Best Linux release for BP6 based computer?

[mamisano]

Cobbling together a home-server based on the Abit BP6 and Dual Celeron 366@550 processors. It will also have an Adaptec 2940UW adapter and IBM Ultrastor 18Gig Hard Drive.

I will be installing XP-Pro as the primary OS, but what Linux release should I install for Dual Boot?

What OS should I install 1st?

How much room should I spare for Linux? I was figuring about 10Gig for XP and the rest 7+ for Linux.

Thanks!

 

[n0cmonkey]

Any should be fine. Look in the other "choose a linux" type of thread for suggestions.

 

[Giscardo]

I'd say Install whatever windows you're gonna install first, then install linux. Some distros will configure support for your dual processors upon installation, but if the one you choose doesn't, make sure you recompile the kernel with SMP support, and while you're at it take out support for anything you don't need, and add in support for what you have. It took me about 30 minutes total the first time i tried it. I would suggest slackware it's pretty clean and easy, but if it's gonna be your first linux installation I would suggest mandrake. What are you gonna use the server for? I have a dual boot with win2k and slackware, and my linux only has a 2 gig partition, because i use it for programming and connecting to my school's servers to submit assignments, and sometimes web browsing. All my mp3's reside on a 14 gig fat32 partition so i can access them from both windows and linux. My win2k partition is also 2gigs and houses windows and office, and a few other programs. Hope this helps.

 

[obenton]

I put Mandrake 8.0 on a BP6 and it installed easily, picking up all the hardware and using its SMP kernel. I'd suggest you put the Linux boot loader on a floppy (which you would then use to boot Linux), and leave your w2k boot loader and boot sector intact.

 

[Chatterjee]

I love how it picks up dual-processors and scsi cards with no problems and installs the smp kernel 🙂

-S

 

[n0cmonkey]

The win2k bootloader can be used to boot linux.