Re-configuring snowmane
We're starting a new consulting project that will require a robust web presence. I spent the better part of two days messing with Scoop, the community-based package that runs sites such as DailyKos and TalkLeft. It's a wicked frustrating package to install, however, requiring Apache 1.3 and a lot of perl mods. After spending hours trying to get the configuration straight, my colleague in this venture, Mark, suggested we just use the community features of MediaWiki.
Good idea, says I. By now, snowmane has Debian 'Etch' installed with Apache 1.3 and all this perl. It was easier to just blow the whole thing away, re-install Debian and go from there.
OK, fresh start, fresh server. I downloaded Apache 2.0.59, MySql 5.0.45 and php 5.2.3, from their sources. Since I've got only one static IP address here at casa de seashell, I set up mod_proxy on the Apache server on shadowfax, so the new domain kicks over to snowmane. That works very nicely.
After getting shadowfax straight, it was time to get snowmane moving. Here are the steps:
1. install Debian with a base configuration.2. use apt-get to install programming/development tools
3. compile and install Apache using a config for php5.
4. test Apache server, making sure mod_proxy works.
5. install linux binaries for mysql and test
6. compile and install php5
All this is done with minimal complications. Since this is a clean install, I'm going to take a shot at MoveableType 4.0 beta (release candidate 4). Since the wiki will be doing the heavy lifting for this project, if this is a bust this afternoon, I can always front the site from the wiki.