Linux on old box?

[Benson]

I'm probably going to be replacing my 100Mhz pentium computer this year. AND, since I just bought a book that included Redhat Linux 5.1, I was tossing around the idea of converting the old machine into a Linux 'puter. BUT (hey, this is almost like programming-check out my AND-BUT statement?!) what use could I put it to? Just learn linux with it? Can I network it to a Windows 98 machine and use it for data backup? OR, should I sell the computer and put the $$ toward the CD-Recordable drive that I lust after? I know it wouldn't sell for much!
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Benson
(or you can call me perplexed)

[Del]

Hmmmm Well, I'm putting parts together and will be installing RedHat 5.2 on a circa 89 Intel 386 soon. The main reasons for me will be to learn Linux system administration, and have a place to test my cgi's locally (so if it blows the server it won't toast all you guys too *g*). The secondary reason is so I can rewrite all my pages and put a little "No Microsoft product was used during the development of these pages" thing on my site http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif

The current RedHat distribution (5.2) comes with a slew of programs, including Gimp (graphic software), Corel WordPerfect 7, Apache, Perl, Python, all total it comes on three cd's. Tons o' fun, specially when my ancient 386 has a 80MB hard drive and 2 whole MB of RAM (both of them parts I have to replace)

As far as hooking the two together, I have no idea, sorry. My big plan is to set up a Linux box (prolly not the 386) as a local server, and have the windows machines connect to the net thru it, if that's possible. One of the things I'll be learning the hard way one of these days http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif

If you do end up wanting to sell it, please let me know what you'll be asking for it, I might be interested.



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Del
www.downinit.com/ (http://www.downinit.com/)

[MikeA]

I wouldn't sell it if I were you. You can always put Linux on it and learn that, or you can get a Novell disk and setup a small network. The possiblities are endless. And you're right. A 100 Mhz won't go for much, when you can buy new PC's for $700 or less.


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www.webauthorities.com (http://www.webauthorities.com)
"To continue press any key"...Where's the anykey?

[Benson]

d'oh!

I just realized that this post should be under "general Computing". Someone give me a slap.

[Deb]

***Thawk***


Just trying to help http://www.aota.net/ubb/wink.gif

Deb

[Tony]

Del, do you know about how space do you need to install Red Hat Linux 5.2? Complete install, if there are different options? Thanks!

[Del]

Tony,
I know it's in one of these books I got here, but I can't find it right now (somewhere within approx 1200 pages...) Check out http://www.redhat.com/ , they'll probably have a quickly found answer there. Seems like it's 200 or so MB for the basic install, up to 700 or more for the granddaddy of installs, but I could be easily mistaken. If you find out, let me know. Otherwise I'll post it here as soon as I can find your answer.



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Del
www.downinit.com (http://www.downinit.com)

I use ta couldnt even spell student, n now I are one!

[Tony]

So you think if I partition it for like a gig for Red Hat Linux it will be enough. Or should I go more, because I only have like 2 gigs left on my computer. I guess that is how a disk partition works, not sure though.

[Benson]

From "Linux Unleashed": A full X-system installation requires up to 100mb (for version 5.1), not including swap space. Swap space=less than 20mb probably.
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Benson
a Linux neophyte