Windows Advice needed on OS for web server

Discussion in 'Software' started by Shadowspawn, 19 Nov 2002.

  1. Shadowspawn

    Shadowspawn Another hated American.

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    I am building a web server. Picked up the final piece today (case) and will have it built tonight. I am only using a couple of small (1.6 gig) drives. Processor is a 1.2 Athlon, 128 mb SDRAM.

    I want to run a web server and email server off of this computer (possibly host pics and files as well).

    I only have one (legal) copy of XP and its on my main system. Besides, it takes up too much damn HDD space and the memory requirements are too steep.

    I have 98/95/ME, but want this server to run unattended...and we all know those OS's are not stable over a long period of time (read, 24hrs).

    I've considered Linux (I have a copy of Redhat at home), but I know NOTHING about it. The cost is nice (free, right?), but there is the learning curve to consider, plus I do not know of what software to use to host the web/email server with that runs on Linux (and is free)(yeah, Im cheap).

    Now that I've laid it out, what is your advice? I want to host several small sites on the system (veeery small traffic). Cost is a major issue. Free prefered. Hell, I dont want to pay the $25 for No-IP service, but will.

    What OS would you suggest, and what software for email/website hosting to go with that OS?
     
  2. [S]lammer

    [S]lammer Can't touch this!

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    use linux, windows has a 5 connection limit

    linux is not as hard to use as you might think, TRY IT :cooldude:
     
  3. Shadowspawn

    Shadowspawn Another hated American.

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    Anyone else agree with Slammer? People are curiously quiet on the issue.

    What version of Linux? I have broadband, downloading is no issue.
     
  4. vi-kata

    vi-kata What's a Dremel?

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    I'll disagree with slammer about the 5 user limit, but we'll leave that one for another day :)

    Linux is a great platform for this kind of thing. There honestly is a lot of help out there, and you'll learn a lot pretty quickly.

    I'd wholeheartedly recommend Debian for what you want. The installer is a bit of a bugger, but once it's up and running it's very easy to administer. Installing the apache web server is as simple as typing "apt-get update" and then "apt-get install apache" - it's really that simple. Nice.

    Cheers
    Kata
     
  5. Haddy

    Haddy World Domination

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    Linux Red Hat is my personal choice....or if u wanna stick with windows you can install iis *or is it iss i cant remeber* and install apache, php, mysql on ur own *very simple to do*. For all of these options check out google to help u get set up as it will have hundreds if not thousands of tuts on it
     
  6. Shadowspawn

    Shadowspawn Another hated American.

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    Will apache work on any version of linux? I guess I will go find out.
     
  7. vi-kata

    vi-kata What's a Dremel?

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    Yep. Because Apache is licensed under the GPL* anyone can get a copy of the the source code. Because it's also arguably the most popular linux application, all linux distributions have a version for their distro. For RedHat, you'd download and install the .rpm, for Debian you'd apt-get the package, and so on.

    Real men, of couse, compile their own from source. Or so I'm told anyway :)

    Cheers
    Kata

    *GPL = general public license, a software license commonly used by open source software projects
     
  8. howesey

    howesey What's a Dremel?

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    Red Hat or Debian are the best for web servers on the x86 platform. If you are new to LINUX then try Mandrake and use KDE, it's a good starter.

    NEVER NEVER NEVER use Windows for a web server, it's too insecure and it's full of spyware etc. Windows is also unstable too.
     
  9. FreakOnALeash

    FreakOnALeash What's a Dremel?

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    Debian or FreeBSD would be my recommendation. Might be worth you while taking a look at http://www.linuxiso.org
     
  10. Shadowspawn

    Shadowspawn Another hated American.

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    I guess I should be asking if there are any versions that are BAD for web hosting.

    Today I fixed the last problem with the system and started the install of Mandrake. I went with them because the information I read about Mandrake said it was designed to be the easiest to use.

    Im sure this means I will lose some power options, but that is fine since Im a noob anyway. As of leaving for work today it was installed enough to check online and pull down a list of all the options I can add in. I left with that screen still up because it confused the hell out of me. I think I will go with the default options that it automatically checked, since I already chose the web server and email server options during the start of the install.

    I will play with it over the weekend. I hope to start up my account with no-ip.com around payday next week. hmmm, wonder if they have a trial period for no charge? /me goes and checks.
     
  11. vi-kata

    vi-kata What's a Dremel?

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    Not really - the different distros of Apache are all much of a muchness, the only thing that tends to vary is the way in which you install it. The default Mandrake one should do fine, but you're well advised to check for any security updates for it once it's installed.

    HTH
    Kata
     
  12. Shadowspawn

    Shadowspawn Another hated American.

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    Well, I feel like an absolute flaming idiot.

    Mandrake is installed...as far as I can tell, successfully. During installation I chose webserver and email server packages.

    Where is Apache? How do I start it? How do I configure it? How the hell does this bloody thing work? Theres got to be some sort of "Apache for Dummies" site somewhere?
     
  13. FreakOnALeash

    FreakOnALeash What's a Dremel?

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    some decent guides here and there should be some good documentation on the Mandrake site as well
     
  14. vi-kata

    vi-kata What's a Dremel?

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    Congrats on getting it installed. Linux can be frustrating at first. Keep at it, you'll get there.

    Apache should start automatically when the server boots. You can check this by using a browser from a different machine and pointing to http://server.ip.add.ress - you should get back a 'congratulations, if you can see this Apache is installed' page.

    I found using google for specific questions helped a lot - apache.org does have a good guide but it's pretty wordy. There are several other places that have an "apache quick-start" guide or similar, have a google for them.

    apachectl is the command for controlling apache: type apachectl from the command line and it'll give you a brief help.

    Cheers
    kata
     
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