Apache Web Server Admin

Course description

This course provides a foundation for setting up UNIX based World Wide Web servers. Various servers including NCSA, CERN, and Apache are examined. Particular emphasis is placed on Apache, which is currently the most robust and widely used web server in the world. Detailed guidelines on building, installing, and configuring the server are presented.

Logistics

Prerequisites

Mandatory

TCP/IP networking

1. what protocols do and how they work
2. how data is moved through a network
3. how to set up a network connection
4. Common user programs for remote login, file transfer, and electronic mail
5. how to configure a machine to use the major network services, including PPP, SLIP and Sendmail. Network security will also be discussed.
   PREREQUISITES: UNIX Introduction or equivalent experience

   Unix introduction

6. ability to use a text editor
7. navigate in unix
8. minimal job control
9. shells
10. very light scripting
11. manipulate environment
12. redirection and pipes
    PREREQUISITES: General computer literacy and familiarity with the keyboard

    Highly Recommended

    Unix administration

13. basic job control
14. basic shell scripting
15. simple cron jobs
16. basic compiling with makefiles
17. using tarballs: tar and zip
    PREREQUISITES: Unix introduction
18. 12 months experience on the net, as a curious user
19. HTML / web page design - word processing, markup, links, colors, graphic display.
    Requirements: Intro to the Internet

Teaching Environment

Interaction: I request and encourage student participation, questions, and farfetched guessing in the classroom. If your input is topical we'll integrate it into our class; if it's not topical I'll point you to resources so you can pursue your interest independently.

Watch for the Big Ideas: Big ideas, patterns, attitudes and methods, are more important than details (which are sure to change daily). I suggest you rely on reference works rather than try to memorize anything. Only rarely will I ask you to memorize anything.

Mistakes: if you're not making mistakes you're probably not far out enough on that particular limb. S-t-r-e-t-c-h!
Dare to share your mistakes, broken scripts, and haywire output with the rest of us; a class learns fastest when they can troubleshoot the most common mistakes. We benefit from the experience of others:

"Bernard of Chartres used to say that we are like dwarfs on the shoulders of giants, so that we can see more than they and things at a greater distance, not by virtue of any sharpness of sight on our part, or any physical distinction, but because we are carried high and raised up by their giant size." Metalogicon. John of Salisbury.

Physical environment: the temperature of the unix lab varies wildly. I advise dressing very lightly for the usual extreme heat and bringing layers (sweater, windbreaker, etc) in case it is very cold.

Break Periods: Because of the rapid pace of the classes and the huge amount of information to integrate, I usually offer the class a 5-min break each hour rather than longer breaks every two. Please return on time so we may keep on schedule.

Please turn your phones and pagers to the silent mode.

Homework: I assign a short reading assignment for the next class period. This work should take a very short time, 20 minutes or less. The assignment will enhance your understanding up the upcoming session. I want you to get good value for your time and money investment.

Contact Information

© 1994-2002 jason carr.
distributed under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.

jason carr

Reminders

• Classroom temperature can be wildly variable. Dress lightly and bring layers.
• your username is based on the class title and the last two digits of your workstation's hostname.
• remember to take your work with you.