Welcome, and thank you for using Mandrake Linux! This on-line manual is aimed at those of you who wish to use their Mandrake Linux system as a server. This book is divided into 3 parts:
Common Services Configuration Wizards is an introduction to the Mandrake Linux-specific server wizards, which will help you configure different servers such as DNS, SMTP, web, and FTP. Then we tackle the configuration of masquerading clients.
Chapter 1 is an in-depth look at the different services you can configure with your Mandrake Linux box through the Mandrake Control Center. After you are finished with this chapter, you should be able to configure and fine-tune services such as DHCP, DNS or Postfix.
Next, Chapter 2 covers the configuration of masqueraded clients through a Mandrake Linux box, allowing to work in interconnected networks using many platforms such as Microsoft DOS, Windows 9x and Windows NT, Novell Netware, SCO OpenServer and Solaris. In order for this chapter to be useful, you need a well configured LAN since we focus on the gateway, not on DNS or connection problems.
In-Depth Configuration of Common Services explores the different Webmin modules which will help you to configure the available services:
Chapter 3 discusses the Apache server;
Chapter 4 explains how to configure a Postfix server to send e-mails through the SMTP protocol;
The POP and IMAP protocols used to retrieve mail are explored in Chapter 5;
In Chapter 6, we focus on the Samba and NFS protocols to share files in a multiple platform environment, and a GNU/Linux-only network, respectively. The usage of WU-FTP is also detailed;
Next, Chapter 7 explores solely the configuration of a MySQL database server: creating, modifying and managing data in tables;
Chapter 8 discusses remote-user management, and explains the configuration of both the server and client side of NIS;
Chapter 9 expose the DNS's strong points, detailing BIND as a name server.
In Applied Theory we discuss two topics: security and networking.
Chapter 10 is based on a HOWTO by and . It gives many pointers to system administrators on how to better secure their networks. With security being one of the main focuses of our Internet-driven world, this is a mandatory reading.
At last, Chapter 11 is based on a HOWTO by (aka POET) and gives many resources to sort out your networking needs. It pinpoints GNU/Linux-compatible hardware and explains fundamental networking services such as DHCP, DNS, and more.