Hi Guys,

My home server is getting an upgrade, thanks to a free mobo and a CPU from Twist.

Im thinking this is the time to upgrade to Ubuntu as opposed to Win XP Pro, my main concern is that my Linux knowledge is currently very small so this will be an educational exercise as well as just an upgrade, and will help me get used to Linux! ... Might even upgrade my main machine at some point once Im a little better accustomed.

I will be using it for file sharing / back-ups / torrent / mail server and vpn.

Just after advice/recommendations really, anything I should know or any programs that you would suggest?

 

Cheers Guys

XE

Yeah, i would recommend something that doesnt use Gnome as its user interface.  If you _really_ want Ubuntu then slap the KDE front end on it.  As a more serious user youll quickly get annoyed at Gnome.

haaha I looked at the pic & thought it was a full rackmount setup with a large screen & 3 Racks down the bottom  :mrgreen:

Quote from: Eggtasticohaaha I looked at the pic & thought it was a full rackmount setup with a large screen & 3 Racks down the bottom  :mrgreen:

Heh Heh!

No Its a case I managed to get hold of with 2 x 3 bay units, the bottom three are obviously removable HD bays and the top is a custom built screen, modded from a PSone screen. Once the server has had its next upgrade itll prob make it to my modding blog.

I havent really looked in to the Pros/cons of Gnome vs KDE yet, what are the advantages of using KDE (Bearing in mind that Im still a Linux novice) I have chosen Ubuntu as I guess its a good starting point, not yet ready for 100% command line, and might put Ubuntu on my main PC.

Thanks

Quote from: XEntityI havent really looked in to the Pros/cons of Gnome vs KDE yet, what are the advantages of using KDE (Bearing in mind that Im still a Linux novice) I have chosen Ubuntu as I guess its a good starting point, not yet ready for 100% command line, and might put Ubuntu on my main PC.

Thanks

KDE is more "Windowsy" than Gnome.  Ive found the people who are more advanced Windows users pick up KDE very quickly.  It also gives you many more options to customise and more complex functions are easier to get to.  With Gnome they have discussions about what features they want to take OUT.  There are many Gnome evangelists, and many KDE ones, I just use what works the best, and I find KDE just works better.  

Also, think openSUSE if you have any hardware problems with Ubuntu.  Yes its a more advanced version of Linux, but its not difficult to use, and the documentation is as good as, if not better than redhat.  YAST is also an awesome package manager, once you have added in the right repos.  Redhat is actually my personal preference for servers, but its a PITA if you arent familiar with Linux.  

Cheers for the advice!

Has anyone got any recommendations for which software to use, especially vpn and backup?

Cheers Guys!

And Cheers Twist got the CPU today..

XE

Where as I find KDE too much like a kids playroom.

All the toys, with all the mess.

Gnome is a lot easier to find your way around within, doesnt suffer with cartoon like nonsense going on, and is fairly damn simple to get to grips with

Everyone I know personally prefers gnome. KDE is seen as pretty but messy.

Plus... its default with ubuntu .

Backups.. depending on if you want to save money or not, Id go with cron jobs, tarball up the important files, and copy them across to wherever you need them. Voila... set and forget.

Quote from: M3ta7h3adWhere as I find KDE too much like a kids playroom.

All the toys, with all the mess.

Gnome is a lot easier to find your way around within, doesnt suffer with cartoon like nonsense going on, and is fairly damn simple to get to grips with

Everyone I know personally prefers gnome. KDE is seen as pretty but messy.

Plus... its default with ubuntu .

Backups.. depending on if you want to save money or not, Id go with cron jobs, tarball up the important files, and copy them across to wherever you need them. Voila... set and forget.

Gnome is the "I cant be arsed actually learning anything" option.  Sometimes you WANT the mess because the mess gives you the right options.  Ubuntu comes with Gnome because its SUPPOSED to be a distro for the technically illiterate.

and fedora?

Quote from: M3ta7h3adand fedora?

Fedora gives you the option to install whatever front end you want, as does SUSE.  neither of them would be considered suitable for people not willing to learn.  Last time i installed Fedora it actually ran me through a series of options including what X-Windows i wanted, what the role for the computer was, and then asked me if it was interfacing with Windows machines.  Nice setup selection tbh, and i still installed KDE with it.  

Ubuntu does come with Gnome, but there also exists something called Kubuntu, which is basically Ubuntu with KDE as default.

Quote from: Beaker

Quote from: M3ta7h3adand fedora?

Fedora gives you the option to install whatever front end you want, as does SUSE.  neither of them would be considered suitable for people not willing to learn.  Last time i installed Fedora it actually ran me through a series of options including what X-Windows i wanted, what the role for the computer was, and then asked me if it was interfacing with Windows machines.  Nice setup selection tbh, and i still installed KDE with it.  

"role for the computer" is simply a set of predefined installation sets.

Anaconda is a damn nice installer (assuming they are still using that, last time I saw it was on shrike) agreed, but pretty much the default fedora install is Gnome.

Sure you can choose KDE, but you log in without selecting one, and itll pick gnome.

Gnome doesnt "hide" things away, it just doesnt cartoonify things.

I dont need a graphical doodad to get in the way of me configuring a network card, I can do it in a text file loaded up by going to Gnome System Preferences simple enough.

KDE oversimplifies the experience I guess. Which if your a newbie is a double edged sword. Yes easy to use, but you will not know how to do half of the things in gnome. Where as in Gnome... you at least know what files your editing.

KDE = Playpen, messy disorganised affair
Gnome = Toybox, neatly catagorised into what you need, so you can get at it when you need it.

At least thats my 2 cents

Fact of the matter is you want to run it as a server, default for a linux server is no x windowing system at all. Which I happen to agree on. Who needs one when all you are going to be doing on said server is setting it up, and leaving it do its job.

Sorry guys... I didnt mean to start a big debate.... Did I mention how PCs are better than Macs....

Hehe!

The main reason why I want to use an X-Windows interface is that firstly Im a novice and will give me the best of both worlds while learning, secondly I might migrate my main machine over, so want to see what its like and thirdly I want something pretty on the in-built screen   ... And if need be I can stop it from loading at boot and boot in to the console.

Cheers again.. will look in to the back-up side of things, thought it would be a cron job, but currently no idea on how to do it, should be interesting learning tho! ... As for saving money... I dont want to spend any money on it really, always been a fan of open source and freeware.

There is nothing cooler looking than an ncurses screen

For an example...

Mmm, great way to use that £200 graphics card