Server administration
The main task of the administrator is to provide the users with the
services they need, while keeping the server functional and
secure. A public web site is by definition reachable by any user on
the internet, some of whom may harbor ill intent. Not only the web
server itself but also all scripts and custom-made modules must be
secure. With the most powerful Challenger modules, users can create
pages with scripting and database accesses, pages that in themselves
can be potential security hazards.
The administrator has to know about these security hazards and draw
the line between functionality and security. The administrator can
limit who gets to use which modules, in case not all users can be
trusted with the security of the server.
The administrator also has to make sure the system is running
smoothly. The main tools are the log files and event log. Most problems
will be reported there.
The world of Challenger and the web are not static. New releases
and third party software appears, and users demand more
functionality. It is the administrator who has to determine if new
software can be safely installed.
Besides knowing the Challenger server, the administrator
needs to be familiar with Internet security and security issues
related to the operating system the server is running on. It will
not help that the Challenger server is made secure if the underlying
operative system is not.
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