Will Linux run on this?

Mark Hensler's picture

He has: 4,048 posts

Joined: Aug 2000

I'm buying myself a new machine, and want my old one to become a server. The OS will be RedHat, and I'd like to be able to run a web/FTP/email servers on it.

The big question is... the machine is a Compaq 5700T. Compaq makes their own motherboard and BIOS, so will linux choke on this?

BTW, 700MHz and 512MB ram

Mark Hensler
If there is no answer on Google, then there is no question.

They have: 383 posts

Joined: Sep 2000

I know a bunch of people who run Redhat on Presario notebooks and I believe my friend has a Presario desktop with a similar configuration as yours running Redhat. If you search deja news and Compaq's support site you should be able to locate any known issues with your particular model. So many people now use Linux that you can find all kinds of personal installation guides, unofficial drivers, etc.

mairving's picture

They have: 2,256 posts

Joined: Feb 2001

Mark, I couldn't really find the specs on that machine. If it is ATA-100, then you will need an OS with the 2.4 kernel. I would personally forget about RedHat and use Mandrake 8.0. Mandrake is based on RedHat and uses rpm's which will probably be easier for you. It also is more on the cutting edge than RedHat is. It is the 'prettiest' of the Linux distros and has about every desktop that there is. If you need it, I can burn you a copy and mail it out to you or you can download an ISO image from Linuxiso.org and burn your own.

Mark Irving
I have a mind like a steel trap; it is rusty and illegal in 47 states

Mark Hensler's picture

He has: 4,048 posts

Joined: Aug 2000

ooohh...

I'd heard some stuff about Mandrake, and I've seen screen shots. Looked very nice. I never knew it ran rpms though. I'll give it a try. Thanks!

Mark Hensler
If there is no answer on Google, then there is no question.

mairving's picture

They have: 2,256 posts

Joined: Feb 2001

Actually Mandrake is the most popular distro, even topping RedHat. RedHat is probably a little bit more entrenched in the server market because they have quite an extensive (expensive) support system. Even though Mandrake is based on RedHat, they still do a lot of their own development. Take a look a some of their screenshots. Pretty nice looking desktops.

Mark Irving
I have a mind like a steel trap; it is rusty and illegal in 47 states

Mark Hensler's picture

He has: 4,048 posts

Joined: Aug 2000

I downloaded and burned Mandrake80-inst.iso, and I downloaded Mandrake80-ext.iso, and I'll burn that sometime today.

What is on the second CD that I'll want?

Mark Hensler
If there is no answer on Google, then there is no question.

mairving's picture

They have: 2,256 posts

Joined: Feb 2001

I am not really sure what is on the 2nd or not. It's a pretty nice install. Apache, MYSQL, PHP4, PERL 5 were all up and running on the initial setup.

Mark Irving
I have a mind like a steel trap; it is rusty and illegal in 47 states

Mark Hensler's picture

He has: 4,048 posts

Joined: Aug 2000

*drooling*

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