Administer Linux from XP Pro?

[JeffCharles]

Is it possible to remotely administer a Linux machine from XP Pro? I want to run Linux on a barebones box (with no keyboard or monitor) in the living room, connect it directly to my SB3, and then administer it over a wireless Lan from the XP Pro destop in the bedroom. It would run SlimServer and hold my music files.

By the way, the XP help system states that, "The most seamless administrative experience occurs when the computer that is used to perform administrative tasks is running the same operating system as the computer that is being remotely administered", so my guess is that if what I am asking is possble, it will not be easy.

Jeff

[pfarrell]

JeffCharles wrote:
> Is it possible to remotely administer a Linux machine from XP Pro?

Sure.

Or at least for 99 and 44/100 % of the time, you can do it.
All you need is a "X-windows" program, or even VNC.

You can even set it up using SSH so that access is secure.

I remotely administer my Mandriva machines all the time,
they have a pretty decent GUI for admin.

For the very weird stuff, I just plug a monitor and keyboard into
anything, but my SlimServer box has been up and running

Last login: Sun Jul 23 10:43:51 2006 from 172.16.4.41
(beatles)/home/pfarrell> uptime
23:52:10 up 403 days, 11:03, 2 users, load average: 0.28, 0.13, 0.11

over a year, and at no time during those 13+ months have I had
to touch the machine or use a monitor or real keyboard.

Of course, my preference is to put the SlimServer in the basement
so I don't have to listen to fan and hard drive noise with my
serious music

--
Pat
http://www.pfarrell.com/music/slimse...msoftware.html

[fathom39]

PuTTY is a nice ssh client. Or, depending on your distro, administer the box via web browser.

[NWP]

I agree with the others. I have an ubuntu linux server and it hasn't had a monitor attached to it in months.

Use VNC if you need a graphical interface or putty if you just need a command line.

But the best part about a linux server is you really don't need to administer it. Once it is set up, it just runs and you can forget about it. Share your music directory and map it as a network drive so you can copy music to it from your XP machine.

[notanatheist]

I prefer the SSH client from ssh.com . The non-commercial version has two parts to it, a standard ssh shell and a secure FTP program. Makes it easier on you to transfer files over the network if you want "drag & drop" with a secure connection.

[JeffCharles]

Thanks to all for your replies. I am glad to hear that what I want to do can be done. I will have to learn some Linux, but I've wanted to do that anyway.

I especially like what NWP wrote: "But the best part about a linux server is you really don't need to administer it. Once it is set up, it just runs and you can forget about it." Sounds good to me.

Jeff

[kefa]

a really cool thing to do is simply install cygwin and select ssh on the install - you get a nice linuxy type command line too :-)

[Andy D]

For the odd occasion you do need to plug a monitor etc in it might be worth getting a remote admin board - AMI MegaRac, Peppercon Eric etc. - they're not cheap but occasionally come up on eBay for bargain prices.

Basically they allow you to drive the machine, edit the bios, reboot etc. remotely - some allow a remote CD too.

[Mark Lanctot]

Last login: Sun Jul 23 10:43:51 2006 from 172.16.4.41
(beatles)/home/pfarrell> uptime
23:52:10 up 403 days, 11:03, 2 users, load average: 0.28, 0.13, 0.11

Given the recent weather, this has me wondering - how do you manage that? Do you use a UPS?

The uptime on my router hasn't been longer than 2-3 days for about 2 weeks now due to all the power bumps. Not failures, just long enough to cause a reboot.

[radish]

Given the recent weather, this has me wondering - how do you manage that? Do you use a UPS?

The uptime on my router hasn't been longer than 2-3 days for about 2 weeks now due to all the power bumps. Not failures, just long enough to cause a reboot.

Not everywhere is having power problems - I'm just outside NYC and although Queens is pretty much an electricity-free zone right now we've been solid for as long as I can remember. Some power companies are better than others it seems