Suggested Reading

[Dauthus]

I am new to web just about everything here. I am running my first dedicated server which is hosted by another company. I am just wondering if anyone has any suggested reading on managing a web server remotely?

Everything I have looked at shows how to install it on your home computer, but nothing about managing the web server from a remote location. Any suggestions are welcome.

[ewdi]

i would recommend "The Linux Cookbook: Tips and Techniques for Everyday Use" since it give you pointer on what to do after installk and setup

I've been in hosting biz for a while now, i learned from how to actually

[kosmosik]

Apache? just ssh to the box and edit config file with vim... if you need to give users access to configuration options for theirs host you need to set up AllowOveride directive to meet your needs. then they just edit .htaccess files inside their own directories (they can do this via FTP) - just put up a documentation with examples on how to do this...

but actually can you make your question more specific?

[Dauthus]

I guess I should have been more specific. Here is what is on the server:

Fedora
Sendmail
Apache Web Server
PERL
Procmail
POP3
MySQL
BASH
PHP
IMAP

Also using Ensim Pro control panel.

I am just learning this stuff, and I can use SSH (Putty) to get in and out. But I barely know the basics of this. I guess you could say I want to learn how to do this, so I started with my own server.

I am just looking for some good resources on the "How to" aspects. Examples would be:

How to turn on Port 21 so I can use FTP?
How to turn off Ports?

You know the basic stuff for configuring a server using SSH.

[kosmosik]

Originally Posted by Dauthus

I am just learning this stuff, and I can use SSH (Putty) to get in and out. But I barely know the basics of this. I guess you could say I want to learn how to do this, so I started with my own server.

I am just looking for some good resources on the "How to" aspects. Examples would be:

How to turn on Port 21 so I can use FTP?
How to turn off Ports?

You know the basic stuff for configuring a server using SSH.

SSH server is already running just point your putty to your Linux host and you should be able to log in... as for FTP - don't use it - it sucks (it is unsecure). use WinSCP - this is for file transfers over SSH (all you need is running SSH server). I would also suggest you to turn some services off as you don't know how to even begin you won't know when you be 0wned... Apache is quite secure but Sendmail is a mess, also imapd and pop3 (what daemon?) can be PITA... just turn them off till you know how they work and know that you have secured it. otherwise you can end up as warez server or spamming zombie

when running services you should:
1] disable everything
2] configure and secure (learn) one by one
3] run given service
4] maintain them - update packages, track security mailing list to know about possible issues
5] make some proactive security, install *IDS, rootkit checkers, secure logs, do backups

and you can sleep normally

as for where to begin - you asked about apache. go to their site and read documentation on configuring. you also should be a little familiar with some editor (mcedit is nice for n00bs at least you will know how to exit) and basic shell operation...

check out manuals for services you wish to host, check out Red Hat's documentation (it is very good) f.e. for RHEL - it is quite similar to Fedora, you will also find a manual on using shell there... check out tldp.org for howtos on various things...

it is quite much to learn but once you come over this learning curve everything becomes so obvious and easy...

[Dauthus]

Originally Posted by kosmosik

when running services you should:
1] disable everything
2] configure and secure (learn) one by one
3] run given service
4] maintain them - update packages, track security mailing list to know about possible issues
5] make some proactive security, install *IDS, rootkit checkers, secure logs, do backups

You took Greek, didn't you? That's what most of that sounds like to me.

Actually I have WinSPC on my computer, I just haven't learned how to use it yet. As for turning off services, will disabling sendmail stop my POP mail accounts?

All I basically want for now is to set up a couple of web sites, and I want to be able to send and receive email. Just what exactly can I shut down and still do that?

Thanks for the info on the pages to search. I will start looking into them now.

[imdeemvp]

Originally Posted by ewdi

i would recommend "The Linux Cookbook: Tips and Techniques for Everyday Use" since it give you pointer on what to do after installk and setup

I've been in hosting biz for a while now, i learned from how to actually

beside the RH/Fedora Bible there is this pocket version which i purchased also
here

[kosmosik]

Originally Posted by Dauthus

You took Greek, didn't you? That's what most of that sounds like to me.

no I am polish as you can see in my profile ;]

Originally Posted by Dauthus

Actually I have WinSPC on my computer, I just haven't learned how to use it yet.

it is plain simple to use it, just point it to your Linux host and than accept fingerprints and give username and password. that is it. you can also set up passwordless (key pair based) autehthication for your convinience - it is more secure than sending passwords...

Originally Posted by Dauthus

As for turning off services, will disabling sendmail stop my POP mail accounts?

nope sendmail is for SMTP - sending mails not serving mailboxes...

Originally Posted by Dauthus

All I basically want for now is to set up a couple of web sites, and I want to be able to send and receive email. Just what exactly can I shut down and still do that?

you obviously need a web server - Apache [+probably PHP and MySQL (just make sure MySQL does only listen on sockets - not to network)], SMTP server (for sending email), POP3/IMAP server. you don't need any more services to do that. use nmap and see what ports you have exposed. it should only be 4 ports (ssh, smtp, pop3, http) - otherwise you have to disable something...

if you need a service but only for local use (local connections as MySQL) make it run only on local interfaces (loopback). then it wont be aviable from outside world... also you can consider switching all services one by one to secured version like https, ssmtp, pop3 over SSL...