Annoying Linux n00b can has cool new operating system?

July 23, 2007 3:41 AM

I just set up Lenovo R60e to dual boot Ubuntu Feisty Fawn and XP Pro. I want to integrate a Feisty server at work. What is the best server hardware to buy?

Also: I need to study. What should I be reading?

posted by chuckdarwin to Technology (6 answers total)

In my opinion the hardware depends more on the function of the server, less on the OS the server runs.
posted by donut at 4:12 AM on July 23, 2007

Response by poster: I don't want to have to chase down a tonne of drivers; is there certain chipsets, etc, that Feisty will pick up easily.
posted by chuckdarwin at 5:10 AM on July 23, 2007

Best answer: For a server, I'd actually recommend using Ubuntu 6.06 LTS (Dapper Drake) as it is supported until 2011. Fiesty is more of an interim release that is only going to be supported until 2008.
posted by zackola at 6:12 AM on July 23, 2007

Best answer: I doubt that you'd have any serious driver problems with most generic PC hardware for use as a server. The driver problems that most often show up with Linux are things like power (hibernate), 3d video, sound, wireless cards, none of which you usually need for a server.
posted by octothorpe at 6:18 AM on July 23, 2007

Echoing octothorpe. I've had much more luck with core component drivers (hard drives, ethernet card, CD rom, USB drives) installing correctly with Ubuntu than XP. It's the peripherals (TV-out, hell video card period, sound) that usually cause issues with linux.
posted by jmd82 at 6:40 AM on July 23, 2007

Best answer: Dell's linux page has a server section. This hardware is supported by open source drivers. I certainly wouldnt chance this with a random purchase. I'd at the very least be worried about RAID support.
posted by damn dirty ape at 7:56 AM on July 23, 2007