I'm looking for a new distro for a web server. Currently I run RH8 and I've been having some problems with it. It's been two years so I'm thinking I might need a change. RH8 is pretty nice but I'd like to try something else.

Is SuSe a good distro for a server?

Does SuSe come with various web applications, like ftp, apache, php, mySQL, and a mail server? Or would I have to install those myself?

Is there a good book out there that comes with the CDs to install the software? I bought the Red Hat Bible 2 years ago, came with the installation CDs and a bunch of packages to go with. It was very slick. But looking at Amazon, not sure if SuSe has a good comparable book to go with that includes the CDs. Not that it's critical, but it sure would be nice.

And, I prefer the free version. But, it seems like on their website, buying it there with manuals might be nice, too. Hrm. I'm very, very new to Linux (even after running RH for 2 years, I still feel like I know hardly anything about it), so I would definitely need a book for a beginner.

Thanks!

I dont know how good it is for a webserver but i know that it has apache, php, mySQL and a mail server included. Also those manuals that come with the pro version when you buy it are great for beginners I have been running a apache webserver with php and mysql for local testing on my old pc for a few months now and it works great

Oh and if you have trouble with installing apache, php & mySQL there is always this guide here:

http://www.coolsolutions.com/forums/...pic.php?t=1997

As long as you go with the Pro version it works great as a server, When I was a student at USU and had a T1 line I ran Apache, Cyrus-imap, Pro ftp all under SuSE and with the exception of PRO ftp all the packages are included on the disks. I do most of my administration tasks through webmin which didn't have a module for any of the ftp servers included with SuSE which is why I chose to install my own.

if u ask me, suse rocks.
i am still running 8.1 for around year now. offcourse had problems in the beginning, but that is expexted when new to anything.

i run apache with php and mysql for 3 diff sites, and i have not really had any major issues. help is always at hand on mailing lists and forums. i got all the software from the cd's, i tried 9.0 at home, but didn't like it due to changes made... so i stick with 8.1

so i'd say suse is good...

Thanks. I will have a look at the pro version, though I'm not sure I'm willing to spend too much on this. My other alternative option is, I think, Mandrake.

You dont have to spend any money if you dont want to. You can do a FTP install of the full pro version and i even think its available to download as iso now but dont quote me on that.

I'd have to suggest Debian, Slackware or a free version of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (eg Lineox or White Box Enterprise Linux they are Red Hat with all Trademarks removed). SUSE in my opinion the pro version is better for desktop use. SUSE Linux enterprise server is supposed to be good though, but expensive.

I run suse on a computer i use as a webserver, with mysql php and apache, and ive had absolutely no probs.

I'm running SuSE Enterprise 9 on my file server here at home. I like it enough that I'd definately look into using it for a web server if I had the need for one.

If you can get your hands on a copy of one of those "Linux Technical Resource Kit" DVD sets Novell was offering a while ago, you get a bunch of free stuff.

cut&paste...

- SUSE Linux Professional 9.1 (Bootable Installation DVD)
- SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 9 (ISO Installation Images)
- SUSE Linux Professional 8.2 (Installation ISO images for use with Ximian Desktop)
- Ximian Desktop 2.0 Evaluation (ISO Image)
- Red Carpet 2.0.2 Evaluation (ISO Image)
- GroupWise for Linux 6.5.1 - Server, Client & Messenger (ISO Images)
- Novell Nterprise Linux Services 1.0 (ISO Image & NLS Companion CD)

My server has completely died, and so I'd like to burn a new CD with the installation ISO of SuSe pro. However, I haven't found that on their website, I only see the personal version. I'm not familiar with how to do an FTP intsall.. I'm assuming I'd have to download it to my windows PC, but since my server won't even boot at this point, I want to boot/install from CD.

Cynthia:

I think this has already been said, but I will broaden the explanation. Suse, RH, Mandrake all have the same main things, though SuSe includes almost 3 time more packages for very specific applications like engineering, programming, and more, that you will not need if all you wish is a Web/Mail server.

The 3 use the same servers, some people get to call that infrastructure the LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL and 3 P's; Perl, PHP, Python), so for your specific needs, there will not be differences in terms of web server.

What I think it is hard to understand when begining with Linux (it happened to me as well) is that many things "don't work"

The reason is that the iptables, the firewall has all traffic blocked. Choose under GNome's Menu System Settings|security level the access you wish to give to "others". Open HTTP, FTP, Telnet.

Another thing that comes "null" in the Apache Web Server is the server name. It might say: _server_ instead of the name of your server

The default for your machine is localhost, but if you decide to change it, go to the Gnome Menu | System Settings | Network | Hosts Tab | click the IP address named with localhost or the one you defined when installing, and edit to add all aliases you wish. Then the httpd.conf (in where?, another tricky thing: /etc/httpd/conf) needs to say that "ServerName" is "your_server" name defined exactly at the hosts tab of the network management dialog.

Your ethernet card needs some IP address to start testing, and other machines connected via internet to the same hub will be able to access your web server primarily using that ipaddress. Then once you put the DNS service to work, and the other machines know the IP address for that DNS service, those OTHER MACHINES in the LAN will be able to find your web server by typing "the name" of your server or alias (like domain names) instead of the tedious ip address.

SMB server (if you have windows machines connected to your Linux server and they need file serving from the Linux Machine) has same restricting policies when first started, so the similar setting in /etc/samba/smb.conf will need to be adjusted to open access to the windows clients.

One thing is true, once you learn to move the right knobs, you find that all those servers: apache, samba, vs-ftpd, telnet (check Gnome Menu|Server Settings|Services) are very reliable and stable.

Regards

Thanks! *bookmarks this link*