setting up my own server

I just got computer from universtiy surplus stock and decided to put Red Hat Linux 9 on it because I wanted to start leanring a *nix OS better. Well right now I just use it for messing around on, but I think I would like to set it up as a web server too. The machine is a P3 450MHz box. I was looking at some red hat documentation and it said that apache and php came as part of the software, but I didnt fully understand where to find it or how to set it up. I'm mainly just doing this for the learning experience and to host some personal pages. Could you guys lend some expertise to a kid trying to learn?

I haven't gone through the setup for RH9, but RH8 is pretty straight forward. I assume 9 is more so.

I assume you want to just install RH and not dual boot in some fashion... that's always a pain.

If so, make sure in the bios you are set to boot from CD, power up and throw in RH9 Binary Disc 1 ASAP. If you don't catch it just power down and power back up.

You should get a friendly welcome to the install screen.

The next few screens are language, keyboard, and mouse configuration.

Then you get to TYPE of system... you want SERVER.

It'll offer to autopartition and I'd think that's what you want to do. It'll ask if you want to remove all partitions from the Hard Drive... tell it yes assuming you do and let it autopartition.

I'd suggest you don't customize the packages when it asks.. just accept the default.

It'll ask for some basic info like IP address and hostname, give it reasonable info like 10.0.0.10 and www. That's assuming you use the 10. private address sequence on your LAN. If you don't know what I mean, you'll need to find out ;-)

You'll create a root account and I'd suggest a non root user account too.

When the install is done, you should have Apache, PHP, and PostGreSql installed and ready to go.

visit http://10.0.0.10 with web-browser on a client on your LAN and you should see the Apache test page.

Some things you may want to do after install and some reading on Linux shell basics...

rpm -e postgresql (use the Redhat Package Manager to erase postgresql)

and install mysql
rpm -i path-to-rpm-files/mysql-[some version].rpm
rpm -i path-to-rpm-files/mysql-server-[some version].rpm

and install a decent ftp server... like
rpm -i vsftpd-[some version].rpm

after that, either login at the console (as root) or learn about the su command and --

cd /var/www/html/

# to get to the default web root directory

vi index.php

# to open the vim editor on a new file called index.php

hit the insert key to begin insert mode

type


type :wq

# to save and close the new file

Now go to http://10.0.0.10 with a web-browser on a client on your LAN and you should get the phpinfo page with tons of configuration info.

Once that goes.. you're flying.

Upload by connecting to your ftp server ....

SSH with putty ...

Set up Virtual hosts ...

Get a static IP and go live

The sky's the limit

Reference sites to get very familiar with --

www.apache.org
www.mysql.com
www.php.net
www.vsftpd.org

Well, that was more long winded than I had planned, but hopefully helpful to you and maybe even someone else.

Cheers,
Greg

Just so we know who the big blow hard was....

Session timed out on me.

Besides, if you want more info you're welcome to email me.

Everyone has different ways of setting up RedHat. I use a custom install then install "everything". Then I turn off the services I don't want. This way you get MySql, GD and anything else you might want.

Now for security Apache and MySql are not going to start on thier own. You will have to start them yourself.

login as root

do a

chkconfig httpd on
chkconfig mysqld on

then start both services or reboot
/etc/rc.d/init.d/httpd start
/etc/rc.d/init.d/mysqld start

Go in steps and post your questions here

I've acctualy allready installed RH9 onto the machine, but I didnt install it as TYPE server... I just installed it as a standard desktop OS. What would you recomend doing from there?

Also,

ummm.... I dont really know what you mean.... what does this mean, or where can I find out/learn about it?

As for the 10. thing you have to have an IP addressing scheme. Usally these are addresses, that are not used in the real world like 10.0.0.1 - 10.0.0.255. Your server has to have an IP.

As for the desktop install, I say just put the CD back in and install everything. This will give you alll the server stuff as well as the desktop stuff. RH9 does not turn on very many services you it is not really a security risk. But you will have everything

Do this one step at a time we will help you through every step in the forum. This is your first step away from windows, congrat's

I agree on the happy to help every step.

I agree on the put the CD back in and install again.

I stand by my SERVER installation and minimalism ideas though.

If you have the GUI, you'll be tempted to use it because it is easier... but you won't learn the nitty gritty stuff like you will when you only have the console. Also with a 450mHz machine and an unknown monitor -- I assume generic/basic -- you will have fewer resource problems the less you install.

But, hey, I'm flexible... there are definite advantages to the INSTALL EVERYTHING option. It's worth a shot... if you get a crash... try it again with the minimal idea

Cheers,
Greg

Allright, put in my instalation disks and I installed the webserver and SQL Database Server packages packages onto my sytem, pretty much w/ everything they recomended. What's my next step? (Thanks so much for your help guys)

First off, WHat IP address did you give it?

Second, Login to the server

login: root
passwd: your_pass

You are going to have to start the services you want

Check to see if the web server is running

/etc/rc.d/init.d/httpd status

If it says stopped then lets make it start at boot up, do a

chkconfig httpd on

then start it once

/etc/rc.d/init.d/httpd start

now check your mysql

/etc/rc.d/init.d/mysqld status

if stopped make it start at startup

chkconfig mysqld on

start mysql

/etc/rc.d/init.d/mysqld on

Now setup your mysql

/usr/bin/mysqladmin -u root password mypassword

then

/usr/bin/mysql -u root -p

it will ask for your password you entered above

then you will be at a prompt
mysql>

type the following line by line

mysql> use mysql;
mysql> delete from user where Host like "%";
mysql> grant all privileges on *.* to root@"your_ip" identified by 'mypassword' with grant option;
mysql> grant all privileges on *.* to root@localhost identified by 'mypassword' with grant option;
mysql> flush privileges;
mysql> exit;

After this you should be golden

Connect to your server by typing the IP in your browser

I hope I did not throw too much at you

Allright... I just installed the packages but nothing ever asked me to set up an IP address. Where do I set that up, and what should I use for it? Once I've done that, how do I log on to the server?
(sorry if I'm asking so many newby questions, this is all totaly new ground for me and I really want to learn it)

Do You have a network card in it?

Yea.... I've been connecting to the internet from this box for a while. Do I just need to find the IP address of this machine? Once I have that, what do I have to do?

When you installed it did it ask you to put in an IP address? It should have if it saw the ethernet card

No, I dont remember it ever asking for an IP address. I am connected through at LAN at my school, though. Could that be the reason it didnt ask me?

Sounds like the default was left at use DHCP. In this case, the machine got an IP address from your college LAN DHCP server just like it did when it was cursed (with Window$).

As for logging in, what shows up on the monitor when you turn it on?

Do you have a windows-style login screen and box, or just a black screen (DOS style) that asks menacingly login:

If you have the black screen thing, type root and press enter. Then type your password and enter.

Let us know how that goes. Your next step would be, in my humble opinion, type ifconfig and then enter.

Regards,
Greg