The Perfect Server - Debian Squeeze (Debian 6.0) [ISPConfig 2]

Version 1.0
Author: Falko Timme
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This tutorial shows how to set up a Debian Squeeze (Debian 6.0) 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, and Ruby
  • 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:

 

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 Debian Squeeze network installation CD into your system and boot from it. Select Install (this will start the text installer - if you prefer a graphical installer, select Graphical install):

Choose your language:

Then select your location:

If you've selected an uncommon combination of language and location (like English as the language and Germany as the location, as in my case), the installer might tell you that there is no locale defined for this combination; in this case you have to select the locale manually. I select en_US.UTF-8 here:

Choose a keyboard layout:

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

Enter the hostname. In this example, my system is called server1.example.com, so I enter server1:

Enter your domain name. In this example, this is example.com:

Afterwards, give the root user a password:

Confirm that password to avoid typos:

Create a normal user account, for example the user Administrator with the user name administrator (don't use the user name admin as it is a reserved name on Debian Squeeze):

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By: Per
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I've tried to install Debian Squeeze (6.0) on a Dell PowerEdge 1750 for a day and it failes with Kernel Panicwhen detecting the network.


First I tried to upgrade Lenny to Squeeze, that failed (could make it work by using the old kernel though, by linking the old vmlinuz), then I tried to install it from scratch with no luck.


I've tried both the unsupported version with non-free firmware included and also tried installing by adding it via usb but it failes all the time. Any ideas somebody?


 00:00.0 Host bridge: Broadcom CMIC-LE Host Bridge (GC-LE chipset) (rev 33)
00:00.1 Host bridge: Broadcom CMIC-LE Host Bridge (GC-LE chipset)
00:00.2 Host bridge: Broadcom CMIC-LE Host Bridge (GC-LE chipset)
00:0e:0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc Rage XL (rev 27)
00:0f.0 Host bridge: Broadcom CSB5 South Bridge (rev 93)
00:0f.1 IDE interface: Broadcom CSB5 IDE Controller (rev 93)
00:0f.2 USB interface: Broadcom OSB4/CSB5 OHC1 USB Controller (rev 05)
00:0f.3 ISA bridge: Broadcom CSB5 LPC bridge
00:10.0 Host bridge: Broadcom CIOB-E I/O Bridge with Gigabit Ethernet (rev 12)
00:10.2 Host bridge: Broadcom CIOB-E I/O Bridge with Gigabit Ethernet (rev 12)
00:11.0 Host bridge: Broadcom CIOB-X2 PCI-X I/O Bridge (rev 05)
00:11.2 Host bridge: Broadcom CIOB-X2 PCI-X I/O Bridge (rev 05)
02:00.0 Ethernet controller: Broadcom Corporation NetXtreme BCM5704 Gigabit Ethernet (rev 02)
02:00.1 Ethernet controller: Broadcom Corporation NetXtreme BCM5704 Gigabit Ethernet (rev 02)
04:05.0 SCSI storage controller : LSI Logic / Symbios Logic 53c1030 PCI-X Fusion-MPT Dual Ultra 320 SCSI (rev 07)
04:05.1 SCSI storage controller : LSI Logic / Symbios Logic 53c1030 PCI-X Fusion-MPT Dual Ultra 320 SCSI (rev 07)