Web Server Administration

Web Server Administration Chapter 3 Installing the Server

Overview • Prepare the server for system installation • Understand the installation process • Install Windows 2000 Server, Windows Server 2003, and Red Hat Linux 8 • Examine basic Linux commands • Configure TCP/IP

Prepare the Server for Installation • A typical installation is from CD • For Windows 2000, you can boot from a floppy for network installation • For Linux, you can install from the network or even using FTP • Production systems use a single-boot system meaning only one OS is on a computer • You can put all described OSs on a single computer which is a multi-boot

Checking Hardware Compatibility • Typically you have fewer problems if you are using hardware designed for a server from major manufacturers • IDE drives are always compatible • Make sure that you have the latest drivers for SCSI and RAID controllers • With video adapters and NICs, it is best to use ones from major vendors

Checking Hardware Compatibility • You can have problems if you • Put a system together yourself with the latest or off-brand NICs, video adapters, and RAID controllers • Try to upgrade an OS on old servers because they sometimes have specialized hardware that is not supported anymore • For Windows OSs • www.microsoft.com/whdc/hcl/ • For Red Hat Linux • Hardware.redhat.com • More general Linux • www.linuxcompatible.org • www.linux.org/hardware/

System Documentation • Should be detailed enough for inexperienced network administrator • System documentation is an ongoing process • Changes occur over the life of the server • These changes need to be documented

System Documentation • Need compatibility information • Hardware information • Server manufacturer, including model information • Processor type and speed • Amount of RAM • Drive interface – RAID, SCSI, IDE • Hard disk – size, manufacturer, and model • NIC manufacturer and model

System Documentation • System information • Partition information – number and sizes • OS version installed • Latest software patches • Extra drivers needed • URLs for latest drivers

System Documentation • Steps for installation including options chosen • Keep documentation, CDs, drivers in a binder • Know support details • Who to call • Contract phone number • Type of support contract • Expiration of contract

The Installation Process • The Setup program will ask you about your system • You need to know the answers to these questions before you start • Many of the questions are common to all operating systems

The Installation Process-Partitioning the Hard Disk • A partition is a logical division of the hard disk • A system boots from the primary partition • You can create an extended partition • Gives you more logical drives in Windows • Gives you more Linux partitions • It is best to isolate the operating system from applications • If the application partition fills and the operating system is on the same partition, the OS stops

The Installation Process • Six partitions are used for Linux by default • / (root partition) • swap (used for virtual memory) • /boot (boot files – small) • /usr (shared files and programs) • /home (user files and programs) • /var (Web site, FTP, log files) • Just / and swap are required

Managing Multiple Operating Systems on a Single Computer • Useful for development purposes • Best to start with unpartitioned hard disk • Create one partition for each Windows OS • Allow Linux to create default partitions • Data??? • Install Windows first, then Linux • Linux installation then produces a menu to select Windows

The Installation Process-Naming Computers • Identify a computer on the network • Windows communicates the computer name to other computers on the subnet so it should be unique • Name of computer is not related to how the computer is recognized on the Internet • In Linux, the hostname can exist on more than computer, it only uses IP addresses for communication

The Installation Process-Licensing • Describes how the software can be used • For Windows 2000, Microsoft assumes that you have the correct number of client access licenses • For Windows Server 2003, each installation must be activated by Microsoft* • Linux is basically free but there may be a cost for packaging, support, and extras • Based on the GNU general public license • Red Hat has personal, professional, and Advanced Server options

The Installation Process-Selecting a File System • A file system determines how files are stored on a hard disk • Windows has two file systems • FAT is based on the original DOS file system and has no security • NTFS has security which is critical for a server • The default user file system in Red Hat Linux 8 is ext3, which offers some performance improvements over ext2

Windows 2000 Server Installation • Requires a 25-character product key • In a production environment where you are connected to the Internet, you will get an IP address from your ISP • Although a 2 to 3 GB partition is enough, you may want more • Use NTFS • As setup installs the networking components, do not wander away otherwise it will accept the default IP settings which you do not want

Windows Server 2003 Installation • The procedures for installing Web, Standard, and Enterprise editions are the same • Installation is simpler than previous versions of Windows • Only essential information such as computer name, licensing, password, IP address, and domain membership are requested

Linux 8 Installation • As is true with Windows, you can generally accept the defaults • Remember to select Server as the Installation Type • This gives you a list of packages that are appropriate for a server environment • Remember to select "No firewall" • This makes it easier to configure and test your own firewall (Chapter 10)

Basic Linux Concepts • No drive letters • The root is / • To use a floppy or CD-ROM, the device must be mounted • mount /mnt/floppy • mount /mnt/cdrom • Now you can copy files between your hard drive and /mnt/floppy • When you double-click the CD-ROM or Floppy icon on the desktop, the device is automatically mounted • Before you remove the floppy, you have to unmount it to flush the file buffer, if you copied files to it • umount /mnt/floppy

Shell Prompt • Most work is done at the shell prompt which is the command-line interface • ls – list files • ls /mnt/floppy to see contents of floppy • cd – change directory • cd /mnt/floppy • mkdir – create a directory • mkdir /mnt/floppy/test

Shell Prompt • rmdir – remove a directory • rmdir /mnt/floppy/test • mv – move or rename a file • mv /etc/ftpaccess /var/ftp/ftpaccess • cp – copy a file • cp var/ftp/ftpaccess /mnt/floppy • locate – find a file • locate ftpaccess • kedit <filename> - start editing a file • kedit /var/ftp/ftpaccess

Kedit Text Editor • The Kedit text editor is similar to Windows Notepad • Note that the positioning of the icons is basically the same as Notepad

Configuring TCP/IP in Windows • To determine TCP/IP configuration, type ipconfig at a command prompt

To Change the IP Address in Windows • From the Local Area Status dialog box, click Properties • Select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), then click Properties • Now you can change the IP address • The Advanced button allows you to add multiple IP addresses for a single NIC

Configuring TCP/IP in Linux • To determine TCP/IP configuration, type ifconfig at a shell prompt • The IP address is on the third line

To Change the IP Address in Linux • In System Settings, click Network • Click the Edit button • Now you can change the IP address • Click OK, then Apply, and Close to save the changes

Summary • Windows and Linux installations share the task of creating partitions • The same computer can have multiple operating systems • Windows server operating systems are licensed based on the edition and the number of users • Linux licensing is based on the GNU general public license

Summary • Microsoft and Linux have improved their ability to recognize devices • There are many useful commands when using the Linux shell prompt

Web Server Administration