5.0-Nano: Introduction
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5-Nano: Introduction | Install and Run | Control | DtDNS | Cron| Security features | Enable SSL | Multi-Servers | Perl | UniTray | Security and passwords | Known Issues | Support
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Uniform Server 5.0-Nano
Overview
Uniform Server has undergone a major architecture change to a certain extent this is transparent. The focus has been on ease of use and maximum flexibly while still retaining a small footprint. A fundamental change has been the removal of Perl for server control now replaced with PHP CLI. Advantages are both Apanel and server-control now share a common language along with a common set of PHP functions. Batch files no longer perform any control functionality they are used in the main to run PHP scripts and provide pop-up information windows.
Control architecture
Control architecture has been rebuilt from the ground up; it now uses a mix of dynamic absolute paths and relative paths. Significance of this, for portability a virtual drive is no longer required. Service installation no longer requires a server relocation and conversion. Uniform Server now runs in either mode, as a standard program or a service or a mix of either in the folder it is extracted to. This folder in its entirety can be relocated and servers run from there for example a USB memory stick.
Net result is a more consistent architecture allowing independent control of each server. UniTray has had a chequered past, originally offered as a plugin now integrated into this version of Uniform Server. It’s a dual menu (tray icon), left and right mouse buttons selects either of two menus allowing the servers to be run in either in standard program mode or as a service respectively. For convenience common menu options are duplicated in both menus.
Apanel
Although Apanel has been enhanced it retains its ease of use and ability to fine-tune the servers. It dynamically tracks user options selected and presents menu options appropriate to that selection. For example if you choose not to run the MySQL server all associate menu options are hidden.
Installation
After unpacking Uniform Server to any folder you can run the servers either as a standard program or run as a service straight out of the box. That’s the real power of this new architecture just click and go. Move the server to a new location for example another folder, hard drive or USB memory stick and again you are ready to run.
Hidden
Hidden behind the scenes is more flexibility, you can choose what to run and what to display at start-up. The defaults assume you wish to run or close both servers at the same time either in standard program mode or in service mode.
In reality you can select a mix that best suites your requirement, options are selectable in a single control file.
Summary of features
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Uniform Server releases
For reference, I have shown the current Uniform Server stable releases and their main components.
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V5.0-Nano Folder Structure Overview
The following provides a quick overview of V5.*-Nano's main server areas.
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A) Top-Level
C) CGI Scripts
D) Secure Web Root Folder
F) Server programs
H) Web Root Folder
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B) Alternative control:
E) UniServer control scripts
G) Local Folder
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UniTray - Quick start servers
At first sight both menus give the impression Uniform Server is complex to run. However majority of menu items are for connivance allowing you to select and run additional features should you want to use them.
The first two menu items control both servers; that’s all you need to start and stop the servers.
The third menu item allowing you to control individual servers offers finer control.
| LEFT MENU Run servers as a standard program |
COMMENT Quick Start guide |
RIGHT MENU Run servers as a service |
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Run Servers as standard Program
Note: Double click on tray icon to open Apanel in default browser. |
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Server Status - Diagnostics
Server Status provides a mixed bag of information:
- Before starting servers checks to see if ports are in use which would prevent the servers starting
- Displays what ports servers are configured for.
- Displays what servers are running and in what mode (standard program or service)
- With servers running displays IP address as seen from the Internet.
- Checks servers are accessible from the Internet, uses the above IP address
Apanel
Apanel allows you to fine-tune the servers hence reduces the need to go in and edit the server configuration files manually.
It has been enhanced with the folowing additional features:
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Apanel new features:
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Note:
The MySQL password should always be set using Apanel, setting it with phpMyAdmin results in MySQL lockout.
In this situation use the MySQL password recovery feature.
Alternative control
Esoteric batch files no longer exist; the ones you will find in folder alternative control have been reduced to a bare minimum. These now call PHP scripts that perform the real work.
Running multi-Servers on same PC
Uniform Server's architecture has always supported running multi-servers 5.0-Nano makes this task easier.
Although the Mona series had this capability it was difficult to distinguish which one was running. This has been addressed by using numbered tray icons for each server (UniTray) started.
Related Information
How to install some popular applications
Please note all these applications can be installed and run from a USB memory stick. Some require a small amount of editing to removed hard coded paths.
Packages that require Cron jobs are catered for by portable-cron this requires three additional files.
| Package | Installed Size | ||
| Drupal 6.14 | 45.7 MB | - Run from a USB memory stick - Requires Portable cron | |
| Joomla 1.5.15 | 64.5 MB | - Run from a USB memory stick | |
| MediaWiki 1.15.0 | 80.6 MB | - Run from a USB memory stick | |
| Moodle Moodle 1.9.5+ | 104 MB | - Run from a USB memory stick - Requires Portable cron | |
| WordPress 2.8.6 | 47.7 MB | - Run from a USB memory stick | |
| Xoops 2.4.2 | 61.0 MB | - Run from a USB memory stick |
Note: For each of the above packages there is a corresponding plugin downloadable from SourceForge.
These plugins are specific to Uniform Server 5.5-Nano and will not run on other versions.
Download details are provided on each page.
Plugins
The following lists plugins avaiable for Uniform Server Nano series:
| Plugin Name | Description | Compatability |
| V5.0_mini_perl | Installs Perl core program with a collection of commonly used Perl modules. Plugin Options:
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All |
| V5.0_full_perl | Installs Perl core program and full set of Perl modules. Plugin Options:
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All |
| V5.0_AWStats_2.0 | AWStats is a free powerful and fully featured tool that generates advanced server statistics, graphically.
This plugin requires PERL to be installed use either Mini or Full Perl plugins see above.. |
All |
| V5.0_AWStats_1.0 | AWStats is a free powerful and fully featured tool that generates advanced server statistics, graphically.
For completeness this plugin includes V5.0_mini_perl. |
All |
| Webalizer English | Webalizer is a fast application that generates server statistics from Apache’s access log file.
Analysis results are converted into standard WebPages with data presented in both text and graphical format. |
All |
| Webalizer Multi Languages | Webalizer is a fast application that generates server statistics from Apache’s access log file.
Analysis results are converted into standard WebPages with data presented in both text and graphical format. |
All |
| USV5_FileZillaFTPd | Adds FileZilla Server to 5-Nano series. Runs as a standard program or as a service. Core portable-FileFillaFTPd can be used independently of UniServer. | V5.0-V5.4 |
| V55_FileZillaFTPd | Adds FileZilla Server to 5.5-Nano. Runs as a standard program or as a service. Core portable-FileFillaFTPd can be used independently of UniServer. Includes language files for UniTray | V5.5 |
| V55_UniServer_CA | This plugin is slightly unusual it starts off as a Uniform Server plugin where you can install a CA and server certificate including a server key to the Apache server. After completion the entire plugin is transferred to a USB memory stick enhancing security by removing the CA’s key from your PC | V5.5 |
| V55UniServer_USB | This plugin integrates portable Firefox into Uniform Server 5.5-Nano’s architecture. This allows Uniform Server to be run independently of the host PC. To achieve this it uses Portable Firefox and a PAC file. (PAC file prevents issues with Vista and W7 "hosts" file). | V5.5 |
| V5.0_Zend_Optimizer V5.1_Zend_Optimizer |
Some application encode PHP scripts using Zend Guard to run these scripts on Uniform Server
requires the installation of Zend Optimizer. This plugin provides a quick way to install Zend Optimizer on Uniform Server Nano. Tobe released |
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The following topics and tutorials show how to harness the power of SSL built into Uniform Server.
Password protect folders/files plus ssl
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Covers Apache’s basic authentication, viable over the Internet when secured using SSL. The techniques shown eliminate the need for additional programming and remove the requirement to have mod-rewrite enabled. A full-blown secure server is not required! Double logins are eliminated. |
Run your own CA (Certificate Authority)
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A complete tutorial how to use UniServer,s CA plugin to create root CA and server certificate for the Apache server. Also covers personal certificates for accessing secure areas of the server. |
CAcert
| CAcert | A complete tutorial on how to obtain a free signed server certificate from CAcert certificate authority. |
Other Topic Links
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- Shows how to obtain an account at DtDNS for users with a dynamic IP address | |
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- Short code snippets for running PHP CLI scripts. | |
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- Short code snippets as used in Server Status diagnostics and DtDNS updater PHP CLI | |
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- How to avoid the hosts file. Uses V4.0-Mona (V4.1-Mona), Firefox and PAC |
Summary
Uniform Server 5.0-Nano is a significant upgrade although the main architecture has changed along with the main components and many new features added control remains simple. Just a few mouse clicks will have the servers running either as a standard program or service. Scratch the surface a little and you will find a wealth of flexibility allowing you to tailored the servers. Dig deeper and you have access to a set of common PHP function allowing you to redesign server control should you wish.
How to Install and run 5.0-Nano