🖥️ Linux Server Setup & Services Guide

This site provides step-by-step installation and configuration guides for essential Linux server components.

📡 Network Services

NNTP (Usenet Server)

Overview of NNTP (e.g. INN, Leafnode)
Installation and configuration on Debian/Ubuntu and CentOS/RHEL
Setting up newsfeeds and access control

VPN Services

OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IPSec overview
Installation and setup with firewall rules
Client profiles, keys, and DNS routing

💻 Development Tools

GIT Server

Installing Git and creating bare repositories
SSH vs HTTP access via git-daemon or GitWeb
Setting up Gitolite or Gitea for team use

SVN Server

Installing Subversion with svnserve or Apache
Repository creation, user access, and WebSVN
Comparisons to Git for team environments

📬 Communication Services

Mail Server

Postfix and Dovecot for SMTP/IMAP
SpamAssassin, ClamAV, and DKIM/DMARC configuration
Roundcube for webmail

🌐 Web & Database Services (LAMP)

Apache Web Server

Virtual hosts, SSL (Let’s Encrypt), and .htaccess
PHP integration and performance tuning

MySQL/MariaDB

Installation and securing the root account
Creating databases, users, and backups
Performance optimization

PHP

Installing multiple PHP versions
Extensions for CMSs and frameworks (Laravel, WordPress, etc.)
Using PHP-FPM with Apache or Nginx

🧰 Additional Server Tools

Security & Hardening

UFW/firewalld, Fail2Ban, and SELinux/AppArmor basics
SSH key access and port lockdown

Monitoring & Logging

Syslog, Logrotate, and journalctl
Using tools like htop, netdata, and Nagios

Backup & Recovery

rsync, tar, and systemd timer-based backups
Cloud storage integration (e.g. rclone)

This is the Servers section.

This is the GUI section.

Overview of Software Development on Linux

Linux provides a robust and flexible environment for software development across various programming languages. With numerous tools and software available, developers can seamlessly write, debug, and deploy applications directly from their Linux system. Below are some popular open-source IDEs for different programming languages:

C/C++ Development

Linux offers powerful IDEs and tools for C and C++ development. These IDEs provide features such as syntax highlighting, debugging, and integrated build systems.

Eclipse CDT (C/C++ Development Tools) Code::Blocks

C# Development

For C# development on Linux, Microsoft offers .NET Core with support for various IDEs.

Visual Studio Code (VS Code)

Python Development

Python is widely used on Linux, and there are many IDEs and text editors available to enhance the development experience.

Visual Studio Code Spyder IDE

Free Pascal (Lazarus) Development

Lazarus is an open-source IDE for Free Pascal, providing a Delphi-like development environment on Linux.

Lazarus IDE

Rust Development

Rust is a modern systems programming language, and Linux provides several tools and IDEs to work with it.

Rust official website IntelliJ Rust (Plugin for IntelliJ IDEA) Visual Studio Code (with Rust plugin)

PHP Development

PHP is widely used for web development, and there are many IDEs available on Linux for PHP development.

CodeIgniter XAMPP (Includes PHP & Apache)

SQL Development

SQL development on Linux is supported by a variety of database management systems and tools.

phpMyAdmin DBeaver

History of Linux

Linux is a free and open-source operating system kernel that was first released on September 17, 1991, by Linus Torvalds. It was inspired by the UNIX operating system and was initially created as a personal project by Linus to develop a free operating system kernel that could run on Intel x86 architecture.

The project grew rapidly with contributions from developers around the world. Over the years, it evolved into a robust kernel used in many operating systems, most notably the GNU/Linux operating systems commonly referred to simply as “Linux.”

Linux gained popularity in the mid-1990s, especially in server environments, due to its stability, security, and the support of the open-source community. Today, it powers a wide range of devices:

Web servers and data centers
Android smartphones and tablets
Embedded systems and IoT devices
Supercomputers and scientific research clusters
Desktop and laptop computers (especially among developers and power users)

Major Linux distributions include Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, Arch Linux, and Red Hat Enterprise Linux.

For further reading, visit the History of Linux on Wikipedia.

Overview of Linus Torvalds

Linus Benedict Torvalds was born on December 28, 1969, in Helsinki, Finland. He is best known as the creator and principal developer of the Linux kernel, as well as the version control system Git, which is widely used in software development today.

Torvalds began working on Linux in 1991 while he was a student at the University of Helsinki. His initial announcement of Linux was posted on the Usenet newsgroup comp.os.minix, where he shared that it was "just a hobby, won’t be big and professional like GNU."

Contrary to his initial expectations, Linux became one of the most important and influential open-source software projects in history. Linus continues to oversee kernel development, serving as the maintainer of the Linux kernel with contributions from thousands of developers and companies.

Linus received numerous accolades for his contributions to computing, including:

IEEE Computer Pioneer Award
Millennium Technology Prize (2012)
Induction into the Internet Hall of Fame

For more about Linus Torvalds, visit his Wikipedia page.

Linux distros

Alpine Linux: A security-oriented, lightweight Linux distribution based on musl libc and busybox.

antiX Linux: A fast, lightweight and easy-to-install Linux distribution based on Debian, designed for low-resource systems.

Arch Linux: A rolling release system, designed to be simple and lightweight with a focus on customization.

ArcoLinux: A user-friendly Linux distribution based on Arch Linux, aimed at giving users an easy entry into Arch.

Artix Linux: A rolling release distribution that is based on Arch Linux but uses OpenRC, runit, or s6 for init systems instead of systemd.

Bluestar Linux: A fast and stable Linux distribution built on Arch Linux, offering multiple desktop environments.

Bodhi Linux: A lightweight distribution based on Ubuntu with the Moksha desktop environment, focusing on minimalism and customization.

BunsenLabs Linux: A Debian-based distribution featuring the Openbox window manager, designed to be lightweight and customizable.

CentOS Linux: A free and open-source community-supported computing platform derived from Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL).

Debian Linux: A universal operating system known for its stability and huge repository of free software packages.

Deepin Linux: A beautiful Linux distribution based on Debian, featuring a user-friendly interface and powerful applications.

elementary OS: A visually appealing, user-friendly distribution based on Ubuntu, with its own Pantheon desktop environment.

EndeavourOS: A user-friendly Arch-based Linux distribution with a focus on simplicity and minimalism.

Fedora Linux: A cutting-edge distribution sponsored by Red Hat, providing the latest open-source software with a focus on innovation.

Feren OS: A user-friendly Linux distribution with a beautiful interface and full compatibility with Linux software.

Gentoo Linux: A flexible, source-based distribution that allows you to compile and optimize software specifically for your system.

Kali Linux: A Debian-based distribution focused on penetration testing and security auditing, widely used by cybersecurity professionals.

KaOS Linux: A rolling release, Qt-based distribution designed to provide a unique and consistent user experience with KDE Plasma.

Knoppix Linux: One of the oldest live Linux distributions, useful for system recovery, maintenance, and testing.

Kubuntu Linux: An official Ubuntu flavor featuring the KDE Plasma desktop environment, known for its beautiful design and flexibility.

Linux Mint: A user-friendly distribution based on Ubuntu, designed for beginners and seasoned Linux users alike, with several desktop environment options.

Manjaro Linux: An Arch-based distribution that aims to make Arch accessible to beginners, offering a user-friendly experience with a rolling release model.

MX Linux: A Debian-based distribution with a focus on simplicity, stability, and performance, featuring the Xfce desktop environment.

KDE Neon: A Linux distribution featuring the latest KDE Plasma desktop environment and KDE applications, built on top of Ubuntu LTS.

NixOS Linux: A declarative, reproducible, and reliable Linux distribution, where the entire system configuration is managed through code.

OpenMandriva: A community-driven distribution that aims to provide a modern and innovative desktop environment based on Mandriva Linux.

PCLinuxOS: A user-friendly and highly customizable Linux distribution designed for desktop use, built on top of Mandriva Linux.

Peppermint OS: A lightweight Linux distribution based on Ubuntu, optimized for cloud applications and a minimal, fast desktop.

Pop!_OS: A Linux distribution developed by System76, based on Ubuntu, designed for creators and STEM professionals with a polished user experience.

Qubes OS: A security-focused Linux distribution that isolates applications in separate virtual machines to enhance security and privacy.

Raspberry Pi OS: The official operating system for Raspberry Pi devices, based on Debian, and optimized for the hardware.

Reborn OS: A user-friendly Arch-based Linux distribution that includes a variety of desktop environments and features out of the box.

Red Hat Linux: A leading enterprise Linux distribution with a focus on enterprise-level support and open-source software solutions.

ROSA Linux: A Russian Linux distribution focused on ease of use, including the ROSA desktop environment and deep integration with Russian software.

Slackware Linux: One of the oldest and most respected Linux distributions, known for its simplicity and adherence to Unix philosophy.

Solus Linux: A modern Linux distribution built from scratch with a focus on usability and performance, featuring the Budgie desktop environment.

openSUSE: A community-driven, open-source Linux distribution that provides robust tools for developers and system administrators.

Tails Linux: A live, security-focused Linux distribution designed for privacy and anonymity, routing all traffic over the Tor network.

TinyCore Linux: A minimalistic distribution designed for advanced users who want to build their system from the ground up with minimal resources.

Ubuntu Linux: One of the most popular and user-friendly Linux distributions, known for its ease of use and robust ecosystem of software.

Xubuntu Linux: A user-friendly Ubuntu flavor featuring the Xfce desktop environment, ideal for low-resource systems.

Zorin OS: A Linux distribution designed for beginners, with a Windows-like interface to make transitioning to Linux easier.

Installing Linux

1. Installing Linux Mint, Kali, and Ubuntu on a PC or Laptop

Step 1: Download the ISO file from the official websites:
Step 2: Create a bootable USB using:
- Rufus (Windows)
- Balena Etcher (Windows/Linux/macOS)
- dd command (Linux)
Step 3: Boot from the USB drive (set boot priority in BIOS/UEFI).
Step 4: Try the live session or proceed with installation.
Step 5: Choose one of the install options:
- Erase disk and install Linux
- Install alongside existing OS (dual boot)
- Manual partitioning (advanced)
Step 6: Complete installation and reboot into your new Linux system.

2. Installing Linux Variants in WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux)

Step 1: Enable WSL and Virtual Machine Platform using PowerShell:


wsl --install

Or manually:


dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux /all /norestart
dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:VirtualMachinePlatform /all /norestart

Step 2: Reboot your PC.
Step 3: Open Microsoft Store and install a Linux distro like Ubuntu or Kali.
Step 4: Launch the installed distro and create a username/password.

Step 5: Update packages:


sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

Optional: Upgrade to WSL 2:


wsl --set-version <distro-name> 2

3. Installing Linux in a Virtual Machine

On Windows (using VirtualBox or VMware Player)

Step 1: Download and install:
- VirtualBox
- VMware Workstation Player
Step 2: Download a Linux ISO.
Step 3: Create a new VM and attach the ISO as a virtual CD.
Step 4: Allocate at least 2GB RAM and 20GB virtual disk.
Step 5: Boot the VM and follow normal install steps.

On Linux (using GNOME Boxes, KVM, or VirtualBox)

Option 1: Install GNOME Boxes:
```
sudo apt install gnome-boxes
        
```
Option 2: Install VirtualBox:
```
sudo apt install virtualbox
        
```

Option 3: Use KVM with Virt-Manager:


sudo apt install qemu-kvm libvirt-daemon-system virtinst virt-manager

Once installed, create a new virtual machine, choose your ISO file, and proceed with setup.

Note: For better performance and features (copy-paste, file sharing, screen resize), install guest additions (VirtualBox) or open-vm-tools (VMware) after Linux is installed inside the VM.