Web servers

Question: How do I tell Apache to log user agent information? Answer: Normally, Apache logs information about site visitors to /var/logs/httpd/ and uses files like access_log, error_log, etc. While it does give some information about the users, it does not include user agent information by default. User agent information looks …

Question: Is there a way to hide the version of Apache running on my server? Answer: Yes, there certainly is, and there is a good reason to do so. While the version of Apache running on your server might be inconsequential to the average, it could be ammunition in the …

In the past, we explained how to deny access to a file or directory with the allow/deny Apache server directive. There are, however, two other ways to do it that may be more to your liking. The allow/deny directive displays the 403 Forbidden page or whatever you have in its …

Allowing access to any type of scripting on your web server opens the door for security problems. You never know when an attacker might randomly (or purposely) select your server as a target. Any running scripts have the potential for exploitation. PHP is no exception, and taking steps to secure …

If you have ever worked for a corporation or used IT services at a university, you have undoubtedly been prompted at one time to change your password. It is annoying and seems like a waste of time, but it is important. Running a web server that gives all or some …

Question: What are the differences between running PHP as an Apache module and running it as a CGI binary on a Linux server? Answer: One of the biggest differences between a PHP Apache module and a PHP CGI binary is that the Apache module is just that: a module of …

Question: What is DNSBL and should I care about it? Answer: DNSBL stands for DNS Block List or Blacklist. Essentially, it is a published list of ipp addresses that are in some way connected to spam. Although the most common form of DNSBL is a list of actually servers and/or …

Yesterday, we learned how to create m3u playlists to stream your mp3 files over your server ondemand. Anytime users open the playlists, the mp3 files will be played for them. But what if you want to skip this step and have the media play directly from the website? It will …

Yesterday, we learned about two radio streaming servers available for Linux: Shoutcast and Icecast. Today, you will learn how to install and setup a Shoutcast server. In this example, you will create a special user to run Shoutcast, rather than having it run as root, which is a security risk. …

Setting up a radio broadcast requires two main components: 1. server-side streaming software and 2. some type of streaming software on your local computer that sends streaming music through the server. There are many popular audio streaming solutions, but two of the most common free solutions are Shoutcast and Icecast. …