slackware on sun servers
 

I'm thinking of buying a Sun server. Not sure exactly what, but maby Ultra n, ultrasparc.... something up to 500 quid (1000 big ones)

I've heard linux runs well on them, but i was wondering if Slackware does (single, dual or quad cpu ones).. And if not, then is there a way to manually get slack to work by force :p

For an easy install, you could try solaris 10, it is free, it has Java Desktop (Gnome) and
some open source softwares on the install DVD.

If you want to install Slackware on it, you will have to compile all packages as Sparc is not
supported (only x86 and IBM s/390)

So a LFS is easier than slack :p

And i assume the kernel works fine and is supported then?

Just a small question.. Do i also have to recompile gcc in it, and then start compiling the packages so it supports slackware?

And on a side note, if you or anyone knows.. What are your oppinions on Solaris 10 ? power, upgradability, ease of changing stuff (xorg, WM, etc...)

I used solaris 10 in a pc x86, although it as some good server functions (like the zone
concept to limit filesystem/memory access for services) I prefer much slackware for x86
platform.

Now that depends on what you want to do with your Sparc machine

Short answer, i'm fed up of x86 machines :p

I want to make a webserver out of it, and also might as well experiment and learn about sun servers / solaris..

Hmm, i'm looking at the 2.6.11.7 kernel, and there's nothing there that indicates that it supports the Ultrasparc II processors.. :/

Check this link : http://www.ultralinux.org/

Thanks, i've noticed that "Slackware no longer supports SPARC in its current releases. However there is a unofficial version of Slackware for SPARC called SPLACK"

What about giving Debian a whirl on it? They have a version that supports sparc64 and sun4u.

Also, if you like Slackware, there are also versions of BSD for sparc64. I've had both OpenBSD and currently FreeBSD on my Ultra5, both worked well, although both installers didn't get on so well with the console. And my first install of OpenBSD from a image dd'd to a Solaris 9 swap partition had a few issues with detecting and partitioning the hd too. Personally, I put it down to the Ultra5's dodgy IDE controller, not anything I did ;)

On another note, if you're just fed up with x86 hardware and want some interesting new hardware to play with, how about the PA-RISC based machines like the HP C9000?

Cheers,

Steve

i'd suggest netbsd or openbsd

http://netbsd.org
http://openbsd.org

and yes, as already mentioned, slack doesn't support that architecture anymore.

Were I blessed with Sun hardware, I'd run Solaris on it. I have managed many, MANY servers running Solaris, specifically as web servers, also running Websphere as an application server, and Oracle on the backend. Rock-freaking-solid. It was all but fire-and-forget. We'd get the ball rolling, hand them over to the developers, and patch the OS and apps periodically. Never got calls in the middle of the night, except in the rare case that the application was hosed, but that was the web app, not Oracle or Websphere.

If you get your hands on a Sparc box, put Solaris on it. Otherwise, it'd be a bit like buying a Mac and putting Windows on it...

I'll give Solaris 10 a try.

EDIT

- Are there Solaris package websites? like linuxpackages.net ?

- I'm assuming compiling applications is the same 'compile make make install'.. And most of *nix software i can use in solaris too, like xfce, gaim, ...

- How easy is upgrading the system / software (eg, swaret, yum)

There is a packages site: http://www.blastwave.org/ (http://www.blastwave.org/packages.php)
And also read this, may result interesting ;) : http://www.ameinfo.com/57937.html

See supported hardware at Slackware for SPARC.