Anyone that knows Linux, knows that this operating system, enables so many solutions, and they are part of the Linux operating system package. You can gain almost any type of services you need, by either using the built in services on the operating system after the installation (which means they are coming installed within the OS) or by doing a simple update/download and install of new services which are not built in, It is as simple as that.

I will give some examples from the UBUNTU Linux operating system, which is one of my favorite, and it is very simple to use. Installing a service is almost made by using one simple command – called APT-GET (This command goes to find the service you need, download it, and installs it on your Linux system. Mostly it means the service will be installed and running on the system. Sometimes you might need to edit some configuration files, in order to fit it into your network definitions.

The most important issue that you need to remember is that Linux enables you to do anything you want. Linux is being used by many and some prefer to use it and not use the Microsoft Windows Operating System which is so common.

Linux has many operating systems, some are server based (no graphical interface needed) and some are suitable for client side computers/laptops, they do include X-windows which is the graphic interface of a Linux based operating system. Linux has many different graphical interface distributions, which actually means that those distributions are actually a fully functional operating system, with the needed packages of services. Each Linux distribution include different packages, and different GUI interface (which means the graphical side looks a bit different).

The base of them usually works the same, but some of them are based on different Linux Kernel, so the commands are a bit different, and needs to get used to. That is usually why most Linux users get to know one type of a Linux kernel that they get along best with and they stick to that OS and Linux Kernel, on their future Linux experiences.

So let go over some examples of what you can do with the Linux operating system, and how simple things are when defining new services to the system.

Linux Firewall:

Linux has a built in mechanism called IPTABLES, this is a port filtering mechanism, that enables you to set rules for what can pass through the system and what can’t. Firewall rules are mostly port based, any service has its own port, and by defining which ports are allowed and which are not, you can create your own firewall based on that built-in mechanism. All you will need is to place two network card on your Linux, and let the traffic pass through the Linux machine, as it controls the rules of passage. When IPTABLES is empty and no rules are applied, it means anything can go through from outside in, and from the inside out. This option is mostly used by the Linux Server systems.

* Article on how to set a simple Linux Firewall

Another option if you want a graphical management console to define the firewall:

For Linux Desktop – that includes X-Windows (a Graphic interface), you can use the FWBUILDER (Firewall Builder). This tool enables a graphic management interface, that enables you to define the firewall rules, like the tools used on firewall routers (like the CISCO PIX).

* Using fwbuilder to create a Linux firewall

Linux web server:

The Linux web server is mostly based on the APACHE service. Since most application use PHP, and databases, you can use the MYSQL, and of course PHP, so you need to install them as well, and some other tools that can assist you. Below are the basic tools you will need to create a full functional web server, which includes all of the needed services.

• Apache 2 – Linux Web server
• MySQL 5 – MySQL Database Server
• PHP4/5 – PHP Scripting Language
• phpMyAdmin – Web-based database admin software.
• Webalizer – Website Traffic Analyzer
• Mail Server – Postfix (MTA) with Dovecot IMAP/POP3 + Sasl Authentication
• Squirrelmail – A web based email
• VSFTP – A fast ftp server to upload files
• Webmin – A freely available server control panel
• ClamAV – Antivirus software.
• A Firewall using IPtables.

* Build Your Own Web Server

So to summarize, you can do whatever you want to with Linux, just search the internet and see how easy it is.

Dedicated servers are usually being used on hosting farms. The Dedication part means that the server is solely yours, and the definitions you require for it, like bandwidth, security, resources and other configurations that you have requested, will be dedicated to you, so you will always have them available.

This is important when the server has special features that need to be kept at all times, like a constant bandwidth that is always available at a certain capacity, so no bottleneck will be created. This is useful when the server is serving many clients at the same time.

Dedicated servers include redundant solutions for electricity, for databases, SQL server applications and management for them, which warn in case of problems, network issues or server down situations. Such solutions are mostly available for Windows or Linux operating system servers.

The dedicated managed servers are usually 1U Rack servers, (I prefer the DELL server hardware) and they do not include desktop components. They are much secured for websites or SQL databases and you can customize them to any of your requirements.

The dedicated servers are usually blade servers that enable scalable and redundant solutions to be able to guarantee reliability and the ability to grow in case it is required.

Dedicated servers can support Linux distributions like Red-Hat, CentOS, Debian, Fedora or Windows Servers 2006, 2008, Microsoft SQL Server 2000, 2005 or Microsoft Exchange server, ColdFusion application servers using management tools like cPanel, Plesk control panel or the DotNetPanel.

You can register your servers on a local hosting farm, or anywhere in the world, at any hosting just make sure you read the terms agreement carefully to make sure you get all of those guarantees and reliability with your dedicated servers.

You will need to define, the bandwidth you need, the hard-disk capacity allocation requirements, the memory (RAM) you require and CPU needs (2 Processors (Duo) or 4 Processors (Quad)) and the kind of dedication server you require – if it’s a Dell server or HP or whatever the hosting offers and you find suitable.

Here are some examples of Dedicated hosting server links:

• http://b2evolution.net/about/linux-dedicated-servers-web-hosting.php

• http://www.hostgator.com/dedicated.shtml

• http://www.webhostingsearch.com/dedicated-server.php

• https://www.webstuff.co.il/home.asp?lang=english&

• http://www.layeredtech.com/

There are many security risks while we use our computers. Since the internet becomes a common and most usable interface, as we use the internet on a daily basis, we are open to risks that are just out there on the web. We continuously either receive e-mails, browse the web visit different websites, download files, play movies, press publicity banners, etc… We might connect a USB device that might contain an infected file.

All of those subjects I have reviewed in that last paragraph are risks to our computers, there are different type of risks on the internet, some are while just browsing a risky virus-infected website that might try to install a spy type of application onto your computer, or install plug-in into your browser. You might receive e-mails that if opened might install a damaging application into your computer and you might just want to copy a file from someone’s USB memory stick, and that memory stick might have some infected files on it, that might infect your computer.

So to avoid, or at least minimize the risk to your computer there are some basic rules to maintain. The basic one is a Firewall, which yo

u might use a router that you might know how to configure to enable its a firewall and by that build the Firewall WALL that will guard your computer against outside threats. You can also use a software firewall, that will be as a default in the operating system (like the Windows OS offers a built-in firewall), or just install an external firewall software, which there are many types out there, you just need to make sure you choose a well known one, that, of course, gets daily updates, so it will be always updated with the newest threats and update its guarding mechanism against those threats.

The idea behind the firewall is a separation between the WAN (wide area network) and the LAN (local area network), so external sources can’t access your local network.

The other risk prevention way is to install Anti-Virus software on your computer, that will guard any changes or harmful software that might try to install itself onto your computer. The anti-virus software needs to get daily updates and be most updated against the newest risks that might appear, and there are many viruses that are being built on

a daily basis, and the updated system will be able to guard your computer for those viruses. The anti-virus system can either prevent the virus from installing itself automatically, or you might just choose to get a warning and enable you to choose the steps you want to take with the anti-virus warning (if you trust the software you’re trying to install which might get a warning from the anti-virus system you will be able to enable it to install).

Basically, if you have those two basic features, the Firewall and the Anti-Virus on your computer, you will be protected against dangerous occurrences that might occur on your computer, and prevent them from spreading and damaging your computer, and your important information that you would like to keep safe :-).

Be aware of the warning I have specified above, and keep your computer safe.