Setting up a Linux server

Have static IP, server PC and software, now what?

[surveydiscs]

I have a static IP with decent speed up down and a new Dell server and have both Mandrake 10 or Fedora Core and wanted to know what it takes to set up a ftp server for my web sites. The PC is a new Dell celeron with 512k and an 80 gig HD dedicated for this project. What software do I need to install, what port setting do I need to change in my Linksys router and what control panel software would I need. I only have a handfull of work related sites I need to host so I do not feel I will kill my bandwith. Any help would be appreciated since I am a novice on this field.

[wheel]

Well, first go get mandrake 10.1. Then drop in the CD's one at a time. The graphical install is direct and straightforward - just check off what you want installed. (check 'individual package selection' when you see it).

With mandrake you can administer through a gui. typing 'drakconf' at a command prompt after your install should get it. Then click on 'services' and make sure ftp is turned on at boot. Check the firewall settings, and make sure that ftp access is open.

Not sure what port to open in your linksys router, google should tell you. might be 25 IIRC.

You should have everything you need in the way of a control panel through either the drakconf gui or webmin.

Also, for mandrake to get completely up to date, do a google on 'easy urpmi' and follow the directions from the first site that comes up (it'll give you some command line stuff to mirrors). Then you can use the drakconf control panel to get current security updates for everything you've got installed. And if you want to install something new, it's easy - if you want to install webmin, you could just type in 'urpmi webmin' at a command prompt and it would auto install from the web.

I use mandrake on my servers, and use the above without any problems. Works like a charm :).

[mcavic]

FTP uses port 21, and maybe 20 also.

[surveydiscs]

Thanks- I installed Mandrake 10 and it works perfect except for one needed item. I cannot use my USB or PS2 mouse regardless of what I do or re-install once software is running. I can get either mouse working during install, but once I log in, it does not respond. I tried TABing over into control panel but it disapears once I cursor over to it. I can access web sites, but it is hard navigating using the TAB button. Any idea, I rerun set up and select PS2 or USB mouse depending on which one is installed and after reboot it does not work. Machine is a brand new Dell and USB mouse lights up so I know they work and are responding to setup program. Any ideas what to do.

[wheel]

I suggest you download and install mandrake 10.1. I've had better and better hardware support with newer versions.

[surveydiscs]

It works fine now, I think is was operator error. Thanks for all your help, you guys made it easy to do this. One final question - What directory do I put my websites in and how do you create directories using Mandrake? I am used to Windows Explorer.

[henry0]

You may use any editors and create a new dir
Also midnight commender is a great tool (very powerful)
but you can set a dir directly by using FTP mkdir

Put your web files and folder here:
I use RH but the tree I believe would be the same *NIX
concept
on production server
/var/www/html/your index etc...

if you set up also a dir on your local machine
do
/var/www/html/any_dir/your index etc...
for after a while you might want to test a few more applications or new sites.

BTW welcome to WebmasterWorld

regards

Henry