Topic: Very basic help needed with Unix/Linux/SME......

[Jens]

I am completely new to Unix/Linux.  So much so that I needed to double check the spelling of "Linux".

The short story....  I'm fed up with Microsoft and want to try Linux, but...  I NEED to use Windows for now.  I have a spare server, so I decided to install SME server and learn to play with stuff.

SME Sever is loaded on a Dell PowerEdge 6400.  I want to install the Dell "Server Administrator" software (it monitors the server.. temps, voltages, drives, etc via a web-based application).

Right now I need two things on my SME Server machine:

1.  A web brower  (this is needed immediately)

2.  A GUI interface  (not urgent, but would like to explore the directories easily rather than learning Unix command line right now)

****I know NOTHING about Unix/Linux****  I have DOS and Windows experience.

Later I will have time to learn stuff, but right now I need someone to tell me what web browser to get, where to get it, and how to install it.

As for the GUI...  I have heard of something called x-windows.  Is that a good GUI to start with or should I get something else?  Where to get, how to install?

I know this is really basic stuff, but I need to do this ASAP.

Thanks...

[stiperstones]

Hi jens
Welcome to the Contribs forums as to the answer to your questions.

1. SME is a server/gateway system.

2. It does not have a GUI.

3. To access the webconfig you login from another machine within your intenal network with
http://name of your server/server-manager
using ie, netscape, opera, or firefox web browsers.

4. Reading the user manuals from

http://no.longer.valid/phpwiki/
 
and the administration manuals this will give you a better understanding of what sme server i capable of and how to use it.

[Jens]

1. SME is a server/gateway system.

2. It does not have a GUI.

3. To access the webconfig you login from another machine within your intenal network with
http://name of your server/server-manager
using ie, netscape, opera, or firefox web browsers.

4. Reading the user manuals from

Hi stiperstones,

Thank you for your reply.

I have been reading the manuals, but am somewhat lost.  I understand this is a server application.

1.  My other server runs Windows 2003 Server.  It has Internet Explorer as a native applicaton.  I understand SME does not have a native browser, but can I not install one?  Generally I do not "surf" the web from a server, but until I learn all this stuff it would be convenient to have a web browser installed directly on the server (I'm not worried about worms/trojans/etc... I can always reformat the drives and start over if necessary).

2.  I understand there is not a built-in GUI, but can I not install one?  I only mentioned "x windows", because that is the only thing I know of.  

3.  Many years ago (early 90's) I used Mozilla (or something like that), then Netscape, then IE.  Granted there are many flavors of browsers, but which is the "best" to start with for Linux.  By "best" I mean easy to install, least messy configuration, functions reasonably well.

4.  I am reading the documentation, but somewhat lost in it.  I ran across this http://mirror.contribs.org/smeserver/contribs/bobk/SME_Manual/chpt-06.2.html  and found the Linux command line and the "Midnight Commander" application, but a GUI application would be more helpful right now.

As I wrote originally...  I have DOS experience (started with it in the early 80's), but I don't have the time right now to learn Unix/Linux commands.  That will come later as I have time.

I appreciate your patience with me.  I'll get the hang of this, but right now I need to get a browser and some type of GUI "thingy" going on that machine ASAP.

Thank you

[stiperstones]

ok jens
First of all i need a little info.

1. Do you have another machine in your network. ie connected to sme server.

2. what operating system are you using. ie win 98  ME 2000 XP MAC GNU/Linux. just tell me.

[Jens]

1. Do you have another machine in your network. ie connected to sme server.

2. what operating system are you using.

1.  Yes

2.  Win 2000 Pro

[stiperstones]

what is the internal ip of sme ie 192.168.1.1

[Jens]

192.168.0.50

[k_graham]

Generally I do not "surf" the web from a server, but until I learn all this stuff it would be convenient to have a web browser installed directly on the server (I'm not worried about worms/trojans/etc... I can always reformat the drives and start over if necessary).

I appreciate your patience with me.  I'll get the hang of this, but right now I need to get a browser and some type of GUI "thingy" going on that machine ASAP.

Thank you

It takes some time getting used to Jens but what makes this a robust server is its lack of workstation capabilities.

From a workstation log into serverIPaddress/server-manager or if remotely located https://servername.domainname/server-manager

to administrate your server.

 To do some file administration using Midnight Commander, type mc at command prompt when logged in directly on server as root plus same password as if you log in with admin and your password.

If you must have a web browser I suspect you will want to look at another flavour of Linux. Mind you I tried RedHat & Mandrake before this from Contribs.org and only changed from Windows for my file server once here.

Once you start adding up the savings of Free server software, plus free email server, plus Free Fax server plus free Antivirus & Spam control, plus Mac,PC & Linux connectivity it makes sense, or at least saves cents.

[stiperstones]

paste this into your web browser

http://192.168.0.50/server-manager what do you see.

download this and install it on win 2000 machine

http://the.earth.li/~sgtatham/putty/latest/x86/putty-0.57-installer.exe

sorry this is putty it will allow you to login to to your server from your win 2000 box so you can read from your browser on win 2000 an d follw commands from your web browser.

[Jens]

http://192.168.0.50/server-manager what do you see.

download this and install it on win 2000 machine

http://the.earth.li/~sgtatham/putty/latest/x86/putty-0.57-installer.exe

I see the SME server manager login.  When I log in I see the SME server management web application.

I downloaded the telnet client, but have not yet installed it.  Why do I want that?

[stiperstones]

putty will allow you to login to your server from your internal lan to administer it as well.

[Jens]

Unless I'm not understanding something... that is not what I am looking for.

What I want is to install a web browser directly on the server.

[stiperstones]

Jens you will be able to use a web browser on the macine but it is not a graphical one so adding this you can sit at your win 2000 box with ie open an controll your sme through putty.

ps i have emailed you.

[Jens]

Oh...  I think I'm getting a clue.  You are saying SME server does not have the capability to act as both a server and a work station, correct?

[stiperstones]

correct.

Sme is not a workstation it is a server only

[stiperstones]

Jens
I think weare going to winscp its a secure ftp programme to do what you want try this link

http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/winscp/winscp374setup.exe?download

[MSmith]

... try White Box Linux or CentOS.  Otherwise, while installing X-Windows *can* be done on an SME Server, it will break certain great features of the templating system, AFAIK, and will only decrease the system's security.  If you want to fool around with Linux to learn about it as a desktop workstation, try MEPIS or Fedora Core 3.  (Cue distribution holy war!!!!)

[Quail_Linux]

I understand SME does not have a native browser, but can I not install one?

Hi Jens,

SME does have a default text web browser that is call "Lynx"

HTH