NT or Linux

[RalphO]

I have got my eye on some machines that my company will scrap soon. I was thinking of making one into a standalone music server. These machines have windows NT installed, which I believe you can run slimserver on. My question is should I stay with NT or should I replace it with something like Clark Connect?

[Ron Olsen]

Microsoft has discontinued support for Windows NT; I'd recommend installing a modern Linux distribution instead.

[notanatheist]

FWIW, I can never understand how everyone has problems with Slimserver and always come here frustrated. My advice? Run linux on good hardware. Picking a distro is entirely up to you. I'm running Gentoo but it shouldn't be your first choice if you are not familiar with linux at all.

Crappy hardware and/or a crappy OS will only give you headaches.

Just my $.02

[mudlark]

Slimserver and Linux is much more fun than Windows.

there are quite a few versions (distributions) that use live cds. these OS run from a cd without you having to damage your existing operating system.

I tried debian at first, but I didn't like the look or feel.

I then tried Kubuntu and I am really happy. most of what happens with kubuntu is very windows like, ie updates and a good GUI but you must be prepared to learn some console stuff to make the best of things.

Mike.

[Havoc]

My advice? Run linux on good hardware.

Slightly dated hardware isn't bad hardware. Slim doesn't need a cartload of cpu power. But most recent cpu's are overkill and will just dissipate heat.

[mflint]

I think the key thing here is that you should let your needs for the box drive the choice of O/S. Will it be used for anything other than SlimServer?

If you need it to be used by people who are die-hard Windows users, then Windows would be right.

If it's a low-powered box that you'd like to run for months and will never have a keyboard or screen attached (like my SlimServer box), then linux would be a great choice.

Also, how far out of your comfort-zone do you want to go? Sure, setting up SlimServer-on-Linux is a nice little project for learning stuff, but there needs to be a tradeoff between learning funky new things and having a solid music server. (And we're all here because of the music, right?!)

(For what it's worth, I'm running SlimServer - and other stuff - on a Gentoo'd KuroBox)

Matthew

[tommypeters]

I think I will try right now with SlimServer on CentOS (a Red Hat clone), it seems pretty easy to install and configure.

[notanatheist]

Slightly dated hardware isn't bad hardware. Slim doesn't need a cartload of cpu power. But most recent cpu's are overkill and will just dissipate heat.

Something that was never mentioned. Crappy being POS E-machine or ECS/PC-Chips special. I don't care if it works fine for you but in general they don't work well for long. As a PC repair technician and system builder I know what works and what doesn't. You want great old hardware? Find an Intel SE440BX motherboard or even an Intel 815 series board to run a P-II or P-III. Throw in an Intel or 3Com NIC and reduce your network problems. Keep in mind even the good stuff can go bad. I'm just saying don't start with crap and expect the world of it.

[madpatrick]

I think I will try right now with SlimServer on CentOS (a Red Hat clone), it seems pretty easy to install and configure.

Good choise. You could try Clarkconnect
This is an CentOs distribution and supports Slimserver. Needs also no big demands for hardware and the distribution is free. :-) :-)
I'm running CC now over 3 years, without any problems. PII/PIII is more then sufficient.

[jbussoli]

Slimserver running on Fedora Core 5 here. No Problems. Easy install. I love Linux.

Beware if you are new to linux, though. You will encounter some minor pitfalls, but through using online forums such as this one you will get over them quickly.