The Perfect Server - Ubuntu Maverick Meerkat (Ubuntu 10.10) [ISPConfig 2]

Version 1.0
Author: Falko Timme <ft [at] falkotimme [dot] com>
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Last edited 10/12/2010

This tutorial shows how to set up an Ubuntu Maverick Meerkat (Ubuntu 10.10) server that offers all services needed by ISPs and hosters: Apache web server (SSL-capable), Postfix mail server with SMTP-AUTH and TLS, BIND DNS server, Proftpd FTP server, MySQL server, Courier POP3/IMAP, Quota, Firewall, etc. In the end you should have a system that works reliably, and if you like you can install the free webhosting control panel ISPConfig 2 (i.e., ISPConfig runs on it out of the box).

I will use the following software:

• Web Server: Apache 2.2.16 with PHP 5.3.3, Python, Ruby, and WebDAV
• Database Server: MySQL 5.1.49
• Mail Server: Postfix
• DNS Server: BIND9
• FTP Server: proftpd
• POP3/IMAP: I will use Maildir format and therefore install Courier-POP3/Courier-IMAP.
• Webalizer for web site statistics

Please note that this setup does not work for ISPConfig 3! It is valid for ISPConfig 2 only!

I want to say first that this is not the only way of setting up such a system. There are many ways of achieving this goal but this is the way I take. I do not issue any guarantee that this will work for you!

1 Requirements

To install such a system you will need the following:

• the Ubuntu 10.10 server CD, available here: http://releases.ubuntu.com/releases/10.10/ubuntu-10.10-server-i386.iso (i386) or http://releases.ubuntu.com/releases/10.10/ubuntu-10.10-server-amd64.iso (x86_64)
• a fast Internet connection.

2 Preliminary Note

In this tutorial I use the hostname server1.example.com with the IP address 192.168.0.100 and the gateway 192.168.0.1. These settings might differ for you, so you have to replace them where appropriate.

3 The Base System

Insert your Ubuntu install CD into your system and boot from it. Select your language:

Then select Install Ubuntu Server:

Choose your language again (?):

Then select your location:

Choose a keyboard layout (you will be asked to press a few keys, and the installer will try to detect your keyboard layout based on the keys you pressed):

The installer checks the installation CD, your hardware, and configures the network with DHCP if there is a DHCP server in the network: