coming from a mac and pc world...

am trying to get a web server up and running to teach self serving data input pages using PHP and postgreSQL for data storage. coming from a visual envronment to one where there are faceless processes is an adjustment.

what to install?
in yast2, have installed apache and PHP; any other useful stuff?

how to kick off servers? (apache, PHP, postreSQL)

how to see if processes are running adequately?

have installed wine, and done default configuration. how to kick off a windows app? doubleclicking on my windows partition (dbb) doesn't do anything.

is there a reference, a good book or URL that will help w/ these questions millions of others have asked?

thanks in advance!

my sys:
default SuSE8, running KDE3
esc k7s5a
athlon 1.47GHz
visiontek geforce3
512M DDR
60G hda
75G hdb

thanks,
todd

welcome!
You can use graphical configuration tools in Linux, but most advanced users prefer text ones.
HINT: For a server administration I suggest Webmin. It allows to configure your server via a web browser.

Quote:

what to install? in yast2, have installed apache and PHP; any other useful stuff?

A database (SQL), Webmin if you'd like to try it.

Quote:

how to kick off servers? (apache, PHP, postreSQL)

I'm sure your SuSE offers a graphical tool (SuSE users can write about it better that me).
A method that works in many distros is
The command above (given as root) starts Apache (httpd). To stop it, change 'start' with 'stop', ro restart use 'restart' etc.
It works only with other services.
NOTE: PHP is not a server. If your Apache is properly configured (and it is) you can use PHP without any special actions.

Quote:

how to see if processes are running adequately?

Look into logs. All errors are written to them. Usually logs are placed in /var/log. For example, Apache logs are in /var/log/httpd (but it may be changed in Apache configuration!). Just browse the directory, you'll learn much from this.

Quote:

have installed wine, and done default configuration. how to kick off a windows app? doubleclicking on my windows partition (dbb) doesn't do anything.

You run an application under wine using
wine pathtoanexecutable
where path is something like "/mnt/windows/Program Files/....".
There are also programs allowing you to run a Windows program from a graphical interface, but I don't remember any name now.

Quote:

is there a reference, a good book or URL that will help w/ these questions millions of others have asked?

Use "Search" feature of this site (very useful) and visit www.tldp.org

Quote:

visiontek geforce3

Have you already installed Nvidia accelerated drivers? It's not "a must", but it's useful sometimes.

welcome!
i don't know where suse installs apache and postgres and i recommend to download current versions of apache, php, mysql, postgresql and so on in the long run.
i have an installation of postgres that i can invoke like that using (user)bash:
/usr/local/pgsql/bin/postmaster -i //this invokes the server for your needs assumed pgsql is in /usr/local...
/usr/local/pgsql/bin/createdb yournewdb
/usr/local/pgsql/bin/psql yournewdb
this connects u to your new db.
get yourself the pg documentation from www.postgresql.org
u'll find a nice introduction to working with php & postgres at http://zope1.devshed.com/zope.devshe...ide/PostgreSQL

php should be working if u installed the suse version. u have to check where u have to place ur php files to be executed. this directory is determined by a variable called DocumentRoot. u can set that in the config file of apache, probably in /etc/httpd/httpd.conf or similar
good luck!
cheers, jens

ha! way too easy...
note: SuSE8 its:
linux:/ # /etc/init.d/apache start
and
linux:/ # /usr/bin/postmaster -i
would have been soooo much harder w/o your guidance.

jens: i'm getting an error,
FATAL 1: File /var/lib/pgsql/data/PG_VERSION is missing. This is not a valid data directory.

am signed on as "postgres" and there is nothing in that directory. "postgres" owns that directory.

i'm downloading the current version, as we speak.

geforece3: have d/led the drivers, soooo much faster w/ 'em, as i recall.

be well, and thanks again for the direction and welcome!

well, if u download the current version u´ll probably have no difficulties installing and running postgres. follow the install and post if u need some more info.
u might run
'whereis PG_VERSION'
to find the missing file but i don´t know whether or not that will show a result.
good luck,
jens