Webmin

In order to setup a LAMP cluster we usually need a way to share the master server uid/gid with other else member servers, for whatever NFS shared home directory, or running Apache2 + PHP5 in suexec style. Using LDAP + Webmin can simplify this Single-Sign-On (SSO) need in a handy way.

This HOWTO will guide you though installation of Webmin and OpenLDAP server, then use it as SSO between 2 server with nss-pam-ldapd. First of all let's fouce on making it works, and then enhence it with better security.

Virtualmin is a powerful and flexible web hosting control panel for Linux and UNIX systems based on the well-known Open Source web-based systems management GUI, Webmin. By using Virtualmin we can simply create a virtual hosting environment for Drupal development/hosting within few clicks, including both Linux user account, Apache virtualhost, MySQL database, PHP5 in FCGI, FTP access, and even more.

This HOWTO will guide you though the Virtualmin installation on top of Ubuntu 12.04, then demonstrate the virtual hosting functionality by installing a Drupal 7.x website.

Before start I will assume you have a clean Ubuntu Server 12.04 installed with minimal packages requirement. It is strongly recommend to install Virtualmin for a new host, as it will modify a lot of default settings; from the other point of view, don't install Virtualmin on top of an online production that already well configured ;-)

Virtualmin is a powerful and flexible web hosting control panel for Linux and UNIX systems based on the well-known Open Source web-based systems management GUI, Webmin. By using Virtualmin we can simply create a virtual hosting environment for Drupal development/hosting within few clicks, including both Linux user account, Apache virtualhost, MySQL database, PHP5 in FCGI, FTP access, and even more.

This HOWTO will guide you though the Virtualmin installation on top of Debian Squeeze, then demonstrate the virtual hosting functionality by installing a Drupal 7.x website.

Before start I will assume you have a clean Debian Squeeze installed with minimal packages requirement. It is strongly recommend to install Virtualmin for a new host, as it will modify a lot of default settings; from the other point of view, don't install Virtualmin on top of an online production that already well configured ;-)

AWstats is a good replacement of Analog and Webalizer: it provide a good interface, and can analyze different type of log files, including HTTP, FTP and SMTP. It is not too difficult to setup under Debian etch, but need some tricky skill. On the other, AWstats provide an official Webmin module. So may we make use of both Webmin and AWstats, for a handy configuration and management? This mini-HOWTO will cover the required step for installing AWstats and its Webmin module, also a simple example for how to make use all of this.

Webmin and Usermin are handy administration interface for system administrator, which cover a lot of daily duty for system administration, e.g. apache, bind9, dhcpd, webalizer, cron jobs, logrotate, etc. Some people don't suggest to use Webmin or Usermin due to security concern, but I seems it as a short cut for a newbie become professional. BTW, Debian etch no longer coming with official support of webmin/usermin package according to many reason (http://wiki.debian.org/Webmin?highlight=%28webmin%29), but the most important point is lack of package maintainer (http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=343897). So you will not find webmin and usermin under both stable, testing and even unstable. Is the story end? Not yet! Official webmin/usermin website also provide debian package, which are most up-to-date! This mini-HOWTO will cover the required step for installing such 3rd party package into Debian etch.