From owner-freebsd-newbies@FreeBSD.ORG Sun Sep 5 23:12:28 2004 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-newbies@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.FreeBSD.org (mx1.freebsd.org [216.136.204.125]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 9D17E16A4CE for ; Sun, 5 Sep 2004 23:12:28 +0000 (GMT) Received: from fed1rmmtao09.cox.net (fed1rmmtao09.cox.net [68.230.241.30]) by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 6885043D39 for ; Sun, 5 Sep 2004 23:12:28 +0000 (GMT) (envelope-from rtmcrider@cox.net) Received: from jgugerty ([68.228.236.122]) by fed1rmmtao09.cox.net (InterMail vM.6.01.03.02.01 201-2131-111-104-103-20040709) with ESMTP id <20040905231221.HSQI16651.fed1rmmtao09.cox.net@jgugerty> for ; Sun, 5 Sep 2004 19:12:21 -0400 From: "Jim" To: Date: Sun, 5 Sep 2004 16:12:22 -0700 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Mailer: Microsoft Office Outlook, Build 11.0.6353 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2800.1441 Thread-Index: AcSTncw8ETUDyqfvR/GTvlSVh2OSDQ== Message-Id: <20040905231221.HSQI16651.fed1rmmtao09.cox.net@jgugerty> Subject: Administering a web and mailing list server at home... X-BeenThere: freebsd-newbies@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.1 Precedence: list List-Id: Gathering place for new users List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Sun, 05 Sep 2004 23:12:28 -0000 Hi - I would like to host a website at home that has information for the local motorcycling community. I would also like to offer a mailing list server for groups to use for informing subscribers of upcoming rides and events. List members could also share experiences and help each other with advice. I have installed FreeBSD 4.10 Stable on an extra machine I have and have been using the FreeBSD Handbook as well as a couple of other books - Absolute BSD and FreeBSD Unleashed - to learn how to administer such a system. It is pretty daunting. I like doing things myself, and I like to learn. It seems to me I would lose a lot of control and have software tool choice limitations placed upon me that would make my experiences less satisfying if I were to remotely administer my site on a commercial server. I have learned a lot so far, but I think I need to get some help in selecting the tools that are required to accomplish my goals. It seems the best (only) choice is Apache for my web server. Also, Python would be my choice for a scripting language. From what I've read so far, Postfix seems to be the MTA I should use and my mailing list server should be Mailman. Do I need a database? Any thoughts, comments, experiences, insights, and/or suggestions would greatly be appreciated. Thanks in advance! Jim