recommendation to give to him.

If someone asks why you like one distribution over another, then by all means, speak up, but don't go spreading ill-conceived, unfounded bias nonsense that just goes to confuse beginners.

 

[pansophic]

Bravo ericbrunson.

I too get tired of the endless "best" linux distro diatribes.


pansophic

 

[drange]

It has nothing to do with me thinking Debian is better than Ubuntu or RedHat. They all have their sides.

But what I DO think, and have seen over and over again, is that when a GUI is an option, it's more often used than the CLI. And as long as you're not being forced to CLI, most people never learn that incredible tool!

As for Debian vs. Gentoo I kind of agree. But the difference isn't that big. And I'm very satified with APT, I guess that's why I recommended it.