Apache, Tomcat and MySQL on Linux server

[CatPlus]

Hello all:

I have been given the responsibility of moving an existing server to a brand new server. I have no exposure in the world of linux and need some help understanding the scope of the work involved

The server is running Linux, Apache, Tomcat and MySQL. The server will be shipped with Linux o/s from Dell.

Am I right is assuming Apache is the web server equivalent of Microsoft?

Where does Tomcat get in and why is Tomcat running? From

http://jakarta.apache.org/tomcat,

I understand that ".....Tomcat is the servlet container that is used in the official Reference Implementation for the Java Servlet and JavaServer Pages technologies....."

Does that mean installing Apache and Tomcat on a Linux server is all that is required in terms of configuration?

Is it that I backup and restore MySQL and I am good to go or are there other hidden configurational issues I must consider to make the migration work and have our web server on line?

Please advise

Thanks indeed
Mickey

 

[sedj]

It all depends on what the server is meant to be doing.

Apache is a web server that listens/responds via HTTP. If you don't have any websites, then you don't need it.

Tomcat is a servlet container, and usually apache will redirect incoming HTTP requests from port 80 to port 8080 on whcih tomcat listens by default. The tomcat process the JSP/Servlet to service the request. Again, if you don;t have any JSP/servlets to execute, then you don;t need tomcat.

MySQL is a relational database. serverside code (JSP/Servlets, PHP, ASP etc) can access MySQL through JDBC and or ODBC. Programs like postfix and sendmail also can use MySQL to store mail user information. If you don't have anything selecting/inserting data into MySQL, then you don't need it.

--------------------------------------------------
Free Database Connection Pooling Software

http://www.primrose.org.uk

 

[CatPlus]

Hello SEJD:

The server is running a mission critical e-commerce application hosted on the net running on the Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES v.3 operating system. It is also running Apache, Tomcat and MySQL

Since the server is low on processor speed and disk space, we are buying a Dell PowerEdge 4600 with dual 3.0GHz/512K Xeon Processor and 4 GB RAM

My task is to move the application to the new server and retire the existing slow server

Is a default install Apache and Tomcat sufficient or do I need to further configure it. Is there a way to get the existing configuration settings and match it on the new server

Once I have all the JS and PHP scripts and the database up and running, will there be any other configurational changes necessary to ensure visitors will not get any error messages

Is there a check-list of things to do I must prepare or simply installing Apache and Tomcat does the job

Thanks for your help

Mickey

 

[franklin97355]

If you are running a mission critical app on the existing server I would recommend you hire a tech well versed in LINUX to do the changeover for you. It's not a trivial task to swap servers with MC apps. What would happen if you forgot something?

 

[patrckb]

Mickey,

The amount of configuration that you will have to do on the new server equals the amount of configuration that was done to get the old server up to where it is today.

All the packages you list are powerful, versatle applications. To access that power, they require that you have a good understanding of how they work and then usually much configuration.

Will they work out of the box? Generally, yes.

Will they provide your customers the same experience (although hopefully faster) that they get now? Only if they are re-configure to the current design.

You probably will need help to make this a successful migration.

HTH,
Patrick

Patrick Bartkus, CCNP, CNX, SCM, RHCT Sr. Network Engineer
GA Dept of Labor IT Network Services
If truth were not absolute, how could there be justice?

 

[sedj]

Most of the config files are contained within the install directories of those applications - so basically tar up mysql, tomcat and apache, and when you build the new server, then just copy the relevant config files to the new server, obviously double checking the content to make everything is still OK (directories, IPs etc).

--------------------------------------------------
Free Database Connection Pooling Software

http://www.primrose.org.uk

 

[CatPlus]

Hello SEDJ:

Thanks a lot.... your posting is a definate helpful lead

Mickey

 

[Leland123]

Hi CatPlus,

You might take a look at Ghost by Horton. It costs around $50. With it you could configure two floppies and then boot up each computer into Ghost from the created floppies. This would allow the two computer to network under dos using TCP/IP with one computer the master and the the other computer the client. Then you could clone the ext3 partitions off the slow computer onto the fast computers. The cloning will not effect the size of the respective partitions on the two computers, but will only clone the file system to create a new ext file system image in the new computer. Nothing would need to be done to the swap partition. However, you might need to edit the the /etc/fstab file to make sure the mount command for the swap partition of the new computer is correct. This could be done after the new system was up and running.

When the cloning is completed, you my need to recreate the MBR on the new system using grub. Use the RedHat CD to boot into the newly created partition in "linux rescue" mode. Then do a grub-install /dev/hda, or whatever you newly created partition device name is called, to write the new MBR to call grub.conf file in the newly cloned partition. Also, if the partitions are located differently between the two system, you may need to edit your cloned grub.conf file on the new partition to point to the proper partition on the new system. Then edit the network configuration off the main redhat menu to get to the network dialog GUI front end to change IP address, computer NetBIOS name, gateway, subnet mask, DNS, and hosts, of the new computer.

The first time you bring up the new computer you will get a ton of dialogs as the RedHat OS will not find much of the hardware configurated per the old system, and will find a ton of new hardware per the new system not configured in the cloned partition. Simple let RH OS uninstall all hardware not found and let RH install all of the new hardware found in the new computer.

Also, if the new computer had two identical hard drives or even two hard drive of a size large enough to hold the used space of the new system, I would clone the new hard drive onto the second drive as a backup in case disaster struck. With Norton Ghost, this type of backup is a trivial task.

Regards,

LelandJ



Leland F. Jackson, CPA
Software - Master (TM)

http://www.smvfp.com

Nothing Runs Like the Fox

 

[CatPlus]

Hello Leland:

Thanks indeed! Sounds quite a plan too!!

Appreciate your feedback
Mickey