recommend Linux server 'how to' book

Izi

Izi

Izi

Soldato
Joined
9 Dec 2007
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I am coming from a Windows background and have an OK knowledge of managing IIS, FTP, MS SQL, firewalls etc.

I want to get in to Linux, having never touched it before. Tonight I managed to get up ubuntu server running lamp easily, it only took 10 mins or so. However I have no idea how to manage the installation, never mind securely manage it.

Could anyone recommend a book / online resources for managing basic web servers running linux?

For example, I have no idea how to add virtual websites under apache, and my Google skills must be crap because I can't find anything searching either!

Thanks muchly.
 
I agree with tnt, just have a google for what you would normally do on a Windows machine and some kind soul will probably of written how to do it on Linux.

Im by no means an expert but Im fairly confident and its all picked up from hands on experience and having a play.
 
Research the tools for the job, read documentation/play, use them, find out they do too much/not enough/suck, find better, read documentation, use them...

Always going to be slow and clunky at first but getting stuck in instead of reading "Linux by numbers" will put you in much better footing further down the line.

More than 1 way to skin a cat, discover them :D
 
virtuals are a god send, just have a play, and do snapshots so if it all goes wrong u can debug and worse case roll back
 
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just to update this thread: I managed to get ubuntu server up and running with lamp and webmin without to much trouble. In fact it was fairly easy in the end with only a couple sticking points.

Now downloading CentOS and going to have a play with a more industry standard distro.

I can muddle through and learn as I go. The problem always is being confident enough that I have secured the server properly before using it for real - I suppose that will come over time.
 
Izi said:
just to update this thread: I managed to get ubuntu server up and running with lamp and webmin without to much trouble. In fact it was fairly easy in the end with only a couple sticking points.

Now downloading CentOS and going to have a play with a more industry standard distro.

I can muddle through and learn as I go. The problem always is being confident enough that I have secured the server properly before using it for real - I suppose that will come over time.
Click to expand...

DING DING DING We have a winner!

I'd take a look at securing it too though - sure it's pretty tight by default but more never ever hurts.
 
my understanding is that linux is ok out the box, as nothing by default is listening on any ports. (please correct me if i'm wrong)

i'm kinda in the same state as u (but not very windows deep) but i have been playing with linux for 4 years and love it. Tho that said i rebuild my linux server a few weeks a go and this time it behaves totally diffrent to the last vanilla install i did...

let me know how cent goes as i find ubuntu server a bit update happy, and this can knock some stuff out due to being rushed out, but i need a GUI... Yes i know linux fan boys say u don't on a server
 
blueacid said:
I'd take a look at securing it too though - sure it's pretty tight by default but more never ever hurts.
Click to expand...

I might just being be being ignorant, but if I close all ports but SSH, FTP, HTTP & MySQL then as long as the root passwords are OK on those then I am pretty safe am I not?

Likewise, if I secure the ports that I want to be open to only my offices IPs then I am even more safe?
 
i must admit that i've disabled the firewall on my box, as internally it just me, and then just port forward on the ports i need on my router.

SSH i use a diffrent port than 22 for external connections. i have also disabled root from logging in via SSH
 
Izi said:
I might just being be being ignorant, but if I close all ports but SSH, FTP, HTTP & MySQL then as long as the root passwords are OK on those then I am pretty safe am I not?

Likewise, if I secure the ports that I want to be open to only my offices IPs then I am even more safe?
Click to expand...

Assuming you keep the box (all software) well patched and all users have strong passwords then essentially yes. Until your plaintext FTP session is sniffed anyway :)
 
tntcoder said:
Assuming you keep the box (all software) well patched and all users have strong passwords then essentially yes. Until your plaintext FTP session is sniffed anyway :)
Click to expand...

I'll SFTP :)

but thanks, its kind of the same as a windows box in that respect.
 
Find a less friendly distro like Slackware and tuck in. Non of this virtualisation rubbish either, install it on a desktop and try and make it as Windows-like as possible. You will be ze uber mast0r inside a month whereas typing 'apt-get install me software plz' is just going to lull you into a false sense of leetness.

Enjoy though :)
 
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