Operating System for P1?

[bloodeagle]

I've got a real crappy computer around, and I was planning on installing an operating system, windows or linux, to simply run as an IRC server. This thing is 100Mhz, 32mb, 2gig harddrive. So, crappy. I was wondering if using linux would be better, or using windows. If going without a GUI would be faster/better for the server, then by all means I'd rather go that way. So, which would be better? It's only purpose is to run IRC.

Thanks

[M4tt]

Go with the penguin and of course no GUI.

[ComputerBox34]

Windows Wise - You'll have to install Windows 98 or 95 on it. But the problem is, it might not enough memory to run an IRC server. 64 MB would probably be better for running a server. I'm going to find the specs for an IRC server now, I'll post them when I find them.

[ComputerBox34]

I found a FAQ page.

http://www.mirc.com/ircintro.html

Doesn't really give a lot of information about hosting but it still gives a little.


Also....

Look at the OS's system requiremets as well. I don't remember them at the moment but Windows XP is a 1 GHZ processor, the system files take 1 GB of space, and you need at least 128 MB of memory.

[S1nF1xx]

DOS might run on that piece of crap but I wouldn't hold my breath. ;)

Seriously though, Windows 95 might run acceptably. We are running windows 95 on our print server/mail server and we have 12 clients running off it, it is a 486DX with 16MB RAM :eek: . (For the record: I didn't set it up, and the owner won't let me replace it :mad: ) The funny thing is it actually runs ok. Who'da thought. :confused:

[Cardboard Hammer]

In my experience, Windows 95 ran OK on a 486DX with 8MB RAM while XFree86 crawled like a crippled snail.

I'd say go with Linux without a GUI, if you're comfortable setting it up to do what you need.

[S1nF1xx]

In my experience, Windows 95 ran OK on a 486DX with 8MB RAM while XFree86 crawled like a crippled snail.

More like a half-retarded crippled snail.
I was just expressing my amazement that we can all still print and get email! :eek:

[liquidtrance123]

I found a FAQ page.

http://www.mirc.com/ircintro.html

Doesn't really give a lot of information about hosting but it still gives a little.


Also....

Look at the OS's system requiremets as well. I don't remember them at the moment but Windows XP is a 1 GHZ processor, the system files take 1 GB of space, and you need at least 128 MB of memory.
what are you smoking? a 1Ghz cpu for XP? jesus? :confused: :eek: :confused:
try 233Mhz
64MB ram
MINIMUM
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/upgrading/sysreqs.mspx

[towert7]

Honestly, windows 95, 98, 98SE, NT4 will all work fine. The funny thing is, the graphic interface does'nt take up much ram or processor power.

I run a FTP/Web server with windows 98. Never crashes.

Ive even run a 487 (Pentium OVERDRIVE, take that 486!!! (found it in the garbage)) with windows 95, not that bad. The 2x cd-rom drive was a little weak though.

Its not processor power that really matters, but the RAM. 32mb is pushing it!!!

And like others have said, you can go linux (eaither GUI or bash prompt)

Ive run Gento Linux with a GUI on a Pentium 233mhz computer. It worked fine, but it was a live eval CD, and at 8x CD-ROM it was a little slow. Imagine how fast it would be if loaded on the hard drive ^_^.

Any of these will work, i just recommend you get some more ram if possible (if its the EDO ram, screwed). Just hope page file is an option for the IIRC server.

~Hope this helps

[towert7]

what are you smoking? a 1Ghz cpu for XP? jesus? :confused: :eek: :confused:
try 233Mhz
64MB ram
MINIMUM
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/upgrading/sysreqs.mspx


Must'a forgot a decimal place. ^_^
0.1ghz more like it.

I run windows XP pro on a 0.8ghz computer, and there is no way its struggling!

[RocketFast321]

Windows nt 3.51 or 4.0

[bloodeagle]

Well, I'm still undecided.

Linux - I've played around with, but only with a GUI, and I don't know all the commands and such. But which distro if I were to go Linux? Difficulty level?

Windows - It's boring I must say. I could set it up in a few hours, which isn't much fun, but it is easy.

Thanks for your input.

[FanZ]

i heard RedHat or Mandrake is the most user-friendly Linux distribution groups. However, I'm not sure which version would run on a P1-100 machine.

Or do what everything is suggesting, install Win95 or Dos 6.22

[towert7]

Oh man, if only IT professionals had that option.

"Well, we ... could ... impliment this thing here, but that would just make our job to easy and boring." <That, is something you will hardly every hear someone in IT say.

[Phoenix86]

There is no windows OS I would recommend, maybe, just maybe NT4. The main problem is security. This machine will be accessable via the net, therefore you want a secure OS. I'm not sure the status on NT, IF it's still being patched, that is. IF it is, NT4 is a good option, however if it's supported it won't be for long. If not, then 2k is the next step up (don't even consider a 9x kernel for this), but the hardware requirements would make the machine run like crap. If your diehard windows guy, use 2k, but it would need more RAM. 98 would be my last windows choice, as it's not stable over time, which in kinda important to a server.

Soooo, I would look at linux.

[ameoba]

Linux, definately.

I'd probably go with Debian stable w/ the 2.4 kernel & install just as much as is needed to get the IRC server up & then firewall everything else off. Shouldn't be a problem at all.

[bloodeagle]

Linux, definately.

I'd probably go with Debian stable w/ the 2.4 kernel & install just as much as is needed to get the IRC server up & then firewall everything else off. Shouldn't be a problem at all.

Care to indulge me?

I'm going to look up more on this, but if you could say what would be needed it'd be helpful.

Thanks :) Linux it is.

Edit - Are you suggesting a GUI or no? I think XFree86 would be a theif of my non existant performance.

[ScretHate]

Gentoo complete compile install ;) :eek: :D

[Tt Ownage]

wow... i remember my pentium 1 having only 1 gb of HDD space... and i thguoht that was the greatest thing in the world....

[budec]

*cough* BSD *cough*


OpenBSD - Pros: Security++ Cons: smaller user base, difficult for a newbie
FreeBSD - Pros: Security, easy, standard distrubation (HAH! take that linux). Cons: um... let me get back to you on that one...

[nonsequitur]

Gentoo complete compile install ;) :eek: :D
i think he'd like to use it sometime this summer! lol
stage three might not be tooooo bad, xfree might be a couple days though.

[DoMeHardR]

Isn't there an option to install an IRC server with FreeBSD packages when your installing?

[budec]

don't think so, but there is always ports.

Basically to install a port under FreeBSD is as simple as:

cd /usr/ports/net/irc/name_of_irc_client
make; make install;

;)

[Sgarissta]

don't think so, but there is always ports.

Basically to install a port under FreeBSD is as simple as:

cd /usr/ports/net/irc/name_of_irc_client
make; make install;

;)

which beats
apt-get install package_name
how exactly? ;)

[ameoba]

God... I've just spent all day fighting with the FreeBSD ports system on a server at work. Trust me, apt is far simpler & better at handling dependencies, suggesting packages that might make things work better and upgrading things that are already installed.


If you really want to use a BSD for this, go with NetBSD, since it's the one most targeted at anemic hardware.

[Mackintire]

Try this.

Install windows 98.

Edit the win.ini file

Look for:

Boot=Explorer.exe

Change to:
Boot=Progman.exe


Instant windows 98 that uses 28 less meg of memory.

Instead of booting to the windows desktop the machine will boot to the old windows 3.1 progman file manager.

The machine has all the functionality of windows 98 with a minimalist front end.


Good Luck,

Mackintire

[CreamySoupUSA]

Wow, I'm gonna have to try that trick.

[Rifkin]

Well, you could go with 98lite at http://www.litepc.com/ if you want to.
I did that with an old Compaq (486dx4/100, 36mb ram) and its running great with the micro install option. Micro is only available with the pro version though.

[ameoba]

The question is...

do you really want to run a server on 98?

Security & Stability are -not- exactly at the top of the list of things one associates with the system.

[iceslice]

Id do a stage 3 gentoo install. It will take some time to set up, as compiling takes forever, but once its built it will be minimal to what you need.