I am NEW to Linux. the most experience I have is I like to use Linux boot disks like knoppix and puppy. But I have been commissioned to build an email server for our company. I say build, but there already is a server here woth Redhat rel 9 (shrike) ker 2.4.26 already installed. The problem is, the last IT guy left and nobody knows the login info. I can't log into it. Should I re-install and just delete the partition, or is there a workaround?

Thank you to anyone who can help me....

Hi...

Welcome to the forum

In my opinion, it might be better to wipe the partition and start over again from scratch, partly because the version that's installed is really old. Do you know what the hardware specs are of this server and if it can run a possibly newer version of Red Hat or another distribution?

Regards...

It's a dual core Intel 3.07 ghz 1 gb ram sata 320gb hdd
it can probably handle a newer decent ver.at would you recommend?

It's a Pentium 4 dual core 3 ghz with 1gb ram and sata 320gb hdd
decent server

Hi...

I'm afraid it's not decent enough for the hardware specs you're going to need if you want to upgrade to a newer (or newest) distribution. Please see here for Red Hat's requirements. A Pentium 4, to my knowledge, does not actually have a physical second core, some models use hyperthreading technology that makes the system see two cores, when there is actually just one. Kind of like a virtual core.

I'm not experienced with the server end of things but I think you're going to need to sit down with your boss and explain that what you're currently using will not be sufficient for newer operating systems that are not designed to be lightweight.

Whoops, hold on......

EDIT: If you want to try keeping the current server, I just discovered that Debian might be worth giving a try. System requirements are here. You can download .iso's here. They even have 32 bit versions, which I'm thinking your server is.

Regards...

Yes, it is decent for a mail server. But I recommend to run it in text mode only. Even better, headless and do administration through a web browser. For a desktop environment 1 GB RAM is a bit on the thight side. If you choose to use a GUI anyway, make sure you use a light weight desktop.

As for mail server setup: VirtualMin. Really. Check it out. For admins not having years of experience it is perfect.

Concerning the old RH installation. It is too old anyway. Wipe it and reinstall by a current version.

jlinkels