Yet Another N00b Question, want to create my own DNS/Web Server
 

Good evening all,

I decided that I need to learn the in and outs of linux and thought I'd start out by hosting my own web page and domain name from it. My SC420 comes in tomorrow and will most likely load Mandrake 10 since it appears to be the most n00b friendly with install and configuration.

I have found a couple of threads about building your own web server, but haven't found a complete guide as of yet. Currently I am on a Dynamic IP connection and a simple DHCP router. My website I wish to use for this project is a very basic one and I will not need any advanced databases or functions such as MySQL or PHP.

My main objective is to learn through trial and error and maintain an uptime for at least a week to start. I would like to accomplish the following:

- Create my own DNS to host my domain name
- Apache for HTTP
- FTP accessability for remote access and management of my site
- Accessible outside of my home network

After this I would like to advance into some backend work and MySQL / PHP management, but would first just like my box to host the site.

Any guides, software, links, etc.. are greatly appreciated in this endevour.


Have a wondeful day!

Rage

Hi Rage2132,

Sorry but u cannot run master name server on ur machine coz it does not have a stable ip address. This is because your ip address is getting allocated through a DHCP server that changes from time to time. But you can always configure it to be a caching name server by running the named daemon. Also i m not sure about a forwarding DNS server but i think that is possible. Rest of the things are possible - like setting up a http server, ftp server and things like that. Even your computer can be accessed from anywhere in the world until you are not using a private IP address (which i hope your are not coz u r using a DHCP server). But in that case people have to type in the internet address of your computer and NOT the host name.
Since you are using mandrake, i guess apache will come preinstalled - all u have to do is to configure httpd.conf and start httpd (http daemon). But still i suggest you download the latest version of apache and compile and build it and set it up from scratch. I love it like that coz i feel i have done something really great (just kiddin).

For apache tutorial check:
http://www10.brinkster.com/ssruprai/comphp.asp
But before doing that make suer mysql is installed.
Also check google for tutorials on apache configuration

ftp is enabled by default. It does not run as a daemon now a days. It is run through inetd
check if u can already ftp to your computer - if not enable it ....

Regards,
SiLiCoN

Most of what you want to do is covered in shilo's famous 'how i do it all' that is posted over in the slackware forum. Well worth reading.

Your project does sound a little ambitious though...how about just getting sound and video working properly on your machine first and then maybe setting up your own LAN webserver...maybe then proper mail server and finally finish of with php/sql webby?

I might suggest though that by that time you'd appreciate why most people don't do this :-)

it is fun to learn though

You can use ddclient and dyndns for dynamic dns, to let people type in a name to get to your website. I do have a couple fixes if you use a Linksys router for ddclient.

Thanks for the link, just *.pdf 'd it for a read when I get off of work.

It probabbly is ambtious, basically I try to set my learning goals a little high for things I need to learn by trial and error. That way I get tons of experience trying to get everything done and erroring out :).

Thanks for the info, tutorial looks right up my alley.

What about if I create a dyndns (http://www.dyndns.org/services/dns/dyndns/) for the DNS since this would automatically update my IP information?

TIA!

Doh! should have read this post before I responded to Silicon.

My router is a wireless freebie from MS, so I don't think it should be a big problem for DYNDNS