As far as remotely administering a Linux server:

Is it better to use the Web Host Manager software.. or is it better to be able to set up everything yourself by way of root access to the server?

[Edited by ee-o on 03-22-2001 at 03:11 PM]

Noone cares about me :bawling:

imvho, it is best to do it in the command line/by hand but i think it'll be easier done via WHM :)

Aww, sure we do :)

It all depends on what you are going to use the server for. If it is for only a few accounts, you might not need WHM, but if you want to run a web hosting business, WHM/cpanel is definately a huge plus in your court. It will give your users a control panel as well.

Well, it would be for a web hosting business, but the good hosting companies that rent out dedicated servers charge extra for it and I was just wondering how difficult it its to learn how to do all that WHM can do via command line,
So I guess my question is, is it really that difficult to learn how to administer the server with the command line?
Where can I find information to help me?

Well, the other possibility is using Webmin It is free and will do what you want as well, but through a GUI interface. If you don't know how to administer a server and don't want to add WHM, this may be the way to go.

Take a look at http://www.webmin.com for more information.

if you are just starting out, get your server with WHM and try to learn unix on the side :) that way you get the best of both worlds. The user friendly WHM cp and at the same time the accuracy of command line. Search Yahoo or lycos for system admin books.

Weinbar is correct :) try using webmin, its freeware and you cant go wrong with it :)

http://www.webmin.com/webmin

Ill look into that, thanks for the info guys

Does anyone else have any favorite books to recommend for Linux or IIS administration?

Thanks

ee-o will you stop crying, you are breaking my heart :D

Actually, I suggest you get the WHM not because of its administration functions but because you will get with it the CPanel3 for your customers. Many customers will not sign up unless you offer them a control panel. So you might want to keep that in mind :) Also WHM makes it easier for you to setup resellers and offer them a great deal of freedom saving yourself lots of work.

sniff sniff..better now :)

Hmm youre right, the cpanel is good for customers, I know I sure do like having it but eventually Id like to have my own data center and I figure that it would be a good idea to atleast start learning how to administer a server now ya know?

Ive had my head buried in the development end of the business for the last 5 years and thats pretty much all I know, but now Im trying to get started hosting and its making my head spin with all the stuff I read about in here.

Can someone please tell me what an "upstream provider" and an "MX record" is?

Thanks

Well, it would be for a web hosting business, but the good hosting companies that rent out dedicated servers charge extra for it


I will personally suggest you get some sort of control panel, but probably not webmin. You must remember than your clients also need a control panel, preferably one that is easy to understand/navigate. Though webmin might do well as a tool to sysadmin your server, it's not really so for your end-user. Now, by giving your clients a (good) control panel, you will save yourself some tech support time (actually a lot). So in this way, you may find paying extra for a good control panel can be justified.

Cheers,
:beer:

ee-o I am glad you feel better :)

an upstream provider is simply the company which connects you to the internet. If you lease a server from VDI for example they will be your upstream provider. VDI has their upstream providers who connect VDI to the internet backbine, etc...

MX record is an entry in the nameserver which tells it where and how to route email for a particular domain. For example you can have your website hosted on one machine, while having your MX records point to everyone.net to offer free email to your guests.

I hope this helps a bit.

ahh ok I checked out thier site and they only allow each account to have 6 MB of storage, what do most hosters offer? is there even a limit?

As far as email accounts..

[Edited by ee-o on 03-22-2001 at 10:15 PM]