Hello!
Has anyone managed to do the relatively impossible? I am considered
constructing a server to run Slackware 11.0. However the particular
computer was never really intended to work that way.

It's a normal desktop unit. In fact it is a Dell Optiplex who is
normally sold to businesses as a basic desktop unit.

Installation will in all probabilty be the normal methods, but I am
wondering if anyone has managed to do this.
---
Gregg gregg dot drwho8 atsign gmail dot com

"This signature had other plans tonight."

gregg dot drwho8 atsign gmail dot com <gregg.drwho8@gmail.com> wrote:

> Has anyone managed to do the relatively impossible? I am considered
> constructing a server to run Slackware 11.0. However the particular
> computer was never really intended to work that way.
>
> It's a normal desktop unit. In fact it is a Dell Optiplex who is
> normally sold to businesses as a basic desktop unit.

Any computer can be used, adequately, as a server, as long as it has
two network cards and an adequate hard-drive.

cordially, as always,

rm

gregg dot drwho8 atsign gmail dot com <gregg.drwho8@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hello!
> Has anyone managed to do the relatively impossible? I am considered
> constructing a server to run Slackware 11.0. However the particular
> computer was never really intended to work that way.

> It's a normal desktop unit. In fact it is a Dell Optiplex who is
> normally sold to businesses as a basic desktop unit.

> Installation will in all probabilty be the normal methods, but I am
> wondering if anyone has managed to do this.
> ---
> Gregg gregg dot drwho8 atsign gmail dot com

> "This signature had other plans tonight."

Gregg,

I use my old Celeron (433 Mhz) at home as a router and a dhcp server at
home. The Celeron is in the living room and connects to a phone line
(I have dial-up service).

When I want to go on-line I boot the Celeron, then I go to my office
where I have another Linux box. It is configured to use dhcp. I boot
it; it finds the dhcp server and gets an ip address. Then I telnet to
the box in the living room and issue a ppp-on command. That dials up
and connects thus enabling internet access for on any of the three
boxes in our house (the server, the Linux box in my office, and the
Windows box in my son's room).

At work I use a Linux server installed to a usb, external hard drive. I
bring it to work with me, plug it in to an old Compaq Presario and boot
it with a homemade, two-stage, Grub boot disk. It also is configured
to use dhcp. When it boots it gets an ip address from the dhcp server
that is on our work network. Then it functions as a file and print
server and as a workstation.

I work in a special ed class room where we have two Macs and a Windows
box (besides the Linux server/workstation. There are two printers in
the room which are shared to the Windows box. I use CUPS, netatalk and
samba on the server to enable access to the printers from any computer
in the room. Additionally, netatalk and samba, allow me to keep my
files on the Linux server yet access them from any computer in the room
or from other computers at our school.

So, yes, I think what you want to do is reasonable.

-Joe

"gregg dot drwho8 atsign gmail dot com" typed:

> Has anyone managed to do the relatively impossible? I am considered
> constructing a server to run Slackware 11.0. However the particular
> computer was never really intended to work that way.
>
> It's a normal desktop unit. In fact it is a Dell Optiplex who is
> normally sold to businesses as a basic desktop unit.
>
> Installation will in all probabilty be the normal methods, but I am
> wondering if anyone has managed to do this.

Why do you think doing something like that relatively impossible? I have
a Dell Optiplex GX260 at home, lying on the table next to me, that is
headless and working as a desktop system. Back at university, I admin a
Dell Optiplex box that hosts the university's main website, is headless,
and runs Slackware 10.2.

--
Ayaz Ahmed Khan

Happiness, n.:
An agreeable sensation arising from contemplating the misery of
another.
-- Ambrose Bierce, "The Devil's Dictionary"

> I use my old Celeron (433 Mhz) at home as a router and a dhcp server at
> home. The Celeron is in the living room and connects to a phone line
> (I have dial-up service).
>
> When I want to go on-line I boot the Celeron, then I go to my office
> where I have another Linux box. It is configured to use dhcp. I boot
> it; it finds the dhcp server and gets an ip address. Then I telnet to
> the box in the living room and issue a ppp-on command. That dials up
> and connects thus enabling internet access for on any of the three
> boxes in our house (the server, the Linux box in my office, and the
> Windows box in my son's room).
>
> At work I use a Linux server installed to a usb, external hard drive. I
> bring it to work with me, plug it in to an old Compaq Presario and boot
> it with a homemade, two-stage, Grub boot disk. It also is configured
> to use dhcp. When it boots it gets an ip address from the dhcp server
> that is on our work network. Then it functions as a file and print
> server and as a workstation.
>
> I work in a special ed class room where we have two Macs and a Windows
> box (besides the Linux server/workstation. There are two printers in
> the room which are shared to the Windows box. I use CUPS, netatalk and
> samba on the server to enable access to the printers from any computer
> in the room. Additionally, netatalk and samba, allow me to keep my
> files on the Linux server yet access them from any computer in the room
> or from other computers at our school.
>
> So, yes, I think what you want to do is reasonable.
>
> -Joe

Is the word "headless" anywhere in your reply, or am I totally missing it?

Leonard The Committed <leothecomm@gmail.com> wrote:

[snip]

> Is the word "headless" anywhere in your reply, or am I totally missing it?

No, I totally ignored the word "headless". It didn't seem like an
important part of the message. Since I didn't know what "headless"
meant, I really should have researched this before replying. So you
got me on that one.

So I searched for "headless server" in Alta Vista and I found this:

***

Building Hardware and Firmware to Complement Microsoft Windows
Headless*Operation
Version 1.0a - May 27, 2004
Abstract
The Microsoft? Windows? Server*2003 family of operating systems
provides native support for headless server operation on Windows
platformsthat is, support for operating without a local display. This
paper describes the hardware and firmware requirements and
implementations guidelines to best support Windows headless
functionality.

***

OK, headless means "operating without a local display. I don't suppose
there is much challenge to that. Just set up the boot process so there
is no interaction required. Modify inittab so cntrl-alt-del shuts
down.

OK, things could get messy I suppose. There may be cases where
interaction is needed for a clean shutdown. One could ssh to it from a
"headed" box to ensure a clean shutdown.

I guess that about covers it?

-Joe

gregg dot drwho8 atsign gmail dot com wrote:
> Hello!
> Has anyone managed to do the relatively impossible? I am considered
> constructing a server to run Slackware 11.0. However the particular
> computer was never really intended to work that way.
>
> It's a normal desktop unit. In fact it is a Dell Optiplex who is
> normally sold to businesses as a basic desktop unit.
>
> Installation will in all probabilty be the normal methods, but I am
> wondering if anyone has managed to do this.

Why do you think it is impossible? It is since 1998 that I use
Slackware distributions for such tasks.

True that you need monitor and keyboard for an initial setup but, if
you work hard enough, you'll be able to do everything without such
devices.

Ciao
Giovanni
--
A computer is like an air conditioner,
it stops working when you open Windows.
Registered Linux user #337974 < http://giovanni.homelinux.net/ >

"headless":
Of course you need a monitor & a keyboard during setup of the server.
But if ready you can administer the thing with webmin or something.
Mostly at startup of a computer, the BIOS needs a monitor and a keyboard,
otherwiae it just beeps and nothing happens.
You can cheat the monitor-presence with a little cable-soldering.
http://www.tkk.fi/Misc/Electronics/faq/vga2rgb/

How to avoid a keyboard is not clear to me. Tinkering with an old
keyboard, reducing its size, is a possibility...:-)

On Mar 31, 12:59 am, r...@biteme.org wrote:
> gregg dot drwho8 atsign gmail dot com <gregg.drw...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Has anyone managed to do the relatively impossible? I am considered
> > constructing a server to run Slackware 11.0. However the particular
> > computer was never really intended to work that way.
>
> > It's a normal desktop unit. In fact it is a Dell Optiplex who is
> > normally sold to businesses as a basic desktop unit.
>
> Any computer can be used, adequately, as a server, as long as it has
> two network cards and an adequate hard-drive.
>
> cordially, as always,
>
> rm
Hello!
Well this is a first. I see your point, however you completely missed
the subject. Please consider posting ontopic and well researched
replies next time.
--
Gregg gregg dot drwho8 atsign gmail dot com
"This signature plans on sleeping during the next rock star's
birthday."

On Mar 31, 1:31 am, Ayaz Ahmed Khan <a...@dev.slash.null> wrote:
> "gregg dot drwho8 atsign gmail dot com" typed:
>
> > Has anyone managed to do the relatively impossible? I am considered
> > constructing a server to run Slackware 11.0. However the particular
> > computer was never really intended to work that way.
>
> > It's a normal desktop unit. In fact it is a Dell Optiplex who is
> > normally sold to businesses as a basic desktop unit.
>
> > Installation will in all probabilty be the normal methods, but I am
> > wondering if anyone has managed to do this.
>
> Why do you think doing something like that relatively impossible? I have
> a Dell Optiplex GX260 at home, lying on the table next to me, that is
> headless and working as a desktop system. Back at university, I admin a
> Dell Optiplex box that hosts the university's main website, is headless,
> and runs Slackware 10.2.
>
> --
> Ayaz Ahmed Khan

Hello!
Because you missed the subject! Or in all probabilty ignored it. The
subject clearly defines the question.
Ideally it can work, and indeed the vast majority of servers all work
that way. Including the vast colony of Zboxen running Linux as z/VM
guests.

But for my money, I shall certainly consider your advice.
--
Gregg gregg dot drwho8 atsign gmail dot com
"This signatures collects heavily from all trolls, and spammers,
nuisances, and census takers."