CentOS & VPS

[Intox]

Hey Guys I need a bit of help here, in my quest to expand my Linux knowledge I acquired a small vps with which to mess around with.

So far I have managed to set up a Team speak server that is running smoothly, very proud of that btw
What Ive noticed so far is that setting up anything locally is a lot easier than doing it with my vps.
Tonight I will attempt to get Apache up with a small website.

After that I am pretty much don't know what else to do with it
So my question is what else can I set up to quench my thirst for Linux knowledge


Just a note, this is an unmanaged vps and my Linux knowledge is limited but I am willing to try anything.

Regards
Intox

 

[James]

I would setup a LAMP stack but instead of using a package manager to do it (yum in your case) try and compile it all from src.

 

[RSkeens]

Apart from setting up the general webserver services, you could try learning to code Bash scripts.

 

[Intox]

I would setup a LAMP stack but instead of using a package manager to do it (yum in your case) try and compile it all from src.

Apart from setting up the general webserver services, you could try learning to code Bash scripts.

WoW you guys are fast, thanks for the suggestions so far.

Lamp stack from src, sounds fun
Bash scripts a toughie, I will try to find some literature.

 

[warwickw]

To install Apache from command prompt : yum install httpd
MySQL : yum install mysql-server
PHP :yum install php

Wolla done, then you start the new services with :

service httpd start
service mysqld start

Configure Apache via the config files in /etc/httpd

 

[James]

To install Apache from command prompt : yum install httpd
MySQL : yum install mysql-server
PHP :yum install php

Wolla done, then you start the new services with :

service httpd start
service mysqld start

Configure Apache via the config files in /etc/httpd

This is too easy, that is why I suggested not using a package manager

 

[Tinuva]

Actually I have one better.

Try to set up a DNS server, with a zone template, try to register a domain using that DNS server. Then once you have done that, and that domain point back to the same server, set up an email server and check that you can have it receive and send mail properly without being an open relay. Once you have done that, add spam/virus filtering to it.

There are many ways to skin this cat, but you can find some tips/guides from freespamfilter.org

Whilst doing this, feel free to use yum where possible, you really don't need to compile stuff to learn, but building useful stuff will go a long way. Personally email is one of my biggest jobs where I work currently, and it is all based on linux and a lot of the items we use, or ideas we use are actually from freespamfilter.org directly or indirectly of tips given there, but definitely not exactly that as we have a lot of custom stuff on top of ours which make ours very unique. As a previous poster mentioned, learn bash scripting while at it as our spamfilters use that too to dump transport/network tables for postfix and convert it via postmap on regular intervals during that day.

 

[Intox]

Actually I have one better.

Try to set up a DNS server, with a zone template, try to register a domain using that DNS server. Then once you have done that, and that domain point back to the same server, set up an email server and check that you can have it receive and send mail properly without being an open relay. Once you have done that, add spam/virus filtering to it.

There are many ways to skin this cat, but you can find some tips/guides from freespamfilter.org

Whilst doing this, feel free to use yum where possible, you really don't need to compile stuff to learn, but building useful stuff will go a long way. Personally email is one of my biggest jobs where I work currently, and it is all based on linux and a lot of the items we use, or ideas we use are actually from freespamfilter.org directly or indirectly of tips given there, but definitely not exactly that as we have a lot of custom stuff on top of ours which make ours very unique. As a previous poster mentioned, learn bash scripting while at it as our spamfilters use that too to dump transport/network tables for postfix and convert it via postmap on regular intervals during that day.

Nicely done Tinuva, appreciate all the advice from everyone.

Looks like I have a lot to do so let me get started

 

[James]

I would go slightly different again here

Unless you are really trying to become a zealot I would take the suggestion of the dns but would stay away from BIND. It can be the devil and could very easily be the reason to never sys admin a *nix box again. It is so fiddly and pedantic and does not forgive easily. I would give PDNS (PowerDNS) a go. It is a mySQL based DNS sever that does not rely on zone files. All records are just simple mySQL database entries.

When getting to the mail server, I would stay far away from sendmail which is probably installed by default. I would go for something like Postfix or Exim, both are really good and imo easier to administer. Incoming I have only ever used dovcot so I can not recommend anything in this department. As Tinuva said, make sure you don't set up an open relay or you nice new VPS will have a nice new blacklisted IP before you can say Jack Flash.

 

[Tinuva]

If you want suggestions on which software to use, please ask I am more than willing to make suggestions. Both Postfix/Exim are good, however my experience are mostly with Postfix and Qmail, since that is mostly what I work with, between the two I prefer postfix by far.

Exim must be good, the opensource emailfilter called mailcleaner uses that as its mta and it is built on new software.

Never used powerdns, I find Bind easy, and again I had to work with that since that is what we use on our Linux hosting, for the most time it actually works fine. We also use unbound for caching only dns servers, super fast little app that is, however it can also do simplified zones, again not based on mysql. Powerdns does sound pretty cool for a dns server you need domains on and an easy to to add/remove records, will keep it in mind for the future.

 

[Rocket-Boy]

If you really want to learn stuff then there is no better source than www.howtoforge.com
Go browse through the CentOS section and you will find a huge amount of howto's on setting up whatever you want you server to do from scratch. You will learn alot.

 

[Intox]

Thanks guys, just have to add, the Linux community is awesome.

Got Mysql,PHP & Apache up last night and working fine.
Had some issues with Mysql taking up a huge amount of my ram but after some tweaks my ram usage is at 65mb total with everything running.

Will tackle the DNS tonight and postfix as well if I have enough time.

Thanks Rocket, going to check out www.howtoforge.com .

 

[RSkeens]

I have used PowerDNS but I still prefer BIND. You could also try and optimise your PHP, Apache and MySQL - you can then try using high speed alternatives like Nginx and Varnish, etc. Too few people know how to effectively optimise their services.