Re: (OT) Should I get a Linux box?

1) Probably not. I do. I say probably because running a server requires opening up certain ports on your box. If you run a sane Linux distro (like <plug>Gentoo</plug>), you can keep track of what network services you're installing and keep up fairly easily on any patches. If you go for RedHat, just keep in mind that you'll have all kinds of services running that you may or may not need. Just make sure you only run the bare minimum - you probably won't need more than SSH, FTP, HTTP, and your Shoutcast server.

2) Most routers come with a firewall built in. I would recommend getting a Linksys router/switch/access point combo. By default, all your ports will be blocked from external access. Just open up the ones you need for your services.

3) Depends on the firewall at work. It would have to allow external connections on the port you need.

4) Sure. But I don't know how intense of a server you're planning to run here. If you're expecting some crazy hits, make sure you have a decent amount of RAM. And if you want to use your box for serious work, you'd of course want to use as much power as you can get - Linux won't magically make a 300MHz box work as fast as a 1.4GHz Windows box.

And, yes, this is _very_ offtopic. :)

Bill

The computer can't tell you the emotional story. It can give you the exact mathematical design, but what's missing is the eyebrows. - Frank Zappa

Comment on Re: (OT) Should I get a Linux box?

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re: Re: (OT) Should I get a Linux box? by tachyon (Chancellor) on Oct 22, 2003 at 01:03 UTC
RE: Red Hat you have heard of chkconfig? Here is a little chunk of our standard server setup docs: Now let's start shutting down excess services we don't need. Run chkconfig --list \| grep on This will show you most of the default services ie [root@plain root]# chkconfig --list \| grep on keytable 0:off 1:on 2:on 3:on 4:on 5:on 6:off syslog 0:off 1:off 2:on 3:on 4:on 5:on 6:off gpm 0:off 1:off 2:on 3:on 4:on 5:on 6:off sendmail 0:off 1:off 2:on 3:on 4:on 5:on 6:off kudzu 0:off 1:off 2:off 3:on 4:on 5:on 6:off omawsd 0:off 1:off 2:off 3:on 4:on 5:on 6:off netfs 0:off 1:off 2:off 3:on 4:on 5:on 6:off network 0:off 1:off 2:on 3:on 4:on 5:on 6:off random 0:off 1:off 2:on 3:on 4:on 5:on 6:off rawdevices 0:off 1:off 2:off 3:on 4:on 5:on 6:off ipchains 0:off 1:off 2:on 3:on 4:on 5:on 6:off iptables 0:off 1:off 2:on 3:on 4:on 5:on 6:off crond 0:off 1:off 2:on 3:on 4:on 5:on 6:off anacron 0:off 1:off 2:on 3:on 4:on 5:on 6:off xfs 0:off 1:off 2:on 3:on 4:on 5:on 6:off xinetd 0:off 1:off 2:off 3:on 4:on 5:on 6:off autofs 0:off 1:off 2:off 3:on 4:on 5:on 6:off sshd 0:off 1:off 2:on 3:on 4:on 5:on 6:off httpd 0:off 1:off 2:off 3:on 4:on 5:on 6:off raidmon 0:off 1:off 2:on 3:off 4:off 5:off 6:off telnet: on [root@plain root]# Use chkconfig --help to see the options. We want to disable all unnece +ssary services. For example (using above config) [root@plain root]# chkconfig --help chkconfig version 1.3.5 - Copyright (C) 1997-2000 Red Hat, Inc. This may be freely redistributed under the terms of the GNU Public Lic +ense. usage: chkconfig --list [name] chkconfig --add <name> chkconfig --del <name> chkconfig [--level <levels>] <name> <on\|off\|reset>) [root@plain root]# chkconfig --level 2345 ipchains off [root@plain root]# chkconfig --level 345 xinetd off [root@plain root]# chkconfig telnet off [root@plain root]# chkconfig omawsd off [download] Typically you will need a number of other services that you omit from your list like iptables for your firewall, syslog, network and crond to name a few. You definitely want iptables :-) cheers tachyon s&&rsenoyhcatreve&&&s&n.+t&"$'$`$\"$\&"&ee&&y&srve&&d&&print	[reply] [d/l]
Re: Re: (OT) Should I get a Linux box? by willdooUK (Beadle) on Oct 21, 2003 at 13:22 UTC
Cool. One of the main things I'd like to do is have access to my home files while I'm at work - I don't reckon I'd bet getting many hits so a slow machine would be fine. Thanks for the advice. > And, yes, this is _very_ offtopic. :) Well, I think people speak more sense here than pretty much anywhere on the web. :-) EDIT - Big thanks also teabag and DrHyde. Thanks for advising me, everyone's gotta start somewhere! willdooUK -------------- "Home is a castle you built in my mind; I'm home anywhere, anytime." Donny Hathaway	[reply]
Re: Re: Re: (OT) Should I get a Linux box? by batkins (Chaplain) on Oct 21, 2003 at 15:50 UTC
Eh, I personally don't mind OT posts. I've been guilty of making a few in the past. I was mainly just joking around (hence the smiley). But the CB is good for this kind of stuff, as someone else mentioned. Bill The computer can't tell you the emotional story. It can give you the exact mathematical design, but what's missing is the eyebrows. - Frank Zappa	[reply]