Apache and Re Writing Domain Names

We have just implemented a new feature to our Content Management System, Teacup Web Tools V2.00.

Apache URL Rewriting

What this does, is allow a dynamic database based website's url or link to be changes to a more 'Google' friendly domain name.

Example

The old link

http://www.teacup.co.za/?website_pagesid=134

can be changed to

http://www.teacup.co.za/request_a_quote.html


This will still access the dynamic web content as usual and the old dynamic link will still work.

It should allow search engines to index sites faster.

Some more testing must still be done, but we will be updating our current clients with this new feature as soon as possible.

Cheers for now.....

Linux Server PDC

We have just tested an install of Ubuntu Linux Server 9.04 as a PDC (Primary Domain Controller). This was a very easy install following instructions found here http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1184288. This was a very easy install that took +- 1 hour even with using aptitude through our Telkom ADSL internet connection.

After joining a few Windows XP machines to the Linux PDC with ease, I decided to play with proxy servers.

Following this howto http://www.howtoforge.com/squid-proxy-server-on-ubuntu-9.04-server-with-dansguardian-clamav-and-wpad-proxy-auto-detection the only thing that I could not get working is the proxy auto detection. Ill try post the solution a little later. My interim solution was to create a domain login script that would set Internet Explorer proxy settings using a registry reg file, and for firefox, I copy a firefox profile over the users profile with proxy settings every time they login.

This server would now handle domain logons and windows profiles, as well as handle and control internet access with anti virus to boot.

Now whats left? Email.

I now wanted an internal email server. This server had to distribute local email to users loaded on the ldap system, as well as direct email to external email addresses and fetch or download external users email from our email service provider.

After a few Google searches I couldn't find a "howto" that would run me through this step by step. So I used a combination of a few howtos and http://www.howtoforge.com/perfect-server-ubuntu-9.04-ispconfig-3 .

This worked well because I needed a "lamp" install for our Teacup Business Applications any way.

This was the End Result

• Samba, Slapd : File sharing and domain control
• Postfix, Fetchmail, Courier, SpamAssasin: Email directing, fetching and pop or imap
  
• Squid, DansGuardian, ClamAV : Proxy and anti virus
• MyDNS : DNS
  
• ISPconfig 3 : Website and dns administration

All works flawlessly except, we cant get local domains to resolve from our linux desktops. Its strange, our windows XP machines resolve local domain names with no issues and all external domain names work fine.

I will try solve this issue and post the solution when I have more time.

Feel free to leave comments.
Cheers for now.

New Teacup Web SIte

Great news, Teacup has launched their new website.... http://www.teacup.co.za go check it out now!!