Server Tutorials

Telnet remains a useful, albeit insecure, way to troubleshoot Linux-powered servers.

Data aficionados constantly on the lookout for better ways to display charts and graphs will appreciate CairoPlot, Python-based plotting software pretty enough to impress even the most jaded Mac user.

There are many options for online collaboration, but WebDAV remains a useful and straightforward way to share files. Software support at both the server and client ends sweetens the deal further.

If you're short on cash but looking for a server to test operating systems and virtual environments or a flexible machine capable of being quickly reconfigured for testing purposes, consider building your own. Here's how.

If you need to manage multiple sessions in the same terminal, consider Tmux, a handy "terminal multiplexer." This week, we take a look at its basic usage and configuration.

If you want the advantages of a local messaging server as well as those of cloud computing, it may be time to consider coexistence.

The less versatile of the two main high availability technologies in Windows Server 2008 R2, Network Load Balancing offers functionality that cannot be easily facilitated through other native OS means. This article examines its features and how to deploy it.

Need to run multiple sessions in the same terminal but aren't fond of screen? Consider tmux, open source software that offers Emacs and vi-style keybindings.

Mutts can be lovable companions, but they still must be trained. The same is true of the Mutt mail client. Out of the proverbial box it's a powerful mail client, but that's nothing compared to what you can do with a well-trained Mutt.

If Sudo is part of your toolkit, and it should be, it's time to upgrade and start taking advantage of the new features in this latest version.

Not everyone is comfortable with a command-line interface. If you're writing scripts for users who prefer to work from a GUI, check out Zenity, a GNOME utility that provides simple GUI dialogs from a shell script.

Making a break from Microsoft Exchange? The groupware suite Open-Xchange looks good from a licensing and cost perspective, but how does it stack up from an end-user perspective?

Want a quick and easy way to write to system logs? Check out logger, an shell utility that works with syslog. Don't let its ease of use cause you to overlook its value.

Tomato Router is one way to bypass expensive equipment to give users secure remote access or connect offices. Learn how to configure the VPN server and clients as well as how to best test it out.

Need a quick and dirty replacement for Sendmail or Postfix? Running Mutt and don't want to set up a full-blown MTA? Consider msmtp, a lightweight SMTP client with a Sendmail-compatible interface.

Having a working email system in place is key to the lifeblood of most system administrators. Those looking beyond Outlook will find much to like in Mutt, particularly OfflineIMAP, whose functionality is exactly as its name implies.

Building a VPN? Tomato Router is one way to bypass expensive equipment to give users secure remote access or connect offices.

Coming up with good passwords is never easy. Enter Pwgen, a utility that generates random (but pronounceable) passwords.

Initially developed to limit resource usage in the Linux kernel, cgroups can do much more than that. Unfortunately, as handy as they are, cgroups are neither straightforward nor user friendly. Scaling the learning curve to set up and manage them is well worth it, however. These basic tips will get you started.