Topic: resources?

[Andy]

I am new to SME, and need to install a spider on my server... Apparently, installing it as root isn't a good idea(I have no idea why this is though, since I can't access the console with any other user). I am really in need of a simple howto on creating a user that can use the console while installing a perl script and assigning permissions and making sure that it can be used on the www without being insecure.

I have searched this forum, but the only thing I found was something along the line of "You need to do it the 'E-smith' way, which apparently is nowhere near standard Linux and certainly not covered by the documentation

I am really confused about SME. I have been working with SME for months, and have accumulated some knowledge on how to use it, but it is really dificult to find out how SME is different from regular linux, and I am getting to the point where I just want to pay the money for a windows server edition and leave linux well enough alone.

I am aware that this forum is free, but if anyone could push me in the right direction I would really appreciate it

Andy

[Paul]

All of e-smith work exactly like standard Linux because it is based on Redhat 7.3 except the unique way that configuration is accomplished.  E-smith uses templates to configure most of the configuration files.  You can make "custom-templates" if you need to tweek any of the config files.  If you just make your changes to the config file it will revert back to whatever the template is configured for after you re-expand the templates.  You can get more info about custom templates here:

http://www.e-smith.org/custom/

It's seems complicated at first but after you make a couple of simple custom-template then you will get the hang of it.

The other major difference is that e-smith's server-manager actually works and configures the server correctly.  It's simplicity makes it unique.  I am a total noobee to linux and couldn't make heads nor tails of the other distros.  E-smith to me is very simple.

My e-smith server is working flawlessly and has replaced my MS server.  It's MUCH faster and secure.  I get 500+ hits a week of code red and nimda attempts.  These are direct attempts by a worm to "attack" an MS server and have no effect on a linux system.  Hackers try to get into MS servers because they are MUCH easier to hack and MS's securty problems are spread among hackers in a matter of hours.  

MS seems to take their own sweet time to release patches addressing security problems.  Linux on the other hand has thousands of concerned people working on any security threats and gets solutions out fairly quickly.

I almost went with Windows 2003 server until I found out what the cost would be for 20 clients.  I was determined to make Linux work for me and e-smith was a god-send.  I messed with 5 or 6 other distros, wasted a month and got extremely frustrated and almost threw in the towel.  My e-smith server was up and running in less than an hour,  It's been serving my mortgage company with 27 clients ever since Jan 2003.  The only problem I have had is a hard drive crashed.  I replaced it and re-synced my mirror and never skipped a beat.

I'll shut up now!!

Paul

[Ray Mitchell]

Dear Andy

> I am new to SME, and need to install a spider on my server...

I've not installed spiders before, so can't help there. But there are plenty of HOWTOs on installing rpms available, and the procedure is generally very similar, so have a look at afew of them (see below).


> I am really in need of a simple howto
> on creating a user that can use the console

I'm sure there is a HOWTO for allowing selected users command line access or if not, it has definitely been covered in these formus, it is quite easy to do, see
http://www.e-smith.org/cgi-bin/contrib.cgi
or
contribs.org

You can also install user-manager panel which allows users access to certain server-manager functions on a per user basis
see www.dungog.et
or
contribs.org

> ..........the only thing I found was
> something along the line of "You need to do it the 'E-smith'
> way, which apparently is nowhere near standard Linux and
> certainly not covered by the documentation

As Paul has said it is no different, it just "looks" different and is configured in a different way. Reviewing the documentation about custom templates and trying a few out will go a long way to sorting it out for you.

The important thing to know is that server manager does all the config changes without needing to go to the command line, via the templating system.
It writes changes to the templates and these are used to update the normal Linux config files, that's why if you open a config/template file that is setup by the template system it says "do not edit this file directly".
Changes you manually make to a config file or a template file will be replaced by the settings in the templates next time a rebuild is done, which automatically happens (as required) when server manager changes are made and under some other system event situations.

On top of that you still have command line control if needed, and you can use the ciustom templates to override the standard templates. The information in a custom template with the same name as a standard template, will replace or append the settings to the config file. That way if you stuff things up, you simply delete the custom-template and rebuild the config files and your server is working again in standard mode (ie as configured by server manager).

Unfortunately I have not seen a published listing of what all the various templates are, but if you browse the linux folders on a sme server and have a good enough understanding of linux, it will be obvious to you where and what they are.

These forums will always steer you in the right direction if you post a question on a specific need you wish to implement.

Use the search function (all dates) and you will often find that the subject has been covered before. Spending a few hours reading through old posts can be very informative also. Don't neglect older posts as many newer users seem to, as these still have relevant information in them.

> and I am getting to the point
> where I just want to pay the money for a windows server
> edition and leave linux well enough alone.

Look at all the contribs and howtos available, I'd be very surprised if everything you need has not already been implemented by someone for the sme server, all at a fraction (zero) the cost of ms windows. Unless you know windows servers well there will be a much steeper learning curve than this nce friemdly and easy to use GUI interface of sme.

Hope this helps
Regards
Ray Mitchell

[Ray Mitchell]

Dear Andy

> I am new to SME, and need to install a spider on my server...

I've not installed spiders before, so can't help there. But there are plenty of HOWTOs on installing rpms available, and the procedure is generally very similar, so have a look at afew of them (see below).


> I am really in need of a simple howto
> on creating a user that can use the console

I'm sure there is a HOWTO for allowing selected users command line access or if not, it has definitely been covered in these formus, it is quite easy to do, see
http://www.e-smith.org/cgi-bin/contrib.cgi
or
contribs.org

You can also install user-manager panel which allows users access to certain server-manager functions on a per user basis
see www.dungog.et
or
contribs.org

> ..........the only thing I found was
> something along the line of "You need to do it the 'E-smith'
> way, which apparently is nowhere near standard Linux and
> certainly not covered by the documentation

As Paul has said it is no different, it just "looks" different and is configured in a different way. Reviewing the documentation about custom templates and trying a few out will go a long way to sorting it out for you.

The important thing to know is that server manager does all the config changes without needing to go to the command line, via the templating system.
It writes changes to the templates and these are used to update the normal Linux config files, that's why if you open a config/template file that is setup by the template system it says "do not edit this file directly".
Changes you manually make to a config file or a template file will be replaced by the settings in the templates next time a rebuild is done, which automatically happens (as required) when server manager changes are made and under some other system event situations.

On top of that you still have command line control if needed, and you can use the ciustom templates to override the standard templates. The information in a custom template with the same name as a standard template, will replace or append the settings to the config file. That way if you stuff things up, you simply delete the custom-template and rebuild the config files and your server is working again in standard mode (ie as configured by server manager).

Unfortunately I have not seen a published listing of what all the various templates are, but if you browse the linux folders on a sme server and have a good enough understanding of linux, it will be obvious to you where and what they are.

These forums will always steer you in the right direction if you post a question on a specific need you wish to implement.

Use the search function (all dates) and you will often find that the subject has been covered before. Spending a few hours reading through old posts can be very informative also. Don't neglect older posts as many newer users seem to, as these still have relevant information in them.

> and I am getting to the point
> where I just want to pay the money for a windows server
> edition and leave linux well enough alone.

Look at all the contribs and howtos available, I'd be very surprised if everything you need has not already been implemented by someone for the sme server, all at a fraction (zero) the cost of ms windows. Unless you know windows servers well there will be a much steeper learning curve than this nce friemdly and easy to use GUI interface of sme.

Hope this helps
Regards
Ray Mitchell

[Ray Mitchell]

sorry about the accidetal double post !

As far as installing things as the root user, there is nothing wrong with that, I and I'm sure many people do it all the time. The issue is really what you do as a root user. You can have disastrous effects on your server if you do the wrong thing, but if you issue commands carefully and check what you have typed before hitting the Enter key, then all should be OK.

As fas as installing a spider is concerned, again it's what the instal or the program does that is the issue, not so much the user who is installing it.
Having said that though, I am still learning myself about permissions etc, so check to see if there are any particular issues with certain programs or rpms and who is installing it.

Perhaps someone else can elaborate on this ?

Regards
Ray Mitchell