Red Hat Topics - HOWTO - Linux Home Server (review)

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HOWTO - Linux Home Server (review)

Miles Brennan

2005-01-04, 8:45 pm

G'day All,

Im currently drafting an installation guide to configure Linux as a
networked home server gateway with all the email, www, smtp, ftp, dns,
dhcp, squid, mySQL, samba, NFS (etc) applications documented.

I have currently completed draft status for the first 19 (of 20)
chapters and am ready for any interested parties to read/test it (there
are some minor sections still lacking). Its a high level document, so if
you only want the config details to get you up and running (without the
techo stuff) then this is for you.

I am using FC3 as the distro for the configs, and it does currently
contain some FC3 specific configurations (yum, up2date, step-by-step
install guide); mainly only chapters 3 and 7.

These FC3 specific sections will eventually be moved to annexes in later
revisions, allowing it to be a more generic document supporting further
distros (the plan anyway).

The HOWTO is currently being drafted at: http://www.brennan.id.au

I appreciate any feedback/comments on the document, particularly if the
concepts are easy to read/understand by the newer members of the community.

Regards,
Miles Brennan.

Bruce Coryell

2005-01-05, 7:45 am

I think this will be a great contribution. My only quibble is this:
Since FC3 is a bleeding edge distro, is it the best one for using as a
server? Also, for newbies (like me)?

Miles Brennan wrote:
> G'day All,
>
> Im currently drafting an installation guide to configure Linux as a
> networked home server gateway with all the email, www, smtp, ftp, dns,
> dhcp, squid, mySQL, samba, NFS (etc) applications documented.
>
> I have currently completed draft status for the first 19 (of 20)
> chapters and am ready for any interested parties to read/test it (there
> are some minor sections still lacking). Its a high level document, so if
> you only want the config details to get you up and running (without the
> techo stuff) then this is for you.
>
> I am using FC3 as the distro for the configs, and it does currently
> contain some FC3 specific configurations (yum, up2date, step-by-step
> install guide); mainly only chapters 3 and 7.
>
> These FC3 specific sections will eventually be moved to annexes in later
> revisions, allowing it to be a more generic document supporting further
> distros (the plan anyway).
>
> The HOWTO is currently being drafted at: http://www.brennan.id.au
>
> I appreciate any feedback/comments on the document, particularly if the
> concepts are easy to read/understand by the newer members of the community.
>
>
> Regards,
> Miles Brennan.

Miles Brennan

2005-01-05, 5:45 pm

Bruce Coryell wrote:
> I think this will be a great contribution. My only quibble is this:
> Since FC3 is a bleeding edge distro, is it the best one for using as a
> server? Also, for newbies (like me)?
>
Bruce,

You have a fair quibble there :P

Certainly there is nothing wrong with the Fedora technology, however the
rate of realease may deter some users from implementing it as a server
at home. OTOH some users may like the 'rapid release' of updates so to say.

Only chapters 3 and 7 are currently Fedora specific, which I intend to
move to annexes in the next few revisions with possibly more info about
some extra distributions.

So to answer your question, you may use any distro you're comfortable
with, my main aim is to produce a distro generic document (as it can be)
that is enough to get most people started. Fedora was just the platform
I used for the documenting.

Thanks,

Miles.

Stephane

2005-01-06, 7:48 am

I am quite new in Linux world... and your HOWTO is really interesting
I just wish to suggest you to allow people to download a PDF version of
your HOWTO. This is something that I appreciate, when this, is available...

Just one word... PERFECT

Stephane

On Wed, 05 Jan 2005 11:28:04 +1000, Miles Brennan wrote:

> G'day All,
>
> Im currently drafting an installation guide to configure Linux as a
> networked home server gateway with all the email, www, smtp, ftp, dns,
> dhcp, squid, mySQL, samba, NFS (etc) applications documented.
>
> I have currently completed draft status for the first 19 (of 20)
> chapters and am ready for any interested parties to read/test it (there
> are some minor sections still lacking). Its a high level document, so if
> you only want the config details to get you up and running (without the
> techo stuff) then this is for you.
>
> I am using FC3 as the distro for the configs, and it does currently
> contain some FC3 specific configurations (yum, up2date, step-by-step
> install guide); mainly only chapters 3 and 7.
>
> These FC3 specific sections will eventually be moved to annexes in later
> revisions, allowing it to be a more generic document supporting further
> distros (the plan anyway).
>
> The HOWTO is currently being drafted at: http://www.brennan.id.au
>
> I appreciate any feedback/comments on the document, particularly if the
> concepts are easy to read/understand by the newer members of the community.
>
>
> Regards,
> Miles Brennan.

Leythos

2005-01-06, 7:48 am

In article <41db4298$0$678$61c65585@uq-127creek-reader-
01.brisbane.pipenetworks.com.au>, news@NOSPAM-brennan.id.au says...
[snip]
> The HOWTO is currently being drafted at: http://www.brennan.id.au
>
> I appreciate any feedback/comments on the document, particularly if the
> concepts are easy to read/understand by the newer members of the community.

Being a noob I find that your documents are great, but I would like to
see more on the necessary actions to connect a Linux workstation (FC3)
to a Windows 2000 server and utilize attached printers, attached
storage, and get the same user permissions on the server from the linux
box. That's the only real problem I'm having.

I second the idea that it would be nice to see the document as one unit
instead of multiple pages. Conversion to PDF would be great.

Good work!

--
--
spamfree999@rrohio.com
(Remove 999 to reply to me)

hudson

2005-01-06, 7:48 am

Miles Brennan wrote:
> G'day All,
>
> Im currently drafting an installation guide to configure Linux as a
> I appreciate any feedback/comments on the document, particularly if the
> concepts are easy to read/understand by the newer members of the community.
>
>
> Regards,
> Miles Brennan.

Miles,

I like the format of your HOWTO. It is well written and very clear. My
wife (a teacher) just commented that you must be a teacher!

Hudson

Doug Zimmerman

2005-01-06, 7:48 am

Good stuff! I've been thinking of purchasing Marcel Gagne's
_Moving_to_the_Linux_Business_Desktop_ because he covers
many of the same topics. (The business/home distinction
is immaterial, as the functions described are similar.
See the TOC on the page linked, below.)

Gagne's book is described at -
http://www.awprofessional.com/title/0131421921
and reviewed at -
http://www.unixreview.com/documents/s=8989/ur0408o/

Question: Why Sendmail rather than Postfix? Sendmail is
harder to configure and much buggier...

Wishlist: Dial-on-demand for areas where DSL, Cable,
and Satelite are not available or uneconomic. ISDN and
POTS are still with us, as well as the need for backup
routing when the primary service goes down. If the
FreeSCO floppy-based router/firewall can do it...
http://www.freesco.org/

Fedora: Seems a good choice to me. While FC1 and FC2
have had issues, FC3 apears to be pretty solid. One
advantage of Fedora for newie server admins is the
wealth of good books on Fedora and Red Hat admin.
Debian, for all its merits, lacks documentation.
The commercial distros are great, but you can't beat
the price of Fedora.

One more request for a PDF version, but wait until you
finish the other chapters.

Very nice work!

Doug Zimmerman

Miles Brennan wrote:
> G'day All,
>
> Im currently drafting an installation guide to configure Linux as a
> networked home server gateway with all the email, www, smtp, ftp, dns,
> dhcp, squid, mySQL, samba, NFS (etc) applications documented.
>
<snip>
>
> The HOWTO is currently being drafted at: http://www.brennan.id.au
>
> I appreciate any feedback/comments on the document, particularly if the
> concepts are easy to read/understand by the newer members of the community.
>
>
> Regards,
> Miles Brennan.

Miles Brennan

2005-01-06, 5:45 pm

Stephane wrote:
> I am quite new in Linux world... and your HOWTO is really interesting
> I just wish to suggest you to allow people to download a PDF version of
> your HOWTO. This is something that I appreciate, when this, is available...
>
> Just one word... PERFECT
>
> Stephane
>

Stephane,

The document will eventually be available as gzip, pdf, etc.. and many
other formats when it is completed.

I am glad you like it and that it makes your understanding of Linux a
little easier, enjoy.. ;)

Miles.

paul

2005-01-06, 5:45 pm

For those of us that don't have a permanent connection to the internet it
would be nice if we could download the complete HOWTO as a zip file for
off line reading.

Thanks
Paul

Doug Zimmerman

2005-01-06, 5:45 pm

I should have noted that the current document assumes
Broadband. Clearly not all services provided would be
available with dial-on-demand, except as a backup to
a broadband link.

A reasonable subset of the services could still be
available for those without any Broadband.

Doug Z.

Doug Zimmerman wrote:

>
> Wishlist: Dial-on-demand for areas where DSL, Cable,
> and Satelite are not available or uneconomic. ISDN and
> POTS are still with us, as well as the need for backup
> routing when the primary service goes down. If the
> FreeSCO floppy-based router/firewall can do it...
> http://www.freesco.org/

Miles Brennan

2005-01-06, 5:45 pm

Leythos wrote:
>
>
> Being a noob I find that your documents are great, but I would like to
> see more on the necessary actions to connect a Linux workstation (FC3)
> to a Windows 2000 server and utilize attached printers, attached
> storage, and get the same user permissions on the server from the linux
> box. That's the only real problem I'm having.
>
> I second the idea that it would be nice to see the document as one unit
> instead of multiple pages. Conversion to PDF would be great.
>
> Good work!
>

Leythos,

Im glad you find the document helpful.

The guide is written around Linux being the server which is providing
the networked services to other workstations, it really isn't being
documented as the client.

Although I have provided a small introduction to smbclient in chapter 18
(Samba), this is really only in case someone needs to connect a Linux
client to a Linux server using Samba; although NFS would be better in
this situation.

Sorry I can't help you with a Windows 2000 server configuration.

Yes the documents should be available in PDF format soon after completion.

Thanks for the feedback,

Regards,
Miles.

Miles Brennan

2005-01-06, 5:45 pm

hudson wrote:
> Miles,
>
> I like the format of your HOWTO. It is well written and very clear. My
> wife (a teacher) just commented that you must be a teacher!
>
> Hudson

Hudson,

You owe your wife a back rub, she is also very clever. ;)

I am an IT Professional, however I have held instructional positions
during my time.

Im glad you like the documentation.

Regards,
Miles.

Miles Brennan

2005-01-06, 5:45 pm

Doug Zimmerman wrote:
> I should have noted that the current document assumes
> Broadband. Clearly not all services provided would be
> available with dial-on-demand, except as a backup to
> a broadband link.
>
I have targeted the "always on dedicated server" audience here, so
dial-on-demand was not really a consideration. If we look at
dial-on-demand as a backup to dedicated broadband then the document is
probably getting too technical.

> A reasonable subset of the services could still be
> available for those without any Broadband.
>
This is true.

> (The business/home distinction is immaterial, as the
> functions described are similar)
>
This is correct. There is nothing stoping you from implementing this
guide into an organisations environment, the concepts are exactly the
same; you may need to distribute the services across several servers and
tighten security though.

> Question: Why Sendmail rather than Postfix? Sendmail is
> harder to configure and much buggier...
>

Ive never found it buggy, but I documented that because I use it.. No
reason other than that really, I suppose if I used postfix I would have
written that.. I did actually consider doing both and providing a
choice, however I have a time limitation also. Maybe in a later revision.

Doug,

Thanks for taking the time to provide the feedback/suggestions.

The document will eventually be available in PDF sometime after its
completed, which shouldn't be too far away. The document still needs a
fine technical review first to ensure its as accurate as it can be
before final submission.

Cheers,
Miles.

tim wunder

2005-01-06, 5:45 pm

On 1/4/2005 8:28 PM, I believe that Miles Brennan wrote:

<snip>

>
> The HOWTO is currently being drafted at: http://www.brennan.id.au
>
> I appreciate any feedback/comments on the document, particularly if the
> concepts are easy to read/understand by the newer members of the community.
>

Consider adding a section on configurong DansGuardian to work with Squid as
well as SquidGuard. I find Dansguardian much more effective that SquidGuard,
even though SquidGuard is still useful.

Regards,
Tim

James Garvin

2005-01-06, 5:45 pm

tim wunder wrote:

> On 1/4/2005 8:28 PM, I believe that Miles Brennan wrote:
>
> <snip>
>
>
> Consider adding a section on configurong DansGuardian to work with Squid
> as well as SquidGuard. I find Dansguardian much more effective that
> SquidGuard, even though SquidGuard is still useful.

Just curious:
What are the features of DansGuardian that are better than SquidGuard?
I've only used Squid with SquidGuard and I have no idea about DansGuardian.

tim wunder

2005-01-06, 5:45 pm

On 1/6/2005 12:43 PM, I believe that James Garvin wrote:
> tim wunder wrote:
>
>
>
> Just curious:
> What are the features of DansGuardian that are better than SquidGuard?
> I've only used Squid with SquidGuard and I have no idea about DansGuardian.

Different approaches to the same problem. SquidGuard blocks specific
websites (AFAIK) and/or domains. DansGuardian blocks based on content, with
weighted phrase lists. DansGuardian, for me, is much easier to configure and
update. There's no need to constantly be updating domain lists and URL
lists. Some tweaking to not block sites that get blocked in error, but
that's fairly limited, and once done, is done.

http://www.dansguardian.org

As I said, I use both for my home network, configured as a transparent proxy.

BTW, my son found he could not defeat DansGuardian's filtering of the web,
but he had an easy time defeating squidGuard. Too bad it doesn't filter ftp,
irc and instant messenger file transfers (AFAIK). (or kazaa and kazaa lite)

Regards,
Tim

Robert Newson

2005-01-06, 5:45 pm

paul wrote:

> For those of us that don't have a permanent connection to the internet it
> would be nice if we could download the complete HOWTO as a zip file for
> off line reading.

$ man wget

Miles Brennan

2005-01-06, 5:45 pm

Yes, I believe that content filtering is very important these days, and
most mums and dads will be interested in this. Unfortunately its a time
thing so it may need to wait for the next revision, but they are high on
the TODO list.

[vbcol=seagreen]
> BTW, my son found he could not defeat DansGuardian's filtering of the
> web, but he had an easy time defeating squidGuard.

Damn kids.. ;)

Thanks for the request/feedback. Squidguard is on TODO atm, I think I
might add DansGuard also, but probably next revision.

Regards,
Miles.

hudson

2005-01-06, 8:45 pm

Robert Newson wrote:
> paul wrote:
>
>
>
> $ man wget
>
Robert, your reply is an excellent example of why Mile's HOWTO is
necessary and well received. Your quick little quip "$ man wget" is
really not enough information to help a person that is trying to learn
Linux. I did the "$ man wget" and what I got was only a clue that that
program would enable someone to somehow save some website information.
It did not have the information that I needed to actually take step 1,
type this, step 2, type that, and so on. In other words, the man pages
are nice reference materials but they are not helpful like "HOWTOs" are.
We are all drawing towards Linux, that is obvious because we read these
newsgroups. But we are at different places on the learning chart, and
some people require a little more step by step to get going.

Robert Newson

2005-01-07, 8:45 pm

hudson wrote:

> Robert Newson wrote:
>
> Robert, your reply is an excellent example of why Mile's HOWTO is
> necessary and well received. Your quick little quip "$ man wget" is
> really not enough information to help a person that is trying to learn
> Linux. I did the "$ man wget" and what I got was only a clue that that
> program would enable someone to somehow save some website information.
> It did not have the information that I needed to actually take step 1,
> type this, step 2, type that, and so on. In other words, the man pages
> are nice reference materials but they are not helpful like "HOWTOs" are.
> We are all drawing towards Linux, that is obvious because we read these
> newsgroups. But we are at different places on the learning chart, and
> some people require a little more step by step to get going.

Sorry, I was short of time last night (even less tonight - have to be at
work at 04:15 tomorrow morning, but) so I'll expand:

open a terminal, then:

$ cd /tmp
$ wget -r www.brennan.id.au

You'll then have the whole site as referenced in /tmp/www.brennan.id.au
Then point your browser at:

file:/tmp/www.brennan.id.au/index.html

and, voila, the site is now available for local access - just it wont be
updated unless you re-download it.

Robert Newson

2005-01-07, 8:45 pm

Robert Newson wrote:

again with more explaination (sorry, rushing too much):

> Sorry, I was short of time last night (even less tonight - have to be at
> work at 04:15 tomorrow morning, but) so I'll expand:
>
> open a terminal, then:
>

change current directory to /tmp

> $ cd /tmp

use wget to get www.brennan.id.au/index.html and use the -r option to trace
links in got files to other files, thus grabbing a copy of the whole site.

> $ wget -r www.brennan.id.au

>

> You'll then have the whole site as referenced in /tmp/www.brennan.id.au
> Then point your browser at:
>
> file:/tmp/www.brennan.id.au/index.html
>
> and, voila, the site is now available for local access - just it wont be
> updated unless you re-download it.

Sid Wood

2005-01-07, 8:45 pm

Miles,

You might also consider Exim as an alternative to Sendmail (just to give
people more options).

"Miles Brennan" <news@NOSPAM-brennan.id.au> wrote in message
news:41ddb679$0$12304$61c65585@uq-127creek-reader-02.brisbane.pipenetworks.com.au...
>
> Yes, I believe that content filtering is very important these days, and
> most mums and dads will be interested in this. Unfortunately its a time
> thing so it may need to wait for the next revision, but they are high on
> the TODO list.
>
>
>
> Damn kids.. ;)
>
>
> Thanks for the request/feedback. Squidguard is on TODO atm, I think I
> might add DansGuard also, but probably next revision.
>
> Regards,
> Miles.

Miles Brennan

2005-01-07, 8:45 pm

Sid Wood wrote:
> Miles,
>
> You might also consider Exim as an alternative to Sendmail (just to give
> people more options).
>

Might have to wait a few revisions first, there is just soooo much already.

Thanks,
Miles.

hudson

2005-01-07, 8:45 pm

Robert Newson wrote:
> Robert Newson wrote:
>
> again with more explaination (sorry, rushing too much):
>

>
>
Robert,

It worked like magic and now I can access the file off-line just like
you said. I'm amazed at some of the stuff that people do with Linux. Im
really starting to like Linux.
hank you for taking the time to explain. That was nice.

Hudson

Miles Brennan

2005-01-08, 7:45 am

Miles Brennan wrote:
> G'day All,
>
> Im currently drafting an installation guide to configure Linux as a
> networked home server gateway with all the email, www, smtp, ftp, dns,
> dhcp, squid, mySQL, samba, NFS (etc) applications documented.
>

Im proud to announce the last chapter has now been completed:
20. Shared Address Book (LDAP)

The completed document now stands at 20 chapters, and is 177 printable
pages.

I am still looking for feedback, enjoy.

Linux Home Server HOWTO: www.brennan.id.au

Cheers,
Miles.

David Barr

2005-01-18, 8:45 pm

Miles Brennan <news@NOSPAM-brennan.id.au> wrote:
> G'day All,
>
> Im currently drafting an installation guide to configure Linux as a
> networked home server gateway with all the email, www, smtp, ftp, dns,
> dhcp, squid, mySQL, samba, NFS (etc) applications documented.

Miles,

As someone who is at the "talented end user" level of still, thank you
for doing this! So much linux documentation is written at a much higher
h4x0r level than I like, or than I find useful. My RH8 system is in need
of updating, and I have bookmarked your HOWTO to be my guide when I have
time to do it.

Thanks for doing this!

dafydd

--
David Barr - dafydd2277 <at> yahoo <dot> com

The only thing worse than planning for disaster
is explaining why you didn't. --unknown

Miles Brennan

2005-01-19, 7:45 am

> As someone who is at the "talented end user" level of still, thank you
> for doing this! So much linux documentation is written at a much higher
> h4x0r level than I like, or than I find useful. My RH8 system is in need
> of updating, and I have bookmarked your HOWTO to be my guide when I have
> time to do it.
>
> Thanks for doing this!
>
> dafydd
>

David,

Many people do have problems making the switch to Linux, my aim here was
to make it as simple as possible for new users to get their systems up
and running.

I also felt it was my turn to contribute.

Thanks for the feedback, and good luck with your new server ;)

Regards,
Miles

www.brennan.id.au

TheDaytons

2005-01-26, 2:45 am

I would just like to inject here that there is also a wget for windows. It
comes in handy, as pointed out here in the thread. I picked up my copy at:

http://www.interlog.com/~tcharron/wgetwin.html

Good document so far of what I have read.

Thanks,
Don Dayton

"hudson" <user@newsgroup.net> wrote in message
news:nXFDd.14115$q4.184@fe1.texas.rr.com...
> Robert Newson wrote:
>
> Robert,
>
> It worked like magic and now I can access the file off-line just like
> you said. I'm amazed at some of the stuff that people do with Linux. Im
> really starting to like Linux.
> hank you for taking the time to explain. That was nice.
>
> Hudson

Scott Berry

2005-03-30, 5:47 pm

In article <41ee3998$0$246$61c65585@uq-127creek-reader-
03.brisbane.pipenetworks.com.au>, news@NOSPAM-brennan.id.au says...
>
> David,
>
> Many people do have problems making the switch to Linux, my aim here was
> to make it as simple as possible for new users to get their systems up
> and running.
>
> I also felt it was my turn to contribute.
>
> Thanks for the feedback, and good luck with your new server ;)
>
> Regards,
> Miles
>
> www.brennan.id.au
>
Hi Miles,

Can you email me privately with your links for your how to please? Also
when doing this can you tell me what flavor of Linux you are using for
your base of the howto?

Meat Loaf

2005-04-26, 8:45 pm

Robert Newson wrote:

> paul wrote:
>
>
> $ man wget

I would also like to add that wget exists for windows and is very
useful for pulling sites down to your local hard drive for offline or
faster browsing.