What would you do w/3 linux boxes?
 

From pieces and parts laying around the house I've been able to build out 2 new complete linux boxes. I currently have a linux box behind a linksys router that handles my family email and web site.

Now, if you came across 2 new linux boxes, what would you use them for? I've already installed squid on one and am currently using it for surfing sites I normally can't from a 9-5 position... ;).

I thought about using the third for a backup box, but what would/should I back up to it? Besides, that's not a very exciting reason for it - unless the web/email box dies that is...

Is that how you'd set it up or would you have the web and email servers on separate boxes?



What would you do?

Fileserver... mp3 streamer.. multimedia box.. experimental box... anything you want it to be.

And what would I do with another box if it were me.. first scream and then try to find someone who wants it.. as I already have 10 computers in my house already.. plus parts lying around ;)

Just trying to see what people would do - maybe something will sound good and I'll try it out.

Multimedia doesn't sound like a bad idea, but I have a HD DVR already and I don't listen to music that much when I'm at home.

BTW - what the heck do you use all 10 machines for?

and ok - if we're getting technical, I have 4 - the necessary Windows XP box.

I have no Windows anymore on any of my 3 boxes.
One is for Debian (I love this distro), one for Mandriva (coz' it's cool
just to have a working machine)
One to try out nearly anything else, but I am considering to dedicate
it to Slackware (I'm getting used to it and, it's cool, too)

Perhaps I'll get another old thing (only one is new in the above),
because I don't mind lazy machines...It's the South, here, we
take our time...:D :D

I am too lazy to try setting a network, yet

So many things you can do... Music server, Web Server, FTP Server, Appliance control, SETI project http://setiweb.ssl.berkeley.edu/ Air Traffic Control system, Missle Warning System, magnetic anomaly detector, Model rocket guidence and control system, Astronomical Telescope control, Recipie keeper, Chess, there are sooo many...

KC

I would cluster them together and spread the load over all the processors. Kernel compile times would be awesome. Any compiling would be very fast. That is what I would do. I am in the process of trying to cluster three machines myself. A 550 p3, 400 celeron, and a 533 amd k-6, are the machines I am trying to cluster. Im gonna keep the amd64 out of it for now though, so I have one working box at least.

Experiment with it.
Try different distros on it, break it, fix it, learn how linux works.

:)

Ahhh, that was my answer! I would also cluster them and see what odd things I could get them to do!

2 - Workstations
1 - HTTP, MySQL webserver
1 - FTP, Fileserver
1 - HTTP, Samba, SSH (remote access point)
1 - Kind of doing nothing
1 - Another one doing nothing
1 - Gonna play with setting up a router/firewall
1 - Still in the works but a Linux DVR for my girlfriend mainly
1 - Girlfriends Machine (only Windows box in the house)

Consider a shell server.

I'd use one as a multimedia centre for playing mp3's, oggs and vids. I am thinking of setting a machine up using amarok for audio files and kaffeine for vids, then use my TV as a monitor and my hi-fi for surround sound.