Which Distro Is Right For Me? (Redux)

The dell is not too old, but it was a AIO type so crap ram.  So thank you for the info.  Just being cheap as hell

The dell is not too old, but it was a AIO type so crap ram.  So thank you for the info.  Just being cheap as hell

Yeah, I know the feeling, my first new PC was an HP AIO MS214, and for over $645 total, lived to be less than 4 years old, very poor return on investment. The entire PC, other than the 3.5" HDD, consisted on notebook parts, all the way to the PSU. 

I have no recommendation of any Server OS for such a PC, as it's it's going to run at lot, will require frequent cleaning to keep temps down. That's what happened to mine, the AMD 3400 onboard graphics fried on me. Wasn't about to spend $200 or more for a MB that would likely do the same. 

There are many off lease PC's that would make nice servers on eBay for $100 or so, the Optiplex 780 with a Core 2 Quad Q9550/9650 are good choices. Though I did spend an extra $80 to stuff the RAM to 16GB (perhaps overkill), that's what I do with all of my computers. RAM slots are meant to be stuffed, paired with a power CPU, one can run whatever OS (server or consumer) wished. 

About CentOS, it one that I'm very interested in, was beginning to learn the OS in 2012, and an opportunity came my way, so had to choose one over the other. Wished a thousand times I had stayed with CentOS instead. It's actually Red Hat with many extras that's still decent software that doesn't make the final cut. So one that can run CentOS, also can probably jump right into Red Hat, a Linux OS preferred my many demanding professionals globally.

Gets a thumbs up by me.

Cat

Edited by cat1092, 04 February 2016 - 02:03 AM.

Hi Cz about time you got back.
 

so what yall think for a home based media server & storage box.

Plex or Kodi maybe.

Kodi is a great media server box, as long as it's configured right. 

My mistake, I believe, was in attempting to add it onto Linux Mint 17. Rather than just download the preconfigured OS. 

http://www.linuxveda.com/2015/05/25/turn-old-pc-modern-media-center-kodibuntu/

Sorry about my earlier post, read too fast after the recommendation by another member, I was thinking about a true server OS, rather than a MC type of OS. Please accept my apologies for jumping the gun.

EDIT: One has to click onto the Kodibuntu 64 bit link to get the ISO, the Linux link are just instructions, which I used in the past as mentioned above. It's roughly an 880 MiB ISO download, that can be booted with a USB stick or DVD. Don't see a 32 bit link, though I'd suspect this would be of little use these days.

Cat

Edited by cat1092, 05 February 2016 - 02:50 AM.

I think I'd go with Debian Jessie on a server. You can net install your way.

I think I'd go with Debian Jessie on a server. You can net install your way.

Looks promising, though if like other Debian installs, it may be best to install on a single drive by itself, trying to setup a dual boot is very challenging, to say the least. My best success with Debian was running in VirtualBox & this was just for a short period of time. 

Does Debian support TRIM for SSD's? I ask because I wouldn't install an OS (or at least the root partition) any other way, much faster than a HDD, even on a SATA-2 computer. 275MB/sec beats less than 100MB/sec (actually closer to 70-80MB/sec), and unlike the HDD, which slows after use, the SSD retains as much speed as possible for the duration of the session. 

Without TRIM though, it's a waste of a good SSD. Premature wear & tear will be the end result & fast. 

Cat

 

Does Debian support TRIM for SSD's?

 

i use this command for trim:

sudo fstrim -v /

about once a week.

For questions about Trim please start a new toic.

Just wanted to ensure that Debian is SSD ready.

Wouldn't bother with installing if not. 

Cat

Just wanted to ensure that Debian is SSD ready.
 
Wouldn't bother with installing if not. 
 
Cat

Silly question time: Is it the one  at the top of the list, ie a score of 100, which is the right one picked from the quiz?

I am actually running Mint Cinnamon on an old laptop just now and I like it.

@Avalon60

which is the right one picked from the quiz?

It should say "Your TuxRadar distro match is ______". This is the suggestion. It also provides a list of additional recommendations under "Also Consider:".

.

@Avalon60

 

which is the right one picked from the quiz?

 

It should say "Your TuxRadar distro match is ______". This is the suggestion. It also provides a list of additional recommendations under "Also Consider:".

.

Yes it does, thanks. Silly me didn't look at that before, but just the list of distros

Silly question time: Is it the one  at the top of the list, ie a score of 100, which is the right one picked from the quiz?

I am actually running Mint Cinnamon on an old laptop just now and I like it.

If that's so, then you'd may be best considering a dual boot of Mint Cinnamon & Kodi, it's very tricky adding it to a standing OS, yet possible. It's just that I see dual boot is the best option, because the developer has done most all of the work for you by furnishing the pre-configured OS. 

Much all you'd need to to do is select the channels you'd want on Kodibuntu.

If you want the OS, it's well worth considering, if not a dual boot, then on a 2nd PC that meets the minimum specs to run Kodi. By chance, if you mess up, then at least you haven't torched your OS in doing so.

Cat

 

The dell is not too old, but it was a AIO type so crap ram.  So thank you for the info.  Just being cheap as hell

 

About CentOS, it one that I'm very interested in, was beginning to learn the OS in 2012, and an opportunity came my way, so had to choose one over the other. Wished a thousand times I had stayed with CentOS instead. It's actually Red Hat with many extras that's still decent software that doesn't make the final cut. So one that can run CentOS, also can probably jump right into Red Hat, a Linux OS preferred my many demanding professionals globally.

 

Gets a thumbs up by me.

 

Cat

 

Sweet didnt know that about CentOS, makes me what to do that more now.  In CASP cert course right now... so Im not on alot, just breaking my brain, Have CompTIA Security+ friday and next week CSAP  So if Im super late on stuff well... you know why :-)   Thanks again Cat