What's the best Linux for a file server / media server

[JohnG]

I've got some old hardware that I was considering making into a file server or a media server or both.
What's everyone's opinion on the best version of Linux to go for ? I'd hopefully want to run the slimserver software (might be called squeeze centre or something like that now).

[Old_Biker_John]

Hello again JohnG,

Some idea of the spec. of your old hardware (make/model if a system, or component list with speeds/capacities if not) might help to focus members' thoughts in selecting suitable software for your needs.

I was hoping to revive an old Dell lattitude CP D266XT laptop to do office work in Linux, but a Pentium II 266, 128MB of EDO RAM, a 4GB hard drive and a very restrictive BIOS seem to narrow my options considerably!

I hope your old hardware spec. is good enough for your Linux needs.

All the best,

John.

[JohnG]

Hi,
It's a Pentium 4 2Ghz processor with an 80GB hard drive and 512MB RAM so it's not all that old I suppose ! I think it's got a GeForce4 graphics card.
I was hoping to do a dual boot system as it's currently got XP Pro on and running reasonably well.

[Old_Biker_John]

Originally Posted by JohnG

I was hoping to do a dual boot system as it's currently got XP Pro on and running reasonably well.

Hi,

Your system looks to be capable of what you want it to do.

I'm a Linux newbie myself, but the AVF 'Linux links' thread shows 'Linux Forums' as a possible source of help.

I had a quick look in there and this one of their forums seems like a good place to seek an answer to your question http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...ux-software-2/ .

If you tell them what your system spec. is and ask for suggestions I would expect some response before long as the first page of threads is all dated today.

Sorry that I can't help more myself.

[RRB]

Originally Posted by JohnG

I've got some old hardware that I was considering making into a file server or a media server or both.
What's everyone's opinion on the best version of Linux to go for ? I'd hopefully want to run the slimserver software (might be called squeeze centre or something like that now).

Server wise you really cant go wrong with Debian. Really depends on how robust you want the server to be and also you knowledge of linux at the moment.

[JohnG]

I installed Suse on a computer last year and got it running ok, but I soon realised that I should have installed it on an older computer rather than the dual core AMD machine that I'd put it on. It was a bit of a waste putting it on there. My background is mainly DOS (until I was forced to learn windows many years ago!!) although I did do a couple of packages for unix many years ago so might remember the odd command

[RRB]

If your really just looking to use it as a server id probably go with Debian or a Debian based distro.

Im a Gentoo fanboy though so personally id use Gentoo

[JohnG]

I must admit I know very little about all the various distros of Linux so I need to do some investgation.
Thanks for the replies.

[TOMMOHAWK_UK]

Originally Posted by Old_Biker_John

Hello again JohnG,

Some idea of the spec. of your old hardware (make/model if a system, or component list with speeds/capacities if not) might help to focus members' thoughts in selecting suitable software for your needs.

I was hoping to revive an old Dell lattitude CP D266XT laptop to do office work in Linux, but a Pentium II 266, 128MB of EDO RAM, a 4GB hard drive and a very restrictive BIOS seem to narrow my options considerably!

I hope your old hardware spec. is good enough for your Linux needs.

All the best,


John.

If you have restrictive hardware/bios and its not a very powerful system then you should really consider DSL (Damn Small Linux). Not sure what the hardware detection is like but with an old laptop you should be fine. You only need 32mb of RAM to run it so you should be fine. You can install openoffice from the repositories once you have installed the main system. Openoffice is compatible with M$office so you should be fine with that.

Ken

[Old_Biker_John]

Originally Posted by TOMMOHAWK_UK

If you have restrictive hardware/bios and its not a very powerful system then you should really consider DSL (Damn Small Linux).

Hi Ken,

Thanks for that suggestion I have downloaded DSL 4.2.5 ISO and will give it a try tomorrow.

Its past my bedtime now!

John.

[tux-warrior]

Originally Posted by JohnG

I've got some old hardware that I was considering making into a file server or a media server or both.
What's everyone's opinion on the best version of Linux to go for ? I'd hopefully want to run the slimserver software (might be called squeeze centre or something like that now).

Ubuntu in its various forms is a good choice for a newbie and PCLOS is doing quite well.
Given that it takes about an hour and the answers to some 6 questions to install a dual boot with linux and another os. It is worth trying one to see if it suits and discarding it if it proves too tricky. All the recent versions come with media streaming server applications and will serve to ms as well as linux clients.
Good luck
Tux

[JohnG]

Cheers, I've been hearing a lot of people rave about Ubuntu

[scotty38]

Originally Posted by RRB

Im a Gentoo fanboy though so personally id use Gentoo

It's not for the faint hearted though is it?

[TOMMOHAWK_UK]

Originally Posted by scotty38

It's not for the faint hearted though is it?

Absolutley correct!!



There is a school of thought though that if you want Linux to just work then you should use Ubuntu or PCLOS or OpenSuse. However, if you want to know HOW Linux works then use Gentoo. Of course, if you still want Gentoo but want point and click then use Sabyon.

[scotty38]

Originally Posted by TOMMOHAWK_UK

Absolutley correct!!



There is a school of thought though that if you want Linux to just work then you should use Ubuntu or PCLOS or OpenSuse. However, if you want to know HOW Linux works then use Gentoo. Of course, if you still want Gentoo but want point and click then use Sabyon.

I'm an absolute novice at this and in the two months I've been playing with Linux I've had, in order, Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Mint, PCLOS, Kubuntu (HH), OpenSUSE, and now just updating Fedora as we speak.

I looked at Gentoo just before this install of Fedora but I'm afraid it was all just a bit too much for me right now