Which Linux for Microserver?

**eek** · 29 August 2014, 11:00

Originally posted by Platypus View Post

I need to get self learning some stuff! I've bought another microserver and was thinking along the lines of

- I'll run some sort of remote GUI (the server will be in a cupboard somewhere). Is X Windows still the standard?
- I'll stick a LAMP stack on it to dip my toe in the water
- I'll want to install open stack / cloud foundry / mongo / node / git and all the other new cool stuff that's around
- er, that's all I can think of. Any other suggestions?

Anyone else do any of this? Which (free) Linux should I use / do you recommend ?

I'm becoming a dinosaur and need to evolve or die!

I don't use a gui (just ssh to the command line) with webmin for a front end. I also like debian so currently use Ubuntu 14.04 LTS server.

If I had seen the next version of openmediavault (0.6 or 1 depending on who you talk to) I would be using Debian Wheezey instead. But that likewise wouldn't have a gui as I can't see the point. Command line and web interfaces are so much easier...

**Cliphead** · 29 August 2014, 11:43

I don't use a GUI either so SSL to a terminal and Webmin for easy admin. I prefer CentOS or Scientific Linux as a server distro.

Check this out for an easy setup;

The Perfect Server - CentOS 6.5 x86_64 (Apache2, MySQL, PHP, PureFTPD, Postfix, Dovecot and ISPConfig 3) | HowtoForge - Linux Howtos and Tutorials

You can ignore the ispconfig part if you like but the rest will have you running a LAMP stack in no time.

**stek** · 29 August 2014, 11:45

GUIs are for girls. I won't even use smitty on AIX (actually a CUI) or the HMC web interface cos I'm a bloody bloke!

**Platypus** · 29 August 2014, 13:20

Originally posted by stek View Post

GUIs are for girls. I won't even use smitty on AIX (actually a CUI) or the HMC web interface cos I'm a bloody bloke!

ha ha ha, good old character-based smit for you then? or just enter the commands directly and bypass smit?

**stek** · 29 August 2014, 13:24

Originally posted by Platypus View Post

ha ha ha, good old character-based smit for you then? or just enter the commands directly and bypass smit?

Bypass it and no pressing F6 for the command!

In fact we counted the keystrokes for adding a persistent static route by both methods and sadly smitty won 52-54....

smitty remember, smit-tty; smit is the X version...

**smatty** · 29 August 2014, 14:51

I use Ubuntu LTS on mine, new version has all the openstack stuff included.

Can probably put Xorg on if you wanted but I wouldn't bother, SSH for everything. Openstack has a web interface for configuration.

It's spelt smatty and if you call me a CUI again we shall have words.

**Platypus** · 29 August 2014, 15:45

Originally posted by stek View Post

smitty remember, smit-tty; smit is the X version...

In AIX 4.2 the green text screen version was called smit. That's now smitty with smit being the new GUI version then.

**stek** · 29 August 2014, 15:48

Originally posted by Platypus View Post

In AIX 4.2 the green text screen version was called smit. That's now smitty with smit being the new GUI version then.

smit would always launch X smit if X was setup and graphics available, and the character smit if none was there. If X server was detected but display wrong etc it would just hang waiting for the display.

smitty launches only tty smit.

All IIRC and 4.2 is well old!

**Sysman** · 29 August 2014, 20:34

Originally posted by Cliphead View Post

I don't use a GUI either so SSL to a terminal and Webmin for easy admin. I prefer CentOS or Scientific Linux as a server distro.

Scientific Linux here. I do have a GUI on it because that gives me a bit more flexibility.

Originally posted by Cliphead View Post

Check this out for an easy setup;

The Perfect Server - CentOS 6.5 x86_64 (Apache2, MySQL, PHP, PureFTPD, Postfix, Dovecot and ISPConfig 3) | HowtoForge - Linux Howtos and Tutorials

You can ignore the ispconfig part if you like but the rest will have you running a LAMP stack in no time.

When I was starting out on this stuff I found the Perfect Server articles excellent.

Which Linux for Microserver?