Pwebtech server and Linux assistance needed
Hello folks,

I took advantage of the Pwebtech server special for the $129 dedicated server.

I am pretty new to Linux admin, but learn fast, I just had a few questions I was looking for help/answers too.

I apologize upfront if they are "stupid" or don't make sense, I am going on 29 hours of uptime with no sleep! :-(

1 - The system is running 2.4.8 ( 2.4.8 #1 SMP Fri Aug 17 17:16:41 EDT 2001 i686 unknown) kernel. I am interested in what your opinion and stability/security is of this rev of the kernel? How/should one go about updating this?

2 - I am interested in running iptables for firewalling and ip accounting, but I am reading that this has to be compiled into the kernel, is this true? I've never done a kernel compile/build, and I'm not sure about doing one remotely. Any ideas? How can I tell if the kernel was compiled with support for iptables?

3 - Do you recommend something other then iptables for firewalling and ip accounting?

4 - I've spent quite a bit of time updating some of the modules, securing inetd and the rest of the system, etc. I've read the stuff at openna.com and have been following his advice.

5 - For some reason OpenSSH wasn't installed, so I have no ssh2 support, I want to remove the ssh package and install openssh, what is the easiest way to go about this? Should I open up telnet before I start this incase I mess it up?

6 - Whiche is newer, ipchains or iptables? Am I correct in my reading that iptables is what you should be running instead of the "older" ipchains?

Any other pointers on security and admin for a new comer such as myself?

Thanks in advance!!

Tom

The Linux documentation project (for everything under the sun):
http://www.linuxdoc.org

Linux firewall and security site (for tips on configuring ipchains):
http://www.linux-firewall-tools.com/linux/

Linux step-by-step (for kernel recompiling) - click on kernel - recompiling
http://linux.nf/stepbystep.html

Dan

Originally posted by TomK
2 - I am interested in running iptables for firewalling and ip accounting, but I am reading that this has to be compiled into the kernel, is this true? I've never done a kernel compile/build, and I'm not sure about doing one remotely.

Your kernel is most probably already built with support for iptables. Try running the program to list the rules on the server, if that works - it's installed.


5 - For some reason OpenSSH wasn't installed, so I have no ssh2 support, I want to remove the ssh package and install openssh, what is the easiest way to go about this? Should I open up telnet before I start this incase I mess it up?

Yes, that would be wise. At least you would have a way in, if the SSH installation fails somehow.


6 - Whiche is newer, ipchains or iptables? Am I correct in my reading that iptables is what you should be running instead of the "older" ipchains?

Yes, iptables is newer than ipchains.