[clue] nuts and bolts, self-hosting on a $40 computer: my server

[ezedtheamerican at gmail.com]

I am testing the install code ( basically bash commands with a little mysql 
thrown in) on a virtual machine right now.
I initially started with 250 lines of instructions.
That has ballooned to right about 380, the final entry being the command to 
install webmin.
My OS of choice is debian.
I was a bit lazy and didn't setup logical volume management, maybe I will 
maybe I won't on the virtual but it would seem that I could clone the virtual 
to an actual hard drive if I wanted but at this point I am more concerned with 
getting the server up and seeing how it behave in a virtual machine.
Of course I put in about 11 man hours to get the following installed on the 
virtual machine
http server: apache2 with virtual domains and the webmail client rouncube
ftp server: pure-ftp-mysql with virtual users
email server: postfix-mysql with the usual virtual mailboxes
and webmin, which maybe a bit of overkill because I also have postfix admin 
installed and functional.
Some security is installed mod-evasive, spamassasin, and clamav.
However, I need to find out why fail2ban is being problematic on the install 
and I might thown in postgrey for good measure, I don't know about this though 
as I haven't made up my mind yet.
I tried a few times to get the configuration correct for fail2ban but decided 
to move on to see if the overall picture was going to work as I can install 
that at a later time, however it is a neccessity to have in functional in my 
opinion.
Now, I have all of the above applications/packages installed and functioning 
including rkhunter with the exception of fail2ban on the virtual machine.
And, I hope that this hp dc5750 I have will do the trick and not fail anytime 
soon because it is the target machine for what I hope will be a stable server 
( I also have a hp dx2200 that I can setup in the meantime).
All this said I am running on a dynamic IP. ( hoot and holler now!, but please 
continue to read )
Last year when I had my server setup it was a hack job of microsoft windows 
running http/ftp  and a virtual debian running email/ftp.
I wasn't satisified with the arrangement, but at the same time I didn't loose 
any emails and it seemed to update when the IP changed just fine.
I haven't logged into my dynamic name server service provider in a while and 
that is just fine but I remember something about cname and what not.
Now, it has been brought to my attention that I may need a static IP to ensure 
that a PTR (pointer record) is available...
maybe my understanding is wrong, maybe it is not.
Either way I am starting small and moving my way up, probably to get a static 
IP when the server pays for itself.
There is some tweaking that needs to be done, mostly aesthetics that I want 
and probably other things that I am unaware but that is fine, I am prepared to 
spend man hours dealing with it.
About my upload speed from the server, that is the downfall because at my 
current location I only have a measly 596 kbps upload speed as per testmy dot 
net, however I have access to 20 megbit upload at another location that I plan 
on using unless someone vounteers to physically host a machine for an 
inexpensive amount of cash or check.
so, what say you?
ed.