making a basic server

[excalibur3]

I have an old dell 350 mhz that I would like to add a 250gb hard drive to and make a server for files, printing, and maybe even a website. I'd like to use linux but I'm not sure which version would run nicely on it (I have a little over 256mb of ram I think) and I would really like to control everything from my macbook pro so that I wouldn't need to have a monitor (I have windows running on it too if needed). Is this at all possible? Also are there any other cool things that I could do with a server that might be useful?

 

[cleverhandle]

Originally posted by: excalibur3
Is this at all possible?

Sure, perfectly possible. With that old of hardware, however, it's going to be an entirely command-line operation - you don't have the speed to run cutesy little GUI "configure-your-server" kinds of tools. So if you haven't used linux before, it could be pretty slow going. But if you're patient and don't mind reading, you can do it. Get a base system installed first and then take one little piece at a time. Set up local printing (via lpr) first using CUPS, because you need that working before you can share it. For filesharing, you'll want to install a Samba server package (assuming you're sharing to Windows clients). Once files work, use Samba to share the printer. For a website, use apache.

 

[excalibur3]

Which version of linux do you recommend? I am a pretty advanced user with os x but I'm only starting to learn command line now. It sounds like a rewarding challenge though because I would learn command line in the process.

 

[cleverhandle]

Originally posted by: excalibur3
Which version of linux do you recommend?

For this sort of project, Debian. Most of the other big distros are more slanted to GUI use. Slackware would work, too - more work in some ways than Debian, but probably a better learning experience. Undoubtedly, there are many other possibilities.

 

[excalibur3]

So debian is completely command line based or I would have to use the command line to communicate with it? Would I set it up by plugging the dell into a screen, keyboard, and mouse and then once it is set up just do it remotely? What did you mean by gui configure tools? Is that at the dell end or a computer connecting to the dell?

 

[cleverhandle]

Originally posted by: excalibur3
So debian is completely command line based or I would have to use the command line to communicate with it?

Debian can use a graphical display just like any other distro. But its installation and configuration tools are designed to work equally well without one. Other distros' tools tend to be designed primarily for graphical use, and use console mode as a last resort. Ultimately, you can configure any distro from the command line - you can always edit the text files if nothing else. It's just a little easier with some distros than others. Slackware solves this problem by basically giving you no configuration tools at all - almost everything you do after installation you do by editing text files by hand. This makes it a little harder to get started, but you learn a lot by doing it because you're not relying on a distro-specific tool to get the job done.

Would I set it up by plugging the dell into a screen, keyboard, and mouse and then once it is set up just do it remotely?

Yes, you need a local console for the installation. Well, if you really know what you're doing, you might not. But let's just say you need a local console.

What did you mean by gui configure tools?

See above - distro-specific tools to configure various services and programs. Kind of like Windows wizards, though less braindead.

Is that at the dell end or a computer connecting to the dell?

Technically, at the dell end. Though due to the way X11 works, you could run a GUI configuration program on the dell and have it display on some other machine, which is kind of neat. But with the hardware as old as it is, I'd stick to pure command line.

 

[Cerb]

Make sure it can handle big drives. If not sure, get a Silicon Image chip controller card.

Anything will run Nicely. CentOS will get you more docs than you can ever use, Debian is easy to set up w/o docs, and Ubuntu is like that but w/ newer stuff.

For controlling it: OpenSSH is your buddy. OS X aught to just have SSH on there, for Windows you need to get Putty (OK, not a requirement, but it's the best). It will be like sitting at the terminal on the machine. Also, with some distros, it will be easy to set up Webmin, which can be handy.

Other cool things? Print server, streaming music server (Slimserver does not require a Slimp3 or Squeezebox, and can use iTunes' library), and...I dunno, a random box to play around with .

So debian is completely command line based or I would have to use the command line to communicate with it?

Er, yes. I mean you can have a GUI, and it can help sometimes, but all the real controls are command-line and in text files. For n00b use, remember that nano exists as a text editor. vi and vim are neat, but can be confusing, and sometimes get in the way when you accidentally use a feature.

Would I set it up by plugging the dell into a screen, keyboard, and mouse and then once it is set up just do it remotely?

Yes. Make sure the BIOS is set to not stop on any errors.

What did you mean by gui configure tools? Is that at the dell end or a computer connecting to the dell?

On the Dell. However, you most certainly can run such tools, they will just be slow. However, those I've seen are mostly pointless. Basic curses and curses-like interfaces (text menu displays and stuff) may not look nice, but they work good.