Re: [cobalt-users] Advice for a beginner

[Carrie Bartkowiak <ravencarrie@xxxxxxxx>]

On Thu, 17 Jan 2002 01:36:23 -0800 (PST), tim king mumbled something 
like:
>I've just started to look after a Raq4 server
<snip>
>I need to find a decent explanation of this process that answers
>questions like: Can I install PHP4 over the top of PHP3 or do I need
>to un-install first?

PHP4 is already installed on the RaQ4 by default.

>How do I edit the php.ini file to enable mySQL support?

It is already enabled to support MySQL. All you have to do is load 
the MySQL .pkg of your choosing.


>In the longer term I want to know how important it is to get the
>software up to date on the server?
>I've found some updates but I'm not sure they aren't to new without
>the older ones first.

It is VERY important and should be done BEFORE you worry about MySQL. 
Updates are put out for something serious - such as a vulnerability 
in the operating system or software that can be hacked.
You don't want your machine hacked, believe me.

First things first. Install the SSH package you'll find on the same 
site where you got the MySQL package. Install the SSH and go into the 
Control Panel and disable telnet.
If the server hasn't been updated in so long that it tells you in 
order to install SSH it has to have a newer version of RPM, then go 
to the Cobalt/Sun support site and start at the bottom of the page. 
Install every single package that is on there, in order, from the 
bottom until you have installed the one that updates RPM.
Then install SSH and disable Telnet.
Now go back to that upgrade page and *completely finish* installing 
*every* package you find there, from where you left off to the top.

Then and only then, after many reboots, should you even think about 
dressing up the server with fancy things like MySQL.

>I've been looking at this list for a while and I haven't found
>anything this basic - I hope this is the right place to ask. I've
>also had a good look on the SUN Cobalt site.

You might want to look for a post in the archives from me about 
installing PortSentry, LogCheck, IPChains, TripWire, etc. etc. etc. 
to add further useful things to your machine (like Whois) and help 
secure it even more.
A search along the lines of "portsentry logcheck tripwire carrieb" 
should get you that post.

--
CarrieB