Building a Linux server, is pretty easy, you just need to find a computer (any computer), then download a Linux version (any Linux version will do, just choose a server Linux 
edition, and you will get spared from GUI installation, if you prefer).
The process of installing the Linux server is pretty mechanical as you move through the installation instructions by pressing the “Next” button. Today when you install Linux, it will find the suitable drivers needed for your computer, and with ease, the installation process will go smoothly, and within minutes, you will have a Linux server ready for action.
I personally prefer the Ubuntu Server distribution, I guess I just got used to it, and it’s easy to use apt-get command, that let you install automatically any software packages you need, like a web application, mail application, ftp application etc… Those are easy to install, and each package has its own instructions on how to install/configure the software package you have chosen to install, usually there will be a “README” text file or “INSTALL” text file, that by following it’s instructions, command by command you will be able to install and implement the software package into your Linux server.
The basic Ubuntu Server installation package, if you do not install any suggested packages, will give you the basics, and of course define the drivers needed for the operating system to recognize and use them, like your network card. I usually like to install only the SSH software package during the installation package, the SSH enable you to log-in to the Linux server you have just installed from your own desktop/laptop without working directly on the server itself. That enables network administrators the ease of configuring the server, from their own computer after the initial Linux server installation has been completed.
The basics of software package installation, depends on the designation of your Linux server, in short it depends on your choice of what this Linux server will do for you. If it is a Linux web server, then it will need apache2, if it is a mail server, then you will need to install one of the mail software packages, like Sendmail or Postfix etc…
I will describe some examples of what packages to install for different types of servers, just as an example, I am sure you will be able to go from here, since it is mostly the same process for any software package you might think of installing. The examples are taken from the Ubuntu Linux version.
Linux Web Server
Apache2, MySQL Client, MySQL Server, PHP 5, PHP 5 – GD, PHP 5 – MySQL, PHPMyAdmin, some also include CURL and if you would like a mail service, you can install postfix as well.
In Ubuntu, the command is pretty simple: apt-get install apache2 (for installing apache2)
If you are not sure what is the exact package name that you need to install, you can just Google it, like how to install Mysql in Ubuntu, and you will get the info you need.
Video instructions for installing Apache Server:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8y51yESHyU
Linux FTP server
One of my favorite ftp Linux server is the pure-Ftpd, it’s easy to install and configure – and it is very suitable for new users.
The command will be: apt-get install pure-ftpd pure-ftpd-common
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/PureFTP
Linux Mail Server
There are some basic Linux e-mail packages that anyone can use with a simple command, and there are more complicated e-mail servers for organization’s use.
The basic versions that you can easily install and use are:
postfix, sendmail – just do: apt-get install postfix / apt-get install sendmail
http://www.hypexr.org/linux_mail_server.php
As an organization’s e-mail server – I would recommend ZIMBRA Mail Server.
https://www.zimbra.com
13 Comments to 'build a linux server,building embedded linux,building embedded linux systems'
14/10/2010
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