Phillip Pearson - Second p0st

tech notes and web hackery from the guy that brought you bzero, python community server, the blogging ecosystem, the new zealand coffee review and the internet topic exchange

2004-6-3

Setting up a new Debian server

apt-get install emacs21
    i need my editor :)
emacs /etc/hostname
    change hostname.
apt-get remove exim
    otherwise we can't install qmail...
apt-get remove portmap
    who needs nfs on a web server anyway?
emacs /etc/inetd.conf
    comment everything out.
/etc/init.d/inetd restart
apt-get install ucspi-tcp-src
build-ucspi-tcp
apt-get install qmail-src
build-qmail
    right, now qmail is in.
apt-get install logrotate
emacs /etc/lilo.conf
    add initrd=/initrd.img
emacs /etc/kernel-img.conf
    add do_initrd = Yes
apt-get install kernel-image-2.4.18-686
emacs /etc/modules
    add eepro100
apt-get install hdparm
hdparm -t /dev/hda
    damn that's slow! probably dma is off ...
hdparm -d1 /dev/hda
hdparm -t /dev/hda
    much better now!
emacs /etc/init.d/phil-hdparm
    add hdparm -d1 /dev/hda
chmod +x /etc/init.d/phil-hdparm
update-rc.d phil-hdparm defaults
cd /boot
mkdir safe
cp *2.2* safe/
emacs /etc/lilo.conf
    copy the previous OK config to a new 'Linux22SAFE' config, and make that the default
lilo -v -v
reboot
    ok, that worked (with the safe config)
lilo -R Linux
reboot
    phew! it rebooted ok! we now have a 2.4 kernel in action!
cd /boot
cp *2.4* safe/
emacs /etc/lilo.conf
    copy all the working kernel stuff to a new 'Linux24SAFE' config
lilo -v -v
lilo -R Linux24SAFE
reboot
    still working!
emacs /etc/lilo.conf
    change default to the working kernel.
lilo -v -v
reboot
    and it goes still! we're done with the kernel now.
apt-get install apache php4 mysql-server
apt-get install python2.2 python2.2-egenix-mxdatetime python2.2-mysql
    i would install python2.3, but i'm trying to stick to debian stable here.
apt-get install bind9

OK, now we're getting there. I've got my server mostly set up -- running a stable but fast kernel image, and with all the tools I need. Now to start copying stuff over from the old (virtual) FreeBSD server. This should be interesting - do all my web bits and pieces run on Linux???

The server is one of Layered Tech's $35 dedicated servers, BTW. Both cheaper and more powerful than the old server ... hopefully everything will stay up OK :)
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