Hi all Raq users!

I just got a RAQ 4 with rackshack.net and need some help on the basic details.

First:

When I recieved the server I am the admin user. Question: What is the admin user? Is the admin user connected to any domains or is he above all? Does the admin have a mailbox, if so which domain does he belong to, what is his e-mail? Can there be several admin's? Where do I change the admin settings? What settings are there for the admin user?

Second:

When I type mydomain/admin I come to the server configuration pages, but when I look in the server directories I can't find an admin directory? Does this mean that I can't add a admin directory under a domain? Will there be a conflict?
Can I move the original index.html page, should it be saved?

Third:

How does the e-mail server work? What are the pop and smtp addresses? Are they the same for the whole site or different for each virtual site. From what addresses will the SMTP server accept e-mails?

Fourth:

I want to install two extra software packages: MySQL and a better statistics software. Which is the best/safest/most stabile version of MySQL to install on a RAQ 4!!? Has anyone done this? Any stability comments? When MySQL is installed I am guessing that I add databses through a telnet session and then manage the database through phpmyadmin? Is MySQL seperated with the virtual domains or is there no difference how I access the databases? Do I just look for the databases in "localhost"?

What's the best log analyze software for the RAQ 4, I am not too keen on the built in web stats!! I have been using HTTP-ANALYZE software before that I think is very good! Is the webalizer package similar, what's the latest version, where can I get it? Anyone installed it successfully? Does it give separate stats for each domain?


OK, hope that wasn't to much in one go!

Regarding my comments on rackshack.net, I am very pleased with them (so far), but it's very early to give any final conclusions. Everyting was setup fast and efficient and I was very pleased! I then requested 4 extra IP's and half an hour later I had them, their online chat service is very fast and efficient. It's also very easy to use their DNS if you don't want to use their own. Adding that they added another 50GB of transfer just before I signed up is a plus (they are upgrading their lines). I have also been given many explanations to why they are able to offer such low prices. #1 They already own their lines through ev1 ISP service, since all the traffic is already going the other way they don't need to pay extra for traffic going to the internet. #2 They bought 700 raq 4's at once! #3 most of their services are automated (such as signing up)!
#4 They have trained their existing staff to also be able to handle RAQ 4 support.

Anyway, I will report more later...

Michael

1) The admin user is Cobalt's way of giving you root access without the name "root." The admin user has control over everything. The e-mail address would be admin@yourdomain.com

2) Cobalt has it setup so the admin folder will forward to their set of admin pages. So no, you cannot have an admin directory ... unless you want to delete that redirection. Yes, you cn move/delete the original index.html. It doesn't need to be saved, but you might want to write down any addresses, usernames, or passwords it gives you.

3) It depends on what your domain name is and how you configure it. You can really configure it to be anything you want, yet there are some conventional ways that you should follow.

4) You wouold nomrlaly get the mySQL package from mysql.com and install it, but I think there is a pkg file for mySQL. It will install right into the admin area. Then you would add databases through a telnet/SSH session ... correct. mySQL is separated with everything else.

Hope this helps a bit. :)

Vincent: How do you create user database via telnet after u install mysql thru raq4 interface?

Surfer : One advice from me don't install webalizer 2.1 never never do that with ur raq4i. I install mine and the sever stops and dead.

Originally posted by Surfer
I then requested 4 extra IP's and half an hour later I had them

Oh, so they do give more than 1 IP... When I talked to them over the phone, they only give 1 IP although I told them I want more by paying more... So how much are IPs/mo?

Keep posting your experience with them... there are too many suspecting people here, only a few have guts to try them out :D

cheers,
:beer:

thanks for your replies!!!

Dektong, It costs $4 for 4 IP's, but you can only buy 4 at a time + $29 setup fee.

1) is there an admin for every domain or is the admin@yourdomain.com only with the main domain?

3) Any tips on what I do here?

4)Isn't the PKG file from cobalt an old version of MySQL? Will this work anyway? even with the PHP 4.0.3 that is installed by default?

So, MySQL has nothing to do with the virtual domains and is accessed via "localhost"?

Liteoff, which version do you recommend? What happened with version 2? Did you use this link http://www.wire.net.my/dl2.htm ?

Thanks all!!

Michael

These are my answers to the latest batch of questions ...

1) There is only one "admin" account. Although each domain has what is called a "site-admin". The site-admin is the admin for that particular domain. Any name can be used for this, you just need to check the box.

3) Tips on what? Did you forget #2? :)

4) It might be. If it is, you can get the latest version from mysql.com and compile it. Atlthough I've heard with the newer versions of mySQL you'll need to recompile php4 into Apache because of some new calls. I don't even think the php4 that comes built on Cobalt's contain mySQL support at all.

Nope, mySQL has nothing to do with domains. For all it cares, they don't even exist (unless you tell it to care). If you setup each database under "localhost", they'll be accessible under localhost. You would need to do this with the "TO" command when setting one up.

Hope this helps you a bit. :)

Thanks vincent!!

Can anyone that has a RAQ 4, PHP 4.0.3 and MySQL installed share your experience...

thanks

michael

I have that set up and installed the file off:
http://pkg.nl.cobalt.com/

-which is:
http://pkg.nl.cobalt.com/i386/RaQ3-RaQ4-MySQL-3.22.32-1.pkg

Works fine, but isn't the latest version.

Chicken,

Did it work with the preinstalled PHP version on the RAq 4? Does the preinstalled version (4.0.3) have MySql support?

Thanks

Yes it worked, I installed two forums just to test it out (one the vBull lite version, and the other phpBB), and both seem to be working fine.

That isn't to say there weren't a few twitchy things, but mySQL isn't my strong point, so, could have been due to that as well. So far so good.

Originally posted by Surfer
Does the preinstalled version (4.0.3) have MySql support?

I though PHP 3.0 was preinsatlled on RaQ4's.

I tried to install mysql pkg from cobalt.com but strange my raq4 could not do it.

So I decided to take the chance and install mysql via the telnet.

How do you install it? Well I've followed tips given by a user here I believe its jakis, u could try to find it via search button.


So far its working. Btw, I've managed to install webalizer 1.3 thru raq4.

Hope this helps.

Liteoff, are you and I on the same machine and host? (RAQ4i, rackshack.net).

Mine came with PHP 4.0.3 installed.

What makes me a bit worried is that on the cobalt site it says that you must first install MySQL and then PHP, but it also says that the package is for the RAQ4 that has PHP preinstalled?

Chicken, what machine are you on, what PHP version do you have!

liteoff, did you use the webalizer version from cobalt? Which version or MySQL did you install via Telnet?

Yes, Syanet, I does come with PHP 4 preinstalled. I also noticed that my PHP version has MySQL enabled...

Thanks

Michael

Right on, Surfer.

Yes it does puzzle me. They say u need to install MySQL and then PHP but raq4 comes with php 4 pre installed. But what I did was to install mysql, the latest version, got it from ftp.cobalt.com via telnet.

I'm using old webalizer 1.3 as didn't want to take any risk. Its works fine.

Yes I did notice that it indicate MySQL enabled when u run phpinfo script.

Hope this helps

Exactly which version of MySQL did you install?

where on ftp.cobalt.com did you find it? I can't find it!

Thanks

Originally posted by Surfer
Chicken, what machine are you on, what PHP version do you have!

4r and PHP Version 4.0.3pl1

That's funny chicken!!! We all three have the same server and PHP version and yet it didn't work for liteoff!

I guess I will try the .pkg (MySQL 3.22.32) at the pkg.nl.cobalt.com site, since you have the option to uninstall it. Is this the one you used Chicken?

Was your RAQ4r also preinstalled with 4.0.3?

Thanks

That's the one I used and yep, that version was installed. Note that I have a 4r, but I have no idea what the difference is between the 4i and 4r (can't recall off the top of my noodle). I doubt there's much difference anyhow.

About that pl.cobalt site. I suggest you download the file to your HD and then itstall it from there or FTP it to the 'loaded' directory. Doing it from the site may be problematic (in my opinion the site crawls- I've got DSL and even the small pkg file too wayyyy too long to download).

Thanks Chicken!! I think that the 4r version conatains an extra harddrive and features RAID!

Does anyone know if the pkg.nl.cobalt.com site is an official cobalt site, or is it only experimental packages? I find it weird that so many users have MySQL installed, but still it isn't supported by Cobalt. They feature MySQL in the Cube and the new XTR RAQ, but not the RAQ4!!!

litoff, how does the webalizer 1.3 work? Do I get stats for every domain or just for the whole server? Where do I access the stats? Do you know what the main differences are between 2 and 1.3?

By the way, which package did you get at rackshack?

Thanks

U could check out mysite/stats, Surfer. I believe stats will be created for every domain :)

I thing for certain version 2 has htaccess in it meaning u're required to type username and password bfore u're able to view the stats which is better I believe ;)

I didn't get it at Rackshack. I get it at cobalt.com.

Hope this helps

Thanks liteoff, I would love to check out your stats if possible, you can e-mail me at michael@theglide.com

No, I meant which RAQ server package did you sign up with?

Thanks

Originally posted by Surfer
Does anyone know if the pkg.nl.cobalt.com site is an official cobalt site, or is it only experimental packages? I find it weird that so many users have MySQL installed, but still it isn't supported by Cobalt. They feature MySQL in the Cube and the new XTR RAQ, but not the RAQ4!!!

litoff, how does the webalizer 1.3 work? Do I get stats for every domain or just for the whole server? Where do I access the stats? Do you know what the main differences are between 2 and 1.3?

I once contacted the author of the webalizer pkg (maybe he was just the person who put the pkg together, I don't know), anywhoooo, he worked at Sun (Cobalt) and referred me to the pl.cobalt site.

If the only difference between 1.3 and 2 is the .htaccess file, then obviously, this could be added in a matter of seconds.

Surfer...

Could you give us all an update of your first weeks impressions of being with RackShack... both good points and bad..?

I am getting a new server next week and would appreciate a honest update on how they have performed.

Could you give us your URL, so that we can check ping speeds etc, just to see haow fast your connection is..?

Hope to hear from you soon :)

No prob, absolute!

I have not really done so much with the server except setup my domains.

You can ping this site:

http://www.oceanicdesigns.com
http://www.tucanobeach.com

I am very pleased with rackshack so far!
The server is fast and my pages load quickly.
The only need for support have been DNS changes as I needed some extra IP's. Support is overall good, very polite and helpful, but some that reply in the chat section are not that knowledgeable, but this is mostly resolved when I send a mail to the head webtech. The only negative thing is that they only support the main standard features that come with your RAQ (along with hardware errors, re installment of server software etc,), they don't give you support for webspecific features such as MySQL, SSL etc., but for this purpose this BB is fine.

If you don't want to use their DNS you can use your own, thus totally separating you from the rest.

I think it's still to early to give a fair verdict on the company! Even though support might not be as good as 4webspace.com (I don't know) you do get a RAQ4 with 128MB for the same price with great transfer and a fast connection.

Hope this helps!

Ok, my honest observation :-

I've install webalizer 2.1 thru raq4 interface but after installing it systems not able to run php :(

I've talk to technician via chat line, told me they do not support third party software (webalizer) and they will have to reconfigure the cobalt back and says that perhaps i have need to pay $250.

Saddened by it I try again next day talk to different technician.

Same statement but this time he's said that not to pay that amount as he will try every day to rectify the problem.

Try again on the next day this time talk to a sales guys i believe within 5 minutes he changed to raq4i with a new one without any charge but he inform me not to do it again :)

I believe that the best way to seek help from them is during weekdays maybe 8.00 till 8 pm in which everybody is there and can help u solve it.

But in terms of giving ips i believe 4webspace.com is cheaper at it.

Hope this helps

That was very cool of them to do! So which version of webalizer are you know running?

I do know that rackshack can reinstall the standard software package at no cost!

Surfer, I've email to u :)

Yeah man the techinician guy even pass me his email so i could check back with him as for the problem.

I guess u've to know which technician to talk 2 :)

WOOOOOW! I just downloaded the MySQL package to my server via wget and the speed was awsome, 5MB/s

Very cool!

Guys,

Thanks to both of you for honest replies, you have pretty much made my mind up about rackshack now.

I last question...

I was talking to TECHNICS last week in the thread:
http://www.webhostingtalk.com/showthread.php?threadid=6578
(check it out)

And he mentioned that a new RAQ4i comes with standard operating system software pre-installed that is quite old now and contains bugs and faults that could result in the server being hacked into from outside and that the first thing I should do is install ALL the software updates (18 of them ! ) from the colbalt site.

Just wondering if this was the case with your machines and if all the updates went smoothly.

If you not sure what I mean read the thread above as it may be vital info to keep hackers out of your servers.

You may want to ask rackshack if they have preloaded all the latest update patched onto your servers already, because if they have not you may want to look at this as a priority issue... Please let me know what they said.

Cheers :)

The RAQ's have the latest software when they shipped to rackshack, that would be 6 weeks ago...
The only thing I have installed so far is MySQL!

hope that helps

yepp, just confirmed, I have all the latest patches until Feb. 7, pretty good...

Thanks again Surfer...

I will let you know when I signup for my RAQ (later this week), the three of us rookies should keep in touch :)

Sure Thing!!!!

I installed all the latest patches last night!
Seems to work OK!

Originally posted by Surfer
yepp, just confirmed, I have all the latest patches until Feb. 7, pretty good...

One thing to keep in mind, if you plan on running DNS on your RaQ be sure to download the BIND patch, most users won't run their own DNS so this is the only patch they really didn't download. It does show a lot imho that a host cares enough about security to not just put up a big disclaimer about it and actually take the initiative to do some preventive maintenance on the equipment. If you want to test some ping times a few domains of mine will be active shortly:

http://www.phiberoptix.com
http://www.systemfiles.com
http://www.job-hq.com
http://www.career-hq.com

So far so good with support, it's only been a day now but I will keep everybody informed.

Regards,

Mike

Hi Guys...

Any chance you guys could give us all another progress report on how your new RAQ4i servers are going... and more importantly how has the Rackshack service been; now you have been a customer of theirs for a little longer..?