Linux

This is my absolutely first contact with Linux. I am setting up a new website and need to install a software - actually "only" run a pre-packaged linux installer. Istruction is only a few sentences long so it must be simple but I have no idea where to start. Your guidance and assistance much appreciated. I want to learn but have no idea where to start. Here are the details:


1. Task - install software on a subdomain (ie. m1.mysite.com, already created; Why subdomain? I need to create 4 instances of the software as a load balancing/ failover measure, ie on m1, m2, m3, and m4 subdomains)

2. Instructions for instalation (in full):

How to Install FGS

FGS Base


1. Download the self-extracting file to your local directory.
For example:

$ wget MapTools Download: /dl/fgs/releases/1.0/1.0.0/self-installers
fgs-mapserver_5.0.2-fgs_1.0.0-linux-i386.bin

Run it with:

$ sh fgs-mapserver_5.0.2-fgs_1.0.0-linux-i386.bin

2. Press <ENTER> to begin the installer

3. Enter the path to where you want to install

*note that pressing <ENTER> will accept the default path displayed
*your path will become $FGS_HOME for the purpose of this doc
*extraction process will then begin

4. Specify the TCP Port that you want to use

*note that if you are installing this as a regular user Port 80
and any port under 1024 are restricted to root access

5. Install complete

6. To test your installation of MapServer/GMap, in a browser goto

http://yourserverort/cgi-bin/mapserv/

*you should see the following message displayed:
"No query information to decode. QUERY_STRING is set, but empty".

7. For more up-to-date information please see the README.txt in your FGS distribution.


Questions:
a) I undestand that install has to be run from some sort of console? Where to find it? How to run it? I have only cpanel access (no control over server). How to check which version of linux I have?

b) What should be the path?

c) TCP port - the site is already peconfigured to run on apache but the package has it's own version included. How to determine port(s) not to conflict with existing install?

d) Are there potential issues with getting the software running from a subdomain? eg. cgi, access to databases, cron jobs etc?

e) If something goes wrong, how to delete the lot?

Thank you in advance!

Arek

The version of linux can be thought of as (1) the kernel, and (2) the distribution. For (1), use "uname -a". For (2) you can typically get the answer with "cat /etc/issue".

The command must be run as root (using the root user) from any command line.

Usually something like "/usr/local" or "/opt/fgs/". But for your first time around, put it in a "tmp" directory, like this:

Code:

mkdir /var/tmp/fgs
<run install program>
<provide /var/tmp/fgs for path>

You can run the following command to get a list of used ports:

Code:

netstat -anp |awk '$6 == "LISTEN" { print $4 }' |sed 's/.*://'

Note, the key command is the first one (netstat). The rest filter the output to give you the nice list.

From a systems perspective, not really. Any cron jobs you write need to use the relevant path for each sub-domain. From a security perspective, yeah there are issues, but nothing specific to it being a sub-domain.

If you create the /var/tmp/fgs as I suggest for step (b), you can just do:

Code:

rm -rf /var/tmp/fgs

Thanks! That's very comprehensive. I'll try as soon as I get access to a command line tool. I have overlooked this option in cpanel:

"SSH/Shell Access
Shell Login

For security reasons, shell access is not enabled by default. In order to activate shell access on your account, you will need to fax or mail a copy of your driver's license, passport or other photo id to customer service...."

Much appreciated!
Arek