🚀 go-pugleaf

>>Basically the server is to provide basic webhosting, mail (pop and
>>shell), and allow one other computer to access the internet.
>>The server will maintain a 24hour link to the internet via a 28.8k
>>modem. 
>>
>>What sort of hardware would you suggest if I was to run Linux
>>Slackware?  As this is a non-profit group, we're running low on funds,
>>so a balance betweeen speed and cost would be great.
>
><snip>
>
>Firstly, I'd go with either Redhat or Debian simply because IMHO they are

  I agree totally.  Debian is my preferred distribution, but I've read a lot of reviews
of Red Hat and can strongly recomment it too.
   One thing that you should mention is that with Debian (not sure about Red Hat)
all the software is setup to make extensive use of shared libraries thus minimising
RAM use (and hardware costs).  I've read reports of people converting from
Slackwre to Debian and noticing a performance increase (but it's not something
that you can benchmark...).

>easier to maintain and easier to set up.  I looked at setting up a public
>internet access service a while back and looked into cisco routers. Did
>you know that some of the most popular routers use 286 and 386 chips?  I

   Which routers are these?  AFAIK all Cisco routers use the embedded versions
of the Motorolla 68030 CPU (the version without MMU or FPU).  Of course Cisco
could have used a 386 just as easily...

>presume this is because they are dedicated routers.  Hmmm.  So if I'm
>right on this point then presumably you could set up your 486 (optimized
>as a router - an option in the newer kernels) and voila - a fairly decent
>router box.  Of course if you wanted to use it for webhosting and mail

   If you want to do anything other than routing as a primary function then you
probably don't want the "optimise as router" option.  I get the impression that they
want to do web serving etc and that routing is a minor option (if they run squid then
they'll probably do practically no routing).

>too you might lose a bit of speed and might consider at least a Pentium
>133 (upgrade?).  I know ISPs use things like Pentium Pro 200s and Dual
>Pentiums etc etc but they no doubt serve a lot more people than you will
>(I guess?).  Anyway, that's my 2 cents worth.  Good Luck!

   Small ISPs use a lot less than that.  RAM and hard drive speed are more limiting
than CPU anyway.  If CPU is an issue then you're probably better off using a couple
of 486s and sharing the load between them (this also increases the effective disk
bandwidth).  I recommend a 486 over a Pentium because of price and heat.  If you
run a machine 24*7 then heat is a problem.  Pentiums run a lot hotter than 486s...


Russell Coker