how to make linux a server

[wurmy]

new to linux and just recently installed mandrake 7.2. i have a book on redhat 6.2 (because i had attempted to run that before mandrake) but the interfaces are a little different so the directions in the redhat book aren't helping me much. is there anyplace online that gives a tutorial/walkthru (preferably mandrake specific but doesn't have to be) to set up linux as a web/email server? i am just doing this to learn from, not a business or anything like that.

thanks
wurmy

[A_Lawn_GNOME]

If you installed during setup and you haven't touched it, it's already on.

A domain name is probably the only thing you need.

The web server works best with a domain name (you can use IP's) and the mail server requires it.

If you don't feel like paying for one, you can look for a sub domain type deal. Like yourname.something.com instead of yourname.com .

[wurmy]

this redhat book is no help at all...
ok i've registered with a free domain service so i have a domain name now. i put in the ip address that i got from within windows (on my other hdd) to point to (i went to www.dhs.org). (http://www.dhs.org).) how do i configure linux to be the server for that name?
(i'm in the process of installing apache as well).

[FoBoT]

Originally posted by wurmy:
how do i configure linux to be the server for that name?
(i'm in the process of installing apache as well).

apache is the program/software that is the http server (ie web server)
so if you mean how do you configure linux to be a "web server" then you are on the right track, just get apache running, edit the default home page and (assuming your box is on the interet ok) voilà!

[FoBoT]

Originally posted by FoBoT:
..just get apache running..

the apachee config file has a place to put your domain in, this tells apachee that when it receives a request for www.ilovetoeatworms.org/homepage.htm (http://www.ilovetoeatworms.org/homepage.htm)
it needs to look in /home/apachee/homepage.htm
(just an example, i don't have a linux box here at work, yet http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/wink.gif to give the correct file location, a little help anyone?)

[wurmy]

ok good. i'm getting close then. well, i've got apache installed but i don't think i have it running right. i downloaded apache-1.3.14-2mdk.src.rpm. i edited the config file and put in my domain, etc...but the directions i have say to start apache by typing (at the command line) /etc/rc.d/init.d/httpd start. but there is no httpd there. and i can't find an apache directory but all the files that it looks like apache installed are in /usr/src/RPM/SOURCES. not sure what's going on....

[FoBoT]

Originally posted by wurmy:
..looks like apache installed are in /usr/src/RPM/SOURCES. not sure what's going on....



ok, this is getting beyond my newbie knowledge, but, i think that is the source code, now you have to complile it? maybe?
src is like source kinda??

come on you guru's, jump in here and help the lady out! http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/smile.gif

[wurmy]

you're a genius! ok i'm in the process of compiling, installing....

wish me luck

[FoBoT]

Originally posted by wurmy:
you're a genius!

uhh, you're the genius.. i have never compiled anything, i don't know how to do that (yet) http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/redface.gif

[larryliberty]

Compiling Apache from source is a good thing, but I'm wondering why you had to do it. I'm sure it's included with Mandrake 7.2 (I run FreeBSD and Slackware myself, but I used to have Mandrake), so it's on your Mandrake CD, you just have to install the RPM.

If you want to compile it from the source, it's actually pretty simple. Just download the tar.gz file from Apache. Move it to a nice place like /usr/local. Then:

tar -xzf YourTarball.tar.gz
cd YourTarballDirectory
./configure && make && make install

You may want to pick up a copy of O'Reilly's "Apache". Among other things, it takes you through the process of building your own httpd.conf file so you know how it works.

Larry


------------------
Democracy: Two wolves and a lamb deciding what to have for dinner.
Constitutional Republic: Same as above, but lamb's not on the menu (unless the wolves are really hungry).

[wurmy]

yeah i thought i should have come with mandrake too, i saw a tutorial on one of the linux websites about running (with mandrake) but i couldn't find it anywhere and it wasn't detected in the packages with rpmdrake or pacakge manager....*shrug* dunno. anyway, i got it installed and running (the hard way...which turned out to be easier, go figure). and when i go to wurmy.dhs.org it takes me there BUT...it tells me i'm forbidden...i looked thru the apache config file but couldn't find anything that would cause it to be forbidden....any ideas?

[wurmy]

and on another system in the house it says page cannot be displayed so i don't know if i'm really accessing it or not...

[FoBoT]

you are almost there
you need to edit the default page and set the permissions so that everyone can "access" it

check this
http://httpd.apache.org/docs/misc/FAQ.html#forbidden

[This message has been edited by FoBoT (edited 12 December 2000).]

[wurmy]

ok well the server works on my end. i can access the html file just fine in netscape, but anyone else on another system gets a page cannot be displayed message.

[FoBoT]

how about owner?

use chown to set ownership of the html files/folders

i can't find what it is supposed to be, maybe it is inside httpd.conf

[wurmy]

who would i assing ownership to?
i think they're all root (there's actually only one index.html file anyway) and all the permissions are set....

[LinuxAnt]

The html file should have rwxr-xr-x permissions when you do an ls -l.
to set it this way
$> chmod 644 /path/to/html/*

[FoBoT]

http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/biggrin.gif

you did it!

http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/biggrin.gif

i just hit wurmy.dhs.org

Hello World! http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/biggrin.gif

[wurmy]

badass! thanks for checking it out! woohoo!