Topic: Configuring SME server - help

[RAJ]

In the process of testing SME 7.1 via VMWare to see if it can do what I want. I mainly require an Apache/mod_perl/MySQL setup to host web-applications. I have no interest in file/print/mail servers. I do have some experience of running a Linux server (PCLinuxOS), but only locally via the KDE interface or remotely via ssh/vncserver. It looks like SME doesn't do this out of the box. I tried to install vncserver (and the requisite xorg-x11-xauth package), but although vnc apparently starts OK, it won't allow me to log in.

For various reasons I would prefer to use the XAMPP Apache/Perl/MySQL package, but have no idea how to even get it onto my system without the KDE/Gnome GUI. FTP probably, but I cannot find the FTP server admin settings.

A similar problem is that I cannot see how to disable the default Apache & MySQL services so I can run the XAMPP ones. Again I have only experience of GUI control panels.

Bottom line - is it feasible/desirable to control the SME server via ssh & vncserver, and if so do I need to install the KDE/Gnome GUI? Any help appreciated here.

[warren]

Raj

I mainly require an Apache/mod_perl/MySQL setup to host web-applications.

This is already ability ia already present.

FTP probably, but I cannot find the FTP server admin settings.

Ditto above.

Bottom line - is it feasible/desirable to control the SME server via ssh & vncserver....

Control is via ssh or the provided Server manager web interface.

   The best place to start is with reading the manual !

http://smeserver.sourceforge.net/sme7/manual
warren

[bpivk]

Start with the manual like warren said.
But to add...
You have sftp, apache, php, mysql and vnc support in sme. You just have to familiarize yourself with server-manager pannel and start from there. Read the manual and then post questions we can't help you until you familiarize yourself with SME a little .

[RAJ]

Start with the manual like warren said.

Thanks. I have read through much of it (http://smeserver.sourceforge.net/sme7/docs). I don't recall seeing vnc but admit I might have missed it. It's not mentioned in the page index either.

The versions of mod_perl (1.99 - via yum) and MySQL (4.x) that come with SME are old hat now, and upgrade is either not recommended apparently (MySQL) or just too difficult (mod_perl).

Since my last post I have installed XAMPP & Webmin via FTP, so have made some progress . Webmin will probably do most of what I want without requiring a GUI, except that it can't find the Apache and MySQL services that are already running so that I can switch them off and start the XAMPP equivalents. Perhaps they are delivered as part of the e-smith-service? Should I switch this off - if so will I lose FTP and the i-bay facility? Apologies if all this is already covered in the docs, but I didn't see it.

[bpivk]

You can find the posts about vnc here on this forum (i think that there are some contribs for it).

And i think that you can find a howto for upgrading mysql, but i wouldn't recomend it.

You'll have to disable the mysql service. Search the forums for help (i think that tihs was covered as well). About the ibays.... i think that they won't work with xampp, but why would you need it server-manager pannel does the same thing as xampp (as far as i know).

[RAJ]

but why would you need it server-manager pannel does the same thing as xampp

The point about XAMPP is that it has a working combination of MySQL v5, Apache/mod_perl v 2.x and crucially, many Perl modules pre-installed, such as DBI which is a PITA to install/configure manually.

Ultimately I want a working Catalyst installation, which has *very* many Perl mod dependencies, and to do all that from a 'virgin' SME is more than I am prepared to do when there is a very good viable alternative. If I can ever get the replacement Apache/MySQL services running!

[warren]

Since my last post I have installed XAMPP & Webmin via FTP.Webmin will probably do most of what I want without requiring a GUI, except that it can't find the Apache and MySQL services that are already running so that I can switch them off and start the XAMPP equivalents.

If you search here you'll find it's unworkable / not suporrted as SME already has its own management interface.
Why are you trying to re-invent the wheel here !
SME has  (http://yourserver/server-manager) which allows you top manage service, port opening, set up pinters, configure ssh access, vpn ect.

The versions of mod_perl (1.99 - via yum) and MySQL (4.x) that come with SME are old hat  now, and upgrade is either not recommended apparently (MySQL) or just too difficult (mod_perl).

SME is based on CENT OS, and as such uses the current Stable release. You can upgrade to MySql 5 , PHP 5: again search and read the manual.

warren

[RAJ]

SME has (http://yourserver/server-manager) which allows you top manage service, port opening, set up pinters, configure ssh access, vpn ect.

I have server-manager open right now. Where does it allow me to manage services?

[bpivk]

It doesn't. Look at my post. You can't manage services from server manager. I recomend the SME developer manual if you really want to reinvent the weel as warren so nicely put it.

[RAJ]

I recomend the SME developer manual if you really want to reinvent the weel as warren so nicely put it.

OK, I'll take a look at the dev. manual. But I don't think I'm re-inventing the wheel - just filling in some missing spokes.

[idp_qbn]

Seems to me you have bought a Volvo and are trying to modify it into a Mercedes. Both are good, both do the same job very well - but they are different.

If you have very specific requirements as you have outlined, there are many distros that have "servers" that you can manage yourself - especially with Webmin, VNC and/or SSH.

SME provides a very stable (Stable is IMPORTANT) environment which is managed through the server-manager interface. If you make changes some other way, next time there is an update, your changes are probably going to be lost. (There are ways of making them permanent by modifying the templates, but you have to know what you are doing and be prepared for less support in the forums as you drift away from the standard.)

Remember, if you want to live on the bleeding edge of software, with the latest versions, then you are opting for an exciting life! If you want a rock-solid system, with no-fuss management, stick with the stable versions. That is what SME/CentOS 4 is about.

Good luck - hope you have success with what you are trying - If nothing else, you are learning lots (which we all need to do).

[RAJ]

Thanks idp_qbn, all sensible stuff, and I don't disagree. MySQL 5 and mod_perl 2.0.2 aren't really bleeding edge in themselves - both are now in widespread use. There are issues with both predecessor versions which I don't want to have to deal with.

It maybe SME isn't what I need afterall, but I want to give it a fair trial. In just 48hrs it is doing a lot of what I want, and I quite like the web-admin interface. But I'm a long way from test bed on VM to production-ready. And yes, certainly learning a lot on the way.

BTW, now have XAMPP's Apache & MySQL running, thanks to a forum search on 'disable services'

[raem]

RAJ

The Webmin addon changes config files directly, whereas sme uses a database & templating system to change config files, refer to the dev guide for details. Any changes you make to config files using Webmin will be overwritten the next time a system change occurs either automatically or via server manager or at upgrade time.

You are advised NOT to use Webmin, there is ample scope to make necessary changes using server manager or the admin console or the command prompt.

Consider sme as an amalgamation of services all running compatibly with each other. You should be aware when you upgrade components what effect that will have on other services & functionality & upgrade paths as well, some things may get broken depending what you do due to dependencies on various rpm versions & other services etc. There is also the security implications of upgrading to packages not tested & proven in the sme environment.

Of course you can install & upgrade what you want, but you will complicate things when upgrade time comes along, so be aware of all the implications and upgrade minimally rather than installing the latest and greatest of everything.

This happened with sme6 where a (unsupported) script was used by many people to upgrade their server to the latest and greatest version of everything. Unfortunately this caused severe breakage when upgrade time occurred, so much so that all servers that used that script were NOT able to be upgraded automatically, and even with manual upgrading  there were significant difficulties.

Learn to use the configuration databases to enable, disable & configure services etc, and learn how the templating system works in order to make config setup & changes that will survive upgrades etc. Also learn to use yum & repositories to install packages. Using these tools/methods will minimise any problems when making the changes you wish to make.

[RAJ]

Thanks RayMitchell and others for the very helpful advice.

[william_syd]

* XAMPP for Linux
The distribution for Linux systems (tested for SuSE, RedHat, Mandrake and Debian) contains: Apache, MySQL, PHP & PEAR, Perl, ProFTPD, phpMyAdmin, OpenSSL, GD, Freetype2, libjpeg, libpng, gdbm, zlib, expat, Sablotron, libxml, Ming, Webalizer, pdf class, ncurses, mod_perl, FreeTDS, gettext, mcrypt, mhash, eAccelerator, SQLite and IMAP C-Client.

Hmmm.