Hi,

I used to be a Slack user some years back, mostly my college days, when I had oodles of free time ... and then when I ran out of time, I got a laptop and just used the windows that came with it ... Now, I've got a wee bit o' time on my hands, and want to setup a webserver using Linux, on an old PC of mine. Its been ages since I used Linux, and I know I don't have the time or the patience at this point of time to setup a Slack based server ... So I got Ubuntu Server 8.10, which is apparently very very good ...

Coming from a Slack background, I am not a complete noob when it comes to stuff like compiling kernels et al ... But, like I said, its been ages, and I am more keen on the webserver aspects right now rather than the Linux aspects ... This is a 'testbed' for me, so security is NOT a concern ... I WANT to make mistakes and learn, so Im using root access on everything ... I also did apt-get of the ubuntu-desktop package, so that I had a GUI while I was playing around with the server, and could do the research on the same station without having to move away elsewhere ...

Now, I've been reading that there are some differences in the kernel thats installed with the server edition, wherein certain items like pre-empting have been turned off for the server, but which will be usually on for the desktop ... Question 1) will these 'missing features' actually make a difference?

Irrespective of the answer to that question, I also have the Desktop Edition's ISO with me, so Question 2) Is there anyway I can 'extract' just the kernel that comes with that edition and install it on this server, and add an entry into GRUB wherein I can use that kernel with a different runlevel to take me to the GUI directly, and another entry which takes me into the console with the server kernel? And should I be extracting the kernel from the other CD, or am I better off compiling a new one of my own, in which case, what are the keys that need to be enabled? (I am also assuming Ubuntu installs the kernel source, in which case, I would just need the .config for the desktop, and can use that to compile a new one ... if yes, where do I get a .config?)

Question 3) Ok, kinda off-topic, but, ABSOLUTE noob to web related stuff on linux or for that matter any OS ... So, any links/sites that u recommend for me to get started on this with? Right now, I am in the process of installing webmin on this system ... I also hear that XAMPP is a good bet for GUI based Apache etc ... I'm not scared of the console and honestly very often prefer the CLI, should I be using XAMPP at all, or should I just stick to reading up on apache et al and using the CLI?

If thats too many questions in one post, lemme know, and I shall break them apart for simplicity ...

Thanks,
Karthik

hmm, 84 views, and no replies ...

anyways, been using the GUI on this machine for a bit now, and I know Im going to get a lot of crap for this, but man, Im thinking Vista is better than this now!!! Damn thing treats me like Im illiterate, I have to put my password in for pretty much every single thing I do on the damn system!!! This is wayyyyyyyyyyy too much 'security' for me ... its not like Im guarding state secrets on my computer!!!

time to download slackware and pray that it hasn't also 'enhanced security' by 'thinking for me' ... Of course, I do know that I can just get root access on the GUI too and then not worry, but still ............

In answer to your OP:

1. Sorry, I don't really know -- probably a least a little.
   
   
2. It would probably be easier to identify it & install it through apt-get; or, according to current Debian recommendations aptitude.
   
   It's possible the needed changes in GRUB's menu.lst will be made by the installer; if not, you can, as you said, do them yourself.
   
   
3. Don't do much web any more -- no help here either.

In answer to your 2nd post: Welcome to the world of "pseudo security".

IMNRHO, the makers of Ubuntu have made a mistake* in adopting a single password security model & disabling direct access to the root acct. You can work around this in the CLI by running: This will give you a root shell.

You can activate the root acct. by giving it a password: If you do this, beware -- your original 1st user acct. still has its special privileges available through the sudo system. You might want to create a 2nd, plain, user acct. for everyday work.

As to flaming you for comparing Ubuntu security to Vista security, no way -- it's an eloquent example of my belief that the decision to use the single password model was wrong*.


*If I wanted to start a theological flame war, I would use adjectives like stupid, idiotic, irresponsible, negligent, & criminal.

A similar theological flame war could be started w/ the statement "I'd rather use the XP interface than Gnome." (Die hard KDE user here )

Thanks a mill for the reply ... Yeah, I kinda decided to bail on Ubuntu and downloaded Slack 12.2 instead ... It might take me a few weeks extra to get things setup, but atleast it'll let ME do what I want to do with the system, rather than be my mother!!!

Pity though, I was kinda getting used to apt-get and synaptic ... Anyways, seems Slackware's pkg mgmt has come a fair way too by now, so I won't be completely deprived of some automation ...

But the kernel seems to have moved on quite a bit since I last used Linux, downloaded the 2.6.29.1 kernel and started a fresh compile on the slack machine, and woah, toooooo many new options that Im not familiar with at all!!! Need to do some reading up on the kernel, it seems now ...

Hmm, I dunno if this is Ubuntu-specific, or GNOME-specific, but the Gnome GUI on Ubuntu seemed noticeably sluggish compared to the KDE GUI on Slack ... Not trying to start anything with that, just wondering if Gnome on Slack would also act funny ... I kinda haven't picked a 'fav GUI' yet ...

You're welcome.


Well then, I won't be seriously recommending MEPIS to you ; although I've never found it getting in the way of the "deeper" things I want to do.


Then why not straight Debian?


Interesting Q. Please report any answer you find.

For me it's KDE from almost the beginning; well, since SimplyMEPIS 2004.04 anyway. I used Xfce briefly; & since it didn't piss me off right away, it's on my list to look at again. I am particularly interested in using it as the DE on a VM (Vbox) host machine where all real work will be done in guest VM's.

I'm going to use Debian Stable for the host OS.