Building GeodSoft's Web Site

Discusses the issues dealt with while building mirrored web sites on Linux, Windows NT, and OpenBSD at the same time. In August, 2001, the NT server was abandoned and in February, 2002, a FreeBSD mirror web site set up. The issues discussed are most relevant to sites selecting a web server platform or considering a platform change.

• Current Site Overview
• Server Selection
• Perl and CGI: NT vs. Linux vs. BSD
• More NT Quirks and Problems
• Linux Gnome Aside
• Implementing Site Searching on GeodSoft.com
• Problems With Open Source Systems
• Index Server Problem Update
• Reinstalling Red Hat 6.2 Linux
• Microsoft Management Console Loses IIS Data
• Switching IP Addresses is a Pain
• Cheap Backup Solutions
• Yet More NT Problems
• Site Synchronization Script
• OpenBSD Documentation Problem
• Linux / UNIX / Open Source Beats Windows
• More Microsoft Management Console Problems
• Incompatibilities With Non Windows OSs
• Windows NT Installs, Backup and Recovery
• New NT Anomalies and UNIX Comparisons
• NT Server Down, Won't Be Fixed
• Migrating a Red Hat 6.2 Web Server to 7.2
• Installing FreeBSD as a Web Server

Introduction

This section discusses the actual process of building the GeodSoft.com web site with an emphasis on the administrative and implementation issues caused by multiple operating systems. Pros and cons and problems specific to one or another of the platforms are often the subject. It is intended as a case study. The choices that were faced, the decisions made with the reasons why, and the mechanical processes including the tools used are discussed. Most sections were written immediately after the issues under discussion were decided on or while the features being discussed were being implemented.

This section focus the difference between the Linux, Windows NT and OpenBSD servers. For a discussion of the design and organizational issues that were common across all three sites see Designing GeodSoft.com. Except for the initial Overview the order of the pages is chronological as the issues were encountered.

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Copyright © 2000 - 2006 by George Shaffer. This material may be distributed only subject to the terms and conditions set forth on http://GeodSoft.com/terms.htm. These terms are subject to change. Distribution is subject to the then current terms, or at the choice of the distributor, those defined in a verifiably dated printout or electronic copy of http://GeodSoft.com/terms.htm at the time of the distribution. Distribution of substantively modified versions of GeodSoft content is prohibited without the explicit permission of George Shaffer. Distribution of the work or derivatives of the work, in whole or in part, for commercial purposes is prohibited unless prior permission is obtained from George Shaffer. Distribution in accordance with these terms, for private, unrestricted and uncompensated public access, non profit, or internal company use is allowed.