--- "Phillips, Tod" <TPhillips at douglasfurniture.com> wrote: > Hello, all... > > I'm attempting to learn Linux (on a CentOS setup) by > doing something > productive at the same time. I've already installed > it twice...once with > a "full, just install everything" setup and another > by following the > Perfect CentOS 4.3 Web Server Setup instructions on > HowToForge.com. > Though I've had issues with both, I have a lot of > patience and time is > not a big concern. > > What I'd like to do is get some advice from the > community on a good > initial setup for my system by listing out some of > the things I hope to > do: > > 1) Set up a test Web Server for development of a > soon-to-be-deployed > rework of a client's website (I'll host the > production site w/ an > outside company). > > 2) I'd like to learn PHP and Apache while I'm > reworking the site. > > 3) Learn all there is to know (ok, maybe just enough > to not be > dangerous) about securing the server. > > 4) Develop a program, most likely in C/C++, that can > talk with my > Company's mainframe and its communications software, > either through web > services/xml interfaces or directly through some > sort of COM / .NET > equivalent. The end result would be an application > that can run on any > Linux box with an Internet connection, giving users > the ability to > access and modify mainframe data, enter orders, etc. > > 5) Be able to retrieve email, surf the net, write > and read documents > (general office stuff) to become both more familiar > with Linux apps AND > to keep from needing to run to a different PC for > these needs when they > arise. > > I know I'll need the X Windows and Gnome stuff, but > I'm concerned about > dependencies and/or conflicts between the packages > necessary for > everything I want to do. I certainly want to use the > Terminal prompts > whenever possible -- particularly for setting up the > networking and > Apache server -- so that I can begin to learn > Linux/Unix. > > The question really becomes: Can I do it all on one > box or am I going to > create a nightmare for myself because of overlapping > programs that > "hijack" critical functions from the web server, or > vice-versa? I erased > my original install (with everything) because it > seemed more important > to me to learn what it was I needed and install it > manually later on if > and when the need arose. Good thinking or...? > > Your thoughts are greatly appreciated, At a minimum I would suggest you have 2 boxes assuming your company/you can afford it. Box 1 - Do a workstation install - Install things needed for your desktop environment like "GNOME Desktop Environment" - Installing a GIU and production webserver on the same machine will degrade its performance. - Yum update (very important) - Enjoy! Box 2 - No X is to be installed - Do a server install/get the SERVERCD if and when it becomes available. I haven't seen the contents of the said SERVERCD so I can only guess. Alternatively installing CD1 and unselecting all options will give you a barebones install. - you can then groupinstall "Web Server" "MySQL Database". See man yum. - Yum update (very important) - Enjoy! What issues did you have with the "CentOS 4.3 Perfect Setup"? You can post your comments at the tutorial site so that the author takes account your experience/setbacks. __________________________________________________ Improve the mailing list by performing a simple search before posting and reading the FAQ/etiquette. Protect the integrity of your installation with the yum plugins. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com