3 ms·

Ask HN: I want to turn my old laptop into a Linux server

6 points by artursapek 15y ago

I have an old Thinkpad that I want to nuke and reconfigure and run as a Linux server for development. What are some good resources/references for this sort of endeavor? Any advice?

bediger 15y ago
I've put versions of Slackware on old laptops 3 times. Pick a version of Slackware a year or two older than the laptop, so that all the devices are well supported, and the software hasn't bloated beyond what the older hardware can support. Do security upgrades (OpenSSH, OpenSSL) as required.
- artursapek 15y ago
  I'll check that out, thank you
- pasbesoin 15y ago
  I think you meant to say 'a release that's a year or two younger'. Meaning, the maintainers will have had time to discover and roll in any needed support.
  - bediger 15y ago
    Thank you, yes, that's what I meant. Good mind reading.
pilooch 15y ago
Use whatever distribution with LTS. Most of my past laptops are now Linux servers we use for various applications around the house (media server, backups, HTTP proxy, development machine). Wifi can be a bummer so plug it in.
- artursapek 15y ago
  That sounds like what I'm doing. Thanks for the advice.
pasbesoin 15y ago
I've done this with Ubuntu, albeit making a workstation rather than a server. Works fine, although Gnome 2 is a bit sluggish with the window painting. I'll probably move to XFCE or something lighter for the desktop/window management (it's a simple apt-get install plus whatever configuration tweaks one wants to make). Given Ubuntu's current direction, if you were to go with it and want to use the Gnome 2 GUI ("Classic"), I'd say that's all the more reason to go with / stay on the 10.04 long term release (see pilooch's comment). And keep in mind that you may be leaving Ubuntu altogether by 13.04 at the latest. Although by that time, you may be looking to retire the Thinkpad (from its current use, at least) regardless. I'm no expert; just the results of my own dinking and thinking. P.S. Unstated: If GUI's not a concern, then no worries -- probably go with whatever production environment is of interest to you.
- artursapek 15y ago
  I just saw this. Thanks for the advice. I'll dink and think along with your findings :)

6 points by artursapek 15y ago

I have an old Thinkpad that I want to nuke and reconfigure and run as a Linux server for development. What are some good resources/references for this sort of endeavor? Any advice?

bediger 15y ago

I've put versions of Slackware on old laptops 3 times. Pick a version of Slackware a year or two older than the laptop, so that all the devices are well supported, and the software hasn't bloated beyond what the older hardware can support. Do security upgrades (OpenSSH, OpenSSL) as required.

artursapek 15y ago
I'll check that out, thank you
pasbesoin 15y ago
I think you meant to say 'a release that's a year or two younger'. Meaning, the maintainers will have had time to discover and roll in any needed support.
- bediger 15y ago
  Thank you, yes, that's what I meant. Good mind reading.

pilooch 15y ago

Use whatever distribution with LTS. Most of my past laptops are now Linux servers we use for various applications around the house (media server, backups, HTTP proxy, development machine). Wifi can be a bummer so plug it in.

artursapek 15y ago
That sounds like what I'm doing. Thanks for the advice.

pasbesoin 15y ago

I've done this with Ubuntu, albeit making a workstation rather than a server. Works fine, although Gnome 2 is a bit sluggish with the window painting. I'll probably move to XFCE or something lighter for the desktop/window management (it's a simple apt-get install plus whatever configuration tweaks one wants to make). Given Ubuntu's current direction, if you were to go with it and want to use the Gnome 2 GUI ("Classic"), I'd say that's all the more reason to go with / stay on the 10.04 long term release (see pilooch's comment). And keep in mind that you may be leaving Ubuntu altogether by 13.04 at the latest. Although by that time, you may be looking to retire the Thinkpad (from its current use, at least) regardless. I'm no expert; just the results of my own dinking and thinking. P.S. Unstated: If GUI's not a concern, then no worries -- probably go with whatever production environment is of interest to you.

artursapek 15y ago
I just saw this. Thanks for the advice. I'll dink and think along with your findings :)