[wplug] Setting up a server using just console tools

[Vanco, Donald]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Procario, Michael [mailto:Michael.Procario at science.doe.gov] 
> Sent: Friday, April 04, 2003 5:59 PM
> To: 'wplug at wplug.org'
> Subject: [wplug] Setting up a server using just console tools
> 
> 
> 
> My father-in-law bought a new machine recently and gave me 
> his 300 MHz K6-2
> to do with as I please. I decided to make it a family server. We have
> multiple machines in the house but somebody always needs a 
> file that is on
> the already occupied machine. A server looks like the best solution. 
> 
> I installed Redhat 7.3 since I had it sitting around. I chose 
> to not install
> X, since I will not need X and it only has 64 MB of memory. 
> All went well in
> the install, and when asked for a security level, I chose 
> medium. This setup
> firewall rules for ipchains. I hate to see what high security 
> is. As far as
> I can tell the only packets it was letting through were the 
> DHCP packets. It
> did have an IP address after I rebooted. 
> 
> I will need ssh to connect to the box and manage it after I 
> take its monitor
> away, so I needed to open port 22. I started reading man 
> pages and they were
> pretty opaque. I got the HOWTO and that was much clearer. In 
> the end it took
> one command using ipchains to let ssh through and one to save 
> the change. I
> still need to work on getting smb and nmb through so it can 
> actually act as
> a server, but that does not look so hard. 
> 
> You really feel like you have learned something after you do 
> it command line
> style.  I look forward to attacking it again tonight.

	Depending on how you managed the install (clicking package groups
-vs- carefully selecting what to install/not install) RH7.3 can be pretty
bloated.  Look into the (archives for the) 'service" and "chkonfig" commands
- these have been covered heavily here and at my local log - CLUG.

	Aboot the most handy thing I can suggest is to look at the output
of:
chkconfig --list | grep 3:on
	...and determine if you need all of those services running.  Note
that RH does have a "service" structure for ipchains / iptables.

	IIRC RH passes SSH under the "medium" setting, but that the service
might not be on when install ("chkconfig --list sshd" and "service sshd
status" will tell you)

	If this is an "internal" system there's really no need for a
firewall.  There's no harm in learning ipchains, but your time would likely
be better spent upgrading to and learning iptables.

	Your machine isn't a powerhouse, but it's certainly capable of doing
file & print.  I'm of the opinion that running even a trimmed X will be a
stretch for a K6-2/300, but even TWM and an X-term will give you enough of a
framework to run the GUI apps to config the system and play Mahjongg.  

Don