UNIX Web Server Administrator's Interactive Workbook [Paperback]

James Mohr (Author)

Book Description

Series: Interactive Workbook (Prentice Hall) | Publication Date: October 30, 1998

Learn Apache, the world's leading Web Server software, hands-on -- and get exclusive access to an up-to-the-minute Web-based training site! This is soup-to-nuts Apache coverage -- all of it hands-on and interactive! Walk through compiling, modifying, installing and configuring Apache, step by step. Learn how to develop and organize your site, implement search and index capabilities, extend HTML with graphics, image maps, frames and tables; and secure your system with firewalls, authentication and SSL. Create forms; run news and mail services; analyze your traffic; use JavaScript and Perl scripting; even implement multiple servers and domains. The accompanying Web site includes a Virtual Study Lounge where you can meet authors and other users; interactive testing modules that offer instant feedback; bonus projects and solutions; updates, new info, feedback areas and more.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Introduction The goal of this book is to give you the basic tools and skills that you need to administer an Internet site. I want to emphasize that this book is far from being complete, which is actually intentional. You can do so much with your Web site and so much information exists, that to cover all of it would be impossible, even if we skipped the exercises. Because the exercises are what this series is all about, we couldn't leave them out. Instead, we had to make a decision about what to include. The first question I asked myself was "What are the problems and other issues that I have encountered when configuring Internet and intranet servers?" Although the target audiences for the information are slightly different, the problems that arise are pretty much the same. In addition, I have found managing the intranet site much easier if it closely matches the Internet site, and vice versa. Another thing I focus on is the aspects that could be used as a foundation for those areas that I didn't cover, because the goal of this book is not to hand-hold you through the configuration. Instead, the goal is to get you thinking. By giving you just enough information to solve the basic tasks and getting you to stretch that knowledge in the exercises, I hope you will be able to go beyond what you learn in this book. Something that many people will find annoying is that in many places, I simply refer you to other sources, such as the man-pages. I do not do so because I am lazy (although I am), but rather I felt that to repeat that information was not necessary. One thing I would like to warn you about is that a number of "trick" questions are spread throughout the exercises. They are not an attempt to really trick you, but to get you thinking. Many times during the configuration, you might think that one answer is correct, but the real correct answer is something else. Such questions are designed to let you know that the correct answer might not always be the logical one. If you look at the title of this book and compare it with the chapters, you will probably ask yourself, with all the different Web servers, why we are going to talk specifically about the Apache server? Three primary reasons for this exist. First, it the most widespread server on the Internet. As of this writing, more than half of all Internet servers are using it. Therefore, if you are called upon to manage an Internet server, odds are that you will be administering an Apache server. The second reason is that even if your server is not running Apache, the basic configuration files are the same as most other servers. Some major differences exist, such as with the Netscape FastTrack Server. However, the basic principles are still the same. Although the steps you take with Netscape are different, the underlying concepts are the same. Using the GUI interface that Netscape provides, you are hidden for the most part from the underlying configuration files. By knowing how functionality is attained with Apache, you have the basic understanding to expand upon what Netscape provides. Finally, the availability of the Apache server is a consideration. The Apache server is freeware and therefore the source code is available. The configuration files and programs provided allow you to compile it for a wide range of systems. Furthermore, pre-compiled binaries exist already for most major UNIX versions, as well as Windows NT and Windows 95. The server is also included in compiled, ready-to-run format with the accompanying copy of Caldera OpenLinux Lite. This means you can jump right in. Although you have a complete Apache server with the Caldera OpenLinux on the CD, they are always making improvements, so you will eventually want to install the latest version. As of this writing, the current version is 1.2.5, although I have installed on my own machine the beta version of 1.3 (Beta 3). Appendix B contains information on obtaining and compiling the source. ABOUT THE WEB COMPANION This book has a companion Web site, located at: phptr/phptrinteractive The Web companion is designed to provide an interactive online environment that will enhance your learning experience. You'll find answers to the Test Your Thinking projects from the book, additional Self-Review Questions to challenge your understanding of chapter discussions, a virtual study lounge in which to mingle with other Interactive Workbook students, and an Author's Corner, where I will provide you with discussion that I think will be of interest to you. Visit the Web site periodically to share and discuss your answers. Acknowledgments Despite the fact that my name is on the cover, this book is not a one-man show. A number of people worked behind the scenes to get this thing off the ground and running smoothly. First, I wish to thank Mark Taub of Prentice Hall, who convinced me to do this project, although I had other things in mind. Uncounted thanks go to Ralph Moore for his encouragement, helpful suggestions, and most importantly, his patience. A great deal of thanks also goes to my technical reviewers Jeff Gitlin, Corinne Gregory, and Micah Brown. Their helpful comments and corrections definitely made this book better. I also wish to thank Patti Guerrieri and the Prentice Hall production staff for working so hard to get this book out in time. Thanks also to Lisa Woo-Bloxberg of Netscape Communications. Not only did she get me a copy of Netscape to work with, but she also helped get me answers to some difficult questions. Still another bunch of thanks go to Laura Kenner of Caldera for getting me a copy of Caldera OpenLinux to play with. Thanks also go to Kirk Waingrow and The Unix Guru's Universe (ugu) It's loaded with information, and is also a good demonstration of what you can do with a Web site without all of the bells and whistles. Last, but certainly not least, thanks to my wonderful wife, Anja, and fantastic sons, Daniel and David. As always, any mistakes are mine. If you find something or would like to comment, please drop me a line: jimmo@jimmo [e-mail] Best Regards, jimmo Untersiemau, 19 August 1998

About the Author

Jim Mohris author of several book s on UNIX, including SCO Companion and Linux User's Resource (Prentice Hall PTR). He is also the Nuthin' but Net columnist for SCO World Magazine.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 624 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall PTR (October 30, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0130200654
• ISBN-13: 978-0130200655
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,808,011 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #83 in Books > Computers & Technology > Operating Systems > Unix > Administration
  • #94 in Books > Computers & Technology > Web Development > Web Servers

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Have Fun Learning Apache on Your Own, April 15, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: UNIX Web Server Administrator's Interactive Workbook (Paperback)

This is an excellent book for someone who wants to learn by doing, as the subtitle suggests. One needs an Apache server to work with, but the book comes with a CD that includes the Apache server. One can experiment with the different modules and try different things. The book is filled with review questions (and answers). A big plus is that it covers more than just Apache. It has stuff on HTML for the HTML non-expert. (It has a whole chapter on frames.) This makes it a great book for beginners.

The book is easy to read, and flows nicely. The coverage of the basics, the fundamentals and the theory of running a real Web server under different circumstances far outweighs the fact the book is a bit outdated. The Apache vesion discussed in the book is not the current version, so there may be a few things that are slightly different with today's Apache server.

I am really glad I bought the book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A nice overview, but not much depth, December 7, 2000

By 

Jason Mcclelland (San Jose, CA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: UNIX Web Server Administrator's Interactive Workbook (Paperback)

First of all, this book should be called, "The Apache on Caldera Linux Web Administrators workbook". The information is heavily geard toward Caldera Linux and Apache, without any hints as to how the differences translate to other versions of Unix.

Second of all, I don't feel that most operations are explained in enought depth to give a webmaster any help. It's a good overview of how someone could set up a basic webserver for their home, but not nearly in depth enough for a professional admin. There's a lot of cross-references to other chapters that make you think a thought is going to be well explained somewhere else, but when you to look at the other chapter, you see no further explanation.

Then there's the random chapters on HTML. These pages should have been used to further delve into admin info, not developer info. If I cared about building webpages, I would have bought HTML in 21 Days. The demo pages used to demo your newly built website should've just come pre-built on the cd. If you don't know anything about webservers or Linux, this is probably the best book you could get. If you are a web admin, then you're better off getting a book on your flavor of Unix, and seperate documentation on your exact webserver.