Server issues.. help if you can~

[}L-L{-Луна Кишко]

ok, let me just start by saying this, i've never setup a server before, however, im good with both command line and terminal, sorta.. im new to terminal, but i understand most of it, anyways, the system im using is an old pc i was going to junk, but couldnt bring myself to do, so instead i chose to make a personal server from it, currently it has a fresh install of linux ubuntu 9.4 server edition, apache2 has been installed on it as well, but thats it, i know how to edit the configuration file, but the problem is, whenever i log into the server locally, i type edit /etc/apache2/apache2.conf     (the exact command specified by the instructions) then it tells me i cant edit the file, i dont have permission O.o" ok so my next option was login as root, the classic sudo su, ok so even as root i still have no permission to edit the file O.o" weird? anyways, if anyone can help me out here i'd really love to get my server online and start working on my website X.X;; 

ps. if it helps, i also have a laptop running linux ubuntu 9.4 home edition, just thought that might help somehow ._. like for remote login or something later on... anyways, help if you can please~

[reaper]

the directory is probably owned by another user, and you have to change the permissions on the file so root can access it.

you could add the root user, then set "any any any" permissions on the file with "chmod 777" or "su" to the user who owns the file.

It's probably a good idea to run each public service as it's own user, and give that user minimal access. So if someone owns your Apache web server, they can't easily own the whole system.

[quadz]

whenever i log into the server locally, i type edit /etc/apache2/apache2.conf     (the exact command specified by the instructions) then it tells me i cant edit the file, i dont have permission  ok so my next option was login as root, the classic sudo su, ok so even as root i still have no permission to edit the file

What does the following command output on your system:

  ls -ld   /etc/apache2   /etc/apache2/apache2.conf

Should be something (similar) to this:

  drwxr-xr-x 8 root root  4096 2009-05-06 23:02 /etc/apache2
  -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 24557 2009-05-06 23:02 /etc/apache2/apache2.conf


Regards,

[QwazyWabbit]

NEVER EVER chmod any apache files to 777 for any reason.
This is insecure and may leave you with a compromised server. Never toy with chmod without knowing exactly what you are doing and why. You can open files up, forgetting what their access rights were when you started and end up with a mess that only a wipe and reinstall can fix. The access rights of Apache config files have been chosen over time with great care by people who have learned the hard way how to set them. Don't mess with it unless you know more than the guys who created and maintain it.


As far as root is concerned root can access ANYTHING, that's why it's called root. You NEVER have to chmod anything so root can access it, root already accesses it and can see anything on the system because the root account acts as the system on all things.

Another place to look for the apache files is /etc/httpd/

If the server is running, http://localhost should get you the intro page and it will indicate where apache is located.

[reaper]

Is edit a text editor?  You should be able to write all files as root.  The sticky bit has some weird effects, but root should still be able to do whatever.

Try without the "sudo su" and enable the root user, then you should be able to edit the configuration file without a text editor. 

As for permissions that shouldn't matter much at all if it's a single user system, imo.  Keep apache updated, and take care of any problems that might arise with cgi, and don't allow execution where you can write.  Besides you can always fix the permissions later and apache is probably already running as the www-data user.

[}L-L{-Луна Кишко]

um... before switching to the server edition i used the desktop edition, the files were automatically downloaded and stored to /etc/apache2/     shouldnt they download to the same directory in the server edition? its still ubuntu, the only notable difference i can see is that the extra programs and such werent installed and there is no gui, it all runs on a terminal ._.
i couldnt get "permissions" to edit files or even move them on the desktop edition, even when logged in as root... thats why i switched to the server edition, though now im getting the same problems.. x.x;;; sorry like i said im a noob at servers..... the pc has nothing but a fresh install of ubuntu 9.4 server edition and the downloaded apache2 install... just tell me what to type once the system has booted up and i login X.X;;

[}L-L{-Луна Кишко]

whenever i log into the server locally, i type edit /etc/apache2/apache2.conf     (the exact command specified by the instructions) then it tells me i cant edit the file, i dont have permission  ok so my next option was login as root, the classic sudo su, ok so even as root i still have no permission to edit the file

What does the following command output on your system:

  ls -ld   /etc/apache2   /etc/apache2/apache2.conf

Should be something (similar) to this:

  drwxr-xr-x 8 root root  4096 2009-05-06 23:02 /etc/apache2
  -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 24557 2009-05-06 23:02 /etc/apache2/apache2.conf

the same, except 8 is 7, and 24557 is 10104

so whats that mean? (sorry again, im sorta a noob at this x.x)

[QwazyWabbit]

Ubuntu server doesn't install a GUI by default. You will have to reconfigure to get one.

sudo aptitude

"edit" is not a text editor for editing the config files and you are also getting "unknown mime-type" when you try to use it. This is significant information you left out. I think you mistook the statement "edit /etc/apache2/apache2.conf" to mean type "edit ...." and this was not what was intended. They are telling you to edit the file, the choice of editors is yours.

Try using one of the installed text editors like vi to edit the file, it worked for me on Ubuntu 9 server.

Type: vi     
to
Type: vi /etc/apache2/apache2.conf

I leave it to you to choose your editor or learn vi commands.

I had to sudo su to get write access to the file from a user account. Normal users should not be able to access the web configuration so this behavior is correct.

[yahoo]

if you wanna have a easier option you may want to try SME server. Its based on RH..Its a distro with many features such as webserver, file , firewall, email DNS etc. you name it. Its scalable and got tons of pluggins too.

[}L-L{-Луна Кишко]

ok, i got to the editing and such, but i need to ask something... will i have to sign up for and pay for a domain name, or can i just use the server ip to allow those who know its ip to connect to it? its going to be a sort of private server o-o;;  also, i chose to use vi, so far i've managed to edit things the way i need to, but still a few complications i can work out later... any tips are welcome at this point

[QwazyWabbit]

You probably have a dynamic IP address. There are several free and easy dynamic dns solutions available. http://www.dyndns.com/ is one of them.

[}L-L{-Луна Кишко]

that one was already recomended to me, but it couldnt find my server x.x;; it says i need to set my router to give the server a static ip, but my router cant do that without changing it for everything... and if i disable dhcp or whatever like it said, that would cut off my laptop my xbox and everything.. so i sorta cant do that x.x

[yahoo]

dude you need to do some ip/port forwarding in your router i think.

[QwazyWabbit]

Most routers have a specific range of DHCP addresses they will assign. Like 50 thru 100 or 100 thru 200. The rest won't be touched by the router. Setting your server's IP to an IP outside the router's dynamic group will allow you to set it statically. Once the server is static inside the LAN you can set port forwarding in the router and direct the incoming game port to that host.

What brand router do you have? You need to read up on port forwarding and firewall control for your router.