hi,

I was wondering what hardware requirements I need (in particular with regards to CPU speed and RAM). I am running Samba as a domain controller (PDC) in a windows network. I will have roughly 30+ users connected at any one time, what requirements would you reccomend?

Steve

dunno about cpu speeds or ram, because if youre managing to run it, and it works then that would be enough, but with 30 or so users connected at anyone time - phew!

Facing snags like that, I'd go for the fastests cpu and the biggest amount of ram! I'd be looking at the problem as if it was a proper hardware server - and they tend to have shit loads of ram! the cpu probably isn't too much of an issue. If you look at commercial providers, they tend to have pretty average cpus in the systems (albeit often multi cpu systems), lots of ram and vv fast networking connections. They don't always have massive storage capabilities either.

Sorry, can't think of anything else. Maybe that'll point you in the right direction?

regards

John

p.s. Oh and doesn't changing a cpu usually entail a re-install of the OS and apps ? If youre in a production environment then that could have dramatic effects!

My PDC isnt live yet, I was just wondering what requirements i'd need before I do go live. i don't think 30 users will be logged in at the same time, probably half that, but about 30 users in total to set up. at the moment on my test machine which ive tried with about 3 or 4 clients i have got a 1.6ghz cpu and 512MB RAM i think. I have heard that linux systems dont need as much as windows but is that suffiecient enough?

Steve

If you ar just gonna do everything command line style, then your Box is way moe than suficient. Even if you have x, it'll be fine, I think. Just use a light window manager like xfce or fuxbox, so the sytem can use the rest of your ram.

I may need a graphical Interface aspect as I am not too good at command line. Which is a lighter GUI to use, KDE or GNOME? or are they both about the same?
if i also Logged into the Linux box using the terminal rather than the GUI (when it asks gets to the log on screen) would this save me RAM even though GNOME is installed, but just not being used? I could switch to the GUI whenever I need to edit the server (which should not be very often once its set up and running)

Thanks, Steve.

umm ... KDE is more configurable, so it can be made to be lighter than GNOME. XFCE might be an idea - it is based on Gnome but very lightweight. (in short don't turn on the eyecandy too much)

on a 1.6Ghz either gui should be fine to do the occasional thing. Here (on our load baring servers) we found that KDE ran quite well even under heavy load ... that said we choose to run xfce on it now.

Exiting out of the GUI when you don't need it will free resources.,

thank you very much for your help on this.

cheers