Migration from Windows to LInux
 

Hello all Linux Professionals,

Well I have been working on Linux for the past 2 years at my university but we didnt have much resources where internet is concerned. I am very familiar with Linux, compilation n building programs and even scripts.

Well now I have been working in my organisation for 4 months. Its a small IT Firm with around 50 employees but we may have a huge recruitment of another 100 employees within next 6 months. I need to change my server from Windows to Linux which I am working on. Now I am planning to setup a Redhat 9 on the machine with the following services.

DNS (BIND)

Proxy (Mostly Squid)

HTTP server (mostly APACHE)

Email (Dont know --- am confused but need POP3 as well as IMAP. My users should be able to access their email from the internet even from outside office.

I am running an ADSL Line with 2Mb/512 bandwidth. I am running over PPPoA which I am unable to configure yet but am working on it with as I have an Alcatel USB ADSL Modem. Trying to figure out how.

I want to completely migrate from Windows to Linux as I am pro Linux and I dont want to use windows as the server platform. SLowly I also want to change my clients from Windows to Linux.

I am having lot of difficulty with lack of finance for any upgrades and have to work with the existing system. The hardware on the server is quite efficient - PIII 800MHz/512 RAM. I can even get another one machine for the purpose.

Someone who has the knowledge and experience please advice a good solution to me.

Also to make a point here, rite now the windows Machine is providing only Internet access to the Local LAN and no other service.

I also want to do this in my company so that tomorrow I can promote Linux full time to my Company Customers and I can develop further too. I have been reading a lot of documentation but am going round and round. tell me a path I should take to start off.

Like first after getting the connection how should I go ahead. My company has approved of buying of a domain but I want to host my domain. Is it possible. My ISP Is giving my ADSL Connection with PPPoA where my IP is not static. Can I workaround with this as my ISP is not providing me with a static IP with ADSL Connection n Leased line is again a very big cost.

Thanx for looking into my big requirement list.

Please advice.

Thanx

Jimmy

--------------------quote------------------------
Like first after getting the connection how should I go ahead. My company has approved of buying of a domain but I want to host my domain. Is it possible. My ISP Is giving my ADSL Connection with PPPoA where my IP is not static. Can I workaround with this as my ISP is not providing me with a static IP with ADSL Connection n Leased line is again a very big cost.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yes it is possible. About a year ago I did something similar just for fun.
All you have to do is to create a HTML-Page (PHP is also possible) and link to your IP-Address. Every time you get a new IP from your ISP you have to upload a new HTML-Page with the new IP-Address.
I would suggest to create a script therefore which do it after dial in.


Michael

Thanks for the help. Just one confusion about the post. What how do I assign an IP to the web page when my IP is not static? n what script will keep changing this IP?

Please advice.

Well looking for answers for my other queries too.

Thanx anyways.

I've done it with SUSE 9 pro

here's the link

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...hreadid=146673


Similar should be available for Red Hat -- but SUSE worked almost out of the box --- Get the Pro version for some of the networking and email server stuff you will need.

Being 'Doze Free saves a LOT OF €€€€€'s , £££££'s $$$$$'s or whatever

Added --- Redhat 9 support is being phased out soon so you might want to consider the Enterprise (Expensive) version -- otherwise look at SUSE -- although there is also an Enterprise version for your type of organisation you should be able to make the Pro version meet all your needs -- and surprise -- Open Office is now good enough that users won't really miss Microsoft Office.

----------------------------------------------quote---------------------------------------
What how do I assign an IP to the web page when my IP is not static? n what script will keep changing this IP?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The trick is to create a HTML-page every time you get a new IP-address. So that the a link conduct the visitor automatically to your server.

When you dial in, the script has to look up the IP which you got from your ISP and build a HTML-file that looks like that:
----------------------------------
<html>
<frame name="Whateveryouwant" src="http://62.123.456.789">
<noframes>
</html>
----------------------------------
After the script has created that the file must be uploaded (every time you dial in).

When you now visit www.yourdomain.org (or what ever you have) you are conducted to your server.

Michael

Another possible solution, is to use a dynamic DNS hosting firm, and find a dynamic DNS upload client or perhaps write an exacutable file (you may even be able to do this with a bash script) you can run with cron or at to automatically update your ip to the dynamic dns servers. It takes out uploading files, etc... ALthough I admit that it is a clever workaround to DHCP. As for hosting it on your servers through DSL I'll just let you know highbandwidth sites, will take time to load on client machines.

As for the other services you want to offer, specifically the email, you really do need to use dynamic DNS because the page loading frame workaround won't direct the Email domain name to the updated IP.

I would also check with you ISP to make sure that you can host low bandwidth sites on their connection, because, it may be aviolation of their rules, and if it is you as well as the company don't want to be sued or anything.

good luck

--Alex

Thanks a lot for the Technical as well as Legal Info. I will make sure to confirm from my ISP before doing anything. But atleast I can experiment the functality within my organization by setting up a good Intranet server.

Well anyways thanx a lot for the advice. If u know of any site which gives a step by step guide then plz do let me know.

Thanx anyways,

Have Fun