| As we started the project of our web site, we | | | | Postresql is not the most popular Open Source Code |
| knew that the proprietary software costs would be | | | | database. A matter of marketing ? Probably. As for |
| too high for our financial resources. Our only option | | | | the programming language PHP, we had to use an |
| then was to make use of Open Source Code | | | | object oriented application structure. There are many |
| softwares. However, within the Open Source Code | | | | PHP application structures being offered with Open |
| there are lots of softwares to choose from, and | | | | Source Code license. Object oriented application is |
| it´s up to the system analyst/programmer to | | | | very important, because it makes programming very |
| pick the ones that best suit the project goals. In our | | | | easy and scalable up to the point where the system |
| case, we picked Linux as our operating system. | | | | may grow without many problems. Also, it helps to |
| However we faced a big question: Which Linux | | | | keep PHP code separated from HTML, with the help |
| distribution ? There are dozens of linux distributions, | | | | of some specific libraries, such as Smarty. We make |
| each one with specific advantages, sometimes with | | | | use of Smarty library and we believe that it is a very |
| or without paid services. We chose linux Slackware | | | | important resource, which can even make web |
| because we thought that it would suit better our | | | | pages faster thru the use of its cache functions. Also |
| needs, in terms of stability and reliability. Slackware is | | | | a very important set of libraries worth mentioning for |
| a conservative distribution, meaning that it only | | | | PHP systems, is the PEAR libraries. In PEAR web site, |
| offers in its distribution package kernel versions and | | | | among the many libraries being offered, there are |
| third party libraries, once it´s been proved to be | | | | the database interface DB and the MAIL_QUEUE, |
| stable and reliable. As a result, Slackware is one the | | | | which sends emails thru the use of database. As we |
| most stable Linux operating system on the market. If | | | | came to the end of our project, we had to use |
| the user wishes the most recent Linux kernel and | | | | some sort of real time database replication. For that |
| libraries, we recommend to look for a different | | | | we chose the DRBD and Heartbeat libraries. The use |
| distribution. Another reason for us picking Slackware, | | | | of database replication is very important and should |
| was because of its text interface, which at the | | | | not be postponed. Just after 3 months our system |
| beginning may become a bit difficult, in the long run | | | | got into production, our server hard disk became bad. |
| however it offers a better understanding of the | | | | Thru the use of DRBD/Heartbeat we were able to |
| Linux environment. This way most of Slackware | | | | put the system back into production within seconds, |
| configurations are done thru text scripts. Once it was | | | | without loosing any data. DRBD/Heartbeat replication |
| set the operating system, we picked Apache as our | | | | is done thru the use of a lan network between the |
| web server. Apache is one of the most popular web | | | | server and slave nodes. Our project also makes use |
| server in the internet. For server programming | | | | of ImageMagick (enlarge and reduce images), Iptables |
| language, we chose PHP. Also, a very popular | | | | (firewall), Tsearch2(text search in portgresql) and |
| programming language. Our experience with Apache | | | | Mon (linux monitoring tasks). Also a very important |
| PHP proves that this setup is very reliable, working | | | | library worth mentioning is the pseudo APC compiler |
| extremely well in our production environment. For | | | | for PHP. Speed is always a critical factor for internet |
| workstation programming language, we chose | | | | sites. Our web site is already in production and based |
| javascript, which besides of having a simple syntax, it | | | | upon our experience we can say that the Open |
| offers lots of resources. Apache web server is really | | | | Source Code softwares we picked, proved to be |
| a complete web server. Also, it can become very | | | | extremely reliable and stable. Open Source Code |
| complex with many configuration setups. For our | | | | softwares can certainly be an excellent option for |
| database, we picked Postgresql. This database has | | | | developing web sites. Roberto Sedycias IT |
| been made available to the public for more than 15 | | | | Consultant This article is under GNU FDL license and |
| years, and besides of being well debugged, it offers | | | | can be distributed without any previous authorization |
| so many resources that it has become one of the | | | | from the author. However the author´s name |
| best database options from Open Source Code | | | | and all the URL´s (links) mentioned in the article |
| softwares. Extremely reliable, Postgresql has reported | | | | and biography must be kept. This article can also be |
| cases where there have been databases in | | | | accessed in portuguese language from the News |
| production with over 4 terabytes. Besides all of that, | | | | Articles section of page PoloMercantil. |