Setup Web Server on Debian Sarge (3.1)

[Jay Bollyn]

I have base-installed Sarge on a test PC, which will be used for testing on my NATed Intranet (no access to this server from the Internet). I am looking for links to howto docs for setting up a web server, setting up ftp, and basic administration tasks.

I can handle win2k3 administration, so I know the concepts, but my linux skills are minimal.

I like the O'Reilly series, but this 1st edition is 8 years old. Is there a better choice, or will this be fine for my needs?

http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/debian/chapter/book/index.html

TIA - J.

[Ivan Ferreira]

Are you sure you want to start with debian? probably is not the most friendly linux distro today.

My suggestion is to use fedora/centOS/SUSE, because there are a lot of updated information and also, it's very easy to configure, anyway, all of them uses the same package. Red Hat provides very good documentation at their page about linux administration.

This page could help you to configure network services:

http://www.brennan.id.au/

[Ivan Krastev]

Take a look at this site - http://www.aboutdebian.com/



regards,
ivan

[James R. Ferguson]

Hi Jay:

As for choosing an appropriate first Linux distro this quick "test" may help:

http://www.zegeniestudios.net/ldc/

Regards!

...JRF...

[Jay Bollyn]

Thanks guys;

I have this thing set up. Now I need to add content. Exactly what that content is, I do not know.

Debian was suggested to me, but I am not sure if I have a choice. I need to meet with the user group, to get a better idea of what they intend to do with this webserver. Since I have minimal linux skills, I need good documentation, specific to whatever disto we go with.

I should know more in a day or two.

J.

[Vitaly Karasik_1]

IMHO, Apache management is very similar on all linux/unix flavors.

>Now I need to add content.

1. locate httpd.conf - where is apache's config?
2. grep DocumentRoot /etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf (change /etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf to the path which you received from "locate")

you will see something like "/var/www" - under this directory you should put your website.

[Sheriff Andy]

Hi Jay,

Here is a link that I used with my website.

http://www.aboutdebian.com/internet.htm

This is a book that may be of some help as well. A couple years old, but may come in handy.

http://www.idealog.us/2004/10/helpful_guide_t.html

[Maarten Verwijs]

Hello Jay,

Decent links:
http://www.debian-administration.org
A lot of Debian Developers contribute there.

http://www.debian-administration.org/articles/357
I think this is exactly what you're trying to achieve.

Also, I would go for the Etch installation, not Sarge. Etch is about to be released. If this is going to be a test environment, go with Etch.

Debian is not the easiest to install, but once the initial installment is done you're ready to rock.

Kindest regards,

Maarten,

Debian Systems Administration,
Netherlands Institute for Space Research

[George Liu_4]

Debian is very conventional UNIX from system administration perspective. Generic apache administration methods apply.

[Jay Bollyn]

thanks guys - J.

[Sheriff Andy]

Agree or disagree.

http://people.debian.org/~srivasta/talks/why_debian/talk.html