To build a server best way - bad way - good Nuff
 

Friends,

It is my goal to build a server that will serve webpages , php , mysql , ffmpeg and php-ffmpeg.

(I had started with a centOS5.n install and i have that so messed up i am starting over -- I am thinking of ubuntu 9.04 )

My Question is this : I see How-tos where one can build a server...
http://www.howtoforge.com/perfect-se...04-ispconfig-2

where one downloads the software(s) This is considered -best?
and likely it is -- there must be some advantage to 'more work'.

And yet I could build the server as webserver etc etc when i install the distro -- yes?

I think I am going to try the above mentioned How-to...
but what if i tried the 'check the boxes' upon install.

What I am asking for is an insightful pro and con between the 2 methods.
I am not an experienced server builder -- maybe my best chance at success is 'check the boxes' and using synaptic etc -or- doing it bit by bit is so much better it is worth the ...risk?

There is noone 'here' that I can have this conversation with -- i would benefit from any and all learned opinions.

Thanks much!

The best is a pretty subjective term, and can vary system to system and based on need. My suggestion is that if you're looking for the optimum setup for a specific set of tools you use in a specific way you're going to need to learn significantly more about the system before you can perform the setup.

The best in any specific category can be a wide range of applications and programs... ask someone what the best mail server is and you'll imminently see flame war and the same can be said of most applications.

Get a nice clean base system installed and setup the additional applications one at a time documenting and making backups as you go along. If you run into specific issues along the way come here and someone will be glad to help you clear up the issue you're having.

I would build upon the previous post and say it is definitely a good practice with a server to segment off the filesystems that grow rapidly and that are prone to attack. It sounds like this may be for internet use, so take a look for "hardening 'distro'" and you'll find some pages describing the methods to prepare your distro of choice.

Servers of any type can be hardened and made very secure, fast, and useful. Doesn't matter what distro or OS, really. I've even seen Mac Plus webservers :)