Re: Which distro for a server?

From: Wally (atdot_at_dotat.atdot)
Date: 01/01/04 

Date: Thu, 01 Jan 2004 15:51:57 GMT

Max Khitrov wrote:

> Seriously though, I agree with you and I'd love to be able to set up
> everything that I need with only a text console. However, when you
> know what you want to do and have no idea on where to even start
> looking (other then going to a newsgroup and asking how to do it),
> that doesn't exactly help me in learning linux on my own. On the
> other hand, if you have more specific suggestions on what I should
> read/do to be able to work with linux completely from a console, I'd
> really appreciate those suggestions.

I installed my server as a pure text-mode console. The installer (Mandrake
8.1) still included the X server, but I didn't use it. I didn't install any
GUIs or workstation apps. For most of my configuration stuff, I use
linuxconf, a DOS-like console app which uses cursors/enter to move around.
It gives you a list of stuff to configure without you having to know the
command line commands or names of configuration files - field-based editing
with 'commit changes' buttons. I also use a file manager similar to x-tree,
called Midnight Commander (look for 'mc'). It has two on-screen directory
listings and can be used for normal stuff like copying/deleting files,
running some standard shell commands on files (via drop down menus), and
also has a built-in text editor. I do some stuff at the command line, but
it's mostly looking up man pages or getting feedback from the system (stuff
like ifconfig).

A week or so ago, I added vncserver to the linux box, and the vnc client to
my Windows box (which has a screen resolution that makes a GUI usable -
server has a 640x480-only monitor). I installed the bare bones of KDE and
can now set the vncserver to activate a desktop matching my Winbox
resolution - running the vnc client and putting it in full screen mode gives
me a virtually seamless full screen linux GUI. I can ALT-TAB between the
linux desktop and the various Windows apps whenever I like and the whole
thing seems pretty slick. I'm currently investgating the options for using
the GUI as a configuration front end and to make tentative steps in trying
out some of the GUI apps (playing with Mozilla at the moment - browser seems
fine, but the mail client is less than wonderful).

> And half the time, I know that
> what I want to do is possible, but how in the world do I find some
> command, for example, other then just printing out a very long list
> of commands and going through them one by one?

I would suggest that this is the point at which asking a question in a
newsgroup is a good way to find out what direction to go in. There are
plenty of folks who know the console commands, but I would recommend having
a look at the man page for a suggested command before acting on a
suggestion. One thing I've found with linux is that there are loads of ways
to acheive the same thing - the parameters that someone adds to a command
might work on their system, but might not on yours, so you should read up a
little before trying something. IOW, treat advice from discussion groups as
a *suggestion* of where to go, and not as an answer.

> Right now I'm just
> really lost without some kind of GUI.

Like Tremor, I'd recommnd a good book. I have "Red Hat Linux 7.3 Bible", by
Christopher Negus (Mandrake is derived from Red Hat). I felt it had a good
balance between comprehensive information on techie stuff, while still
taking the time to explain stuff to those who are new to linux. I have
background as an admin on other systems (Netware, Windows), so I wasn't
looking for a pure beginner's book. It covers both workstation and server
usages, and describes how to do stuff at the command line and in a GUI.
Visit your local computer book shop and leaf through a few books, looking
for those that cover what you want to do. 

--
Wally
www.art-gallery.myby.co.uk
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