Building a Server with FreeBSD 7

Bryan Hong

The most difficult part of building a server with FreeBSD, the Unix-like operating system, is arguably software installation and configuration. Finding the software is easy enough; getting everything up and running is another thing entirely. The only option for many people has been to hire a consultant.

Building a Server with FreeBSD 7 is for those of us who prefer to build our own server. If you're a small business owner looking for a reliable email server, a curious Windows administrator, or if you just want to put that old computer in the closet to work, you'll learn how to get things up and running quickly. Then, once you have a working system, you can experiment, extend, and customize as you please.

You'll learn how to install FreeBSD, then how to install popular server applications with the ports collection. Each package is treated as an independent module, so you can dip into the book at any point to install just the packages you need, when you need them. The book's modules cover topics like:

• Running common FreeBSD admin commands and tasks
• Managing the FreeBSD ports collection
• Installing third-party apps like Apache, Courier-IMAP, SpamAssassin, CUPS, Cyrus SASL, MediaWiki, and WordPress
• Setting up MySQL, NTP, ISC DHCP, ISC BIND DNS, PHP, OpenLDAP, OpenSSH, OpenSSL, and OpenVPN

Building a Server with FreeBSD 7 will have you up and running fast, with minimum hassle. (Just be sure to send the money you save to the Unemployed Consultant Foundation.)

FreeBSD is regarded as one of the fastest, most stable, and widely supported UNIX-based operating systems available. FreeBSD is used to run servers at powerhouses like Yahoo! This book contains installation guides to some of the most popular and powerful third-party server applications available--rivaling top-notch commercial software.

The Internet has become a valuable resource---it is a communication medium, an entertainment channel, a learning instrument---the list is endless. This virtual world is run by interconnected servers throughout the globe. The operating systems we use everyday on our PCs cater to the general population. Server operating systems, however, are not originally designed to accommodate this demographic. Those of us with a need or desire to setup an Internet server are left with two options:

1. Hire an expensive consultant or
2. Undertake the task ourselves

This book provides a means to the latter. The most difficult aspect of building an Internet server is the initial software installation and configuration. This book was designed to tackle this problem systematically and minimize time spent.

Internet servers are an important business instrument. They store files, serve web pages, relay e-mail; the list goes on. Commercial server software can cost thousands of dollars in licensing fees. Open source software is a cost effective alternative because it's completely free to use, powerful, and well supported.

Download Building a Server with FreeBSD 7