Re: what version?? need file sharing and web server

The message <UI5Ig.14498$2w1.9139@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
from "C" <c@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> contains these words:

Hi

i have a fairly old pc i am looking to install linux on to run as a
file and
webserver, i want to have some sort of GUI, i am not to familiar with
unix/linux

does any one have any recommendations

thanks

C

pc 128 ram amd cpu 30 gig hdd

I have to say I'm sort of in a similar position in that I'm
investigating various distros (including Live CDs) as a means of
upgrading my existing Debian based 1 terabyte server to 1Gbps ethernet
and I'm finding it so frustrating with regard to stability of the
ethernet interface (using a GA311 card) in a recent socket A MoBo that
I'm actually trialling win2kSP4 as I type. :-(just waiting for the
windows updates to complete).

The most straight forward 'fileserver' (if you only need 'file serving'
support) is FreeNAS. This will work very well on older underspecced
hardware and has a web interface that looks the 'Box Deluxe' in any
graphical web browser.

Another 'full blown' Linux alternative that might suit is DSL and
possibly DSL-N. However, I'm no expert when it comes to things Linux
(Boy! Am I no expert!).

As a reference point, hardwarewise, my current server is an old 'Super
Socket 7' VIA chipset MoBo with an underclocked K6/2/500 running at
250MHz (you don't need a lot of CPU 'Grunt', just plenty of I/O
performance) which I have undervolted to 1.43v (supposed to be 2.2v at
rated speed) to keep heat (And noise!) minimised. The whole thing, disks
and all, only draws 52 watts.

The board, obviously, doesn't support hard disks bigger than 32GB so
has a cheap Promise controller card fitted to service the four WD320GB
drives. I was getting just under 7MB/s transfers via a realtek
10/100Mbps NIC but adding the GA311 only gave me a 45% boost in speed
over the wire instead of the hoped for 300% boost. I guess I'm asking
rather a lot of the PCI interface in that elderly VIA chipset MoBo. :-(

NEWSFLASH!!!

Just did a file transfer of a 991MB file to my win2k test server in
just 21.5 seconds! That's just over 46MB/s. The best I got during the
last few frustrating days of Linux testing was a mere 21MB/s. Now all I
have to do is try shifting a 50 odd GB folder's worth to see whether I
get a repeat of the Linux / GA311 network disconnection problem.

The only 'Live CD' distro that worked 'out of the box' was Knoppix 4.
The later Knoppix 5 and a few other varients that I tried left me
without an internet connection (getting an IP lease from my gateway
router (I'm on NTL cable) was a no go affair, possibly on account the
gateway address happens to be 192.168.1.254 rather than the more usual
192.168.1.1 that most other gateway routers seem to default to)

Assuming you're not trying to add this server to a 1Gbps network,
there's plenty of distros to choose from that should do the business if
you don't need a GUI and a much smaller subset of distros that might be
able to support some sort of GUI on your hardware (I think DSL might fit
the bill). I've no doubt you'll get plenty of suggestions from those far
more expert in the ways of Linux.

I'm off to see how fast I can copy 64.3GB's worth over the wire. Wish
me luck! :-)

--
Regards, John.

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