Server Hosting Tips

Web hosting is a vast subject, and we have covered many areas of the topic over the past year. Here are a few tips to help you keep your server in the best web hosting shape possible.

1. Keep backups of all data, both account storage and databases. If possible, keep the backups on a remote server and schedule regular incremental updates

2. Update the kernel and other software regularly.

3. Use a script installation service to help users install web applications

4. Provide a web-based control panel to help users manage their sites

5. Enforce strong passwords and encourage users to update their passwords regularly

6. Use a monitoring service for the web server, mail server, database server, and any other critical services

7. Maximize disk and memory usage only to the point of ideal performance and do not over exert the server

8. Always announce any changes, updates, reboots, or maintenance, giving users plenty of time adjust.

Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons

Linux server dependencies

Question: What are dependencies in Linux and how do I manage them?

Answer: In any operating system, an program requires other programs, drivers, and libraries of files to run. The program depends on those files, so they are called dependencies. Many commercial vendors will packages the dependencies in the installation files of the software, but this can create duplicates and also leave behind unnecessary clutter when the program is uninstalled.

The Linux method of dealing with dependencies is to let the system administrator decide how to handle them. Therefore, if you try to install a single Linux package, either from source or binary, it will require certain other packages to be already installed and configured. If they are not, the program will not be able to run and usually will not even install.

Package managers such as YUM and APT are therefore critical in a production server environment. These systems automatically find necessary dependencies for packages and install them before installing the package. As a result, your programs install and work immediately without any user intervention.

Photo Source: Flickr

Virtual machine memory allocation

Question: How much memory will I need to run virtual machines on my server?

Answer: There is no simple answer to this question. Generally speaking, to virtualize an operating system you need at least as much RAM as is normally required to run the OS independently. Therefore, if your OS requires 512MB of RAM to run normally, it will require that in virtualization.

It is, however, not quite that simple. Depending on your application needs, server loads, and the amount of data being accessed and transferred, your needs could range from the low (512MB) to the high (4GB) or even beyond that.

Therefore, it is important to know exactly what you need and how much RAM you would normally need to run the applications you are trying to run. Some virtualization software also includes dynamic memory allocation so that you can set a base amount and allow the amount used to expand on an as-needed basis. As with anything that might tax your server’s load, use it wisely.

Photo: Flickr

To X or not to X

Question: Show I run X.org on my Linux-based dedicated server?

Answer: When you are running a dedicated server, especially one with live websites, there is always a lot to learn. From domain name servers (DNS) to mail server configuration, you may find yourself with little time for anything else. One security question that sometimes crops up is whether or not it is beneficial or even safe to run an X-server on top of your Linux operating system.

The first answer to the question is that you probably do not have a reason to run X.org at all. Most servers do not need X.org to operate. Even if you want a GUI interface for your server applications, most are web-based rather than X-based. Furthermore, if you are administering your server remotely, X might not even be practical. There are only two situations where you really might need X: 1. Your server is not only a web server but serves other functions specifically requiring desktop applications, or 2. for some reason, you need to forward X.org applications over SSH.

The next question to answer is whether or not it is secure. The simple answer is that most Linux experts would tell you no and that you should avoid it at all costs. The real risk, however, comes from X11 connection forwarding. This is a built-in component of X.org that allows a user to log into it remotely. It is primarily used for internal networks, and you have no need for it. Disabling that and its ports in your firewall will make X.org more secure, but you still should not use it unless you absolutely need it.

Photo: Flickr

Microsoft acquires Office.com domain

On Thursday Microsoft announced their purchase of Office.com, a domain previously owned by ContactOffice, an online office service. The next version of Microsoft’s office suite, Office 2010, reportedly includes a web-based version. The web-based version will be part of their Windows Live service and will be compatible with browsers other than Internet Explorer, like Safari and Firefox.

Microsoft did not offer the details of the transaction or their plans for the new site; however, ContactOffice released a statement on the site announcing that they were moving to ContactOffice.com.

“As you know from the recent email we sent you, we will be transitioning the operation of your Virtual Office account to ContactOffice.com during the next 30 days,” reads the current message on the site. “As part of this transition, on Monday, June 29, 2009, we changed email addresses in the office.com domain to ones in the contactoffice.com domain.”

Microsoft’s new online version of MS Office is part of the company’s push into cloud computing and is seen as a direct answer to Google Docs, which offers competitive office applications in a web-based environment. Many people users refer to Microsoft Office simply as Office. Therefore, it makes sense for them to acquire Office.com, which they hope will become the online standard, just as it is currently the desktop standard.

Source: ZDNet Asia
Photo: Flickr

What to look for in a Linux server

If you have decided to move your company’s web sites to a dedicated server, there is a good chance that you have chosen a Linux-based operating system to run on it. Linux, a free and open source alternative to proprietary operating systems such as Microsoft Windows or variants of UNIX, comes in many flavors, called distributions. Not all Linux distributions are alike, and not all of them are optimized for servers. Here are some tips for choosing one that is right for you.

1. Compatibility

If your server will come with Linux installed, then you do not have to worry about this one. If, however, you are setting up and managing the server yourself, you will need to make sure that the hardware is compatible. Some distributions, such as Redhat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), tend to use older kernel versions for stability purposes, but if your hardware is relatively new, you might need a more recent version to work with your hardware.

2. Cost

This consideration covers not only the price of purchase but the cost of support and updates. For established companies with the money to invest, RHEL or Novell SuSE offer enterprise solutions. License fees and support come at a premium cost, but you will have that added comfort knowing that you are covered by whatever guarantees the vendors offer you. If you are running a smaller upstart business, a free distribution such as CentOS, Debian, or Ubuntu might better suit you.

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