using mysql & php on a W2K SP2 server

[beeswax]

I'm currently hosting our school's website (what there is of it) in my own webspace so that I could get my head around CMS Made Simple. the Head has now sent a newsletter out saying that the new site will be up and running in 2 weeks, so look out for it.

My host uses linux servers with mysql and php and the databases mostly set up. As you can guess, I want to try and replicate this on our W2K server in house. I could do with some help with this, or it's off to the east wing with a pearl handled revolver.

beeswax

[webman]

http://www.en.wampserver.com

 

Looks VERY smart by the way, good job

[Geoff]

Do you already have an internal web server?

Do you want to use Apache or IIS?

Is using a Linux server an option?

Do you want to be able to access the website externally?

[Nij.UK]

you will be able to back up the whole of the mysql database by using the mysqldump function, and this will create a txt file holding all the SQL required to build the database back from scratch

 

mysqldump -u username -p password databasename > fileName.sql

 

the above is to back up the database, and the below is to recreate the database.... note that the sql needs to sit where the mysql.exe is.... and u run this at the command line.

 

mysqldump -u username -p password databasename < fileName.sql

 

thats for the database

 

as for the webserver..... i have set up PHP and mysql on 2K3 server using both IIS and apache..... which one are you going to be using?

[webman]

PHP runs very poorly on IIS, take our site for example :? Apache will be better.

[Geoff]

Hosting providers usually have PHPMyAdmin avalible too which will allow you to export the database easily.

 

You can transfer the files with FTP.

[DMcCoy]

Just remember not to use Apache 2.2 as php is still not built to work with it, I do have an alternate build at home that works, but there appears to be a memory leak in the apache version used. I'll probably go back to 2.0

[Ric_]

Why are you running SP2? That's a good couple of service packs old and must surely leave tthat vulnerable IIS box open to more attacks than a pointy stick may be pointed at!

 

BTW... php4 and mySQL have been fine for me on 2K in the past... never had much luck with php5 though :S

[beeswax]

my mistake. trying to get 25 hours out of every day. I meant SP4. thanks for taking the time to answer, and the compliments.

[Guest]

http://apache2triad.net/

 

Have it running on a W2K3 box hosting demo moodle / intranet / gallery2 / and soon to be atmail. Works a treat.

[Joedetic]

http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp.html

 

That's what i use if i've got to put AMP type stuff on a doze machine.

 

I used it to test a php website before committing a LAMP server to it.

[Geoff]

Yep, bear in mind the performance of Apache on Windows is terrible. Also consider the fact that PHP on IIS performance is similarly terrible.

 

Basically, if you need a high performance web server, you need a LAMP box.

[Joedetic]

And for which i'd suggest Ubuntu Server because it has the option to install a basic LAMP server during the installation

[webman]

And for which i'd suggest Ubuntu Server because it has the option to install a basic LAMP server during the installation

 

Seconded! Installed it last night, brilliant stuff

[beeswax]

I made similar enquiries last September/October/November regarding using linux based server(s) to host the school's website, and looked at several, including Debian. My worry, ok, my NM's worry, is security. If I have a machine running Ubuntu server to host our website (and eventually our moodle intranet) within the school, how do I go about securing it?

thanks again for your time

[Joedetic]

Debian based distros (Ubuntu is a deb based one) are secure by default (or so i've been lead to believe) but you could try setting up iptables or using shorewall firewall.

[webman]

Ideally, for externally-facing servers, you should have a DMZ for things like this which has little or no access to the rest of your LAN.

[CyberNerd]

yeah, securing a linux distro shouldn't be an issue. File permissions are normally fairly restrictive. Properly configured a linux webserver will only run the services it needs (and therefore won't really need a firewall). Make sure services run as restricted user, rather than root and make sure its regularly patched (patches are usually released same day as they are discovered)

If your still worried - run apparmour (Novell) or SELinux (defaut on RHEL/Centos)

 

the rules are basically the same as running a windows webserver, except MS have a far worse track record, have more viruses/trojans, patch after 4weeks and run all manner of services on by default.

[Joedetic]

There isnt a root account on Ubuntu though...it uses sudo root, so you should be ok (i could be wrong there though)

[Geoff]

I run the following once a week on my debian/ubuntu boxen to keep them secure:

 

apt-get update && apt-get upgrade

[beeswax]

just an update, and for the interest of anyone who may be in the same situation as myself, I'm currently running Apache2Triad on an XP Pro machine. I'd like to thank Sysman here for his help. No matter what I did I couldn't get any of the systems reccommended, including Apache2Triad, to run on the trial server in school the way they did on my machine at home, so I wiped the server, installed XP Pro and the first app out of the box, which was Apache2Triad. It was easier to configure than I imagined, and that may have been the problem, as in, "No, it can't be that simple. I must have missed a step or something" I managed to get a dump of the database from my webserver but couldn't import it into my new database without error messages. I did a quick install of a fresh copy of CMS Made Simple, replaced the existing style sheets with those from the website and cut'n'pasted the content from the old pages into the new ones. The job was done in 30 minutes or so.

I'd like to say that I'll have time to play with Ubuntu (it is gui based by the way isn't it?) in the summer break, but from what I've been told that won't be likely.

thanks to all again for your help

[Guest]

Glad to here its all going well fella. Glad I could help

[beeswax]

OK so loads of kids are off on trips, those who have sat or are sitting exams (year 11) are away, so it's quiet. I've downloaded and installed LAMP Server Ubuntu/Debian version Dapper, v.6.06 (I think) on a very old slow machine, but it's all command line and I'm happier with a gui I visited the ubuntu forums and saw a lead saying to run the command "sudo apt-get install desktop-ubuntu" (or whatever flavour of desktop you had) I can't get this to work. At first I assumed that the gui stuff would be on the original cdrom, but it appears not. I tehn downloaded the Kubuntu iso, burnt that and tried with the command again but still no joy, though it runs as a live cd without any problems. Any advice on this?

[Geoff]

If you can run the live CD then there should be an install option there. If you install from the live CD will be able to use the graphical installer.

[beeswax]

I managed to get kubuntu installed by running the command sudo apt-get install kubuntu-desktop (not desktop-kubuntu, as one of the Dapper forums said), and I ran the apt-get update command as well, but the server still boots into command line mode. There seems to be no way of getting into gui mode. Any suggestions?