Setting up a web server

I was wondering if anyone could tell me the steps neccessary in setting up a web server to host a website?

 

you are going to want to take a look at 'LAMP' (Linux Apache MySQL PHP)

 

Alright, I am using Ubuntu to do it in. How do you install the .gz file of apache to the system?

 

alright, I got the server set up and have a website already made, but how do I put it on? How do I get the website to come up when the domain name has been put into the address bar?

 

If you are using Ubuntu, then you don't want to be installing things by downloading them from websites...

to install apache, open a shell and type

Code:

sudo apt-get install apache2

'sudo' means run as root (the most powerful account) so it will ask you for your password when you do this.

apache will look for pages to serve in the /var/www directory, put your files in there

 

alright cool that works, what about mysql and php?

 

Code:

sudo apt-get install mysql-server-5.0
sudo apt-get install php5

will install mysql & php, i would recommend phpmyadmin to manage your mysql databases

Code:

sudo apt-get install phpmyadmin

You can search for and install packages very easily with apt, use this to find a package

Code:

apt-cache search <what you want, ie apache>

and install it with

Code:

sudo apt-get install <package name>

i would recomend that you take a look at this guide: The Perfect Server - Ubuntu Hardy Heron (Ubuntu 8.04 LTS Server) | HowtoForge - Linux Howtos and Tutorials

[OT]
do not install php / mysql if you don't need them....
[/OT]

 

Don't forget to keep your system up to date! It's moderately important on a desktop, but it's paramount on a server. Also, here's a few articles to help you achieve good security on your webserver:

How NOT to Configure Your Linux Server Pt.1 - anti-trend.homelinux.org
How NOT to Configure Your Linux Server Pt.2 - anti-trend.homelinux.org
Hardening SSH - anti-trend.homelinux.org

 

Also give us the ip and root password of your box so we can log in and make sure you set it up right=)