Hi linux folks, I have some php-mysql websites I need to host. I'm hoping to set up a fast, secure, and inexpensive server.

I looked everywhere for a commercial service that will satisfy my needs. First, I tried a shared hosting service with "unlimited" bandwidth. But it's not unlimited because your account gets suspended if it uses too much resources. Then, I looked at the dedicated servers and the price is just too much for me.

Finally, I found a way to have a fast, secure, and inexpensive server. I hope to create a guide that anyone (including newbies like me) can use to start their own LAMP server. Currently, this guide is incomplete because I have a lot of questions. I have placed "//" preceding any questions that I have.

Edit- this is the final version. I hope this protocol will help whoever is trying to start a lamp server.

1. register a domain. (I registered mine at godaddy.com for $10/year)

2. Set up your own name server using tinydns- I used this software after I failed to get BIND9 to work. Also, try everydns, which offers free service.

3. rent a server (http://www.esecuredata.com/Pricing/Servers.aspx offers 2 types of servers $80-150/month). These guys are "what u c is what u get". I recommend their service.

4. Ask for a clean, basic installation of debian linux for security reasons.

5. SSH into your server and install the necessary softwares (Apache, PHP, Mysql, tinydns, exim4)


6. Point domain registration to name server. In godaddy.com's control panel, add the 2 name servers in the name server entry box (eg. ns1.nameserver.com ns2.nameserver.com)

7. point your name server to your linux box.

8. Configure tinydns in your linux. Configure a cache server so that your box can connect to the internet. Then configure an authoritative server so that it can act as a name server.


These are the basic steps needed to start a lamp server. It takes a lot of tweaking to get the softwares to work. The good news is that this forum is here to help

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Whether or not you need the expensive server depends on what you're hosting. Personally, I'm currently building/using a web server 'frankenstein' that I've put together from three different computers I had at my shop, all running PII/PIIIs with all sorts of old hardware. What you need to focus on is the network capabilities and storage capacity of your server. If you can fit your network on the box and the network interface is in good shape, you're good to go.

If you go that route, consider djbdns with daemontools instead of BIND

Binds all good if you don't midn some of the headaches, although I hear djbdns is more secure. Never used it myself.

Like gankoji said it really matters what you are hosting. If your hosting your companies website, go right at it on a ghetto box. If your hosting a webserver that deals in mass amounts of traffic or a database that does lots of transactions or queries maybe look at a two box solution for segmentation purposes.