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amw2320

Member

Registered: 2005-08-14

Posts: 30

Basic apache setup

I am going to be running a server this summer for a research project and was wondering if someone could help me out with the apache settings.

Currently everything works perfectly.  The server is an old HP notebook running at 700 Mz with 768 mb ram.  Not pretty, but each page is only 7 or 8 kb to serve and I should only have 300 people accessing it to take the survey over a 3 month period.  The survey is run by limesurvey if anyone is familar with it, which is php based and uses mysql.

Since it is a light machine, I feel like I should be setting the maxclients, maxrequests, and maxkeepalive, and probably more that I dont know about.  Research around the web has told me that all of this is pretty variable and I am not going to know untill I put it in the field and check out the server load.  The problem with that is I am going to have enough trouble getting people to take the survey.  If the server goes down or doesn't work, I'll be SOL.

Does anyone have any good ideas on how to test it out and can help me configure apache?

I was also wondering about security.  I have port 80 open for http access and 22 so that I can ssh into the server when needed.  Should I be installing a firewall or doing any other configurations?

I know its a lot, but any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

haxit

Member

From: /home/haxit

Registered: 2008-03-04

Posts: 1,247

Website

Re: Basic apache setup

I suggest changing the SSH port from 22 to something else. Its more secure. It can easily be found with a port sniffer, but for script-kiddies, it will be hard to find Also make sure you read the wiki article on SSH and change to the secure protocol. If you want, you could also setup iptables and that jazzz.

Last edited by haxit (2009-03-19 15:40:07)

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marxav

Member

From: Gatineau, PQ, Canada

Registered: 2006-09-24

Posts: 386

Re: Basic apache setup

Consider denyhosts for ssh.  Consider also logwatch.

amw2320

Member

Registered: 2005-08-14

Posts: 30

Re: Basic apache setup

Perfect, Ill fix the ssh.  Denyhosts looks great.

Anyone have an idea on the apache settings?

marxav

Member

From: Gatineau, PQ, Canada

Registered: 2006-09-24

Posts: 386

Re: Basic apache setup

You might want to look at webalizer too so that you get a feel for the traffic.
It's one thing to have 'good' settings, but it is just as important to look at the logs.

do that too:
ServerSignature Off
ServerTokens Prod