ok, so you want to start your own web hosting server.

This tutorial is brought to you free by : Webune.com Hosting

well, if you want to start, here is a good one i did today to play around. you must be logged in as root for this to work.

steps:

1. get a copy of Linux Debian (i am using Debian Sarge 3.1)

2. Followed these installation steps [click here start installing debian]

3. CONTINUE TO Followed these installation steps [click here to install debian step 2]

4. Setup your network [click here to setup network IP]

5. Setup your names server (if you have to) [click here to set nameservers]

6. Set your server's hostname [click here to set hostname]

update your ap-get
apt-get -f install

say yes to prompts:
Do you want to continue? [Y/n] y

Do you wish to restart services? [Y/n] y


Otherwise, you might this error:
Reading Package Lists... Done
Building Dependency Tree... Done
You might want to run 'apt-get -f install' to correct these:
The following packages have unmet dependencies:
kernel-image-2.4.27-2-386: Depends: initrd-tools (>= 0.1.48) but it is not going to be installed
ssh: Depends: openssh-client but it is not going to be installed
Depends: openssh-server but it is not going to be installed
E: Unmet dependencies. Try 'apt-get -f install' with no packages (or specify a solution).


7. now send to command so your sendmail won't fail:
apt-get install rmail
Do you want to continue? [Y/n] y

8. Download the .deb from mikro-data.net/products_and_services/webcp/webcp-0.5.7.deb or send commands:
cd /root
download to root directory
wget http://www.mikro-data.net/products_and_services/webcp/webcp-0.5.7.deb


9. Run Command:
apt-get install apache
apt-get install libapache-mod-php4
apt-get install libapache-mod-ssl
apt-get install ca-certificates
apt-get install ipopd
apt-get install mysql-server-4.1
apt-get install php4-cli
apt-get install php4-curl
apt-get install php4-imap
apt-get install php4-mcrypt
apt-get install php4-mhash
apt-get install php4-mysql
apt-get install php4-pear
apt-get install proftpd
apt-get install quota
apt-get install quotatool
apt-get install sasl2-bin
apt-get install sendmail-bin
apt-get install uw-imapd


OR RUN INSTALL ALL IN ONE COMMAND:
apt-get install apache libapache-mod-php4 libapache-mod-ssl ca-certificates ipopd mysql-server-4.1 php4-cli php4-curl php4-imap php4-mcrypt php4-mhash php4-mysql php4-pear proftpd quota quotatool sasl2-bin sendmail-bin uw-imapd


then you might see these prompts:
HIT ENTER FOR THIS PROMT: ┌─────────────────────────┤ ProFTPd configuration ├─────────────────────────┐ │ │ │ Warning on syntax changes in ProFTPd configuration. # │ ▒ │ You are upgrading from a pre-1.3.0 version. Probably you will need to ▒ │ revise your previous configuration to be compliant with current ▒ │ directives. Please, consult documentation and how-tos available in ▒ │ proftpd-doc and change /etc/proftpd/proftpd.conf as needed. ▒ │ ▒ │ Unfortunately, it is nearly impossible currently to convert your setup ▒ │ automatically, but for some basic issues. You will have to do it ▒ │ yourself. ProFTPd could also be unable to use the resulting ▒ │ configuration, and it would not restart after upgrading. ▒ │ ▒ │ Note also that starting from 1.3.0 version, dynamic modules are used and ▒ │ configuration should be splitted, keeping modules loading instructions ▒ │ │ │ │ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ HIT ENTER FOR THIS PROMT: ┌────┤ Configuring xmail ├─────┐ │ Default Local Domain Name: │ │ │ │ /etc/mailname_______________ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ └──────────────────────────────┘ ENTER USER AND HIT ENTER FOR THIS PROMT: ┌───────────────────────────┤ Configuring xmail ├───────────────────────────┐ │ The RFC and best practice instructions for setting a mail server require │ │ having at least valid root, postmaster, and abuse addresses. │ │ Historically, it was usually the root user that received that mail in │ │ addition to other system-related mail, e.g., from cron daemons and log │ │ watchers. │ │ │ │ You may now choose user other than root to receive those messages if you │ │ wish to do so. │ │ │ │ User that will receive the system mail: │ │ │ │ postmaster_______________________________________________________________ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ TYPE PASSWORD AND HIT ENTER FOR THIS PROMT: ┌──────────────────────────┤ Configuring xmail ├───────────────────────────┐ │ Please enter a password for that user. You will need this when you log │ │ in to the POP3 or IMAP server. │ │ │ │ User Password: │ │ │ │ postmaster______________________________________________________________ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ENTER EMAIL ADDRESS AND HIT ENTER FOR THIS PROMT: ┌──────────────────────────┤ Configuring xmail ├───────────────────────────┐ │ Optionally you can choose to forward the postmaster's mails to another │ │ mailbox. │ │ │ │ This change will not take effect if you already have a redirect in │ │ place. │ │ │ │ Forward to email address: │ │ │ │ ________________________________________________________________________ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘


20. Run Command:
dpkg -i webcp-0.5.7.deb


Then continue the setup by going to https://domainfromconfig:81

that's it.

IF you need a linux server, Visit Webune Hosting they have great web hosting services. We have a dedicated server with webune and we are very happy with ther service.