Linux and Coldfusion MX MidMichigan Coldfusion Users Group

Linux and Coldfusion MX Mid-Michigan Coldfusion User’s Group, Nov. 2002

What is Linux? Linux is a UNIX style operating system n Best Suited as a Server platform n Very good multi-threading capabilities n Many good ‘free’ servers and components available. n Many different distributions available, such as S. u. S. E. , Red Hat, Gentoo, Slackware. n

What Linux is not a traditional workstation platform. n Linux does not have a common support base. n Linux is no more secure than Windows based machines n

Arguments n Linux has as lesser TCO than Windows based machines. ¨ This can be true or false, depending on the knowledge base of your IT Staff n All server related activities are better done under Linux. ¨ Like Coldfusion, Linux is not the single solution for every problem. Windows is best as a Desktop server.

Arguments Linux can be quicker under many different circumstances. n Linux typically handles high load better than Windows. n Linux is cheaper, if not free. n Better security n Better customizability. n Better compatibility. n

Linux Basics

The Linux theory System Hardware Command Shell Linux Kernel Services X-Windows User Window Manager Unlike Microsoft Windows, any of these components can be easily replaced.

By simply replacing your Window Manager, you can change the look of your Linux Install

X-Windows The major “GUI” for most UNIX based systems. n Very confusing to install, but one of the most useful tools. n ¨ Many you. n Distributions automatically set it up for Makes running Linux much easier for non. UNIX gurus.

Window Managers interface between the “X-Windows” system, and you. n Very many available, but KDE, GNOME, Afterstep, FVM/FVM 95 are the most popular. n Makes Linux look pretty for you. n

File System Basics Somewhat similar to Windows, with a few exceptions n There are no “drives”. Everything is based from the “Root” of your file system. n UNIX and Linux is CASE SENSITIVE. “Cat”, “cat” and “CAT” are different files. n Spaces, and other non-alpha-numeric characters can be used, but are VERY hard to work with. n

File System Basics n / (root) /etc n /home /opt/coldfusion n /usr/local/httpd/htdocs/ /etc/ = Configuration files /home/ = Home directories for most users /opt/ = where large commercial applications are installed (Coldfusion) /usr/ = where smaller applications are installed

File System Basics n / (root) /etc /home n /opt All files are referred from the root : /usr/local/httpd/htdocs/index. cfm /opt/coldfusion /usr Files do not necessarily have to have a three letter extension. /usr/local /home/quetwo/myfile_one /usr/local/httpd/htdocs/ /home/quetwo/myfile_two. tar. gz /home/quetwo/myfile. stable. out

Users Under Linux, there is only ONE administrator. All others have minimal access. n User : root (a. k. a. su, super user) n By default, root can only login using the console (sitting at the physical computer). FTP, Telnet, SSH, etc. are usually disabled for this user. n

Users When you install Linux, create a secondary user. n Don’t always login as root. BIG security risk. Only login as root to install applications, change settings, or to create additional users. n Root has access to blow away your entire system, including other partitions, all in one command! n

Permissions Unlike Windows, users have almost no permissions to the system. n Users, by default have full access to their home directory (/home/username), read access to the binary (application) directories, and no access to other user’s directories n root is the only user to have access to the full file system. n

Running Linux n Free, but I would suggest buying a boxed set ¨ Manuals, n and everything already on CDROM You will probably want a secondary machine to play around with. ¨ Any Pentium based machine will suffice ¨ 2 GB of HD Space, 64 MB RAM ¨ CDROM

Running Linux n VMware Workstation ¨ Run Linux within Windows NT, 2000, XP ¨ Virtual Machine – Let Linux play within it’s own sandbox ¨ Costly, but good to stage deployment of software or applications – cheaper than a new computer