Building linux machine

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  • fordie1000
    New Member
    • Mar 2008
    • 32
    #1

    Building linux machine

    Hi,

    I want to build a small-ish computer from individual components ...
    I have been taking parts from computers for years and upgrading
    older computers with fans/PSUs/motherboards etc. but I have never
    actually built a full system.

    I want the machine to use a mini-ITX 2.0 motherboard and obviously
    the same size case but I was wondering if anyone has any advice for
    me on the best type of components to go for ... sites to buy from etc.

    I am based in the UK.

    Thanks,
    Tags: None
    • Stang02GT
      Recognized Expert Top Contributor
      • Jun 2007
      • 1206
      #2
      Moved to Linux forum

        Comment

        • fordie1000
          New Member
          • Mar 2008
          • 32
          #3
          cheers ... didn't know where I should post a hardware question!!

            Comment

            • Nepomuk
              Recognized Expert Specialist
              • Aug 2007
              • 3111
              #4
              Originally posted by fordie1000
              I have been taking parts from computers for years and upgrading
              older computers with fans/PSUs/motherboards etc. but I have never
              actually built a full system.

              I want the machine to use a mini-ITX 2.0 motherboard and obviously
              the same size case...
              Hi fordie1000!
              Which Parts do you have and which not? Also, what will "small-ish" be? What exactly do you expect the machine to do? Have you thought of what OS do you want to use? I guess it's some Linux, as the Topic suggests that, but depending on the Distribution one or the other part might be more suitable.

              Building a system from scratch really isn't that difficult. I'm sure, you'll manage. :-)

              Greetings,
              Nepomuk

                Comment

                • Stang02GT
                  Recognized Expert Top Contributor
                  • Jun 2007
                  • 1206
                  #5
                  Originally posted by fordie1000
                  cheers ... didn't know where I should post a hardware question!!
                  No problem at all, if you don't know where something should go the MISC forum is the right place. I moved it here because you title suggests that you are building it to use linux. And i figured that our linux experts would be suited the best to help you with this :)

                    Comment

                    • fordie1000
                      New Member
                      • Mar 2008
                      • 32
                      #6
                      Originally posted by nepomuk
                      Hi fordie1000!
                      Which Parts do you have and which not? Also, what will "small-ish" be? What exactly do you expect the machine to do? Have you thought of what OS do you want to use? I guess it's some Linux, as the Topic suggests that, but depending on the Distribution one or the other part might be more suitable.

                      Building a system from scratch really isn't that difficult. I'm sure, you'll manage. :-)

                      Greetings,
                      Nepomuk
                      Hi Nepomuk,

                      Thanks for the response ... I guess I was sorta vague ....

                      When I say small-ish I mean in terms of size .... hence I am looking
                      at the mini-ITX motherboards ... I think these are 17cm x 17cm.

                      I was looking at the following componets :

                      1. Nexus Psile Case & DVD writer
                      2. Jetway J9F2 Extreme HDMI Mini ITX Motherboard
                      3. T7200 2.0 GHz Inter Core 2 Duo Mobile CPU
                      4. 2GB DDR2 667 DIMM RAM
                      5. CPU Cooler
                      6. Seagate 320 GB Sata2 HDD
                      7. Nexus Universal AC Power Adapter 150W
                      8. Nexus DC Converter

                      I chose the Nexus purely for aesthetic reason!! Shame on me!
                      Anyway ... nothing is ordered yet so I am open to suggestions.

                      I am most familiar with some sort of Redhat/Fedora distribution of Linux
                      so I would probably go with one of these ... but again I am willing to
                      take direction on this too!

                      I want the machine to be display-less in the end so I can just SSH into it
                      and set jobs running and back-up to also. I don't think I'd consider installing the
                      server versions of Redhat just because I suppose I will at some stage be
                      working directly from it. But I would disable the X/GNU desktop enviroments.

                      Let me know if I left anything out,

                      Thanks

                        Comment

                        • prn
                          Recognized Expert Contributor
                          • Apr 2007
                          • 254
                          #7
                          Originally posted by fordie1000
                          I want the machine to be display-less in the end so I can just SSH into it and set jobs running and back-up to also. I don't think I'd consider installing the server versions of Redhat just because I suppose I will at some stage be working directly from it. But I would disable the X/GNU desktop enviroments.
                          Hi fordie1000,

                          I suspect that a server version (e.g., Centos) might be exactly what you want. The biggest difference between a "server" and a "desktop" distro is the graphical desktop environment and its related components. If you build a system without a graphic display and use SSH to connect to it, and especially if you use a wired connection rather than wireless, you will eliminate most of the hardware-specific, "desktopy" need for a distro like Fedora and can use Centos just fine. (I'm suggesting Centos primarily because you expressed familiarity/general happiness with RedHat/Fedora and Centos is based on RHEL, so will use the same rpm/yum type repositories, etc.)

                          Another advantage, IMHO, of Centos is that you will be able to use a CD drive in your box instead of a DVD drive (cheaper). Fedora cannot be downloaded these days on CDs, but only as a DVD ISO (or as a "live" cd, from which you then "upgrade").

                          Overall, if you are planning on not installing X and a windowing environment, I'd say you are probably better off with a "server" type distro. It's smaller and cleaner for your purpose. You are not thereby restricting your non-graphical apps in any way.

                          HTH,
                          Paul

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