ok I have an HP Net Server with a Pentium 3 1.0ghz CPU and 6 HP SCSI Drives. Anyway I am running RedHat 9 and trying to get everything running online I know how to do port forwarding and all that stuff. The only thing I need to know is what folder do I put stuff in so it is seen online and how do I get a domain for it? IE: something dot com I saw a Var folder with the WWW and with my past experience with FTP thats the folder you need for stuff to be seen is this correct? I am coming from Windoze and need to learn about this Because I tried a Server with Windoze but there were to many errors and I heard this is way more secure so yeah anyway all help will be appreciated

Ok. Assuming you have all the hardware working correctly, then you should install something like apache. Apache will use /var/www as the default directory to store your webpage in. Configure Apache to your liking, then make sure it's running. Once you get that all done, you need to buy a domain. I happen to like GoDaddy but you can use any registrar you like. CustomDNS is also good if you have a dynamic IP. You shouldn't need port forwarding, but just make sure your firwall keeps port 80 open.

You're a Windows guy -- so something you probably need to get a handle on is Apache, the most common *nix based Web server out there. If you're using RedHat, chances are your web server configuration file is located here: /etc/httpd/httpd.conf. That file contains your web server configuration. In that file, you need to create a VirtualHost directive, that will basically tell Apache that its job is to do hosting for www.yourdomain.com.

I would recommend going to the URL hyperlinked above and reading about virtual host directives, and just search online for a bunch of examples. If you're looking for a short cut, just send me your domain name, and a copy of your /etc/httpd/httpd.conf file via private message, and I will modify the file for you and send it back.

I have heard of free DNS services and I was wondering how I would get one and then if I did that I was thinking of setting up a dot TK. If that would work and thanks for your responses I will really have to delve into Apache now and I was also wondering if someone could teach me how to Un-Tar a file or complile it onto the system or whatever because I want Mozilla FireFox on it but I don't know how to install it like I did with windows I really need to get out of the Windows way of thinking . I also would like to Install PHPbb On it and I don't know anything about PHP on Linux and very little PHP as it is

I haven't kept up too much with Redhat, but I'm pretty sure you can find an RPM (Redhat Package Manager, it's like a .exe file in windows) file of Firefox and install that. It will save you the effort of compiling it. To install an RPM file, you need to execute the command This will install the program for you, much like an installer would in windows. Also, dotTK is a redirection service, so you'll need to get Apache set up for that. I recommend reading the manuals already referenced, then trying to set it up. If you run into trouble after that, feel free to ask. PHP will be a little more complicated, but not impossible so to install on apache. I believe you can just set up modPHP, but I've never tried it. So you may need to do some reading on that.

I have FireFox and Apache un-tarred on my computer and FireFox is working I just need to know what to do with apache I have a folder now that says HTTPD2.0.?.? (the ?marks mean whatever) Now I just want to know how do I configure of it

What to do once you have your tar.gz file..

1. Untar your file like this: tar -xzvf filename.tar.gz - this will unpack your tar file (as well as un-gzip it) into a directory called apache-x.x.x. The "-xzvf" means, eXtract, ungZip, Verbose output, Filename follows.

2. cd apache-x.x.x (change into the apache directory that was just created on the last command)

3. ./configure --prefix=/usr/local/apache

4. make

5. make install

6. cd /usr/local/apache/

7. pico (or whatever text editor you use) /usr/local/apache/conf/httpd.conf - make any changes you want here, but I think it may not be necessary to make changes just to launch your web server.

8. Launch your web server with: /usr/local/apache/bin/apachectl start

9. You can stop your web server with: /usr/local/apache/bin/apachectl stop

Your main web content directory is here: /usr/local/apache/htdocs. Now that you have your browser loaded, and your Apache server running, point your browser address to: http://localhost/ - if you see an Apache welcome message, you're golden.