trying to build a nice nginx + php +mysql (+ mail?) server

If they're low-traffic just run apache ;), it's in every package manager so it is updated. It'll run just fine on a Linode 360. With CentOS, the main downside may be that you get php 5.1.6 instead of php 5.2. Ubuntu would have more packages–it has nginx too, but it's an older version than the current.

Really, I would stick with your distribution's packages. It's all tested together, it's super easy to install and update, and chances are there is documentation.

If you do compile anything from source just sign up for that software's announcement list so you know when there is a bugfix or update.

For mail, exim and postfix are good and you can get tutorials for either. I've used courier-imap a bunch for POP3/IMAP service.

If you have room on your linode for a different profile and disk images--try Ubuntu. Switching is pretty easy and the versions of things will feel more like Fedora compared with CentOS.

Edit: You don't need to run httpd. Just chkconfig httpd off, and configure nginx appropriately.

thanks for the tips, i'm interested in nginx because even though they're low traffic, there's still a bunch of them i want to run, plus i like learning new stuf,f i've worked with apache before.

i don't like ubuntu, it feels slower and the whole permissions system is kinda weird, plus i have my centos running nicely so far.

about httpd, i figured not running it was as simple as with any other service, but i meant config files, directories, etc. that's the part i'm not sure about.

i'm not new to linux, by the way, i've been using several distros for a while, but i en going back to fedora every time. plus the fedora forum is excellent :P

i have php from yum + xcache from source working, now on to nginx.

i'm definitely writing something about this install after, for people like me not sure about what they're doing. :P

seems to be working fine, thanks to epel. http://www.cyberciti.biz/faq/rhel-fedor … ginx-php5/">http://www.cyberciti.biz/faq/rhel-fedora-install-configure-nginx-php5/

Great, sorry if I was trying to oversimplify on you!

nah, don't worry, as i said: any help is appreciated. :)

what did you end up doing for the mail server ?

@oliver:

what did you end up doing for the mail server ?

4 months later i still don't know what i'll do with email. probably just go lazy and redirect all mail to dreamhost. funnily enough email is the only thing i've never had problems with on DH.

@contraculto:

4 months later i still don't know what i'll do with email.
You can consider Google Apps (the standard edition is free for up to 50 logins, if I recall).

@jed:

You can consider Google Apps (the standard edition is free for up to 50 logins, if I recall).

i am well aware of google apps (we use it at work) but i don't like google, and try to stay as far from it as i can. my ideal solution would be setting up my own mail server, but i have no idea how to and i need reliability. maybe some day…

There are a bunch of options. What kind of mailserver + pop3/imap or webmail + security, etc are you looking for?

Trying searching on http://www.howtoforge.com/ and see if you find any server you like.