IA64 (yes, Itanium) Linux advice

[dgingeri]

So, I've inherited an old 1U dual Itanium 1400Mhz server at work. The original OS is crapped out, so the user decided he'd replace it with a new one rather than upgrade the optical drive to a DVD and reinstall the OS. I get to keep it for "practice".

I'm a test lab support tech. I have very little Linux experience, but extensive Window Server experience. They hired me because of my Windows experience, and said I'd learn Linux as I go along. Basically, my job is to install OSes for various systems so that the testers can more quickly test various scenarios. (So far, I've installed more AIX than Linux or Windows.) They get paid 3 times what I do, so it is more cost effective for me to do the installs and the testers do their testing.

So, I'm new to the whole Linux thing, sort of, and I need to install a version of Linux on this old machine. I get 4GB of DDR-266, 4X 36GB SCSI SCA drives, an IDE CD ROM drive, (no DVD installs, of course) and a 4GB FC card for connecting to our external storage, if needed.

Anyone know a good distro of Linux I can use for this? It will likely be a DNS and basic storage server when I'm done, since our current DNS server is an old 32-bit P4 box with a couple bad fans.

 

[Chuklr]

So, I've inherited an old 1U dual Itanium 1400Mhz server at work. The original OS is crapped out, so the user decided he'd replace it with a new one rather than upgrade the optical drive to a DVD and reinstall the OS. I get to keep it for "practice".

I'm a test lab support tech. I have very little Linux experience, but extensive Window Server experience. They hired me because of my Windows experience, and said I'd learn Linux as I go along. Basically, my job is to install OSes for various systems so that the testers can more quickly test various scenarios. (So far, I've installed more AIX than Linux or Windows.) They get paid 3 times what I do, so it is more cost effective for me to do the installs and the testers do their testing.

So, I'm new to the whole Linux thing, sort of, and I need to install a version of Linux on this old machine. I get 4GB of DDR-266, 4X 36GB SCSI SCA drives, an IDE CD ROM drive, (no DVD installs, of course) and a 4GB FC card for connecting to our external storage, if needed.

Anyone know a good distro of Linux I can use for this? It will likely be a DNS and basic storage server when I'm done, since our current DNS server is an old 32-bit P4 box with a couple bad fans.

Hi, dgingeri,

You might want to post this in the Linux/BSD/Free Systems forum and see what folks recommend. A thread search there might find a number of hits that might help you out.

Hope this helps.

Chuklr

 

[dgingeri]

Yeah, I see that subdivision now. I didn't see it before or I would have posted it there. Can I move this thread somehow or should I just close it and repost it?

 

[Chuklr]

Yeah, I see that subdivision now. I didn't see it before or I would have posted it there. Can I move this thread somehow or should I just close it and repost it?

Hi, dgingeri,

Just contact a Mod and ask them to move this thread to the Linux forum. It shouldn't be a problem and you'll probably get some suggestions here before it's moved ...

Take care.

Chuklr

 

[dgingeri]

I got some good advice from the Tom's Hardware forum on this, so I'm good to go now. Thanks anyway.

 

[keenan]

Debian has a well-supported IA64 port. I've not used it specifically, but I have used several other Debian ports (PPC, ARM and SPARC) and it is my distro of choice for servers on x86/x64 as well. Excellent distro, but not as popular in 'commercial' settings because it's backed by a non-profit not a company providing support services. You should have no trouble at all with it.

Haven't tried SuSE in a while, but it is Novell's Linux and is apparently supported on IA64. Not sure if there is a free version, if that matters.

 

[PWMK2]

Debian has a well-supported IA64 port. I've not used it specifically, but I have used several other Debian ports (PPC, ARM and SPARC) and it is my distro of choice for servers on x86/x64 as well. Excellent distro, but not as popular in 'commercial' settings because it's backed by a non-profit not a company providing support services. You should have no trouble at all with it.

Haven't tried SuSE in a while, but it is Novell's Linux and is apparently supported on IA64. Not sure if there is a free version, if that matters.

OpenSuSE is the free version of SuSE.

I'd say to take a look at CentOS. It's basically the exact same thing as RHEL, which I would consider to be the most enterprise-friendly Linux distro available.

edit: Ah, never mind. Apparently, CentOS stopped IA64 support in version 4.0. Guess OpenSuSe or Debian is the way to go.

 

[Seemund]

PM ME..
I have an Itanium-2 Server, and I can help you out..

Just an FYI...
CentOS and Debian would be your best bet...
FreeBSD is also good, but you'll probably need to install it using a serial cable (or null modem).