Ubuntu Server for Small Business, eBook and Book

The situation of a school or a small or very small business where the desire to save money without sacrificing security or efficiency is a primary need, is the perfect environment for solutions based on GNU Linux, an operating system very widespread and with proven efficiency, security and scalability. With this powerful guide you learn how to use Ubuntu 10.04 LTS Server Edition to create and administer an powerful, modern and complete system suitable to school and to small and very small business.

This book in also available on Italian language .

Formats

Contents

Another guide on Ubuntu Server? No, the existing books tend to be good guides from the theoretical point of view, but highly generic and vague about how after to do things.
This is above all a practical guide that solve real needs, is the result of my personal experience over the years by creating "real" installations.
The definitive guide? No, obviously not, but a good starting point for those who want to start a profession like Linux Systems Administrator.

But we see the table of contents:

Chapter 1 – Getting Started
Before you begin it is necessary to prepare the machine and understand the conventions used in this guide. In this book is not described the basic installation of Ubuntu Server. Reading this chapter we will understand what are the minimum requirements needed to use this guide.

Chapter 2 – The SUDO command
Overview on the functioning and the purpose of the sudo command, why it was adopted and strengths and weaknesses compared to the traditional model with root and su.

Chapter 3 – SSH Server
Secure Shell service is required for installation and management of servers and workstations remotely.

Chapter 4 – LDAP Server
The LDAP server is the hub of all services offered in this guide. It shall be the depositary of user accounts, and all services will support it for authentication. Necessary to obtain a Single Signon, and to have a single database for users and passwords.
In this chapter we will see both how to create a standalone LDAP server using OpenLDAP, and how to use an important external and commercial service like Microsoft Active Directory.

Chapter 5 – DNS & DHCP Server
A simple Caching DNS and DHCP service to provide IP resolution to the PC of our network. This service is indispensable. Two solution will be shown, the simplest one is dnsmasq and the most diffused coupled is Bind & DHCPD.

Chapter 6 – Firewall Server
Security is important. Here we will learn to configure our server so that it controls traffic between our private network and Internet.
It is indispensable for many other services and absolutely impossible to ignore.

Chapter 7 – LAMP Server
In order to provide special services (e.g. Web Mail) we must have a web server with PHP and database support (LAMP). In this chapter we will learn how to install a simple but functional one for our purposes.

Chapter 8 – File Server
This is one of the most important parts and one of the main reasons why a server is installed in the company. Here we will configure a full authentication to OpenLDAP and Active Directory. We see also how to solve some issues and specific cases that may arise when implementing such solutions.

Chapter 9 – Mail Server
Here we will learn how to make SMTP, POP3, IMAP and Webmail service to fit our network with a modern e-mail service with antispam and antivirus filters.

Chapters 10 – Proxy Server
Learn how to control web browsing is important. In this chapter we will create a proxy caching service in order to speed up browsing, complete with integrated user authentication with Samba / LDAP and Active Directory, control over the visited websites and automatically configuration of the browser with WPAD feature.

Chapter 11 – Time Server
A simple service to synchronize date and time on the whole network, taken from Internet.

Chapter 12 – Snapshot Backup
Saving our data is important. Here we will see and understand how to achieve a modern, fast and efficient backup solution using only software tools already included in the operating system with cheap and common USB hard disks.

Chapter 13 – Instant Messaging Server
Chat services are very popular on the Internet and are becoming important even within a company. In this chapter we will see two alternative solutions about how to implement a private chat server integrated with OpenLDAP or Active Directory.

Chapter 14 – Fax Server
Many people think that the fax is an antiquated tool of communication but in practice this is not true. On Small Business this service is still used very much and we cannot ignore it.

Chapter 15 – VPN Server
In this chapter we will learn how to configure a basic VPN service to allow external users to access securely through a secure connection to our services from a remote location via Internet.

Chapter 16 – Conclusions
Credits and links to official sites of the software used.

Stefano Giro