Web Server
 

I am planning on setting up a web server to host multiple web sites (multiple domains)...does anyone know any good resources (web/books/etc.) on how to go about doing so?

Are you going to colocate? or will it be in your house? What server software will you use? Linux? Windows?

It is going to be in one location...will probably go with Linux...

I was hoping to get some opinions on which would be better...

Go with Linux + Apache... That's what I'm running... :D

If you download the Apache documentation, there's a whole chapter (in-depth discussion) about Virtual Hosts (name based, IP based). You can get the docs from here.

Any more questions --> just shoot... ;)

Thanks peacy...what distro do you reccommend?

My other questions include: (these are probably answered in the docs you reccommend but...
1) Can I run several domains from one machine?
2) Do I have to have separate IP's for each domain?

Thanks for your help again and I will get to reading...

Never mind...that was quick. I think I got my questions answered just by reading a few lines...

I hereby second a linux/unix os with
Apache 1.3
Perl Version 5.x
PHP Version 4.3~

No need to use a windows server unless you plan on constantly monitoring it for breakins, exploits, and general bugs (exspecially w/windows apache)

I'm using RedHat 8.0 (kernel 2.4.20-18) with Apache 2.0.40.
But if you're new to Linux than basically any distro... Debian, RedHat...

I have been messing with this for a few days and haven't made much progress with Linux. What are the disadvantages, if any, of installing Apache on say, Windows 2000 Server (aside from all the patches, problems of m$, etc.)? Are there things you can't do on a Windows box as opposed to a Linux box? Any help is greatly appreciated...

There's a bunch of Linux newbie threads around here... but try Mandrake or RedHat if you're beginning.

A Linux box is much more manageable (especially remote management). More secure. (More cheaper... ;))

Try RedHat. They made a really good effort to create a GUI for all the configurable subsystems (httpd, dhcpd, named, etc.). And if you can afford it, buy this book: "Mastering Red Hat Linux 9" (ISBN 078214179X). The best RedHat book I've seen so far...

If you are trying to run a server as a host, I would recommend running one of 2 hosting software. Ensim or Plesk, both of these 2 softwares are web hosting automation softaware. They will give you most of the common tools needed to successfully run and monitor a hosting environment. I use Ensim, but I have used both. They have their pros and cons, so do the homework and use the one you like best. This software also comes with the most common environments you could ever want (ex: PHP, Apache, Tomcat, Web Mail, etc...)

Check it out, it is worth a look....I love it...

Everyone is welcome to PM me if they need more information...

Also there is Covalent Fast Start, It is another extreemly easy to use automation setup for webserving/hosting on your own box.

Worked rather good in a window enviroment.

Search for LAMPs (Linux Apache Mysql Php) installation tutorials.