Linux MPS: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Features

1. What is Linux MPS?
2. What is the relationship between Linux MPS and 360° Managed Servers?
3. What can I do with a Linux MPS account?
4. What does the data center manage for a Linux MPS customer?
5. What features are included with Linux MPS?
6. What add-ons are available for Linux MPS?
7. Can Linux MPS have more than one IP address and/or SSL certificate?
8. Will any additional IP addresses I purchase be contiguous (sequential)?
9. Can Linux MPS accommodate IPv6 addresses?
10. What are the differences between previous versions of MPS, such as FreeBSD MPS v2, and Linux MPS?
11. What are the benefits offered by Linux MPS data centers?
12. Does the data center backup/restore data for Linux MPS?

Operations

1. Can I use the shutdown and reboot commands?
2. Why can't I log in directly as the root user to Linux MPS?
3. What are the differences between the admin, root, and standard users?
4. Can I install custom applications or use Redhat Package Manager (RPM)?
5. What Does Linux MPS support with its CGI Library?
6. Does Linux MPS support custom Perl modules?
7. Does Linux MPS support a Web interface?
8. What email options are there?
9. Where do subhost sites reside?
10. What connection options are there for Linux MPS?

Features

1. What is Linux MPS?

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   Linux MPS is a dedicated hosting offering which bundles enterprise-level hardware, a highly secure managed hosting platform, and managed services into one powerful server account. Linux MPS options include three sever types: Basic, Pro, and Pro Plus. All three Linux MPS plans include the following features within the base price:
   • Managed services such as triple backup, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, version four operating system (RHEL, v4ES) and core service updates
   • Security patches and updates
   • More than 50 pre-bundled vinstall software packages for your specific server
   • A CPX: Control Panel Web interface designed to make configuring and maintaining your server easier
   • 24/7 System Administration-level support to give you peace of mind while managing your account
   By outsourcing your dedicated hosting with Linux MPS, you eliminate the up-front expense of buying and maintaining hardware that becomes quickly outdated. And with Linux MPS, you also eliminate the recurring costs of server administration, keeping up on possible security threats, conducting data backups, and ensuring connectivity and bandwidth availability. Linux MPS gives you the freedom to concentrate on the success of your business instead of worrying about your infrastructure.

2. What is the relationship between Linux MPS and 360° Managed Servers?

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   Linux MPS is just one of the several offerings inluded in the 360° Managed Servers family. The 360° Managed Servers solution delivers enterprise-class servers and software to power the most intensive applications and content with dedicated bandwidth and processing. To learn more about the different types of offerings of the 360° Managed Servers solution, contact AlpineWeb.

3. What can I do with Linux MPS?

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   You can use your account as a Web server, application server, e-mail server, FTP server, or configure the server however you like. For example, you can configure your server as a database server and store a large amount of data on it which employees with database privileges can access. Since Linux MPS is a dedicated server, you have the flexibility to configure and manage the server to meet your precise needs. Using Linux MPS, you can do just about anything you could normally do if you owned the hardware, but without the hassle of server management or hiring a third party to manage it for you. Enjoy full root access, multiple shell accounts, multiple domain hosting, enhanced security, and the ability to install your own applications.

4. What does the data center manage for a Linux MPS customer?

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   The data center manages the hardware, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, version four operating system (RHEL, v4ES) patches, security updates, along with offering customized kernel level changes designed to make your server more secure and improve the management and usability to your server. This includes security updates and patches to the CPX: Control Panel and the custom installation scripts (or vinstalls). You also receive multi-level backups (instantaneous, daily, and weekly) and we monitor your server for security and reliability.

5. What features are included with Linux MPS?

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   Server Administration
   • Root access to your server
   • Configure multiple Shell user accounts
   • Host unlimited email accounts
   • Access to the Redhat Package Manager (RPM) of applications
   • Install pre-configured applications of your choice through an vinstall command
   • Unlimited anonymous and non-anonymous FTP user accounts
   Web Server
   • Apache 2.2.3 Web Server
   • Dynamic Module Support
   • Full CGI-BIN and log file access
   • Counters, Guest lists, and other pre-configured CGI's
   • Urchin 5 Web analytics tool and other site traffic statistical applications
   • Create and manage multiple podcast channels
   E-mail

   Note: All applications, including those described in this document as unlimited are subject to available server resources and suggested uses for the account.

   • Unlimited Post Office Protocol (POP) and/or Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) user accounts.
   • Email aliases, virtual user table (virtusertable) entries, and autoresponders
   • Squirrelmail and CPX: Control Panel Web-based email applications
   • Majordomo, Mailman, PGP, Procmail, and other email utilities

6. What add-ons are available for Linux MPS?

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   Multiple Domain Hosting
   • Domain Names
   • Virtual subhost support
   E-commerce
   • SSL Web Server encryption
   • ShopSite E-commerce (storefront management with secure transactions and payment processing)
   Web Development Tools
   • Microsoft FrontPage 2002 Server-side Extensions
   • Miva Empresa
   • PHP 5.1.5 is the default version. PHP 3.x and PHP 4.x are also supported.
   • Perl 5.8.7, Python, and TcL scripting languages
   • Java Support
   • CGI Library
   Database Solutions
   • MySQL 3.x
   • MySQL 4.x
   • MySQL 5.0.24 (the default version of MySQL installed when you execute the vinstall)
   • PostgreSQL 7.4.7
   • PostgreSQL 7.4.13
   Multi-Media Applications
   • RealSystem Server Media streaming application
   • Macromedia Flash Support
   • Helix Streaming server
   Web site Traffic Analyzers
   • Urchin 5
   • Analog statistics
   • The Webalizer
   • WebTrends Log Analyzer support
   E-mail Utilities
   • Email Autoreply
   • PGP and GnuPG
   • Majordomo - Mailing List Utility
   • Mailman - Mailing List Utility
   • Procmail - Email Sorting and Filtering Utility
   • Vnews
   • SpamAssassin spam filter
   • ClamAV virus filter
   Groupware
   • CPX: Control Panel - the custom Control Panel - System Administration, Email, User configuration
   • Squirrelmail - Web-Based Email, Calendar

7. Can Linux MPS have more than one IP address and/or SSL certificate?

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   Yes. At this time Linux MPS servers come with a single static IP address and are also able to support additional addresses. Because the default Linux MPS has one IP address, you can only associate one SSL certificate with the standard SSL port (443) for the Web server. You can, however, configure your Web server to use the Apache Listen directive to monitor other ports for SSL requests, and associate other certificates with these different ports. Doing this requires you to indicate the port number in the URL. If you choose to provide multiple certificates on your account, please be aware that this configuration is not supported by our technical support representatives.

8. Will any additional IP addresses I purchase be contiguous (sequential)?

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   Not necessarily. Our provisioning system and ARIN requirements do not allow us to guarantee contiguous IP address blocks. When you purchase additional IP addresses, the next available addresses will automatically be assigned to your account/server.

9. Can Linux MPS accommodate IPv6 addresses?

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   Not at this time. We are currently in development and testing of an IPv6-friendly version of Linux MPS.

10. What are the differences between other versions of MPS, such as FreeBSD MPS, and Linux MPS?

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    Linux MPS is a significant upgrade to previous MPS offerings, such as the FreeBSD MPS v2. Because Linux MPS includes upgrades to the operating system and the file system, almost all programs and services on the server vary technically in some way from other MPS offerings. Accordingly, interaction with frequently used and common elements of the server may change.
    
    However, Linux MPS operating system and file system perform almost identically to previous MPS versions, such as FreeBSD MPS v2. This means your interaction with most wrappers, scripts, services, and programs should not change. For example, your usage of command-line wrappers such as vadduser or vaddhost does not change.
    • Web Server: Linux MPS comes with the Apache Web server version 2.2.3 installed by default. This new version performs faster and executes requests in a more optimized fashion than previous versions. The Apache 2 Web server also provides native support for the increasingly popular IPv6 protocol. For more information, refer to the Overview of new features in Apache 2.0 or the Overview of new features in Apache 2.2.
    • PHP 5.x: PHP (PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor) version 5.1.5 is compiled specifically for Apache 2. PHP 4.4.4, available through a vinstall, is compiled specifically for Apache 1. Attempting to use either version of PHP with a different version of the Apache Web server may cause scripts and programs to function incorrectly. PHP 5.x adds several new extensions and improved support for popular technologies such as XML, SOAP, MySQL, object oriented programming, and others. For more information about changes in PHP 5.x, refer to the PHP 5 ChangeLog.
    • MySQL 5.x: The new operating system of Linux MPS permits the MySQL database server to use native threading, instead of Linux threading as used with previous MPS implementations. MySQL for Linux MPS uses less (sometimes 30 or more) processes than MySQL on other MPS offerings. MySQL 5.0.24 is the default version installed when executing vinstall mysql or vinstall mysql5 from the command line. MySQL 4.1.21 is also available by executing vinstall mysql4.1 from the command line. MySQL 5.x includes many new controls, elements and features, improving performance and functionality. For more information about changes in MySQL 5.x, refer to What's New in MySQL 5.0
    • Vinstall Library: Linux MPS introduces several new vinstalls, such as Tomcat and java_jdk. Old or deprecated programs in the vinstall library are no longer offered. The vinstalls offered for previous MPS versions, such as FreeBSD MPS v2, which are not supported for Linux MPS include the following:
      • cybozu
      • mysql3-oldstyle
      • mysql3
      • mysql4.0
      • perl5.6.1
      • perl5.8.4
      • perl5.8.6
      • postgresql-oldstyle
      • procmail (available for procmail-lda)
    • WordPress: The vinstall for WordPress for Linux MPS installs a current WordPress version, 2.0.4. The vinstall also provides additional command-line options when installing WordPress. To obtain a full list of these options, connect to your server through SSH and execute the following from the command prompt:

      # vinstall wordpress --help

      An example of these new options is you can specify the installation of a language pack for WordPress during the vinstall. For example, the following installs the Japanese language pack:

      # vinstall wordpress --lang=’ja’

11. What are the benefits offered by Linux MPS data centers?

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    Each Linux MPS server resides in a protected data center. Linux MPS utilizes the following power backups: automated battery backups and redundant emergency power generators. Both are provided in our Premier Data Centers. Potentially insecure programs are disabled or removed, and our hacking alert system (Sentinel) immediately notifies system administrators.

12. Does the data center backup/restore data for Linux MPS?

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    We work hard to ensure that your data is backed up and that you can easily access those backups. Data backup services* include:
    • Mirror Backup: On the physical server we provide RAID hardware mirroring disk-to-disk backups. Your master and slave mirrored backups provide real-time, automated backups so your Web content stays live in the event a hard drive fails.
    • Hard Disk Backup: In addition to the dual mirrored drives, each physical server has a hard disk backup that runs every 24 hours. You can access this hard drive backup anytime from your server command line using the getback command.
    • Tape Backup: Approximately each week, we archive tape backups in the data center tape library. There is a $100 fee for data restoration from one of these backup tapes.
    In order to restore files from the backup drive or tape backups, we have created a utility called getback. The getback command can restore a single file, multiple files, and whole directories. To use the getback command you simply type getback file or directory and you will see a list of available backup versions. The first is the on-line version, which is free. The others are from the tape backups and require a fee.

    *ADVISORY: While there is full support for the backup process as a feature/service to our Linux MPS customers, the company does not legally guarantee the backup system with an Service Level Agreement (SLA) at this time.

Operations

1. Can I use the shutdown -r and reboot commands?

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   your account is running a Virtual Kernel. To run the shutdown or reboot commands will effect the shutting down or the rebooting of your virtual kernel and the applications running on it. The shutdown command attempts to cleanly halt and restart services on your account, including execution of the commands in the /etc/rc.shutdown script. The shutdown procedure then kills any processes that do not exit cleanly, and restarts the init process (the init process reads the /usr/local/etc/rc.d directory scripts to start system services and applications). Because you do not have access to the physical machine level, you can not completely halt your account (the -h option for the shutdown command is disabled), but you do have access to stop/start/restart all the services on your server.
   
   The reboot command differs from shutdown because it does not attempt a clean shutdown of your system. Instead, reboot simply kills all running processes and then runs init (which will run the /usr/local/etc/rc.d directory scripts).

2. Why can't I log in directly as the root user to Linux MPS?

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   For security purposes, direct root logins using the username root and the root password are not permitted on your account. Many administrative tasks can be accomplished by logging into Linux MPS account as the administrative user. Once you have logged in as the administrative user, you can then use the su command to become the root user.

3. What is the difference between the administrative, root, and standard users?

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   The main difference between the different classes of users is based on permissions offered to the user. A normal user can only affect the files they own, whereas the administrative user can affect some system files. The administrative user is created at the time you provision your account. The root user has unlimited file and application access, including files owned by other users. Because of the power of the root user, this user does not have FTP or email access and can only access the account through SSH, either directly using an SSH key generated for the root user or indirectly by connecting through shell as the administrative user and then using the su command to become the root user. For your account, SSH is controlled by means of an Extended Internet Daemon (or xinetd) and requests are throttled in order to control Denial of Service (DoS) attacks.

4. Can I install custom applications or use Linux Ports Collection?

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   Linux MPS environment enables you to install and run most Linux compatible software and some LINUX software on your server. This includes the ability to install software from the Redhat Package Manager (RPM), which is available in the /ports directory within your server. See The Redhat Package Manager (RPM) (http://www.rpm.org/) for details about what is available and how to use the Ports Collection.
   
   Many common programs that require additional configuration or special installation steps are available through our vinstall utility, standard with your account.

5. What does Linux MPS support with its CGI Library?

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   Linux MPS CGI Library allows for a vast range of CGI application support.

   SWISH-E

   Build a keyword index of the pages on your site and provide a search form to allow visitors to perform searches of your Web site.

   ht://Dig

   This is a powerful indexing tool for site searches.

   FormMail

   This popular script is an easy way to handle Form content and have it mailed to specified email addresses.

   PGP FormMail

   This script is an easy way to handle Form content and have it mailed to specified email addresses encrypted with your PGP public key.

   Count 2.5 Hit Counter

   Record and display the number of hits to a Web page. This CGI generates a GIF image of the number of hits and returns an in-lined image to the Web Browser.

   Hit Counters

   Dynamically count the number of times a page is accessed and display that count with numeric digits or graphical digits.

   ImageMagick

   Manipulate images quickly and easily. Combine with scripts to interface with images on your Web site.

   Redirect

   Allow visitors to your Web site to jump from location to location using a simple form.

   Comments Form

   Create a form to allow visitors to send you comments or information to a recipient of your choice.

   Guestlist Form

   Create a form to allow clients to sign in and post remarks to a Guestlist.

   Finger

   Provide a form by which your clients can query a remote host for remote user information.

   User Authentication Manager

   Control access to a particular directory on your Web server using htaccess password protection. Administrate users, groups, and access permissions using a Web-based utility.

   Whois

   Perform a query exclusively on the InterNIC database of a domain name ending with any of the international TLD's (which includes the .com and .net top level domains).

   WWWBoard

   A great way to host Threaded Web Discussion forum and message board.

   Wpoison

   - A free tool which can be used to help reduce the problem of bulk junk Email on the Internet.

6. Does Linux MPS support custom Perl Modules?

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   Your account has the CPAN utility installed. On the first use of CPAN, it will ask you to configure where you want to download and obtain certain Perl Module file for installation use. There are several Perl modules already installed for you on your server that pre-installed applications use. To see which Perl modules and packages are installed on your server you can use the pkg_info | grep p5 command. Linux uses the pkg command to keep track of what modules and packages have been installed to the environment. To install a Perl package/module with CPAN, you can use the perl -MCPAN -e shell command to enter the CPAN utility. Once you have entered the CPAN utility, to install a Perl module/package use the commandinstall module/package. To see if CPAN has the available module you want to install, use the i /CGI/ command with in the CPAN utility to list all of the CGI modules.

7. Does Linux MPS support a Web interface?

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   The CPX: Control Panel Web interface provides an intuitive way to administer your account. Many of the day-to-day account management tasks can be performed through CPX: Control Panel. In addition to user and domain management, CPX: Control Panel also offers an enhanced Web-based email interface and mail management modules.
   
   One of the key benefits of CPX: Control Panel is how it enables subhosting. CPX: Control Panel was designed in a tiered model giving you the ability to create domain administrators with end user management control. This allows each subhost and its respective end users the ability to setup and control their own accounts. CPX: Control Panel offers the following features:
   • File Management
   • Webmail
   • User Management
   • Domain Management
   • Mail Management
   • Profile and Preferences
   • Java plug-in SSH terminal

8. What email options are there with Linux MPS?

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   Sendmail, ipop3d, and UW IMAP are used for mail services. You can use Sendmail to send to mailing lists using Mailman or Majordomo. Also available is the autoreply function. The CPX: Control Panel allow you to configure autoreplies easily. Complimented with Sendmail is Spamassassin and ClamAV for email filtering.

9. Where do subhost sites reside?

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   The default location for subhost Web content with Linux MPS is in the content owner's www directory. For example, the content for domain.com administered by the domain administrator user named bob, would reside in the /home/bob/www/domain.com directory (where /home/bob is the home directory of the bob user). This is the easiest way to manage subhosts in a multi-user environment. For more information, see the Linux MPS Users Guide.

10. What connection options are there for Linux MPS?

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    Shell commands offer a powerful tool for managing Linux MPS. Using an SSH (or Telnet) client, you can connect and log in to your account from anywhere in the world as if you were sitting in front it. Included with SSH and Telnet, Linux MPS server offers FTP and SCP access. FTP gives those with access the ability to upload/download files to and from their /home directory on the server. SCP uses SSH to allow users to transfer files to and from the server with an encrypted connection. These connection types can be assigned on a user-by-user basis.

    Note: Although Telnet is supported, for security reasons, it is disabled by default when your account is first provisioned.