i got honeypot configuration done on my old box, i now run cowrie on it.
https://github.com/micheloosterhof/cowrie

Thanks for sharing, very good to know about cowrie. Will be helpful in the future if the code is pasted on pastebin and a link shared to that paste.

I probably have the worst security on my PC, just cause there is nothing of value on it. Just some of my notes, the linux info. I have anyone can get it easily of the net from a few sites even.

What is a real concern for me is hardware failure since I am mostly using quite old hardware. So, I try to backup often like once every week or so.

Rebuilding old Linux server:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Foioqv09hsU

Why a home server:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAfYLi4aYXw

Convert old PC into home server:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWLhTWKMzRI

This was my plan and focus for the future:
1. Learn coding
2. Learn CLI Linux
3. Learn and experiment with different distros including LFS etc.,

However, when I make such a plan, usually life leads me in the opposite way, so it might me learning different
distros and experimentation first.

The thing with an old computer problem is that it is either a hardware or a software issue, if it is hardware
then it can't be resolved, if it is software, specially a driver etc., then it can be resolved.
In this regards, learning the basics of how linux itself works, becoming excellent at configuration
etc., become critical. Once one gets this perspective, then things like slackaware, LFS, Mininal Linux, gentoo,
arch etc., start to make sense.

Initially when I moved to linux I just wishes to get away from windows, as long as it worked I was happy, went from
vector linux to knoppix to puppy Linux. I let the OSes do their thing and focused on being a user more. I updated my OS only when it became super critical. However, being just a user is no longer that vital for me. Now I wish to solve any issues that arise pro actively. In this regards, I need to learn to configure more. This seems to be along the same lines of what Richard Stallman faced with the printer altho with far much minor outcomes.

As an aside, I didn't go to linuxlinks.com for a long time and recently felt like visiting it. Pleasantly surprised to see several Linux books for beginners. Sometimes it helps to read one of them with a fresh mindset, this gives a new perspective:
https://www.linuxlinks.com/excellent...n-about-linux/

Old server uses:
https://www.techrepublic.com/blog/10...nd-life-82217/
https://lifehacker.com/5830927/what-...-an-old-server
https://www.reddit.com/r/sysadmin/co...rver_hardware/

Top 10 ways to extend Laptop battery life:
https://lifehacker.com/top-10-ways-t...ife-1791500458

Today is a great day for Old PCs learning for me. :)

It is very hard to post with dillo or links browser as they don't store cookies, so my login is lost sometimes. Hence, a post I made didn't appear. The Palemoon browser that is sort of similar to firefox on the other hand needs more resources, so will use it only when needed on this old PC.

Home server setup ideas:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzPX17jM8r0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTqt-Flb1IE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hasa4tQUbUI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFmPg_qWxA8

I don't think I will ever need a home server myself.
However, this is good to know.

I think the midori browser is fairly good on low spec machines.

http://midori-browser.org/

^ i wonder if it's safe to use; the latest News on their site is from March 2016, and iirc so is development.

Yes, I know, but some people are happily using it.

There is another browser called netsurf that might be worth a look too. - http://www.netsurf-browser.org/

Thank you for info. on both the browsers. I think midori is safe to use for routine browsing but not for net banking etc.,

https://softwareengineering.stackexc...-in-interviews

I never learned and studied the above, have heard about this long time ago. This seems to be vital even today.

The main reason I am sharing this is cause my personality so far has been the opposite of the above. To be leading in IT one must have excellent logic, constantly learn, be quick to adapt to change, move to what will be vital in future fast and dump what is not vital before it becomes trash. Can't wait till the last minute to squeeze the last penny out of the software, hardware. I am the super exact opposite of this, not sure if I can change this. Without learning data structures I was told one can never be a good coder.

With my mindset, regular IT work is not even possible to imagine remotely. So, anything I learn at this stage in life will be more for my self knowledge, hobby.

Also, as a Linux user I have been coasting along so far, not looking beneath the surface. I don't know how to move from one email client to next, don't know many configurations, in fact know hardly few. This is considering the fact that I have been using linux since 2002 end or so. This is a very hard thing to realize, no one else can do the learning for me. Wish someone had encouraged me to look beneath the surface of the gui atleast a little, even a few years ago.

What is the point of being an outstanding coder, if I can't do basic configurations on my own older PC ? So perhaps it is better to focus on the basic configurations, CLI more and mix with a little bit of coding learning.

You can learn the basics of coding by using the shell & creating scripts, then there is sed & awk to progress to.
They should be more than enough to obtain an understanding of how to (start) coding.
If you like doing it, then by that time, you'll have a good idea of which programming language to learn.
Everyone learns at different speeds, it's having the will to learn that counts. :)

Thanks for your kind words, much appreciated. I have been discouraged by others a lot in the past, even now we see data structures coming out to be important.

How will learning sed & awk help with learning C and other programming languages ? What about data structures ?

If I try to do one thing, I end up with 10 issues, have tons of bad luck, challenges. This is another major drawback at my end.

Looking under the hood of linux initially I got all excited, carried away and started jumping around too much. I need to have a plan and focus. Can try one or two things at the same time but not 10. So will try to get that balance.

Using something like bash to create scripts will give you a basic understanding of how to construct a program, sed & awk are more powerful for less typing.

You can create code blocks for reuse in most programming languages, that is the next step. Use something like Perl or Python, as they are written like scripts, but are executed JIT, (Just In Time), that means they are compiled as they run, so it makes correcting mistakes easier, like scripting.

After that are the fully compiled languages, C, C++, Fortran, etc.

No one can know everything about Linux, it is just too big, the trick is in knowing where to look for the answer to your problem - but some basic understanding goes a long way. ;)

An explanation of data structures - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_structure

Edit: Don't worry about data structures, you will need to know about programming first, especially Object Oriented Programming.

Awk is fun and easy to learn, but it won't teach you about any other language because awk is unique. It's completely data-driven. Each instruction is matched against the whole of the input stream but only executed on records/lines that match the accompanying specification.

Sed isn't a language. It's just a very powerful editor that uses regular expressions.

To learn bash, my advice is to study your system's init scripts.

Thanks again for the support.

Yesterday I got minimal linux and janus linux (to use this the first time needs a 64 bit system).

http://minimal.linux-bg.org/#home

These seem rather interesting.

Can't let IT learning stress me or give me a personal crisis.
Don't think I can ever make a living from it.
Will keep this as more of a hobby and make it fun.
Will learn slowly from the basics, will take my time, no rush.
If something is too hard, might even have to skip it.

https://www.linux.com/learn/how-compile-linux-kernel

I have heard this being important with older versions of Linux.
Never done this tho.

I have. The kernel has grown a LOT since then. It now takes hours just to go through all of the kernel configuration options.compile times on old hardware can be just silly. Luckily, there are fewer valid reasons for compiling your own kernel today.

How long does it take to compile approx. ? 4 hours ? 8 hours ? Thanks.

Also how is the linux command line evolving currently ? This will be good to know, I didn't find any direct info. on this on the net.

Few other different items:
Saw thread on this at LQ, this is quite touching:
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2018/0...neer-1947-2018

http://microwindows.org/ - This is Nano-X and seems good for old computers

Here is a theory that I have, there are people with all sorts of problems due to addictions. How about creating a placebo addiction that is safe in terms of old computers, linux ? Such an addiction is harmless and may also lead to some learning.

KolibriOS was installed on this PC. On boot soon after the X loads entire screen freezes, mouse doesn't move, KB doesn't seem to work. Replugging these didn't help, reboot also didn't help.

Came across this OS, seems interesting:
https://www.haiku-os.org/about/faq/

Haiku is still a work in progress, I followed it for some time but gave up on it eventually, (same with ReactOS), they don't seem to have enough developers to keep up. :)

Kolibri has a twin called Menuet, one is more current than the other, (but can't remember which offhand).

OK, those are multiple subjects not well related.
How long the compile takes depends heavily upon the configuration options you select, the hardware you are compiling on, and slightly upon the compiler you are using. My last took about 3 hours and 20 minutes on the hardware I was using at the time with the options I selected. I SUSPECT that the current kernel compiled on my current hardware would take about 6 hours to compile, but I do NOT intend to test that estimate. A more modern and powerful processor, more memory, and SSD drives might cut that back sharply.

Since the "linux command line" is not a well defined single item, there is no single answer. The command line is used for activating internal (shell) and external (gnu utilities and applications) code. If and how it has changed depends heavily upon what you are using it for and how those utilities and applications have changed.

Chemical addictions and habituation are slightly related, but not well linked. One can affect the other, but neither can replace the other. If we could "create" an addiction, harmless or not, would that even be a good thing: or would it be terrifying?

What version of KolibriOS is installed? Can you tell which install/boot technique is being used? You might consider troubleshooting your hardware: you may have a hardware failure or heat issue going on.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_Geek

Amazing collective efforts towards using old computers. They even offer courses that I could benefit from, if I was consistent. (I am quite inconsistent tho and jump around as is evident from the posts here)

The latest version of KolibriOS. Boot via old grub, it boots ok just screen freezes on boot.

Using Puppy Linux on same hardware, works amazingly well, no issues.

Do you want to be a coder or a programmer??
If coder, forget data structures; for anything else you at least need to think about them, especially when the vast amount of commercial computing is all about storing and retrieving data as fast and cheaply as possible.

I thought both were the same, am reading this now:

http://workfunc.com/differences-betw...rs-and-coders/

Edit: I will not fit into either for a very long time. Rather keep IT learning at a hobby level for now. Slow, steady pace.

1. Yes for what uses is the CLI changing. What are the modern, future uses that has not been thought of before ?

2. An addiction that is less intense that prevents a serious more damaging addiction is worth consideration.

I warn you! Programming is very addictive. Someone on Linux Forums once posted that anything that enjoyable ought to be illegal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jEWSqFDO0E

HD tear down for precious metals above.

See the consequences of gambling addiction for example are much worse than programming addiction, so IT addiction is better unless it is extremely severe gaming addiction.

Excellent mention Menuetos, will check it:
http://menuetos.net/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MenuetOS

Edited to add: There is no 32 bit image:
http://www.menuetos.net/M32.htm

The 64 bit DLs quite fast and is small but don't think will try it soon.

https://opensource.com/article/18/2/...stro-beginners

Very interesting review, runs on just 280 Mb of Ram and 4.5 Gb of HD. Still Puppy linux is better

I must make learning about old PCs, old OSes and coding fun like playing a game. Must not make it stressful like digging in a cold dark coal mine in a slave labor camp with just a bowl of fish tail soup as daily meal. Then I will never get anywhere like this.

https://www.laptopmag.com/articles/android-mini-pc

I have never come across a used Mini PC so far, wonder why. Their size makes them very convenient.

Edited to add:
https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/10-thi...before-buying/

Guess those who bought these are still using them or have sold them easily as they are simple to transport, ship. So will likely not be discarded unless they stopped working.

I'm not keen on Android as an O/S, (personal opinion), but the SOC boards using ARM processors are increasing.
So when you've exhausted all those old PCs, take a look at them.
I bought a couple of Raspberry Pi3B, (which has an ARM processor), & they are good enough to do daily tasks.

What are the soc boards ?

This is the exact opposite end of Old PCs, this is where the Jobs are as per this article:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/in...ains-1.4536551

Good to know the opposite sometimes and keep in mind.

Got FREEDos 1.2 CD iso, there are no emulators of older PCs in that ISO as the FREEDos site claims.

Also, got the USB lite version, tried to copy it to HD and boot from grub, it fails, perhaps I must put it on an NTFS partition.

SOC = System On Chip - all the main components of a mother board are integrated into one chip.

That doesn't mean there aren't other chips on the board though, as some peripherals require their own chips, but it does allow a computer to be very small, the m/board of many SOC are about 4"x3".

http://www.freedos.org/software/

http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/micro/pc-...oup-games.html
http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/micro/pc-...-emulator.html

Thanks for this, very helpful to know. Those games are not very attractive.
Guess they removed all these so that the OS fits on a CD.

Very good to know, haven't looked in this direction much as you can say. These are more recent trends and are not about old PCs for now but will become old in another 10 years or so perhaps.

"Eric Lundgren, e waste recycling innovator, faces prison for trying to extend life span of PCs"
http://www.latimes.com/business/tech...215-story.html