tutorials on administrating a dedicated server

[Aussieguy]

Gday

I have been using a shared hosting plan with my hosting company, like most shared hosts the server now has become a bit congested and I am looking at setting up a dedicated server with them.

Cost is a major consideration so I was looking at a self managed server.... Is there any web pages / sites out there that I can read that explains what I need to do to manage the server.
(linux based server)

The hosting comapny will setup everything I need to get going, but I am concerned that I might get in over my head,

If I use Direct Admin as my main control panel to add useres etc
then how much extra work is involved in running the server.

such as:
do I need to use telnet etc to access the server to do maintenance

Can I install / uprade to php 5

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If anyone has suggestions on which books, web sites, or other articles I should read before enbarking on setting up the server I would be extremely thankful,

I have studied Direct Admin it looks GREAT and have read many posts in these forums, much of what I have read indicates that administrating the server is something I would be comfortable in doing .... But I think more reading is in oder.

Thank you

[ProWebUK]

Originally posted by Aussieguy
Cost is a major consideration so I was looking at a self managed server.... Is there any web pages / sites out there that I can read that explains what I need to do to manage the server.
(linux based server)

Well, firstly, is the server for commercial hosting, or for personal use? - if its commercial I would recommend just going the managed route, spending a bit extra and much less of a risk if you dont know your platform/os very well.


Originally posted by Aussieguy
The hosting comapny will setup everything I need to get going, but I am concerned that I might get in over my head

If you havn't already, you will probably want to question that - does "setting everything up" mean installing the OS and the basic software ready for DA to be installed - and then leaving it to you, doing the above and installing DA also, or doing the above, installing DA, and securing the box the box aswell as configuring everything for you.


Originally posted by Aussieguy
If I use Direct Admin as my main control panel to add useres etc
then how much extra work is involved in running the server.

DA will not run the server - it simply allows you to add hosting accounts / email / mysql / ftp etc etc, maintaining the system is virtually the same with or without DA.


Originally posted by Aussieguy
do I need to use telnet etc to access the server to do maintenance

You have the correct idea, you will need access such as telnet / ssh to maintain your server properly. You can use telnet, however, telnet is the first incorrect step - forget it and jump to SSH before you even start.


Originally posted by Aussieguy
Can I install / uprade to php 5

Install/upgrade what you want, however, changing the software DA uses when theres no real need may lose your support in that area.

For example, if you install apache 2, and FP failed to work, you probably wouldnt get any support in getting FP fixed, unless you reverted back to apache 1.29

Chris

[Acid_Duck]

For example, if you install apache 2, and FP failed to work, you probably wouldnt get any support in getting FP fixed, unless you reverted back to apache 1.29




When Vulnerabilities are found for software packaged with DA is it our responsibility to upgrade that software or is that one of the upgraded components when directadmin downloads a new version. How about special programs , such as da-vopo3d. How low do you guys normally take to offer updates when new vulns. are found? Thanks


Erik

[ProWebUK]

Originally posted by Acid_Duck
When Vulnerabilities are found for software packaged with DA is it our responsibility to upgrade that software or is that one of the upgraded components when directadmin downloads a new version. How about special programs , such as da-vopo3d. How low do you guys normally take to offer updates when new vulns. are found? Thanks


Erik

Software provided (included) by DA is covered, at the moment i'm trying to get an up2date style system specifically for DA which should cover all these updates in a much better way.

Chris

[nobaloney]

Chris, I don't believe DA automaticallly updates anything; just makes it available, and that Aussieguy would have to do the update installs himself.

Please verify your experiences.

Thanks.

Jeff

[ProWebUK]

What I meant was, DA provides the updates (such as customapache (php/modssl/zend/apache/etc), and for the other software it supports (exim, proftpd, mysql etc) updates are either available as standard packages/upgrades or are generally available here.

Chris

[nobaloney]

Thanks, Chris.

That's what I wanted to see in the forum postings; I was afraid that Erik and others might have been confused on that issue and not bothered to do the upgrades themselves.

Jeff

[vandal]

as a server admin, the minimum you should do is:

keep all your software updated (very very key), secure your system as best as possible, set up a firewall, read your logs all the time, set up some kind of IDS etc..if this is all french to you, i would recommend hiring a server admin. other things include watching load, monitoring the server period, your services, connections, users etc...