The Virtual Server Handbook Unlocking the Power of the Virtual Server System Mail: 12635 Heming Ln Bowie, MD 20716-1118 USA Web: http://www.gsp.com Phone: 1.866.477.4400 Fax: 1.202.684.8654 E-mail: [email protected] COPYRIGHT 1995-2002 MYNAMESERVERS, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. VERSION 4.1 GSP Virtual Server Handbook www.gsp.com Table of Contents Table of Contents......................................................................................................... i Document Conventions............................................................................................... x Getting Started in 13 Easy Steps................................................................................. 1 Step 1: Review Your E-mail Configuration Letter .............................................. 2 E-mail Configuration Letter Details ............................................................. 2 Step 2: Become Familiar with Resources Available to Assist You ..................... 4 GSP Service’s Web site ................................................................................ 4 Home Page (http://www.gsp.com) ........................................................ 4 Contact Us .................................................................................................... 5 Customer Service................................................................................... 5 Technical Support.................................................................................. 5 Suggestions............................................................................................ 6 Step 3: Register or Transfer Your Domain Name................................................ 7 Registering a New Domain Name ................................................................ 7 Transferring an Existing Domain Name ....................................................... 7 Step 4: Choose a Telnet Client Or an SSH Client To Administer Your Virtual Server Remotely .................................................................................................. 8 Telnet............................................................................................................ 8 SSH (Secure Shell) ....................................................................................... 8 Step 5: Connect to Your Virtual Server ............................................................... 9 Step 6: Learn about UNIX ................................................................................. 10 Step 7: Install a Graphical User Interface (Optional)......................................... 11 Step 8: Choose an FTP Client for File Transfers ............................................... 12 Step 9: Upload Content to Your Virtual Server ................................................. 13 Most Common Methods ............................................................................. 13 Alternate Method........................................................................................ 15 Step 10: Create E-mail and FTP User Directories: ............................................ 16 Creating User Directories with iManager ................................................... 16 Creating User Directories with vadduser ............................................... 16 If You Are Subhosting................................................................................ 18 Printed on recycled paper i GSP Virtual Server Handbook www.gsp.com Step 11: Configure Your E-mail Client as POP or IMAP.................................. 20 Step 12: Analyze Your Web site Statistics ........................................................ 22 Analyzing Logs........................................................................................... 22 Client Side Application ....................................................................... 22 Server Side Applications ..................................................................... 22 Managing Logs ........................................................................................... 23 Archiving logs ..................................................................................... 23 Deleting logs........................................................................................ 23 Step 13: Go Beyond the Basics.......................................................................... 24 For More Information ........................................................................................ 25 Virtual Server Information.......................................................................... 25 Chapter 1 - Introduction to the Virtual Server .......................................................... 27 The Virtual Server System vs. Your Own Solution........................................... 28 The "Do-it-Yourself" Approach ................................................................. 28 The Dedicated Server Solution............................................................ 29 The ISP Approach....................................................................................... 29 The GSP Services Approach....................................................................... 30 The Virtual Server Solution................................................................. 30 Building Your Own Internet Business................................................. 30 How the Virtual Server System Works.............................................................. 31 Virtual Servers vs. Virtual Hosting............................................................. 31 Virtual Hosting .................................................................................... 31 Virtual Servers..................................................................................... 32 Technical Details of the Virtual Server ...................................................... 32 Virtual Server Core Internet Services ................................................................ 35 The Virtual Server HTTP (Web) Service ................................................... 35 The Virtual Server FTP Service.................................................................. 36 The Virtual Server E-mail Services ............................................................ 36 The Virtual Server POP Service.......................................................... 36 The Virtual Server IMAP Service ....................................................... 37 The Virtual Server SMTP Service....................................................... 37 The Virtual Server Administrator (More Than a Webmaster)........................... 38 Administering Servers Remotely....................................................................... 39 Telnet & SSH.............................................................................................. 40 Connecting to Your Virtual Server with SSH (Secure Shell).............. 40 Connecting to Your Virtual Server with SecureCRT .......................... 41 FTP ............................................................................................................. 42 ii Printed on recycled paper GSP Virtual Server Handbook www.gsp.com Console FTP Commands..................................................................... 43 Connecting to Your Virtual Server with WS_FTP.............................. 44 Navigating Your Virtual Server with WS_FTP................................... 45 Windows File Share.................................................................................... 46 GUI Administration Tools.......................................................................... 47 The Virtual Server Directory Structure.............................................................. 48 The UNIX File System ............................................................................... 48 Basic UNIX Navigation Commands ................................................... 49 Directories and Files................................................................................... 50 Description of Directories ................................................................... 50 Directories Outside of the Virtual Server ............................................ 51 File Ownership and Permissions................................................................. 52 Defining Output................................................................................... 52 File Mode ............................................................................................ 52 Basic UNIX Commands .................................................................................... 54 Editing Files Online.................................................................................... 56 Using vi to Edit.................................................................................. 56 Using Pico to Edit ............................................................................. 57 For More Information ........................................................................................ 58 Virtual Server Information.......................................................................... 58 Chapter 2 - Managing your Virtual Server with iManager ....................................... 59 iManager............................................................................................................ 60 Getting Started............................................................................................ 61 Running iManager .....................................................................................