PHP / MySQL / Server advice needed

[crystalb24]

I have been given the task of setting up a dedicated server to manage the web based database application I am currently beginning to develop, and since I've never taken on a project of this size before, I could really use some advice to help me from looking stupid.

Currently all I have is a basic desktop PC, I need to make all decisions on software, hardware, etc for this project. So far, here is what I have :

MySQL 4.0
MySQL Cluster
MaxDB
MySQL Admin
MySQL Control Center
Zend Studio Plus
Macromedia Dreamweaver and Flash
HP ProLiant ML350 G4 Server
Windows 2000 Server

Ideally I would like to be able to run the server with Linux and I'm going to try and convince my boss that this is a better, more secure option, but I need to know if I am missing anything else, or if there is something else that anyone would recommend.

[Steven.Bentley]

It's difficult to say what you'll need without knowing the scope of the project, but linux is a good option.

As an aside - I recently managed (dunno how I managed it) to persuade my boss that replacing our intranet linux server (which I didn't really know how to run - the guy who built it left two years ago) with a Mac which is nice and easy to administer :)

[crystalb24]

Yeah, I would much prefer to work on a MAC, but I'm handling this project for a rather large company stuck on the idea of conformity (if 1 person is on a PC, we all are).

What I'm mostly concerned with is that I've never had the task of setting up a dedicated server from nothing before and after being here for 6 days they are ready to let me spend thousands and thousands of dollars to get everything I need in place to get this application up and running. I just don't want to screw this up. Software-wise I'm fairly secure in my knowledge but I'm not a hardware person so that's where I'm having a little doubt and uncertainty.

[Ned Seagoon]

Hi Crystal

Do your developmental work on whatever machine you are comfortable with.

But make your server a LAMP machine. Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP. Any of the distributions will do what you wish. I've recently set one up using RedHat 9.

All that is necessary is to select what the machine is to be used for during installation, in your case it's webserver. Don't install any desktop or GUI funcionality. The one that I have runs without a monitor, keyboard or mouse attached, these are not needed once it's running.

A few configeration files need to be set, ie apache.conf to make it work and there is plenty of info on the web on how to do this.

To administer it, I SSH into it over the internet.

Some suppliers eg Dell will sell you the hardware with Redhat preinstalled, if you like. BF

[MishY]

Use Redhat Enterprise for a mission critical server.

How many simultaneous users ? That is the biggest defining factor. You will need a LOT of users to justify a cluster.