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Did I choose wisely?


yoda75
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Ok guys. This is my absolute first foray into Linux-land. I have a spare PC box laying around that I want to use as a printing server (home use) and as a file server so I can share music and movies with my dad overseas. I've downloaded Ubuntu Server (haven't installed it yet) and have wiped my hard drive clean. Is there any reason I should not install Ubuntu for these purposes. Did I make the right choice or would you recommend something better/more noob friendly?

 

Any advice is much appreciated.

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PC-BSD looks very nice indeed. Can it run the services I mentioned earlier?

 

 

 

pc-bsd can run all of the above, because bsd is a server os, but it makes a great desktop too.... enjoy and just post if u need ne help, the dll link is in my sig

 

 

max

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Ok, I'm giving PC-BSD a try now. I started the install process where I got the window where I chose to do "Graphical Install" After that I get this command line prompt that says Root@:~# . What do I do now?

 

 

PS.... I am trying to install this OS onto a freshly wiped hard drive. I looked in the PC-BSD wiki and couldn't find the answer to this question.

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Ok, I'm giving PC-BSD a try now. I started the install process where I got the window where I chose to do "Graphical Install" After that I get this command line prompt that says Root@:~# . What do I do now?

PS.... I am trying to install this OS onto a freshly wiped hard drive. I looked in the PC-BSD wiki and couldn't find the answer to this question.

 

 

hmm thats odd, ill pop in my install disk and see if i cant duplicate it, o wait, i remember, it should just do a bunch of dos tipe prompts (u just wait whial they scroll) and tehn it gets to the gui intall :D try just waiting, or hitting enter if that doesnt work?

 

 

max

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Ok, I'm giving PC-BSD a try now. I started the install process where I got the window where I chose to do "Graphical Install" After that I get this command line prompt that says Root@:~# . What do I do now?

 

 

PS.... I am trying to install this OS onto a freshly wiped hard drive. I looked in the PC-BSD wiki and couldn't find the answer to this question.

You may want to try FreeNas which is specifically made for what I think you want to do with this spare PC.

 

Otherwise, you really should be installing linux. Make sure you have samba installed. You can google setting up a file server with samba from here.

 

If you want to set up a vpn, then install hamachi (linux, windows, or os x). As long as you are connected to hamachi, anyone else on 1 of the 3 main desktop OS's that connects to your network with hamachi from anywhere in the world can access files that you share, share itunes (or banshee) libraries, share a printer, etc.

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Ok, I think I've had it with PC-BSD. I will reinstall Ubuntu Server. I don't think that Ubuntu Server comes with a GUI (command line only). I'm going to search around for tutorials and look through the manual again. I don't mind learning this stuff (it's kind of cool actually) I just wish there was a definitive tutorial for a complete and total newcomer like me. Wish me luck guys, I'll let you know how I'm coming along with Ubuntu server.

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Hey, ubuntu server does rock!!! I have 3 domains running on it right now plus ftp. mysql, and apache. Go to howtoforge.com if u want to setup a webserver where u can ftp stuff and ur dad can ssh in.

 

Just to give u the jumpstart if u want a gui.

1.Once the install finishes u will reboot to a command prompt.

2. type "sudo passwd root"

3. Put in ur password

4. Then when it prompts u put in the root password u want.

5. Type su

6.Put in the root password

7. type "apt-get update"

8. Type "apt-get upgrade"

9. Tpe "apt-get install ubuntu-desktop"

10. It will then ask for the install cd and install the gui (it will take like 15 minutes"

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ok, I installed the Ubuntu Desktop GUI. When reboot,login,hit startx, I get this error.

 

(==) Using config file: : "/etc/X11/xorg.config"

(EE) I810(0): No Video BIOS modes for chosen depth.

(EE) Screen(s) found, but non have a usable configuration

 

Fatal server error:

no screens found

XIO: fatal IO error 104 (connection reset by peer on X server "0.0"

after 0 requests (0 known processed) with 0 events remaining.

 

Does this mean that I need to get another video driver (I'm using a P4 2.0 ghz with onboard intel graphics), or do I have to edit a setting in the xorg configuration file?

 

Thanks for all the help guys

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Ok, I think I've had it with PC-BSD. I will reinstall Ubuntu Server. I don't think that Ubuntu Server comes with a GUI (command line only). I'm going to search around for tutorials and look through the manual again. I don't mind learning this stuff (it's kind of cool actually) I just wish there was a definitive tutorial for a complete and total newcomer like me. Wish me luck guys, I'll let you know how I'm coming along with Ubuntu server.

 

 

lol nice, enjoy ubuntu

 

 

max

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why dont you just use a windows box and save the trouble? your only going to be using it for 2 people. You could even just share the files and printer through your main pc and leave it on all the time. I fyou have to use linux I would go with Debain. Lots of tutorials and has a gui to start with. Very easy to get started as a file server/prin server out of the box.

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hmmm, never seen that before. Although i have never tried startx in my ubuntu yet. You can still get into ur ubuntu desktop right. I dont know what startx is but whenever i install the desktops it immeadiaely boots to the username screen.

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hmmm, never seen that before. Although i have never tried startx in my ubuntu yet. You can still get into ur ubuntu desktop right. I dont know what startx is but whenever i install the desktops it immeadiaely boots to the username screen.

 

Well from the tutorials that I've read what I was doing was using the ubuntu GUI on top of the ubuntu server base. It didn't work. I tried a fresh install of the desktop edition of ubuntu and that didn't work either. I couldn't get any info about what commands I need to install the PC-BSD (which I was looking forward to cause it looked nice and I've heard great things about BSD in general) so I gave up on that too. Judging by the error messages I got in ubuntu desktop/server the problem was a lack of driver for my built in graphics on my mobo. So I do not fault any of the operating systems people have recommended, I blame it on incompatible hardware.

 

I'm now back to windows xp and am running "quick'n easy ftp server" and I'm liking the server software a lot. Things are going rather smoothly so far and I have my fingers crossed. I think I will try linux again some time but I really hope I can find a good cheat sheet for the command line interface before I do try again. The most frustrating bit about this experience was not knowing the basic commands and not having any reference material. A lot of the tutorials I did find online assumed I knew way more than I do.

 

Anyways, thanks everybody for all of your suggestions. I'll be back eventually to crack that Linux nut again.

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