Topic: first timer in linux- can I pre install in one pc an move to another pc

[abel2b]

Hi we are new to linux and wish to upgrade our computers and while at it install a server, considering licence cost for microsoft server we turned to linux, ubuntu and suse look good but too technical for us so we came across SME server and were delighted with how easy it is to install, configure and run SME so are going to give a try !!! But...


Budget is tight and we can´t afford to buy 15 computers and a server all at once, so we started to buy in lots of 2-3 pc at a time, starting from the most needed ones in the front desk ( we run a small hotel  )..anyway in the meantime can install SME (linux) on a temporary pc and later move the installation to a better computer.

can I install it and configure on a old pc with AMD athlon 3200+, assrock MB, 512mb 333mhz ram, 120GB HD and then move it, Say two months from now to this:

1 X MICROP. INTEL  Q6600 2,40 soc 775 8Mb 1066Mhz Core 2 Quad
1 X MOTHER ASUS P5Q DELUXE   soc 775
2 X DDR-2 2048 mb /800 KINGSTON
4 X H.DISK   500 GB  SERIAL ATA in a RAID configuration
1 X GABINETE CODEGEN 4U-500 RACKEABLE
1 X P4 600W 24 PINES+SATA SHURE Power supply

Or do I have to wait till I get the new hardware...???

We picked this configuration based on what we can find from local distributors, we are in a small town in south america.

[the-heck]

I recommend that you use SME without further delay. 

There are many ways to transfer your data/config/contribs.  You can search here or somewhere else.

When the task of transferring to a new server is at hand, consider reading about articles with keywords DAR, AFFA, and Backup.

cheers!

[David Harper]

Welcome to the forums

SME Server will probably be fine with the hardware you mentioned, although it might be a bit slow. Adding some extra RAM (maybe another 512Mb) would smooth things over quite a bit.

[abel2b]

   so that´s a yes, I can install it in an old pc, configure it, test it, do a backup and then later do a fresh install on a better bigger machine and restore the backup on the fresh install and I shouldn´t have problems  even considering that the new machine will implement 4x 500GB hdd in a RAID configuration, it won´t give me the drama windows does when upgrading MB..

One more question, Can I do this virtually in say microsoft´s virtual pc and do a backup in this enviroment, then restore on a physical machine???

[mercyh]

it won´t give me the drama windows does when upgrading MB..

Should be no Drama but there will be a learning curve if you have never been on linux before.

To get some idea of the process check the following links.

http://wiki.contribs.org/Moving_SME_to_new_Hardware

If you are only using this as a file, web and e-mail server and are only using the basic SME install without a bunch of extra Contribs installed, you can just use the backup to workstation described in the manual.

Oh and by the way.........

Your required reading for the next few evenings

http://wiki.contribs.org/SME_Server:Documentation:Administration_Manual

One more question, Can I do this virtually in say microsoft´s virtual pc and do a backup in this enviroment, then restore on a physical machine???

Sure, I don't know if Microsoft Virtual PC would work but VMware sure does, however if you have the older hardware lying around I would do it on a real machine just so I could get a feel for how it works in the environment you intend to us in production.

the new machine will implement 4x 500GB hdd in a RAID configuration

Just a tip; Don't waste any money on a RAID controller in this machine unless you intend to pay the big bucks to get a "real" raid controller (all cheap raid controllers use some sort of software to do the raid and are junk IMO) The SME software can handle the raid itself in a much better fashion then the cheap "fake" raid controllers.

[abel2b]

Thank you!!! very much, I must admit I never expected the quality, and understanding this community, has in providing a total noob answers to it´s questions.  Thank you  .


This is the expected hardware we will use or whatever equivalent it´s available at the time of purchase:

1 X MICROP. INTEL  Q6600 2,40 soc 775 8Mb 1066Mhz Core 2 Quad
1 X MOTHERBOARD ASUS P5Q DELUXE   soc 775
2 X DDR-2 2048 mb /800 KINGSTON
4 X H.DISK   500 GB  SERIAL ATA in a RAID configuration
1 X GABINETE CODEGEN 4U-500 RACKEABLE
1 X P4 600W 24 PINES+SATA SHURE Power supply

mercyh : Just a tip; Don't waste any money on a RAID controller in this machine unless you intend to pay the big bucks to get a "real" raid controller (all cheap raid controllers use some sort of software to do the raid and are junk IMO) The SME software can handle the raid itself in a much better fashion then the cheap "fake" raid controllers.

I´m planning to use the mother board built in RAID controller, firmware load at the bios, making it one less thing the OS has to worry about , is it not suitable enough??


 Asus P5Q Delux Specs

 

[mercyh]

I´m planning to use the mother board built in RAID controller, firmware load at the bios, making it one less thing the OS has to worry about , is it not suitable enough??

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAID#Firmware.2Fdriver-based_RAID

This specifically mentions the Intel Matrix raid which that MoBo uses as not true, hardware based raid. Linux has several advantages in managing the raid, I would say it is not a big "worry" for the OS.

For more information google and search this forum for "fakeraid"

[the-heck]

I have been using SME's raid management for quite sometime.  Yes it is very good.  Cheap raid controllers, like built-in ones are not for production servers.  I had a very bad experience with these cheap ones, nearly losing my job.  So, trust SME's capability on handling raid.  Unless, you can afford the expensive hardwares.

Your question on MSVPC, yes. it can be installed without issues. However, I can't understand how come you can afford MSVPC and not a modest server for your production?

[abel2b]

I have been using SME's raid management for quite sometime.  Yes it is very good.  Cheap raid controllers, like built-in ones are not for production servers.  I had a very bad experience with these cheap ones, nearly losing my job.  So, trust SME's capability on handling raid.  Unless, you can afford the expensive hardwares.

Your question on MSVPC, yes. it can be installed without issues. However, I can't understand how come you can afford MSVPC and not a modest server for your production?

Microsoft released virtual pc 2007 ( see here ) and virtual server as a free download ??  any way it´s not an issue whether I can afford it and we don´t have pc laying around, all pc´s right now are been used.  For testing purposes only I´m using my home pc with VPC so I can at least do my homework , and look like I know something when I install it on a real machine....

I have been trying for hours to install it in in VPC 2007, well I did succesfully installed it and running except for the network part, I can´t get it to connect to the internet because it keeps asking me for default gateway ip yet my host pc is connected straight from a motorola sb5100 cable modem with ethernet cable I used windows ipconfig to peek at gateway ip but it doesn´t work in VPC SME install... I downloading VMWARE soft as we speak and try my luck there.

[janet]

abel2b

This is the expected hardware we will use or whatever equivalent it´s available at the time of purchase:
1 X MOTHERBOARD ASUS P5Q DELUXE   soc 775

Don't just assume or hope that that motherboard will be OK with Linux/RHEL 4 or 5/CentOS 4 or 5. Investigate first and make sure and then you will have no problems.
Pick a motherboard known to be compatible with CentOS 4 and 5

Also as has been said, don't use the built in RAID controller, go with the sme server software RAID, it works very well. Much onboard stuff is not supported anyway and difficult to get going even if you can get suitable drivers, and then difficult to maintain when kernel upgrades occur to sme.

Also same issue with many on boad NICs, better to select a motherboard that has a supported NIC, or disable the NIC in the BIOS and plug a NIC card (or two) in a slot(s).

[abel2b]

Also same issue with many on boad NICs, better to select a motherboard that has a supported NIC, or disable the NIC in the BIOS and plug a NIC card (or two) in a slot(s).

Yes we had some bad experience with linux before, and project was abandoned, butt we have beed doing homework and the P5Q delux motherboard has dual gigabit lan ports with Marvell 88E8056/88E8001 NIC controller, Marvell website does provide drivers for linux kernel 2.4 or higher.  Linux-testing.com says this the P5Q MB is compatible with redhat, suse, fedora and mandriva, also I´ve read many forums where Marvell NIC issues where resolved..

I won´t need highend graphics or sound support, so I should be OK....I think    I have yet to try it, al this is in theory....

[mercyh]

Marvell website does provide drivers for linux kernel 2.4 or higher

If you are a first timer on linux, you need to know that this is not the equivelant of a manufacturer offering a windows driver. If the driver is not already included in the kernel that we are using, you will have to recompile the kernel with the driver from the website. You will then have a custom distribution that will not survive updates.

You need to check all the hardware you intend to purchase against the version 4 list here:

https://hardware.redhat.com/

This link comes from chapter 4 of the reading assignment you were given in post #4

The link is here:

http://wiki.contribs.org/SME_Server:Documentation:Administration_Manual:Chapter4

I realize you possibly have not got to chapter 4 yet...............

(BTW we are pretty serious about reading that manual. It will save you much pain!!!!)

[janet]

abel2b

Make sure that sme server FULLY supports ALL the hardware before purchasing, and don't get involved with add on drivers, it's only a path to painful experience.
Use a board eg from Intel that works without any hassles eg
http://forums.contribs.org/index.php/topic,42381.0.html

There are others of course, but Intel is about as Linux compatible as you will get.

[abel2b]

This link comes from chapter 4 of the reading assignment you were given in post #4

The link is here:

http://wiki.contribs.org/SME_Server:Documentation:Administration_Manual:Chapter4

I realize you possibly have not got to chapter 4 yet...............

(BTW we are pretty serious about reading that manual. It will save you much pain!!!!)

I´ve read the documentation, skimmed through the forum and googled around for topics of SME server for 4 days before I even registered and attempted to post in this forum, I may not know it like the back of my hand yet I am aware of the pros and cons of linux as well the dificulties, also let me point out that I live in a small rural town, so to speak, but a good tourist spot, I can not walk down the street to the computer store and pick up any motherboard I want, parts stock is limited, last year I attempted to buy a hard drive and RAM modules from tigerdirect.com shipment never arrived it got lost or stolen in route, a week later a news report was on tv ,with hidden camaras, about how airport customs employee where stealing what ever of value from luggage or mail arrivals...  

So if I have to make a custom SME distribution that can survive for an X amount of time without updates then so be it.

there is one refernce here http://forums.contribs.org/index.php/topic,42925.0.html of a P5Q MB which has workout fine.  looks like there is only 2 issues with this board common among differents distros but have been worked out..

Here is a list of all available MB and Microprocessors available as of today until out of stock:


MOTHER ASROCK 945 GCMS INTEL
MOTHER ASROCK N61 AMD
MOTHER ASUS M2N-SLI
MOTHER ASUS M3A78 EM
MOTHER ASUS M3N-HD HDMI
MOTHER ASUS M3N-HT DELUXE / MENPIPE
MOTHER ASUS P5KPL-AM
MOTHER ASUS P5KPL/1600
MOTHER ASUS P5LD2-X/1333     sock 775
MOTHER ASUS P5QC
MOTHER ASUS P5SD2-VM   sock 775
MOTHER BIOSTAR P4M900M7-SE sock 775
MOTHER ECS PM-M2 2,0 GFORCE6100

CPU

MICRO INTEL CELERON D430
MICRO INTEL CELERON D440
MICRO INTEL CELERON DUAL CORE E1200
MICRO INTEL  E5200 DUAL CORE
MICRO INTEL  E5300 DUAL CORE
MICRO INTEL  E7400 CORE 2 DUO
MICRO INTEL  E8400 CORE 2 DUO
MICRO INTEL Q8200 CORE 2 QUAD
MICRO AMD SEMPRON 1250
MICRO AMD ATHLON 64 LE-1640 1MB
MICRO AMD ATHLON 64 5200 X2
MICRO AMD ATHLON 64 5400 X2
MICRO AMD ATHLON 64 5600 X2
MICRO AMD Phenom  8450 3X 2.1GHz 512kb
MICRO AMD Phenom  8650 3X 2.3GHz 512kb
MICRO AMD Phenom  9550 QuadCore 2.2GHz 4MB
MICRO AMD Phenom  9650 QuadCore 2.2GHz 4MB