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I recently aquired an extra computer which has reasonable processing power.
AMD Athlon 1900+
256 ddr333
20 gig harddrive
I was wondering if anyone had any ideas for running a server at my home, or any utilities that would maybe be useful and help me learn freeBSD or maybe linux. Im just kinda at a loss with alot of time on my hands but i dont know where to start.
Any advice or ideas would be welcome...
I recently aquired an extra computer which has reasonable processing power.
AMD Athlon 1900+
256 ddr333
20 gig harddrive
I was wondering if anyone had any ideas for running a server at my home, or any utilities that would maybe be useful and help me learn freeBSD or maybe linux. Im just kinda at a loss with alot of time on my hands but i dont know where to start.
Any advice or ideas would be welcome...
The only thing you should be doing is tell yourself that a lot of promising-and-very-talented kids would love to get their hands dirty on that thing, that they would not have any problem at all putting it to use, and that they would love to have a lot of free time on their hands to play with it...
In other words: pick a topic you'd like to learn more about and Google it... then apply it.
The only thing you should be doing is tell yourself that a lot of promising-and-very-talented kids would love to get their hands dirty on that thing, that they would not have any problem at all putting it to use, and that they would love to have a lot of free time on their hands to play with it...
In other words: pick a topic you'd like to learn more about and Google it... then apply it.
If your just getting into linux I recommend redhat. That's the first OS i saw and started using.
If your just getting into linux I recommend redhat. That's the first OS i saw and started using.
EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW>... Gore go slap him... NOW!...Quote:
Originally posted here by mandraketux
If your just getting into linux I recommend redhat. That's the first OS i saw and started using.
Neg's got the best idea... you can do anything with it... "Where do you want to go today?".... :D
There are so many things you could do with it... so many things you could explore and discover.... I'd say throw on Ubuntu... start playing...
Possible Options:
Find older knowingly flaws distros and don't update them... See how many vulns you can find on your own... and then try and write code that will exploit them.. (might as well dive in).. After you've played until you're tired.. run a nessus scan and compare your results... Then install another distro and start over..
Run a full server.. If you've got high speed and can put it in the DMZ... do it.. secure it first.. and put it up with everything running... modify the logs to go to a remote box.. but shut off all other access to the rest of the network... see if it get's hacked.. how it's hacked.. record the results.. and monitor what they did..
Run a server.. secure it and lock it down... run all the services and offer accounts to people.. learn to successfully managed a used server... (mail, http, ssh, ircd... whatever ya want)..
Start programming... run python... build your own services using the programming language... I've got the code I started for a python webserver that would parse php... I never finished it.. but it was fun to play with while I was...
Spend a few hundred bucks... Register a business... Get a Microsoft Action Pack Subscrition.. they'll give you Server 2003, SBS 2003, XP, Office 2003, and every server they have.. SQL, ISA, IAS, Live Communication (or whatever it is) Sharepoint, etc.... play with those.. learn them.. lock them down.. it also includes Visual Studio 2005 now... play iwht programming it in... total cost.. here anyways it would be 470 Canadian (Business license + Action Pack)..
Just a few ideas for ya..
Peace,
HT
EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW>... Gore go slap him... NOW!...Quote:
Originally posted here by mandraketux
If your just getting into linux I recommend redhat. That's the first OS i saw and started using.
Neg's got the best idea... you can do anything with it... "Where do you want to go today?".... :D
There are so many things you could do with it... so many things you could explore and discover.... I'd say throw on Ubuntu... start playing...
Possible Options:
Find older knowingly flaws distros and don't update them... See how many vulns you can find on your own... and then try and write code that will exploit them.. (might as well dive in).. After you've played until you're tired.. run a nessus scan and compare your results... Then install another distro and start over..
Run a full server.. If you've got high speed and can put it in the DMZ... do it.. secure it first.. and put it up with everything running... modify the logs to go to a remote box.. but shut off all other access to the rest of the network... see if it get's hacked.. how it's hacked.. record the results.. and monitor what they did..
Run a server.. secure it and lock it down... run all the services and offer accounts to people.. learn to successfully managed a used server... (mail, http, ssh, ircd... whatever ya want)..
Start programming... run python... build your own services using the programming language... I've got the code I started for a python webserver that would parse php... I never finished it.. but it was fun to play with while I was...
Spend a few hundred bucks... Register a business... Get a Microsoft Action Pack Subscrition.. they'll give you Server 2003, SBS 2003, XP, Office 2003, and every server they have.. SQL, ISA, IAS, Live Communication (or whatever it is) Sharepoint, etc.... play with those.. learn them.. lock them down.. it also includes Visual Studio 2005 now... play iwht programming it in... total cost.. here anyways it would be 470 Canadian (Business license + Action Pack)..
Just a few ideas for ya..
Peace,
HT
or um... you could sell it since it is extra? but if you're the true geek we expect you to be here on antionline, then you'll probably just play around with it. exploring the world of the overglorified unix and linux operating systems is a possibility but that's up to you. i see the benefit if you work in the computer industry, etc. but if you're just trying to have some fun, i'd pass on it. if you want to learn more about freebsd as you mentioned, the obvious answer would be to install it on the computer and have a go at it. man pages were created for a reason :) as for other ideas: try modding it, put it somewhere you've always wished to have a computer, install it in your car as a new entertainment console, whatever. if you're into playing around, install to your home's christmas decorations and become miller's newest celebrity. ;) do what pleases you. if you were to give a more specific area of interest, i'm sure you'd more detailed suggestions.
or um... you could sell it since it is extra? but if you're the true geek we expect you to be here on antionline, then you'll probably just play around with it. exploring the world of the overglorified unix and linux operating systems is a possibility but that's up to you. i see the benefit if you work in the computer industry, etc. but if you're just trying to have some fun, i'd pass on it. if you want to learn more about freebsd as you mentioned, the obvious answer would be to install it on the computer and have a go at it. man pages were created for a reason :) as for other ideas: try modding it, put it somewhere you've always wished to have a computer, install it in your car as a new entertainment console, whatever. if you're into playing around, install to your home's christmas decorations and become miller's newest celebrity. ;) do what pleases you. if you were to give a more specific area of interest, i'm sure you'd more detailed suggestions.
Honestly, and I am not trying to sound like a fan-boy here, slap linux on it (personal favorite: slackware). Nothing wrong with that, plus you get to learn a new [free] OS. Pick up apache with php_mod and MySQL and run with it. I mean, you had to have SOME idea of what you were going to do with it when you came into possesion. Hell, pick up some ($20) NICs and turn it into your firewall, router, or start learning C or C++ (I wish I had when I was younger)
Honestly, and I am not trying to sound like a fan-boy here, slap linux on it (personal favorite: slackware). Nothing wrong with that, plus you get to learn a new [free] OS. Pick up apache with php_mod and MySQL and run with it. I mean, you had to have SOME idea of what you were going to do with it when you came into possesion. Hell, pick up some ($20) NICs and turn it into your firewall, router, or start learning C or C++ (I wish I had when I was younger)
Why stick with one os on it? That 20Gb drive will hold a few, partition it and pick a few different OSs to try and put them on.
Why not put a linux firewall like smoothwall on one partition and you can use your spare box to protect your main machine when you're not playing with a full OS?
Why stick with one os on it? That 20Gb drive will hold a few, partition it and pick a few different OSs to try and put them on.
Why not put a linux firewall like smoothwall on one partition and you can use your spare box to protect your main machine when you're not playing with a full OS?
*drool* Partitions with variants of Linux.... wha? wha?
Here - to help get your learn on so you can decide what best to do:
http://www.google.com
Partitioning
http://www.ranish.com/part/primer.htm
C/C++ Programming
http://www.cprogramming.com/tutorial.html
http://cplus.about.com/od/beginnerct...blcplustut.htm
Linux
http://www.linux-tutorial.info/
http://www.yolinux.com/TUTORIALS/
http://www.linux.org/
http://www.slackware.com/
And as dmorgan stated - the sooner you get started the better - while it may seem you may have a lot of time now, it quickly passes... now get going and learn and do young fleshbag.
*drool* Partitions with variants of Linux.... wha? wha?
Here - to help get your learn on so you can decide what best to do:
http://www.google.com
Partitioning
http://www.ranish.com/part/primer.htm
C/C++ Programming
http://www.cprogramming.com/tutorial.html
http://cplus.about.com/od/beginnerct...blcplustut.htm
Linux
http://www.linux-tutorial.info/
http://www.yolinux.com/TUTORIALS/
http://www.linux.org/
http://www.slackware.com/
And as dmorgan stated - the sooner you get started the better - while it may seem you may have a lot of time now, it quickly passes... now get going and learn and do young fleshbag.
Linus os's... I'd suggest Mandrake if you want to buy it, or Ubuntu if you don't.
Tonnes of cool things you can do with it including:
A few simple mods and softwares and you can automate your home using it as the 'master' computer - sense your presence in a room and turn on the lights, or turn 'em off when you leave the room. With the right vid card and software, you can make a 'video server' - store all your dvd collection on it, and access them on demand from any tv in the house. Some vid server softwares even allow for the program to 'follow' you as you move room to room throughout the house. With plumbing mods you can have it control your water heater to only run certain hours of the day (when you're most likely to use hot water), and set your bath/shower water temperature to your preferred degree of heat every time, not only saving you from potential scalding, but also saving you $$ by turning off the largest electricity user of your home.
You can wire cameras to it and use it for a home security system - see who's at the door before you ever answer it, have the computer call the fire department in case of fire, or police in case of emergency if you're unable to do so yourself, or if you aren't home. You can use a solid database program to help you keep track of the groceries in your kitchen, and have the computer automatically order those groceries you're short on from your local grocery store however frequently you choose.
Basically, the sky is the limit. There's a bazillion things you can do with a spare computer other than just making it a file or print server (I use old 286 and 386's for print servers btw).
I know one guy who does web hosting from his house using old computers he acquires through his normal business operations. He's also running a very inexpensive dial-up isp, and hosting 2 different mmporg's all using equipement he got for free.
Your asking us what to use that spare computer for is like someone asking a mechanic what to use that craftsman wrench he found in his toolbox for, or like asking a hunter how he'll use those extra bullets. It's your tool, use it as you see fit :D
Hope that helped at least a little.
Linus os's... I'd suggest Mandrake if you want to buy it, or Ubuntu if you don't.
Tonnes of cool things you can do with it including:
A few simple mods and softwares and you can automate your home using it as the 'master' computer - sense your presence in a room and turn on the lights, or turn 'em off when you leave the room. With the right vid card and software, you can make a 'video server' - store all your dvd collection on it, and access them on demand from any tv in the house. Some vid server softwares even allow for the program to 'follow' you as you move room to room throughout the house. With plumbing mods you can have it control your water heater to only run certain hours of the day (when you're most likely to use hot water), and set your bath/shower water temperature to your preferred degree of heat every time, not only saving you from potential scalding, but also saving you $$ by turning off the largest electricity user of your home.
You can wire cameras to it and use it for a home security system - see who's at the door before you ever answer it, have the computer call the fire department in case of fire, or police in case of emergency if you're unable to do so yourself, or if you aren't home. You can use a solid database program to help you keep track of the groceries in your kitchen, and have the computer automatically order those groceries you're short on from your local grocery store however frequently you choose.
Basically, the sky is the limit. There's a bazillion things you can do with a spare computer other than just making it a file or print server (I use old 286 and 386's for print servers btw).
I know one guy who does web hosting from his house using old computers he acquires through his normal business operations. He's also running a very inexpensive dial-up isp, and hosting 2 different mmporg's all using equipement he got for free.
Your asking us what to use that spare computer for is like someone asking a mechanic what to use that craftsman wrench he found in his toolbox for, or like asking a hunter how he'll use those extra bullets. It's your tool, use it as you see fit :D
Hope that helped at least a little.
I would turn it into a SAN (Storage Area Network) Upgrade the hard drive to 120 GB and slap WIndows XP on it. KVM Switchs will allow you to use the same monitor, keyboard, mouse, and speakers so that you dont have to have all that extra junk on your desk. You wouldnt believe the value of a seperate computer when it comes to storage. That way if your main computer takes a crap you have all your info duplicated on the other machine.
I would turn it into a SAN (Storage Area Network) Upgrade the hard drive to 120 GB and slap WIndows XP on it. KVM Switchs will allow you to use the same monitor, keyboard, mouse, and speakers so that you dont have to have all that extra junk on your desk. You wouldnt believe the value of a seperate computer when it comes to storage. That way if your main computer takes a crap you have all your info duplicated on the other machine.
Thats what i did with my 2nd one Ghost, its handy when your main one crashes, you have all the files, setups, mp3s and all that safe and secure on the second one.
Thats what i did with my 2nd one Ghost, its handy when your main one crashes, you have all the files, setups, mp3s and all that safe and secure on the second one.
Wow! A lot of great ideas out here on this topic - makes me wish I had an extra box!Quote:
I recently aquired an extra computer which has reasonable processing power.
AMD Athlon 1900+
256 ddr333
20 gig harddrive
I was wondering if anyone had any ideas for running a server at my home, or any utilities that would maybe be useful and help me learn freeBSD or maybe linux. Im just kinda at a loss with alot of time on my hands but i dont know where to start.
Any advice or ideas would be welcome...
Curious Mishka - did you decide what you wanted to do yet?
Wow! A lot of great ideas out here on this topic - makes me wish I had an extra box!Quote:
I recently aquired an extra computer which has reasonable processing power.
AMD Athlon 1900+
256 ddr333
20 gig harddrive
I was wondering if anyone had any ideas for running a server at my home, or any utilities that would maybe be useful and help me learn freeBSD or maybe linux. Im just kinda at a loss with alot of time on my hands but i dont know where to start.
Any advice or ideas would be welcome...
Curious Mishka - did you decide what you wanted to do yet?