info about vsftpd, apache and xinetd, setting up a webserver with users and passwords

Grifter · 07-11-2005, 12:38 PM

well its my first post and i am a total linux

so be gentle with me i am gunna need allot of help !
load's detail and the like
basic issue :
I need info about vsftpd, apache and xinetd with red hat 9, how they fit together and basic help for each of them, i'm setting up a web server allowing ftp connections with user names and passwords
please help :>
Grifter

JimBass · 07-11-2005, 01:16 PM

Well, we'd need more info to help you! VSFTP is the best of the ftp servers for me. It is excellent, I've never had to touch it once it is running. I would suggest you not use RH9. It is old, and many better solutions exist. If you like Red Hat, then go with one of the newer Fedora releases - 3 or 4. If you are running old hardware, any distro is fine, but Debian stable has been very good to me on several different installs and applications. RH9 can work, I just don't see the point in running a server on a build that isn't supported by its manufacturer anymore.

Peace,
JimBass

Grifter · 07-11-2005, 01:22 PM

ok but im having trouble configuring vsftp to have usernames and passwords for users
errr ummm ill try debian

twantrd · 07-11-2005, 02:07 PM

Debian is a great OS (my favorite) however, most say that it is a lot harder to learn than Fedora Core. So since you are relatively new to linux perhaps you should take on Fedora Core and learn the ropes of that first. But it's really up to you. As for vsftpd, it reads off local usernames (/etc/passwd) so you really do not need to put in usernames that you want allowed for ftp in a file. If you get an error, paste up the error message and what commands you issued so we can help you out in great detail. Thanks.

-twantrd

jungleking · 07-13-2005, 11:26 AM

Hello, I'm also trying to setup an ftp server but I'm a little confused.
1. Where and how do you specify the ftp host address ie ftp.webhost.com
2. Does the server have to always have the same IP address ie be always connected to the internet?

Help is very much appreciated

JimBass · 07-13-2005, 12:43 PM

That isn't an FTP question, it is a networking question. The host address means nothing to the server itself. Its connection is through an IP address. host names are just crutches for humans. You don't always need the same IP address to be connected to the internet, but for people trying to connect to your computer, having the same address helps. If you have a dynamic address, through DHCP, you would best be served to run a service like noip.com

Peace,
JimBass

jungleking · 07-13-2005, 02:54 PM

Thanks for the info, but I'm still confused with how the intergrated server tools built into Redhat 9 come into this. How would i use the Domain name server manager to allow users to connect to ftp.mywebsite.com is that by using this tool?
Also where does the HTTP server come into it?
Please forgive my ignorance, I'm such a

!

twantrd · 07-13-2005, 11:40 PM

For users to connect to your ftp site, you need to run a domain name server (djbdns, bind, etc..) or use one of the many free dns hosting facilities on the web to point to your external ip address. I haven't used the Domain name server manager but I'm pretty sure it's probably a setup for bind.

Http server is completely different, that's apache. If you wish to serve web pages, then setup apache. I wouldn't rush in learning these all at once. You should first tackle one (either dns, ftp, or apache) then once you feel completely comfortable with it, move on to the next. If you rush in trying to get all these 3 set up and done, it'll drive you mad with all the errors you are going to see and waste a lot of your time.

-twantrd