to setup a linux web & database server - advice needed

[biot023]

Hallo - I'm about to setup an apache web server with a MySQL database server for a series of online applications written in PHP5... & I'm rather new to all of it!
My initial request is can anybody advise me on a version of linux to use (it will be on a not-too-recent PC)?
& then if anybody has links to FAQs & tutorials that might advise me of good practices, etc., I'd be very grateful!
Thanks in advance for any help!
Cheers,
doug.

If I had a hammer...

 

[thedaver]

The linux you choose shouldn't matter.
Go for Suse, Redhat, Fedora, Slackware or Debian.

I often recommend using the distribution's MySQL package to avoid any problems with future upgrades.

However, I've been very pleased with the build that comes with the Apachetoolbox.

http://www.apachetoolbox.com/

It is not always foolproof, but it's great in that it includes automatically what you need and nothing else. Often the distro's builds for apache and PHP carry a lot of baggage. They also might not actually be on PHP5.

Hosting Solutions for Home or Business.

http://www.surfinbox.com/hosting/

 

[ericbrunson]

Distro is a matter of taste, so I'm not trying to start a distro war, I'm just saying what worked for me.

I am currently running a stock Fedora Core 2 box with the distros own apache httpd, php and php-mysql packages.

I replaced the ancient version of MySQL that fedora ships with the latest 4.1.7 rpms from Mysql AB's website. Be sure to use the lib-compat rpm vs. the normal one, the linkages for some of the dependent packages in Fedora need it.

All this is running perfectly in a multi-server production environment with no tweaking required.

 

[biot023]

Thanks for those -- I'll get looking into them!
Would you be able to point me to a recommended source for the distros? I know the ones for PHP & apache & MySQL (obviously!), but not where to get linux distros.
(Sorry - I said I was new to it all!)
& cheers again,
doug.

If I had a hammer...

 

[ericbrunson]

fedora.redhat.com
debian.org
mandrakesoft.com

there's a few.

 

[lgarner]

I use White Box Linux for a few systems which aren't RHEL. I let it install Apache & PHP, but not MySQL- I get current RHEL packages from mysql.com.

 

[clonny2]

One thing you should look up is LAMP, an anacronym meaning Linux Apache Mysql PHP. There are books on this subject and I am sure google will find something. The idea is how to get these all running together in one cohesive entity.

If not a too recent pc, then stay away from the enterprise versions like Suse Enterprise and RedHat Advanced Server. Probably overkill for what you need.

Something like a RedHat 9 or Fedora most likely will sufice. Just make sure that you have all the updated packages. But any of the major distros will be good. I would stay away from Slackware unless you are an expert. Slackware is not for the novice user.

>---------------------------------------Lawrence Feldman
SR. QA. Engineer SNAP Appliance
lfeldman@snapappliance.com