Topic: Where do I go from here?

[Chauvin]

Hi all,

First all I want to thank the creators of SME Server, this is exactly what I was looking for… just one problem, where do I go from here?

Being a bit tech-geek myself, I am always willing to try new things, but always get stuck at… the “where too” question.  So I figured posting something might help, and as some of you have already been very helpful, here goes again.  Hopefully this is the right place to post, and if I am in the wrong place, sorry.

To give you a bit of a background, this is where I like to be over the next few weeks;

1)   Run my own network server at home (done)
2)   Run a secure area to store video, music, misc. files, “non” important data for me and other “users”.
3)   Run a FTP site, that I can gain access to files if I need them.
4)   Run a email server.
5)   Run a hobby for-fun website first, then might expand it into a web-based business, where people can purchase product etc.
6)   Run both Ventrelio and TeamSpeak services for friends and gamers alike (I am big gamer)
7)   Provide forms (phpBB) access for personal, business, and games, etc
8 )   To setup all this up behind a Router first, (ServerOnly) then turn it  up a Server/Gateway.

Here is my setup;
2.4 Ghz Intel Xeon processor server
512 MB ram (Looking to upgrade, but not sure if I will need to, or bigger question, can I find the Ram)
40 Gig hard drive – running SME
80 Gig hard drive – currently formatted with .ext3, but not mounted corrected (need help)
120 Gig hard drive  - also current formatted with .ext3, but not mounted corrected

So here is the question, where do I start???   I have little Linux experience, but worked with DOS along time ago, so some of this stuff makes sense.  Unfortunately I am a bit “Windowized”, but willing and wanting to break that.

I was reviewing  the “HOW TO’s”, documentation and found some of usefully and the rest a bit “Greek” to me, not sure or understand how the “Install” portions work or if I did install it, did it work.  Like my Ventrilo server I tried this afternoon… not sure if it’s working or not..  (can’t seem to login, but I followed all the setups correct… at least I think I did)

Realizing when I type these type of question I don’t expect someone to write a 500 page novel to explain where or what I need to do, but I am hoping they could collectively provide some updated guides, that will not only help install, but also test and ensure that is working correctly, like my Ventrilo server mishap!

Is anyone willing to help this very excited person about SME reach his goals?

[cactus]

Hi all,

First all I want to thank the creators of SME Server, this is exactly what I was looking for… just one problem, where do I go from here?

Welcome to the community,

most likely not the answer desired, but start by reading the manuals linked in the wiki, especially the user and admin, you can leave the SME Server developers guide for now, but you might need that one as well if you will be modifying configuration files in the future. All configuration files are templated and the developers guide explains how they work and how you should work with them.

Reading the manuals once is not enough as while working with the system you will most likely get questions again, to which most answers can be found in the manual. So I suggest you re-read the manual again after working with the server a little bit.

The next thing is to start trying stuff and see where it goes wrong. Try the forums, first by searching as a lot of questions have already been answered and might even be in the FAQ as well. If you really get stuck try and explain what you did as good as possible,while trying to be brief and relevant. Give your forum posts a meaningful topic, please.

Finally the wiki is a good source of information on how to install packages as well as to learn the basic SME Server logic and command structure.

In brief I would see, read, dive into it, search and ask.

Good luck!

[David Harper]

Good advice from cactus.

Here are a few suggestions of my own:

1. Decide on a hard drive size (probably 80Gb) and fit the server with two identically sized drives - that way you will get automagic RAID1 (mirroring) support without any fiddling. A reinstall would probably be easier than a migration for a newbie, so long as there's nothing important on the server yet, so just remove the two other-sized disks, fit the like-sized drive and do a reinstall from the 7.3 CD.
2. Enable ssh access on the new server (see this page) so you can dial in from your LAN PCs.
3. Download Putty and WinSCP so you can issue commands to the server and upload files easily.
4. Make sure to update the server "yum update" or the Software Installer panel in the server manager so you get all the latest goodies and security patches.

That should get you started. Then have an explore of the server manager (https://ip-address/server-manager/) to see what the server can do, and check out the various contribs that are available. WordPress might be suitable for a basic website, and phpbb is also available.

Another good idea might be to get a free virtual machine emulator (VMWare Server perhaps) and create a virtual copy of SME to experiment with. That way you can destroy it as often as you want (take a snapshot so you don't have to reinstall) and learn heaps as you go along.

Lastly, if you are serious about email and web services, then you might want to consider getting a static IP organised from your ISP and buying a domain name (yourorg.com or whatever) to point to it - this will make it easier to administer the email and web servers etc. later on.

[thomasch]

Being a bit tech-geek myself, I am always willing to try new things,

Chauvin,

Being a tech geek I think you'll tend to skip the docs and jump into the jungle..
The bad news is : you have to read the docs... twice.

But if you are not bothered with a couple of reformat and reinstalling go to:
http://wiki.contribs.org/Category:Contrib
http://wiki.contribs.org/Category:Howto
and try to install most of the contribs and howtos..

Mostly my learning curve to understand how SME works pumped up by installing and trying the howtos. If I get stuck, I''ll do search the forums, the wiki, bugs, and google.
From there I know that SMEServer is a very unique and lovable animal.

Welcome to the jungle.

thomas

[Chauvin]

Hi guys,

Thanks for the quick response...

@cactus
Yes, not the response I was wanting, but a very expected one that you gave.  So thank you.

@thomasch
Yes, I know from my question, it sounds like I jumped in without reading a thing and now am having problems.  and again yes some of that is partly true.   But I will use Ventrilo as an example.

I tried the How To's to install it, since the link was broken i used my tech-geek self and downloaded the lastest copy, with a copy in hand... I came to the machine and looked for a icon named... "CD ROM"  couldn't find one, so I hit the web and asked the question.  Now armed with the answer, I mounted the CDROM, and copy'd the compressed file to the destination as directed.  Typed the commands as listed (Now granted I could have copied them wrong) so I tried again with clean install, still no luck.   After reading your post, I figured the best way to start this would be as the "recommended equipment".   So I purchased another 80gig and now are proceeding with a new install and trying this ventrilo thing again.

I also took Cactus suggested to search the forms to find similar problems, and as some have experienced the same problem with no real answer... Just follow the direction and you "should" be fine!   So we'll see, after I try this again.   

I will dive into the manual, howto and contrib to see how I can reach my goals.   Now that I can see this website is used often, you will now become my new friends! haha  

So wish me well... I will be here again!   I will be back!

Kevin

[Chauvin]

@davidiwharper

Once again, what a fun experence, this software is great, just having a bit of diffculty with the howtos...

1. Decide on a hard drive size (probably 80Gb) and fit the server with two identically sized drives - that way you will get automagic RAID1 (mirroring) support without any fiddling. A reinstall would probably be easier than a migration for a newbie, so long as there's nothing important on the server yet, so just remove the two other-sized disks, fit the like-sized drive and do a reinstall from the 7.3 CD.

Did this, and everything working as plan.

2. Enable ssh access on the new server (see this page) so you can dial in from your LAN PCs.

Having a bit of problem here.   I go to the HOW TOs regarding this, and either my lack of experence, or lack of knowledge of linux I cannot get this to work.   One of the links is broken (TOM'sHOWTO or something like that) It may have the missing piece.   I realize from your stand point that the HowTos are working, but I am not sure...   

I'll provide more details later.

4. Make sure to update the server "yum update" or the Software Installer panel in the server manager so you get all the latest goodies and security patches.

Done, all updated.  according to the server-manger.

Lastly, if you are serious about email and web services, then you might want to consider getting a static IP organised from your ISP and buying a domain name (yourorg.com or whatever) to point to it - this will make it easier to administer the email and web servers etc. later on.

Yes, already looked into this... I don't know where you live, but for Canada, to do this will cost me an extra $100 month, just for a hobby-site right now, is way to much.  I'll wait until I start making money from it! haha

I am able to access a site using dynDNS.org and it working great.   

I would like some assitance with SSH, and will post more in a different post.

[David Harper]

Enabling ssh access is easy. Just follow the instructions here, making it easy (although less secure) by:

1. Enabling access from local networks only
2. Enabling root access
3. Enabling password-based access

Then you fire up Putty, put in the server IP, and voila! access to SME Server.