What to do with an old machine.
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From: Rikishi 42 on 5 Jan 2008 14:51 On 2008-01-05, Martin Gregorie <martin(a)see.sig.for.address> wrote: >>>> I recently resurrected an old machine. A K6-2 running at 300MHz. >>>> Seems I might as well install Linux on it. > > > I have a very similar box - 300 MHz K6, 384 MB RAM, 2 x 6.4 GB drive > (Award BIOS won't handle disks over 6.4 GB), 3COM NIC. I've got a similar machine. Old Compaq Deskpro 350 with same ram and a small HD, too. But just wanted to make sure you know this: the second disk can be much larger, it's not limited by the bios. Mine's 80GB. Just set the second disk type to 'none', in your bios. Linux will find it, don't worry. It's only the boot disk, where the bios limit matters. > Configure the box as a server - don't install Gnome, KDE and X and use > the text-only Linux console or talk to it over your LAN with ssh. Put > PuTTY on your windows box and use that to login via ssh. If you go the > ssh route way you don't even need a screen and keyboard on the K6 box. Been doing that for years, works perfectly well. You might need to keep a keyboard plugged inn tough. Some machine won't boot without keyboard. -- There is an art, it says, or rather, a knack to flying. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss. Douglas Adams
From: jasee on 5 Jan 2008 15:04 Jim Backus wrote: > On Fri, 4 Jan 2008 18:29:03 UTC, Neil Sluman <squigs(a)postmaster.co.uk> > wrote: > >> I recently resurrected an old machine. A K6-2 running at 300MHz. >> Seems I might as well install Linux on it. >> >> Trouble is, I have no idea what to do with this thing. Anyone have >> any thoughts? It's too slow for video. And doesn't really have >> enough disk space to use as a file server. (Yes, I know you have no >> idea what I'm interested in. I'm after random ideas here!) By no means any sort of Linux expert, but I've always promised myself that I should at some time install my own firewall. 3com network cards are cheap and reliable (IMO) and probably? well supported by Linux and commonly available for about �1 or two second-hand (you'd need at least two network cards) I imagine your machine you would fast enough? Others here can say. Smoothwall was the linux firewall which used to be installable from a floppy disk but now I notice has increased to 69megs (Smoothwall Express)
From: alexd on 5 Jan 2008 15:45 On Sat, 05 Jan 2008 20:04:02 +0000, jasee wrote: > By no means any sort of Linux expert, but I've always promised myself > that I should at some time install my own firewall. 3com network cards > are cheap and reliable (IMO) and probably? well supported by Linux and > commonly available for about £1 or two second-hand (you'd need at least > two network cards) I imagine your machine you would fast enough? Others > here can say. Smoothwall was the linux firewall which used to be > installable from a floppy disk but now I notice has increased to 69megs > (Smoothwall Express) Easily fast enough. The OPs machine would not be a bottleneck on any consumer-grade internet connection. -- <http://ale.cx/> (AIM:troffasky) (UnSoEsNpEaTm(a)ale.cx) 20:44:17 up 11:08, 2 users, load average: 0.04, 0.07, 0.08 2x Broadband/IT/Telecoms support positions in Newcastle city centre. For more info call 0191 229 8870 and ask for Steve. No agencies.
From: Owain on 5 Jan 2008 15:17 Rikishi 42 wrote: > You might need to keep a > keyboard plugged inn tough. Some machine won't boot without keyboard. One used to be able to purchase, from the likes of Black Box, a keyboard dongle that mimiced a keyboard and allowed one to plug/unplug a keyboard with impunity during boot-up and operation. Owain
From: jasee on 6 Jan 2008 10:38
alexd wrote: > On Sat, 05 Jan 2008 20:04:02 +0000, jasee wrote: > >> By no means any sort of Linux expert, but I've always promised myself >> that I should at some time install my own firewall. 3com network >> cards are cheap and reliable (IMO) and probably? well supported by >> Linux and commonly available for about �1 or two second-hand (you'd >> need at least two network cards) I imagine your machine you would >> fast enough? Others here can say. Smoothwall was the linux firewall >> which used to be installable from a floppy disk but now I notice has >> increased to 69megs (Smoothwall Express) > > Easily fast enough. The OPs machine would not be a bottleneck on any > consumer-grade internet connection. Thanks, useful to know. |