PHP programming forum. Ask questions or help people concerning PHP code. Don't understand a function? Need help implementing a class? Don't understand a class? Here is where to ask. Remember to do your homework!
In short, yes. The beauty of Linux is that everything can be edited through config files, and config files are plain text. If you know which files those are, doing what you are talking about is as simple as read a file, write a file. Of course figuing out what those files are is the hard part...
I am a php newbie, but I know that we use a web appliance called instagate made by esoft. It is basically a redhat linux box with an easy to use web-based administration written in php. I always thought perl was the best way for server based scripting but the more I learn about PHP, the more I know I need to master PHP. Good luck!