[Solar]

Hey y'all

So I finally got around to "decomicionging" my first workstation, basically copying all my old data off it and then some to my NAS box. It was an old Win 98SE machine, 60gig hd, etc...

I've been wanting to have a local web server to test on for a while now and I know crap about linux/unix installs.

So what I'm askin' is can anyone walk me through or point me in the diretion to turn this box into something else? The CD Rom still works, the floppy is fried, I do have a usb floppy drive and it is a network box so I can connect up to that as well.

Any help again would be appreciated.

Thanks,
-Solar

[KaosDad]

What processor is in it and how much RAM?

[Cybercat]

60 gig harddrive? My linux box would love that, it's 10x the size of both it's disks together.

[Solar]

Processor is an Athelon and it has a 1/2 gig of ram

[J_A_X]

you really don't need much to run a web server unless you get a lot of traffic.

I suggest you get Ubuntu Server. You can set it all up pretty easy and it's a great place to start.

[Solar]

ubunto, ok, and what does that run on? seriously I'm clueless when its outside of the DOS realm

not asking for 100% spoon fed here, but I don't want to google and get 1000 experts all saying one thing or another. I know how people are proud of their unix/distro of choice, just want to get an opinion from someone who is only 90% stranger instead of 100%

[J_A_X]

Minimum requirements for ubuntu desktop (graphical) are:

300 MHz x86 processor
64 MB of system memory (RAM)
At least 4 GB of disk space (for full installation and swap space)
VGA graphics card capable of 640x480 resolution
CD-ROM drive or network card

Recommended:

700 MHz x86 processor
384 MB of system memory (RAM)
8 GB of disk space
Graphics card capable of 1024x768 resolution
A network or Internet connection

https://help.ubuntu....temRequirements

If you want the server edition (command line only) it's even lower than that. You can run it on a 486 if you wanted to.

Linux servers don't need much to run. Ubuntu's a bit heavier mostly cause it supports a lot of things right out of the box and has some neat graphical stuff (if you want it graphical). If you don't have any intricate hardware on your comp, you should be fine.

It sounds like you just want to run a command line server, so get the server edition and install it. Afterwards, you can remove the vid card altogether (when shut down) and access it only using SSH. That's the config I have at home.

[linuxelf]

Just just download the ISOs, burn them to disk, and boot them. They'll do the rest. The install is no more difficult than a Windows install.

[Darkshades]

ubunto, ok, and what does that run on? seriously I'm clueless when its outside of the DOS realm

not asking for 100% spoon fed here, but I don't want to google and get 1000 experts all saying one thing or another. I know how people are proud of their unix/distro of choice, just want to get an opinion from someone who is only 90% stranger instead of 100%

First, some information about me. I am a Sysadmin and have supported multiple Linux distro's (including Red Hat Entrerprise Edition, SuSe, Debian) along with OS/2, AIX, BSD, and every Windows version (both server and workstation) since Win 3.1.

Ubuntu is an OK starter distribution. I don't like how they handle their updates sometimes, but that is personal preference. I would recommend either Debian (the distro Ubuntu is based on) or Fedora as alternatives if you decide you don't like Ubuntu. The installation is just as easy as Windows, maybe even more so now that you can run it from a Live CD. My recommendation would be to download the ISO from here (http://www.ubuntu.com/), burn it to a CD, and boot to the CD drive. Then see how the computer works (warning it will run slower off of the live CD than when it is installed on the HD). Once you boot, you will go into a graphical interface not that much different than what you are use to from Windows (Ubuntu uses the K desktop by default). Look around to get a little more familiar with it. Once you are comfortable, install it to the hard drive. You will then want to install Apache and configure it (the configuration is very similar to configuring Apache for Windows). The installation is pretty straightforward. Click on "System" on the top bar, then "Administration", "Synaptic Package Manager". Once this loads, scroll through and find Apache - right click and mark for installation. Then click on the Apply button at the top.

-OR-

You can try LAMPPIX, which is a Live CD with Apache, PERL, PHP, etc already installed. I have not used it, so I cannot say how easy it is to use, but it would allow you to run everything right off of the Live CD. You can grab it here (http://lamppix.tinowagner.com/)


Good luck, and I hope your experience with Linux is as great as mine!!!

[Knight Shadow]

I have to agree with DarkShades on this one. Ubuntu is not as flexible as Debian and if you have never used linux ( or have tried it more then a year ago ) you are in for a shock on how the Desktop Environments are setup. KDE and Gnome will be easy to slip into if you are used to windows ( You don't need to know how to terminal to use it ). It is more point and click now. Get a real distro like Debian and you will be alot happier.

Screenshot of KDE
http://www.kde.org/screenshots/

Some people like the KDE desktop and some like Gnome. With Debian it does not matter you will have both.

This post has been edited by Knight Shadow: 05 June 2009 - 07:56 PM

[endgame]

Again it's all a matter of preference. I think Ubuntu is easier to get into. I've got an ubuntu LAMP server running on a mac mini sitting quietly on a shelf, it's perfect for me.

As for reviving old machines, I've had good results installing xubuntu on old iMacs, interesting stuff.