VBadvanced and Linux

[hallenrm]

I am planning to run a forum (with CMS) using vBadvanced, however I am totally ignorant about Linux and Server management. Can somebody tell me whether it is advisable to do so, what are the possible pitfalls and where can I get any help?

 

[Killean]

Running vBulletin and vBadvanced on Linux is of course your choice. It only needs PHP/MySQL, and both are available for Linux and Windows servers. For most hosting packages, everything on the linux/windows machine will be monitored for you. You only need to worry about keeping your directory clean or how your site should be designed etc... On a dedicated server, well, I would highly suggest you pay for tech support. You will need it eventually, and you feel much safer with it in the end.

 

Help for the vBulletin products can be found on their sites. For linux help, you can always get help from man files, books, online tutorials, or forums (like here).

[Southtown]

...however I am totally ignorant about Linux and Server management.

If you want to learn linux, play with Gentoo. Alexander said the same to me, and he was right. You need a cd burner, broadband to download it (initially and everytime you update/add/remove packages) and of course to host the server yourself if that's what you're planning to do, and a computer that you can live without for awhile. After you get intimately familiar with linux, then you can start learning servers and security. You really don't want to take the easy path into linux because when (not if) things go wrong, you'll want to know how to fix them yourself.

 

Gentoo Linux Documentation -- Gentoo Handbook

Gentoo Linux Documentation -- Gentoo Linux x86 Handbook (printable: hint, hint)

 

Also some hypothreads:

 

http://hypography.com/forums/computer-science/5907-home-web-server.html

http://hypography.com/forums/computer-science/9608-less-than-linux-basics.html

http://hypography.com/forums/computer-science/4210-linux-distro-poll.html

http://hypography.com/forums/computer-science/5954-kubuntu-network-woes.html

http://hypography.com/forums/computer-science/5170-linux-wifi-cd-rom-woes.html

 

Some stuff recommended to me:

 

...a list of decent tuts for newbies

tuXfiles - Linux command line tutorials for newbies

 

beginner's bash tutorial

The Linux Terminal - a Beginners' Bash | Malta Linux User Group...

And once you take the plunge, expect to have to seek specific answers to some things in forums... LOTS of reading.

[Tormod]

I recommend getting a shared host for your forum, hallernm. We have a dedicated server for Hypography over at Vivio Technologies and they have very decent shared plans. They will help you out with just about anything when it comes to server management, and you can concentrate on building your forum. Plus we'll help you out here if you need help.

[hallenrm]

Thanks a lot Tormod for your offer, I have everything to thank for for the wonderful experience I have gained in the past one year on Hypography. It has been indeed an unforgettable experience. I have already started a forum for the DU science community using phpBB, but I miss many good features of vBulletein there. But, it is free hosting and software. So, at present I plan to move it to a paid hosting server.

 

I'll move slowly and steadily, but I think I can always count on the friends here for helpful advise :hyper: