| Setting up a Debian server: A practical example of setting up a Linux server | ||
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We want to have as clean a system as possible to install on, we only want to install as little as possible to begin with. Just enough, so that we can log on to the system, and later install needed packages.
We therefore install only the absolute minimum to get the system up and running. We will later install additional packages that I think is needed.
Get hold of a Debian CD #1. In my case I use a Debian NonUS verison of CD1 - I do this because I live outside the US...
Boot from the CD and follow the instructions. A minimumn knowledge of Linux installations is needed at this point if You wish to install successfully. If this is the first time You are installing a Debian, You might want to go real slow and read the instructions carefully.
You will be asked to initialize Your disks during this process, it is a good idea to have the layout of Your disks planned at this time.
We will later add specialized user authentication, You should at this point make the first deviation from good practices, and NOT add any normal users to Your system. This will be done later.
As we only want a basic system, You should break off further installation when You are asked to select packages/tasks.
After You have finished the basic installation, You should now be able to access hosts on the internet. This means that Your network should be configured correctly, otherwise the next steps will fail.
Any installation from a static media, such as a CD-Rom is bound to be a bit out of date. We want to make sure that we have the newest packages and security patches on our system.
apt-get update apt-get dist-upgrade |
Voila... If You configured Your network correctly, and has an internet connection, Your system should now be reasonably up-to-date.
To remove a package, we use the command apt-get --purge remove <package>. The --purge part of the command ensures that everything from a package really IS gone, and is not just lingering around on our hard disks.
The packages I want to remove are:
apt-get --purge remove at apt-get --purge remove tasksel apt-get --purge remove ipchains apt-get --purge remove ppp apt-get --purge remove nano |
We add packages to the system with the command apt-get install <package>.
The minimal system we installed did not include a lot of tools I like to have present on my systems. I won't install all of the tools at this time, since that would be to exhaustive, but for me, it is almost impossible to use a system without the following:
apt-get install ssh apt-get install vim apt-get install vim-perl apt-get install zip apt-get install unzip apt-get install bzip2 apt-get install wget apt-get install finger apt-get install less apt-get install make apt-get install sudo apt-get install mc apt-get install hdparm apt-get install ncftp apt-get install ftp apt-get install host apt-get install lsof apt-get install openssl apt-get install gcc |
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