Setting up a linux server with Macbook Pro...

[devinloretz]

I have a PC that recently died, HD failure. I was looking at turning the computer in a server and I was told to run it as a linux server. I was hoping to find some help as far as what I should do to make this work so I can use it for storage for my photos.

I have a big case, the dead hd was an IDE hard drive, should i get sata drives or IDE? It has 5 bays for hard drives inside and then i have 3 open 5.25" bays, and then two more that have cd and dvd drives in them. so five total 5.25"bays so I could get a lot of hard drives in there.

I have no clue as far as what to do with setting up Linux or what I should do when I do install it. Will this be compatible with my mbp?

I pretty much have a paper weight right now and need to do something with it.

 

[jaikob]

Generally speaking, a server runs services to a network, so if you mean will the services the server will be offering be compatible, then yes/no depending on how you set it up, but generally speaking yes.

I run a linux server here at home, and I use it to develop and host my website.

As far as hard drives go, if you have a sata port, then use sata, otherwise EIDE. You won't see much of a difference anyways.

Linux is a free open source operating system with over 1,000 flavors (Distributions). I suggest you use CentOS 5.2. Just google it. Download the iso file, and burn it to a dvd. Boot up the cd, and you can install from there.

http://howtoforge.com has many good linux tutorials that you can start from, and to learn more about linux, just go to linux forums and start reading.

 

[devinloretz]

Basically I am looking at it to use as a means of storage for photos? Is this a good decision or bad? It will just be local and pretty low scale. I do have two Sata ports on my motherboard so I will get a Sata drive.

Do you feel that is the best distribution for a server? I just downloaded and burned the Ubuntu Server on a cd. Still have to get my HD though.

 

[KingYaba]

Hey if you don't like Ubuntu at least you'll only be out one blank CD. Ubuntu should be easy to configure.

 

[toolbox]

Why not download freeNas?

http://www.freenas.org/

Does raid and all sorts of nice stuff