Re: [cobalt-users] A few questions!

[Kris Dahl <krislists@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> 1. As you will know there is a limit of 225 sites per IP
> base, IE max 225 sites on one IP. In reality however how
> many sites do you suggest there should be on a RAQ3 with
> the following spec: 64MB RAM, 10GB HDD (with RAID). I'd
> like to host around 100 sites (domains) on the RAQ, so
> would I need more RAM or would 64MB be sufficent?

Get as much memory as you can afford.  This is the best way to improve your
load ability and performance.  I would go with 256, If I were in your
position.

> 2. I'd like to offer a personal DNS service to customers.
> E.g.- ns.domain.com. Is this possible through the RAQ
> control panel (I suspect not) or is possible to do it
> in Apache. I have no experience of Linux or Apache. Plus,
> is anything required to be done on the domain registrar
> side. E.g.- Network Solutions.

Well, I suppose it wouldn't be that hard to build an interface that lets
them manage their own zone files, but they can't come crying to you if the
muck it up.  This currently can not be done from the Cobalt GUI.  Apache is
just the webserver, and wouldn't be applicable to this problem.

Actually, I guess I am confused.  Do you want them to just be able to have
their own named ns server? or manage their dns records?  If the former, all
you have to do is add a couple of A records to the dns file.

> 4. On the email side I will have to relay email from many
> different ISP's, so is there an easy way to do this
> without being subceptable to spamming? I know that
> accepting all email from .com etc. is not recommended,
> but is it possible?

You can use POP before SMTP.  But I would suggest getting your clients to
either A) setup their own SMTP server or B) use their isp's like they are
supposed to.  Both will also have significant perceived performance
advantages to the client.

> 6. Are there any good graphical statistics programs
> available? My understanding is that the RAQ doesn't
> keep seperate log files, so is there a way round this?

The Raq does keep separate log files for each domain.  It has built in log
analysis (not real in depth).  I would look at getting Analog, Webalizer, or
WebTrends (expensive, but really nice).

> Thanks for your help. I'm on a VERY steep learning curve at
> the moment and I appreciate this resource.

Good luck.

-k