About server config and admin

[satimis]

Hi folks,

I'm planning to build a LAMP server running Slackware 11.0 as OS. There will be no X-window on the server avoiding risk hole. To overcome the difficulty on searching Internet in case of need I'm prepared to connect a workstation via ssh to remote administrate the server. I have following point unresolved.

If installing webmin, postixadmin, etc. for easy-configuration/administration I still need X-windown unless using command lines throughout configuration/administration. Personally I prefer using command lines but their tutorial not easy to find.

What are your suggestions? Installing X on the server but without it started on boot? Just evoke it when needed? As convenience concerned one PC to work is better than running 2 PCs to do the same job.

If I'm compelled to run X on the server I'll install Xfce4, the light-weight desktop.

Comments and recommendation will be appreciated. TIA

B.R.
satimis

[falko]

Why don't you access Webmin and Postfixadmin in a browser on your workstation? I'm sure you have a second system that acts as a desktop system.

[satimis]

Hi falko,

Why don't you access Webmin and Postfixadmin in a browser on your workstation? I'm sure you have a second system that acts as a desktop system.

Yes, you are right.

I'm considering which way will be more convenient.

1)
- Remote install the server without X from a workstation
(Or I still need to install X-client on the server?)
- Remote config the server on a workstation via SSH

In this arrangement I have to run 2 PCs simultaneously (the server and the workstation) but doing one job.


OR
2)
- Install all of X on the server without gdm. So the server only boots to runlevel 3
- before putting it to life, start X to configure the server
- after finish reboot the server without running X

In this arrangement I only need to start one PC.

- do further configuration of the server, if required, via a workstation.


Is it possible running webmin without X? I made following test.

On runlevel 3 started elinks, the text browser.

$ elinks localhost:10000

Error
Unable to retrieve localhost:10000
The URL contains a protocol not get known by Elinks
You can configure an externel handler for it through the option system

Started Option on Elinks. But have no idea how to make it.


B.R.
satimis

[falko]

Originally Posted by satimis

1)
- Remote install the server without X from a workstation
(Or I still need to install X-client on the server?)
- Remote config the server on a workstation via SSH

In this arrangement I have to run 2 PCs simultaneously (the server and the workstation) but doing one job.

Do it like this. A desktop is a security risk on a server.

Originally Posted by satimis

2)
- Install all of X on the server without gdm. So the server only boots to runlevel 3
- before putting it to life, start X to configure the server
- after finish reboot the server without running X

In this arrangement I only need to start one PC.

- do further configuration of the server, if required, via a workstation.

So you seem to have a second system anyway, so why install X on the server?

Originally Posted by satimis

Is it possible running webmin without X? I made following test.

Yes, of course.

Originally Posted by satimis

On runlevel 3 started elinks, the text browser.

$ elinks localhost:10000

Error
Unable to retrieve localhost:10000
The URL contains a protocol not get known by Elinks
You can configure an externel handler for it through the option system

Try

elinks http://localhost:10000

or

elinks https://localhost:10000

[satimis]

Hi falko,

Try

elinks http://localhost:10000

or

elinks https://localhost:10000

Both failed.

Warning

Unable to retrieve http://localhost:10000
Connection refuses

satimis

[falko]

What's the output of

netstat -tap

?

[satimis]

Originally Posted by falko

What's the output of

netstat -tap

?

with X running

$ netstat -tap

(Not all processes could be identified, non-owned process info
 will not be shown, you would have to be root to see it all.)
Active Internet connections (servers and established)
Proto Recv-Q Send-Q Local Address           Foreign Address         State PID/Program name
tcp        0      0 *:nfs                   *:*                     LISTEN     - 
tcp        0      0 localhost.satimis:mysql *:*                     LISTEN     - 
tcp        0      0 *:1006                  *:*                     LISTEN     - 
tcp        0      0 localhost.satimi:sunrpc *:*                     LISTEN     - 
tcp        0      0 *:x11                   *:*                     LISTEN     - 
tcp        0      0 localhost.satimis:53043 *:*                     LISTEN     - 
tcp        0      0 *:1012                  *:*                     LISTEN     - 
tcp        0      0 *:ftp                   *:*                     LISTEN     - 
tcp        0      0 192.168.0.10:domain     *:*                     LISTEN     - 
tcp        0      0 localhost.satimi:domain *:*                     LISTEN     - 
tcp        0      0 localhost.satimis:48598 *:*                     LISTEN     - 
tcp        0      0 localhost.satimis.c:ipp *:*                     LISTEN     - 
tcp        0      0 *:791                   *:*                     LISTEN     - 
tcp        0      0 *:8888                  *:*                     LISTEN     - 
tcp        0      0 *:smtp                  *:*                     LISTEN     - 
tcp        0      0 *:54873                 *:*                     LISTEN     - 
tcp        0      0 localhost.satimis.c:953 *:*                     LISTEN     - 
tcp        0      0 192.168.0.10:41358      ti-in-f147.google.c:www ESTABLISHED5 453/firefox-bin
tcp        0      1 192.168.0.10:53668      f352.mail.mud.yahoo:www LAST_ACK   - 
tcp        0      0 192.168.0.10:45980      63.150.131.42:www       ESTABLISHED5 453/firefox-bin
tcp        0      0 localhost.satimis:53043 localhost.satimis:51015 ESTABLISHED- 
tcp        0      0 192.168.0.10:43322      jp-in-f99.google.co:www ESTABLISHED5 453/firefox-bin
tcp        0      0 192.168.0.10:43321      jp-in-f99.google.co:www ESTABLISHED5 453/firefox-bin
tcp        0      0 localhost.satimis:51015 localhost.satimis:53043 ESTABLISHED- 
tcp6       0      0 *:2222                  *:*                     LISTEN     - 
tcp6       0      0 *:imap2                 *:*                     LISTEN     - 
tcp6       0      0 *:x11                   *:*                     LISTEN     - 
tcp6       0      0 *:www                   *:*                     LISTEN     - 
tcp6       0      0 *:webcache              *:*                     LISTEN     - 
tcp6       0      0 *:smtp                  *:*                     LISTEN     - 
tcp6       0      0 ip6-localhost:953       *:*                     LISTEN     - 
tcp6       0      0 *:https                 *:*                     LISTEN     -

satimis

[falko]

Webmin isn't running. Please start it, then you can connect to it.