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linux-unix-and-friends
Install linux on your 1850r
I bought a proliant 1850r to run linux. I'm tired of single processor systems with single drives. I want something reliable so I thought I'd purchase a nice server.
Look on ebay for old proliant servers. These servers are typically mounted on racks in climate controlled data centers. You can find a proliant like mine for under $300 which is a good deal for something with dual processors, ECC ram, and a raid array.
Here are some links I used to setup my server:
SmartArray Tools (utils for linux)
Step through Someone else's attempts on a similar proliant
Compaq Servers and Linux
HOWTO install proliant without SmartStart discs
The system is running and working great.
A few words on Fedora
For some time now I've been using debian because of the rock solid package management software dselect and apt. I've used many distros in the past. Some of them without package management systems and some with. But its hard to strike a balance between a bloated overloaded system and a fully customized sleek install. Redhat was a nice distro (5-8) but the RPM system was lacking a good interface to keep the rpm packages up to date. Then Redhat came out with their up2date rpm update utility but this required registration on Redhat's servers. (I can't say I liked that AT ALL) up2date also didn't provide the ability to easily select new packages to install, it was more for keeping installed packages up to date. When Fedora first came out I sat around from quite some time because I didn't like the way Redhat's old systems required at least 2gigs out the door and didn't have a package management system to manage that bloat. I stuck with my tried and true Debian because I could install a base system with the bare essentials and dselect the packages I needed...when I needed them. If the package wasn't there or I needed something special I could always compile the source.
Well, I finally installed Fedora to see if the package management problem had been solved. I was presently surprised to see a package management system called yum much like apt installed by default. Yum allows for RPM updates through normal HTTP queries and leaves RPM to manage the dependency checking, conflicts, etc. In addition, apt is available for Fedora!
So far the experience has been a pleasant one. Only time will tell. I'll update you in a few.
---Update----
Ok, well I had some problems with yum the other day. I added the some extra yum repositories and did an update. I didn't say yes to the update. However, sometime after I ran yum, all of my important startup files were set to zero length. Not sure if it was something weird on my machine or if I got wacked with a nasty yum archive. But from now on I'm sticking to the Fedora core release files.
Some links of interest for Fedora
FedoraTracker
Unoffical Fedora Core 2 Guide for Beginners
Setup SSL with apache on fedora
Security:
Here is a pam module that will execute a script when people login.
pam_preprofile.tgz
SNMP:
MibDepot
Linux Kernel Development
I've decided on doing some linux development. More to come.
Doc on Linux Internals
Kernel Newbies
32-bit UID BSD Accounting patch
Linux Input Replay
Linux Related Mailinglists
Created: 2004-08-01 15:45:19
Modified: 2010-02-15 11:58:47
