Setting up a web server...

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anthony88guy
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Setting up a web server...

Post by anthony88guy »

I have an old 750mhz AMD Duron, 512mb RAM, that I want to turn into a web server. Some questions I have:

1) Linux, what version? I know their are many.
2) The server will be behind a router, will that matter?
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Skara
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Post by Skara »

Linux, what version? I know their are many.
http://distrowatch.com/dwres.php?resource=major
Different distros for different people. Since you're a newb, don't pick something like Slackware, Debian or Gentoo (yay Gentoo!!) that use command line installers (and can take days to install). Mandriva is good, Fedora as well. Suse is easy, but I don't like it. Ubuntu is nice, but I really don't have much experience with it. Those are the only ones I know much about, other than Slax and Knoppix, which are both live-cd.
People have argued for years which is better, but most agree that different distros suit different people, hence why they're sometimes referred to as flavors.
The server will be behind a router, will that matter?
You'll just have to make sure port 80 (or whichever you want to use) is open.
I run mine behind a router. A linksys router, for that matter. Couldn't be a worse brand. ^^; I actually ran mine behind a wireless router for a bit and it worked just fine. (I was too lazy to climb through my attic and drill holes for an ethernet cable. Done now, though.)
anthony88guy
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Post by anthony88guy »

Xandros Distro, Looks good for beginners.
EDIT: Order some ubuntu CD's, I think I might try that one. Any suggestions for a really noob?
Skara wrote:A linksys router, for that matter. Couldn't be a worse brand. ^^
Why do you say that? I have a Linksys G-Wireless, works great but I'd be using a hard line for my server.

Also I have windows 98se installed on that computer, so I’m thinking of installing Linux to a different partition and then boot between the two, but I don’t know if you can do that using 98? If I cant, maybe it would be better to just install Linux, and wipe out 98?

Thanks for your input.
Last edited by anthony88guy on Fri Sep 30, 2005 10:52 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Skara
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Post by Skara »

WIPE WINBLOWS!!!! :P

I actually don't know if you can do it or not. The best partitioning program I've come across is PartitionMagic. It may work in 98, I'm not sure.
As long as you can resize the partition, you can do it, though.

I really don't see a reason to have 98 anymore, though. XP's been out so long it's unreal. I'd just back the data you want to keep and wipe it.

My router is wireless/wired, and it sucks. The range is about 40 feet max and it flickers at more than 30 feet. :/ I asked around forums a while back about increacing the signal and heard that Linksys was just bad. Whatever. :P
anthony88guy
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Post by anthony88guy »

Partition Magic is the only partition tool I have ever used but has done a great job. I have to buy a spliter box so i can share a moniter, mouse, keyboard and then i can get started on setting up this server. Yes, Windows 98 is a joke.
anthony88guy
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Post by anthony88guy »

Any driver issues I should be worried about if I do a clean install of Linux?
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feyd
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Post by feyd »

that all depends on your hardware and the support for it in the flavour you are installing..
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Skara
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Post by Skara »

I've never used xandros, so I couldn't tell you either. The only distro I've tried that auto-detected everything is Ubuntu. If something doesn't work, say sound, just google your sound card model with the words linux and driver. (e.g. "audigy X123 linux driver")
A lot of times a distro will come with the right driver you need but won't install it for you. ;)
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Trenchant
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Post by Trenchant »

You might want to look into the possibility of having to remove windows. From what I heard(on the Fedora IRCd channel) changing a partition that windows is already installed on will make it corrupt. Apparently windows hogs the whole partition and will only work properly if the partition is set before windows is installed.
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Skara
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Post by Skara »

errn, wrong. You can change a windows partition as much as you want without any consequences. Problems can arise from changing a Linux partition, specifically an ext3, if I'm not mistaken.
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Trenchant
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Post by Trenchant »

Skara wrote:errn, wrong. You can change a windows partition as much as you want without any consequences. Problems can arise from changing a Linux partition, specifically an ext3, if I'm not mistaken.
Really? Thats good news to me since I have been thinking about setting up a dual boot but don't want to go through the havic of reinstalling windows.
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Post by John Cartwright »

Web Dummy wrote:
Skara wrote:errn, wrong. You can change a windows partition as much as you want without any consequences. Problems can arise from changing a Linux partition, specifically an ext3, if I'm not mistaken.
Really? Thats good news to me since I have been thinking about setting up a dual boot but don't want to go through the havic of reinstalling windows.
Reinstallation of windows is extremely (for the most part) user-friendly. Infact I have seen people with next to none computer knowledge reinstall windows :P.
anthony88guy
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Post by anthony88guy »

I've reinstalled windows 98 when i was 12. So dont worry its pretty straight forward.

Today I think I will install linux. I'm going to put the HDD in my serverbox in my other computer, wipe it out, also change the file system if need be.

Thanks for your input.
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Trenchant
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Post by Trenchant »

I know how to reinstall windows. I've done it before several times myself.


I just hate reinstalling programs. I like to get my computer setup and then just keep it running really clean. I hate starting over.
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n00b Saibot
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Post by n00b Saibot »

Web Dummy wrote:I just hate reinstalling programs. I like to get my computer setup and then just keep it running really clean. I hate starting over.
yeah! its really <span style='color:blue' title='I'm naughty, are you naughty?'>smurf</span> :evil:
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