what linux distribution should I use to setup an Apache web server ( post #1)
 

Hi! How are you doing? I hope that you are having a stress-free day.

I am a LINUX newbie. I have some UNIX exposure from college and work.

I want to setup an Apache web server running on a GOOD ROBUST LINUX distribution!!

I haven't opened them up yet but I think I have Red Hat Fedora/Enterprise LINUX 3, Novell's LINUX Technical Resource KIT (SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 9, SuSe LINUX Professional 8.2, etc), and older LINUX distributions.

Which Linux distribution should I use?
Are there any good Linux forums, newsletters, and websites that I can use including this one?
How do I get tech support for my different Linux distributions?

ANY help would be appreciated. Thanks.

__________________
Thanks

Shane

Everyone will recommend their own distro because that's how Linux users are. Everyone thinks theirs is the best. I'm running an Apache Server on Fedora Core 1 along with MySQL and php and it's worked perfectly fine.

Which version(s) of Fedora are you running?

Are you running the Enterprise Linux 3 edition?

Was it hard to set it up, esp. your Apache web server?

I will check out fancypiper's web links but I still want to know what are good Linux websites, excellent Linux forums besides this one, good books, etc. so I can get as much tech support as possible.

I need to buy an internal hard drive for each distribution so can see how each one works. That is what I am trying to avoid doing. I was hoping that I could focus on a GOOD ROBUST Linux distribution.

Incidentally, what is MySQL and php?

Thanks for your prompt reply.
Shane

The version of Fedora I am using for my server right now is Fedora Core 1. I recommend using Fedora Core 3 because of the addition of selinux - the NSA's program called Security Enhanced Linux. This makes it a lot harder for people to hack into the computer and mess with it.

I'm not running enterprise because it costs money.

For books, check out Apache, MySQL, and PHP in 24 hours by Sams. The publisher is "Sams something", but I can't remember and don't have it with me right now. Amazon should help you find it.

PHP allows webpages to be formed dynamically and MySQL is a relational database. Both are open source AND available free. For an example of what these can do, check out my blog -> http://server.ericsbinaryworld.com/blog/

The page is dynamically created by checking the MySQL database where the posts are stored and then assembling the page.

If you remove "blog" from the address you can see my server running off of Fedora Core 1.

Apache is not hard to set up for a basic website. It's as complex as you want it to be. I'm not taking advantage of probably more than 2% of Apache's capabilities, but it works for me.

Novell's Linux Technical Resource Kit (SUSE distribution)
 

Q1a. What do you think of Novell's Linux Technical Resource Kit that has 3 DVDs that has evaluation software of the following:

2004 DVD 1.1A
SUSE LiNUX Enterprise Server 9
Nterprise LiNUX Services 1.0
Ximian Desktop 2
ConsoleOne

2004 DVD 1.1B
SUSE LiNUX Professional 8.2
GroupWise 6.5.1
Red Carpet Enterprise Server 2.02
LiNUX Resources

2004 DVD 1C
SUSE LiNUX Professional 9.1

Q1b: Has anyone used them & what experiences have you had with them?
Q1c: Is the above distibution a decent LiNUX distribution?
Q1d: What is evaluation software and how does that compare with a full version?
Q1d: What is a LQ ISO and how do I burn one?
Q1e: Is a LQ ISO burning a full version of the Linux distibution?
Q1f: I assume that you can burn yourself free ISOs for whatever Linux distribution you want. Am I right?
Q1g: What is RSS and ATOM and how do I use them?



I also think I have the full Red Hat Linux Fedora Core from the three CD-ROMs from the Red Hat Linux Bible by Christopher Negus.

Q2a: Has anyone used them and what experiences have you had with them.
Q2b: According to DJOtaku, I need to use Fedora Core 3. Has its bugs been worked out and Is getting it hard?



I also have InfoMagic's LINUX Developer's Resource six CD-ROM set which has the complete commercial version of the Metro-X servers from MetroLink and the following:

Red Hat 5.0 [installing] kernel 2.0.32, SuSE 5.1 [installing] kernel 2.0.33, Slackware 3.4 [installing] kernel 2.0.30, Metro-X 4.1, XFree86 3.3.1 binaries and sources with all [its] distributions, Red Hat's powertools 5.0 with sources, Apache WWW for Linux version 1.2.5 and Kernel sources through 2.0.33 and 2.1.79 etc.

I think I also have Red Hat 5.1, Caldera's OpenLinux Lite 1.2, StarOffice for Linux4.0, Apache web server [software] on three CD-ROMS from Special Edition Using Linux book.



Finally I have from Linux-Mandrake 6.1 from The Complete Linux Operating System 6.5 which contains the following:

Core Red Hat 6.0, full core source, getting started manual, Partition/BootMagic, KDE/GNOME Interfaces, Technical support and electronic documentation.

Q3a: What do I have and is this still useful?



Please forgive me for being a Linux newbie. I don't mean to seem like I ignore help but I am slightly overwhelmed right now.

I think I am subscribed to the red-hat list mailing list, the rpm mailing list, and the red-hat install mailing list plus being informed of any new posts from this thread. Right now I am serious thinking of unsubscribing myself to all the Red hat newsletters but I don't want to miss anything!


Thanks for your replies to my posting.

Shane

which Linux distribution that I have should I use or just just Debian distribution?
 

What is Debian Linux distribution and how do I get a full copy of it?

How do I burn a LQ's ISO to my DVD-+RW drive?

Shane

Why the fsck do you have all that Linux software? Seems like someone got rid of every single disk of Linux they had and gave it to you.

Ok, unless you're running a server for work, all that software is overkill. Any major Linux distro comes with Apache and that's all you need to run a personal server.

You don't NEED Fedora Core 3 (as opposed to 1 or 2), but there is no longer official support for the older Cores. It's much better to go with FC3 so that you can get all of the updates. However, you don't need to use FC3 as opposed to some other distrobution. You should just use it as opposed to a previous Fedora.

To burn the ISOs, just use Nero or Roxio burning software. Make sure you burn image NOT data disk.

If you want something a little more mature then consider CentOS 4.0 CentOS 4.0 IS Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4.0 and includes the Linux 2.6 Kernel, SELinux, udev replacing the /dev system, Xorg, MySQL4, CyrusIMAPD, Gnome 2.8 and KDE 3.3. A little older version of Red Hat Enterprise Linux is White Box Linux. This is a free version of RHEL 3.X.

Like any free Linux, support for these distributions would come though community sources such as this forum. CentOS does have it's own community forum.

Pudge

Thank you for your replies.

Pudge I have a few questions to ask you about CentOS 4.0:
Where do I go to find out more detailed info about CentOS 4.0 besides its URL?
Where do I go to get it?
Will it run on a Windows PC?
Where is CentOS 4.0's forum?

I will click the link you provided me after I finish typing in this reply.

Shane

It'll run on a PC

CentOS is compiled straight from the Red Hat Enterprise Linux source code that Red Hat is required to make public under the GNU licensing. The ONLY changes made to CentOS is to remove all of Red Hat's icons, logogs, etc to be legal. So, you can go to the Red Hat Enterprise Linux web site, and anything they say about Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 will also apply to CentOS 4.0.

At the link listed above.
Yes
It can be found at the link listed above

Pudge

Thanks for your prompt reply
 

I visited the CentOS link and it wasn't very user friendly. I still want to know how to burn the Linux distributions onto CD-R/DVD-R. I don't trust myself. I might even buy the CDs for them.

So what you are trying to tell me is the CentOS is just the Red Hat Enterprise Linux without the tradenames, logos etc. so my Red Hat Linux Bible book can be used for it?

Thank you for your reply.
Shane

Burn the CD-Rs by burnging the ISO file in Roxio or Nero, using the "burn image" option.

Thanks for replying DJOtaku.

Please have patience with me since I am a Linux newbie and a Linux Forum newbie.

What EXACTLY do I need to do to burn Fedora Core 3's ISOs, CentOS's ISO, Debian's ISO, SuSE's ISOs etc. using Nero 6 Ultra Edition runniing Windows XP Professional?

Then what EXACTLY do I need to do to setup my desired Linux Distro?

Which ones are GOOD & ROBUST, easy to setup & use but fully featured?

Is this a good place to go to for Linux technical support because I know that I will need it?

Also, how do I know that what is given in a Linux forum is accurate?

What is the difference between an evaluation copy and a full version and is the eval copy like shareware?

How do I choose which Linux Distro to use?

I already told you what I have but I think that my Novell's Linux Technical Resource Kit with includes SuSE Enterprise Linux is an evaluation copy not a full version.

Can I still use it & if not, then what do I do to upgrade it to a full version?

After I submit this reply, I will do a keyword search in this forum.

Thanks
Shane

1a. Download the ISO
1b. Open Nero
1c. Burn disc image (as opposed to data disc)
1d. Burn all ISOs (for Fedora there are 4)

2a. Put in disc 1 of distro and reboot computer
2b. If it launches the installer then follow the directions
2b-1. If it doesn't launch the installer you have boot from hard drive before boot from CD drive, when your computer reboots hit a key (typically F2 or F11)
2b-2. I can't get into too many details because I don't have the exact same computer as you, but look in there and only change the boot order, nothing else.
2b-3. Save and exit
Goto 2b
2c. After installation remove all discs from drive - you now have a Linux distro set up

3. Good, robust, etc -> FC3 in my opinion. It was ranked 2 in Linux Format Magazine. They ranked Mandrake as #1, but said it was rather buggy.

4. This is the best place to go for support after you have checked on Google first to try to solve your problem or ppl will get angry with you.

5. You can trust it because no one on here is an @$$hole who gets pleasure from seeing you suffer. All Linux newbies had to go through this and most are sympathetic to your plight. GIVEN that you try to help yourself first (see 4) When it comes down to it, you trust because you have faith that people are not going to be jerks, there is no guarantee and everyone will always be biased to whichever distro or whichever software they like.

6. Don't use eval versions. There are enough free distros out there that you can use a free full version.

7. Suse costs $90 at best buy. Go buy it if you want it.