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self-host web site

Hi, I am a total beginner to Linux Red Hat 7.0, but I really wanted to host my own website without any 3rd party services such as free DNS Servers and stuff. I wanted to host my website, dns servers and anything else to run a website. I have a static ip and domain names. What else do I need? Do I need two IPS one for Primary and one for secondary? DO I need a domain just for name servers? What would be the best documention for Setting up a whole webserver and DNS server on a linux system, that you would reccommand? Thanks in advanced.

EmbeddedMind

Hello, you only really need one IP address for this situation. I would recommend using either Redhat 7.3 or 8.0, in your case. Really, you don't absolutely have to have DNS running on your box but RH will install a DNS server by default anyway BIND's 'named' (named, is actaully the name of the DNS software). The webserver you will be using is Apache, and the best documentation, will be found at

http://www.apache.org

Also, if you will be setting up a Mail server, to have "email@yourdomain.com" then you will need to update the DNS records to include an MX record on whoever is hosting your main DNS records. This is usually your registrar like register.com or easydns.com or whoever you're using. For the mail server you have sever options, mainly three programs Sendmail, qmail, and postfix. RH will install Sendmail by default. Well, hope this was helpful to you.
*Embedded

drag0n

ASKER

Ok, so say, I let someone else host my DNS, but my problem is that, Apache only looks for port 80 and if I register for DNS with my register, they want me to give them my IP, i dont think they will accept it with a :80.
Is sendmail free? How do I start all these progrmas(Apache, Sendmail, BIND(I wont use this anymore))
?
Also, Where can I find actually infomation about how to set up stuff for Linux using the X Window system(graphical) Ive tried to find info about how to actually get Apache working with my domain. They all give me all this compiling stuff, which I dont understand =(. So can I just leave out Secondary DNS when I update DNS Records, or do I enter the same DNS name? I know these are alot of questions for just 30 ponts, but I promise to raise this question points as long as I have points left =).
Now Ive got DNS out of my way, Im trying to find out how to Point my domain to my Apache server using my domain registers DNS system(they ask for IP of server)

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drag0n

ASKER

Hi, thanks for responding. So, I dont have to give my register a port number when I register DNS? What do I do for secondary? Well, im going to download webmin, thanks for that! Btw, Im behind a Belkin Router, I can set up port forwarding. SO I should forward all port 80 traffic to the internal ip of linux box which is also to be configured with port 80? Thanks for all the help!

EmbeddedMind

Nope, don't have to give them a port number, its simply ip-address based -not socket=) Now, you really don't need any kind of 'secondary' they'll take care of all your DNS. Belkin router is fine, just setup port-forwarding and after your DNS updates in about 24 hours then you should have a site up and running =)
*Embedded

drag0n

ASKER

SO WebMIN would pretty much get me up and running?

EmbeddedMind

Yep, Webmin will pretty much get you going. If Apache is already installed and running then all you need to do is point the DocumentRoot to where your web pages are. Make sure your default web page is called index.html. For your mail, Webmin can help you get Sendmail going, if you run into problems with it you may need to read some of the docs for it, but it is *well* documented. Though, for your website, once you get your pages in the DocumentRoot as soon as your DNS name starts resolving people should start to be able to access your website. Hope this has helped!
*Embedded

drag0n

ASKER

Sorry, but I have another question: On webmin, I cant find the place to edit the PHP Configs in the Apache module. ALso I installed MySQL but, it still tells me it cant find mysql. Im about to just give up and move to hosting PHP and MYSQL on Windows XP

drag0n

ASKER

Can somebody help me with postfix and IMAP(COurier) RIght now I have PostFIx all cnfigured but I still dot unerstnd how hosting companies are able to do that header thing like right now I create a system user everytime I create a new e-mail accoun li domainname.username an Irestrict them from telnet and shell, but they stilllbeong to the server default domain so I dont know how I can send an e-mail from user1.mydomain and make it look at user1@mydomain.com instead of user1@defaultserverdomain.com? Is there a postfix admin that doesnt use mysql tables because I am using Berkeley db right now that can add vdomains for me and maybe make the directories so its a little moe organized or maybe someone can explain it to me, feel free to e-mail me:
hennychenny@yahoo.com
Any help is appreciated!