Munin configuration and testing on Debian
This article continues the installation and setup of munin on a single slice. It explains how to determine or change the URL used to access munin's reports and then check to make sure those reports are viewable and being updated.
Installing munin on Debian
Anticipating problems and resource shortages on a slice can be more valuable than fixing them after they've happened. A monitoring tool like munin lets you watch your slice's resource use over time. The graphs will highlight issues before they cause downtime or bandwidth quota overages.
Barebones apache install for Debian
This article describes how to install an apache web server on Debian with no extras. It's intended only for users who are experienced administrators or who just want a basic web server install with no details on including modules like PHP or customizing apache for their site.
Debian Lenny - Nginx Virtual Hosts #2
The previous Debian Lenny Nginx Virtual Hosts article introduced the basics of the setting up virtual hosts.
This allowed us to serve multiple domains from a single IP address and Slice. Now we can look in detail at more of the settings available to us in the Virtual Host files.
Debian Lenny - Nginx Virtual Hosts #1
Now we have Nginx installed (whether via the package manager or from source) and are in a position to serve multiple domains using Virtual Hosts.
Do note the layout used in this article is explained here — feel free to use the directories of your choice.
Debian Lenny - Nginx configuration
Whether you have installed Nginx using the package manager or from source, you will need to look at the main configuration file and see what may need changing and optimizing.
Although I'll make some suggestions, the aim is not to change a great deal at this point. Rather, we will look at the main settings, see what they mean and what a change will actually do.
Debian Lenny - Nginx from source layout
Following from the main installing Nginx from source and creating an init script articles we can now move onto looking at the Nginx layout.
The idea of this article is to change the default layout to one more in keeping with the 'Debian' style. Installing Nginx via the package manager creates this layout automatically — we need to do it by hand.
Debian Lenny - adding an Nginx init script
If you decided to install Nginx via source (see the previous article) you would have the latest and greatest version.
However, one disadvantage of installing from source is that init scripts are not created. No problem - let's go ahead and create one for easy control of Nginx and to ensure that it restarts on a reboot.
Debian Lenny - Installing Nginx from source
Nginx is a popular lightweight server for those who do not need the bulk and extra services that Apache may offer.
This article will look at installing Nginx from source on a Debian Lenny Slice.
Debian Lenny - Installing Nginx via aptitude
Nginx is a popular lightweight server for those who do not need the bulk and extra services that Apache may offer.
This article will look at installing Nginx on a Debian Lenny Slice using the 'aptitude' package manager.
Debian Lenny - using passenger to serve your applications with Apache
Following from the first article, we now have passenger (mod_rails) installed.
As such, we can move on and create a Ruby on Rails application and see how easy it is to serve using passenger.
Debian Lenny - Installing Passenger with Apache
Phusion's Passenger (mod_rails) is an exciting development in serving your Ruby on Rails application with the Apache web server.
Incredibly simple to install and use, you can have a rails application up and running in no time. You don't even have to worry about ports or setting up a proxy to another server.
Debian Lenny - Apache Virtual Hosts #2
Following on from the first Debian Lenny - Apache Virtual Hosts article, we can now look in detail at some of the settings available to us in the Virtual Hosts file.
This will enable us to have complete control of the domain we want to serve.
Debian Lenny - Apache Virtual Hosts #1
Now we have Apache installed and running, we can configure it to serve multiple domains using Virtual Hosts.
Do note the layout used in these articles is explained here - feel free to use the directories of your choice.
Debian Lenny - Apache configuration #2
Continuing from the first Debian Lenny Apache configuration article, we'll now look at some of the other settings in the main apache2.conf file and what they can do.
Concentrating on efficiency and security, this will end our apache2.conf journey (for now.)
Debian Lenny - Apache configuration #1
As we know from the previous article, Debian Lenny uses a different layout from other non-Debian based systems - let's move on and take a look at the main apache2.conf and ports.conf.
We're not actually going to change a lot at this point, just look at the main settings and see what they mean and what a change will actually do.
Debian Lenny - Apache config layout
Debian Lenny uses a different Apache layout than you may have encountered if you have used Apache with non-Debian based Operating Systems.
The differences are not huge and, indeed, help in configuring and deploying websites.
Debian Lenny - Installing MySQL (with Rails and PHP options)
We've already covered how to install MySQL on Debian Lenny, but now we need to prepare our Rails or PHP installations to make use of it.
In this article we will look at what other packages are needed for MySQL to integrate with Ruby on Rails and with a standard PHP install.
Debian Lenny - Ruby on Rails
In the Debian Lenny setup articles (page 1 and page 2) we secured, updated and personalized the install and we should be ready to add some working software.
We also installed the build-essential package. Now we can go ahead and install Ruby on Rails.
Debian Lenny - installing Apache2 and PHP5
At the time of writing, Debian Lenny comes with Apache v.2.2.9-10 and PHP v.5.2.6 and they are easily installed via the default Debian Package Manager 'aptitude'.
The advantage of using aptitude is that you will get any security updates from Debian (if and when distributed) and dependencies are automatically taken care of.
Debian Lenny - Installing MySQL
Installing MySQL on Debian Lenny is very simple using the 'aptitude' package manager.
This article will go through the install process and you will have a database server up and running in no time.
Debian Lenny setup - page 2
Continuing from page 1 of the Debian Lenny setup, we'll now configure the terminal to be more useful and readable and create some aliases so we don't repeat entering long commands.
Then we can configure the locale(s) and go ahead and update Debian to the latest secure software ready for the 'working' software such as web servers and so on.
Debian Lenny setup - page 1
These Debian articles will take you from a 'barebones' Debian Lenny Slice to a secured and up to date Slice ready for your server software (or whatever you use the Slice for).
Not only that, you will have a better understanding of what is going on and, more importantly, why it's going on.
Debian Etch - adding an nginx init script
In the previous article we installed nginx from source. However, installing from source does not create an init script.
Let's create such a script so we can easily start, stop and restart nginx and, perhaps more importantly, ensure it automatically starts on a reboot.
Debian Etch - installing nginx
nginx is a popular server for those who do not need the bulk and extra services that Apache may offer.
Unfortunately, Debian Etch comes with rather an old version (0.4.13). As such, let's look at installing the latest stable version of nginx from source.
Debian Etch - mongrel clusters and surviving a reboot
Proxying requests to a mongrel cluster is one of the ways of serving your Ruby on Rails web application with Debian Etch.
Let's look at creating a cluster and configuring it to survive and restart after a reboot.
Debian Etch - Apache Vhosts, rails and mongrels
One of the ways of serving a Ruby on Rails application is to use Apache to proxy requests to mongrels.
There are a few ways of completing this and we're going to look at one simple solution. Other ways will be looked at in future articles.
Debian Etch - Apache, SSL and vhosts
Securing connections to your website are vital when entering passwords or entering administration areas.
This article will take you through creating a self-signed certificate and configuring your virtual host to use https (port 443) connections.
Debian Etch - Apache Virtual Hosts #2
The previous Debian Apache Virtual Hosts article introduced the basics of the setting up virtual hosts.
This enabled us to serve multiple websites from a single IP address and Slice. Let's look at some of the settings available to us in the Virtual Hosts files and introduce some new ones.
Debian Etch - Apache Virtual Hosts
Now we have Apache installed and running, let's configure it to serve two different domains using Virtual Hosts.
Do note the layout used in these articles is explained here - feel free to use the directories of your choice.
Debian Etch - Apache configuration #2
Continuing from the first Apache configuration article, we'll now look at some of the other settings in the main apache2.conf file and what they can do.
Concentrating on efficiency and security, this will end our apache2.conf journey (for now).
Debian Etch - Apache configuration #1
Let's take a look at the main apache2.conf and ports.conf for our Debian install.
We're not actually going to change a lot at this point, just look at the main settings and see what they mean and what a change will actually do.
Debian Etch - Apache config layout
Installation of Apache on Debian is relatively easy. Where some confusion arises is the layout Debian uses for configuration of Apache (and Apache configuration in general).
However, the Debian layout is not massively different from a 'classic' layout but enough to warrant an introduction.
Debian Etch - installing Apache and PHP5
Debian Etch comes with Apache v.2.2.3 and PHP v.5.2.0. Although neither of these are the absolutely latest packages they do contain the changes that web administrators generally want, such as Apache's mod_proxy module.
The advantage of using packages is that you will get any security updates from Debian (if and when distributed) and dependencies are easily taken care of.
Debian Etch - MySQL and RoR
Previously we secured, updated and personalised our Debian Etch install ready for some action (see Debian Etch page 1 and page 2) .
Now we can install MySQL and Ruby on Rails with subversion and Postfix support.
Debian Etch setup - page 2
Continuing from page 1 of the Debian Etch setup, we'll now configure the terminal to be more useful and readable and create some aliases so we don't repeat entering long commands.
Then we can configure the locale(s) and go ahead and update Debian to the latest secure software ready for the 'working' software such as web servers and so on.
Debian Etch setup - page 1
These Debian articles will take you from a 'barebones' Debian Etch Slice to a secured and up to date Slice ready for your server software (or whatever you use the Slice for).
Not only that, you will have a better understanding of what is going on and, more importantly, why it's going on.