Basic Linux webserver - setup without a real domain

[AndyLandy]

Hi!

I'm new to this server things, so I wonder about the following. I set up a server according to the tutorial here on Howtoforge - "The Perfect Server - OpenSUSE 12.2 x86_64 (nginx, Dovecot, ISPConfig 3)". I plan to use the server as a shared host, for multiple domains. In the tutorial I come to the point, where I have to set up the domain of the server. I wonder, do I have to have a real domain name for the server itself? If the server has a static IP, and I set up the DNS records for the domains that I want to host so that they point to the IP of my server, won't that work? In my opinion i would need to set up the domain only if I hosted also a nameserver for the domains of the server. Do I miss something? I just don't see where do server domain would come to use, except for NS.

Regards,
Andy

[falko]

I recommend to use a real hostname, e.g. server1.example.com. If you just use the server IP, Postfix will greet other servers with the IP, and I'm not sure if all servers like this (mails might go into the spam folder).

[AndyLandy]

Thank you for your comment. I just thought I could set up the server at first without assigning a domain, as I have no domain that I want to associate with the whole server, but I guess I will use one of the domains I plan to host and I will get a spare domain for the server in the longrun.
Yet another question, do you think there would be any problem to switch the server domain once it has been running for a while. I guess not, but maybe I'm wrong.

[till]

You dont have to assiciate a whole domain with the server, you just ahve to point a subdomain of one of your domains to the server and use this as server hostname.

Yet another question, do you think there would be any problem to switch the server domain once it has been running for a while.

No.

[AndyLandy]

Oh, Till, thanks for bringing meback to the earth. I feel like a fool, well in this topic I am obviously. All the time it was right before my eyes "server1.example.com", but I was so busy with domains, that I didn't see the domains anymore :-)

[rockworldmi]

Hi Andy,

can you tell how you managed to get nginx for shared hosting? what happned for nginx.conf ? do you update it for every client?

Thanks,
Jay.

[falko]

Originally Posted by rockworldmi

Hi Andy,

can you tell how you managed to get nginx for shared hosting? what happned for nginx.conf ? do you update it for every client?

Thanks,
Jay.

Yes, that's how we do it at Timme Hosting. Since nginx does not support .htaccess files, and customers do not have admin access to ISPConfig on a shared server, we offer nginx hosting as managed hosting, i.e., we take care of rewrite rules, etc.

On our Managed Servers, customers do have admin access to ISPConfig, of course.

[rockworldmi]

Hmm.. that's bit tidious ..