I've got a P2 450 with 96 megs ram.
I want to use it as a web server, firewall and as a filesharer... What distro should I use?
I have installed Mandrake 9.1 and it runs sooooooooooooo slowly!

I wanted it also to be a headless machine, and access the gui from my XP machine. How can I do this?

Hello,

The distribution of choice is largely personal. So just read up on the ones your interested in.

As for making the machine headless, X-win32 allows you to forward X11 output to Windows. Otherwise you can just ssh.

I have read up on it, thats why I chose Mandrake, but considering my system and what I want to do, I am asking what you suggest...

Slackware 8.1 is a great distro (Havent tried 9.0 yet).

Search for a zillion other threads like this.

I'm with Iceman...this is one question that CONSTANTLY gets asked over and over and over with little variation. Just search the site...its been debated ad-nauseum. If there's any info missing once you browsed, then feel free to ask away

Yeah or just use Slack saves you time

Also if your wanting to use mainly as a server, I'd advise to not install X or use a GUI, its only going to take resources away from the more important sources your running the server for.

but, I want to run a gui, just through windows PC...

Just curious here. Is this in reference to the subject "What linux distro is the best?" which is not really the question, and which we all see too much of; or to the real question about a distro for a server (which I don't see a whole lot), or even the suggested "how do I best run a Linux server" from someone with 2 posts (which doesn't always mean much?)


trickykid has given good advice. In my very limited experience running server on old Pentiom boxes, I guess the trick is to make a base or minimum Linux install including the server apps you wish to use. No Xwindows, Gnome, KDE, Open Office and stuff not needed for running the server. Use Webmin or such for easier configuration. It may take a time or two to get it right. Fool with it some.
I have found Debian very good for this type of install, but Mandrake should work also. Check out advanced install options.

Good Luck.

You could give the Gooey a miss and administer the box from
winDOHs (yuck, I said the bad word!) with webmin if it has to
be mouse-driven... webmin will pretty much cover all your needs
without having to run X or vnc on the box.

Cheers,
Tink

P.S.: As for the distro of choice, and Mandy
being slow ... it defaults to start a sh*tload of stuff
you'll probably never need ... look into that.

Someone should make a sticky:
"If you have an old pc and you want to put a linux distro on it, think about this: Don't use X, and just install the stuff you need. (No office suites, no window managers, no games, ...,) For these purposes Debian and Slackware are very good."
That would answer 99% of the "tell me what distro I need to use for this: ..."
Including this thread.

Mine of course.. :-)