Use a later version of the Linux kernal like 2.0.36 or 2.2.6.. Newer versions generally have the old bugs worked out and security holes fixed.. But they may have new and yet to be discovered bugs... So keep your kernel somewhat current. Latest Linux Kernels can be found at www.linuhq.com or www.kernel.org
Your Internet connection has to be always up and connected to the net. Best bets for the dollar are ADSL and Cable modems. No dialing and logins required to connect as they are always connected to the net.
1) dedicated dialup modem too slow and unreliable 2) dedicated ISDN 1 or 2 channels workable more or less, if no ADSL or Cable options. 3)T1 connection good but too pricy 4) ADSL great! cheap and fast 5) Cable Modem fast and cheap but depends on availabilty of static IPs
With the connection speeds offered by ADSL and Cable modems, it make a very attractive connection for doing your own web servcie and DNS.. Although it is the upload speeds that are essential for running a web server, the connection speeds of both ADSL and Cable are sufficient for low hit web sites.. I would guestimate about 80-90% of all web sites are "low hit" web sites..
Southwestern Bell is aggressively marketing ADSL. I have so far not seen anyone come close to their pricing. For about $80/ month on a year contract, you get 5 IPs and a fast always on Internet connection.. With 5 IPs it is easy to run your own DNS servers on two IPs, a web server on the third, a mail server on the 4th and a spare IP for whatever. This can be on one computer or five. Be your own webmaster!
See the ADSL HOWTO for Linux Systems by David Fannin
RoadRunner from Time Warner is also there, but getting the required static IPs might be problematic. You may have to wait untill AT&T really gets involved with phone service and internet service through a cable modem..
Other regional cable modem companies may be better. Kingwood Cablevision does state that you can get Static IPs.
See the Cable Modem Mini HOWTO by Vladimir Vuksan
An IP is a numerical address that the world can find you. Very Important!
1 Static IP Can do Virtual WebHosting and Email - share the IP 2 Static IPs Do your own DNS -Domain Name Service - one IP for each Server 3 Static IPs Can do your own Virtual Web Hosting, Email and DNS 4 or more An IP each for Web Hosting, Email and the two DNS servers
When a Domain is registered with the Internic/Network Soulutions, the Domain's listed DNS servers tell where to go to find the Domain. So when you type in www.youirnewdomain.com your broweser asks the net where to go for the page and the net responds back with the DNS servers that have the where to go info..
Only 1 IP: With only one IP you are dependent on someone else for doing your DNS.Altough you can run mutliple web domains using only one IP, you must use someone else for DNS. When you go to register a domain at Network Solutions you have to to give two valid DNS server names, each on a seperate IP.Most often you will use your ISP for the DNS service.. Talk to your sales rep.. You will have to do this for each domain you host..
3's a Company: With three IPs, you can use two for DNS and one for your Web server and Email.. You can control your setup and maintenace.. Three IPs is really the minimum number of IPs for doing your own... You just need to register a new domain and put it into your DNS. You don't have to wait on someone else to do it .
The latest versions of Linux tend to come with Bind 8.1.2 or the newer 8.2 , although most will be the 8.1.2 version. Bind version 8.2 was just released in mid March of 1999. I could not get it to complile on my Slackware derived Linux version 2.0.36.. So for now, I am using Bind 8.1.2. If you have the older Bind 4.9.x, you need to upgrade to Bind 8.1.2. Once your get the intial domain or two setup the rest is fairly easy... Take alook at the bind homepage or at at the Linux DNS-HOWTO. This HOWTO is probably the best for setting up your DNS
You will need a /etc/resolv.conf and a /etc/named.conf files.. And a /var/named/root.hints..
I created a sub directory of /var/named/zone with my in-addr.arpa file of /var/named/zone/216.61.157 for my reverse lookup of IPs and the sub directories of:
/var/named/zone/local with local definitions for my local networks, private and not seen by the Internet..
/var/named/zone/com for the DOT COM domains hosted by Loblolly.net.
/var/named/zone/net for the DOT NET domains hosted by Loblolly.net.
/var/named/zone/org for the DOT ORG domains hosted by Loblolly.net
For a bit more on DNS at Lobloly.net see DNSsetup. But the above mentioned DNS-HOWTO is really the best guide for setting up your own DNS..
Like everything else, Apache setup is at first confusing, but once you get it going, fairly easy to maintain and add new domains...
Use the latest version of Apache. The current version is 1.3.6.. If your version of Linux has an older version, you can download the newer version from www.Apache.org, also a good spot for more info. Also see the Apache Manual
I prefer to put the downloaded Apache file into my /usr/src directory and then untar and ungzip it with
# tar zxvf filename
This normally will create a new directory named for the version of Apache you just downloaded. I like to then link it to a directory of /usr/src/apache just to help keep me from accidently using an older version. I can just cd to /usr/src/apache and do not have to remember what version.
# ln -s /usr/src/apache-version apache
For compiling it and installing, check the README and INSTALL files and on the www.Apache.org site.
Following the Apache directions you should end up with a /usr/local/apache directory with the new httpd (the Apache program), apachectl (for stoping and restarting apache) and the sub directories of:
/usr/local/apache/cgi-bin the cgi script like mail forms, counters etc
/usr/local/apache/conf the Apache configuration directory for httpd.conf
/usr/local/apache/htdocs defualt directory for web pages
/usr/local/apache/icons directory for various Apache, etc icons, gifs etc.
/usr/local/apache/logs where the access and error logs are kept
Also see Adding a Virtual Domain to Loblolly.net in Apache.When you have several users, you may find as I have by working for an ISP, that it's best to serve web pages from the users public_html directory and not from htdocs.
I have used sendmail and have looked at the tons of sendmail documentation but opted for the simplicity of Qmail. Like on the Apache download, I put the Qmail tared and gzipped file in /usr/src and then untar and ungzip it with:
# tar zxvf qmailversionnumber
I did not link it into seperate /usr/src/qmail directory as the version has not changed in sometime..You will need to follow the INSTALL and see the FAQ. Also see the Loblolly.net info on Adding a New Domain to Qmail for Virtual Hosting.
Last Updated on June 14, 1999
Mailto:rddecker@loblolly.net