Running Linux Faster? 1

[nosremark]

Hello,
I'm new to Linux, so forgive me if this is a simple question. I have setup a mock "Server" using RH 9.0
everything is working fine but the computer I built it from has a 200Mhz processor and it is running SLOW when in the KDE interface. Is there a way to switch to the CLI and will RH run faster this way? I'm only using this computer for file storage and sharing, I have to prove that it works well so we can get rid of the NT 4.0 Server currently being used.

Thanks

Chad

 

[iSeriesCodePoet]

Have you tried using it as a server yet? That should be faster. KDE uses a lot of resources and demands both CPU and Video card. Most servers don't have a good video card.

iSeriesCodePoet
iSeries Programmer/Lawson Software Administrator

http://www.koldark.net

See my progress to converting to linux.

http://linux.koldark.net

 

[nosremark]

I did find the switch from running in GUI to CLI. I have not yet set the machine up for network control, but I am going to set up file sharing and try to put a copy of MSDN on it, probably have to use WINE. Could you elaborate on "using it as a server"? Besides running it from the CLI what properties would be beneficial to the speed for file transfers?

Thanks

Chad

 

[Chacalinc]

If you want this one for file server, why you want to install MSDN? leave it in "init 3" and use samba.

Cheers.

 

[nosremark]

I would like to run MS apps from the Linux server, MSDN is the referance library for Visual Studio. I also have to get a Frontrange product and Open Systems(accounting software) to run on Linux or at least be emulated before I can propose buying a new server.

Thanks

Chad

 

[thedaver]

Why in the world would you work so hard to run complicated windows development tools on a linux environment? Although I believe in WINE and its benefits, this is probably a case where windows is better for windows products. Build the linux server and use it for its strengths. Don't make the foot wear a glove because you have extra gloves.

Surfinbox.com Business Internet Services - National Dialup, DSL, T-1 and more.

http://www.surfinbox.com/business/

 

[nosremark]

Am I wrong about what a Linux system will provide? I thought it would run faster and much more stable than a Win system, do you think the cost of Win 2003 Server will be less then the time it will take me to get WINE working on a Linux server?

 

[iSeriesCodePoet]

If you want/need to run Windows applications in a production server environment, get Windows. I have personally never used WINE, but I think it is good for a client, but not a server. If all you are doing is file serving, Linux works great!

iSeriesCodePoet
iSeries Programmer/Lawson Software Administrator

http://www.koldark.net

See my progress to converting to linux.

http://linux.koldark.net

 

[Chacalinc]

thedaver states: "Build the linux server and use it for its strengths."

nosremark: Linux can provide you an excellent performance, using less resources, but you must think on appilcations! you will not use Linux with M$-$QL Server, that is WINDOWS ONLY!! Put Oracle on Windows and Linux and compare, compare Apache and IIS, cost of IIS? Apache? cost of Linux? Windows? etc.

You have lots of things to think of, but you must use the technology for its strengths!!

All Windows applications are closed to Windows, try to install MS-SQL Server or IIS in Linux... someone could do it, but it's stupid!! Rather than try to install IIS, I will install Apache, MS-SQL for development? MySQL..

Cheers.

 

[nosremark]

Explaining my situation may help you understand why I want to go with Linux. I work in a shop that has 16 clients and 1 NT server, the server is setup for DHCP and hosts 3 apps that no more than 4 people use. So the only thing the server is really used for is IP addressing and database storage. Being that this is a small firm $ is a big issue and spending $1500(?) on Win 2003 Server and $3-$4k on new hardware won't fly. We are having problems with slow file transfer through the network and I thought Linux would be a good low cost solution. Does anyone think that the extra cost of Windows is worth it for what it's being used for?

Thanks

 

[iSeriesCodePoet]

What are the applications? Are they home grown or purchased? What language(s) are they written in? What do you mean by "host"?

Also, you are talking about network speed. What type of network do you have? 100 Mb or 10 Mb? If it is 100, look at how many collisions you are getting. Are you using a hub or a switch? A hub causes a lot more traffic than a switch would.

iSeriesCodePoet
iSeries Programmer/Lawson Software Administrator

http://www.koldark.net

See my progress to converting to linux.

http://linux.koldark.net

 

[gbaughma]

Well, to get back to the original question, which was how to make it run faster.

I run a Linux box at home, and have never had a GUI on it, just the CLI. A GUI is pointless if the box is going to be used as a server, and (if it's like mine) doesn't even have a keyboard and monitor hooked to it. I just telnet into it.

The other thing to do with linux is to recompile the kernel. By default, the Linux kernel has a lot of stuff in it that you may not need; stuff like support for dozens of network cards, and you only have one. Support for scads of video cards, and once again, you only have one.

When I recompile the kernel on mine, I made sure that I was running the optimizations for my specific class of processor, and cut out all the stuff that I knew I wasn't going to need (like sound card support, etc.) You'll see when you go through the compile process that it asks you question after question about different types of hardware. Not using ArcNet? Don't compile it in! Overall, my kernel ends up about 1/3 the size of the original Linux kernel, and my system screams.

Other things that you can do are to have your swap file set up at the beginning of the drive, or even better on a separate drive, so it accesses faster. Lots of RAM, of course, always makes a difference.

Oh, but one word of advice, copy your OLD kernel to another file, and modify LILO (or whatever bootloader you're using) so that you can boot the old kernel if necessary. I've been running some form of *nix since 1984, and lord knows I learned *THAT* lesson the hard way.

Just my $.02

--Greg

 

[nosremark]

I really appreciate all of the responses to my questions. To answer iSeriesCodePoet, we are using 3 purchased programs 2) are 16 bit contact and accounting programs the 3rd is Goldmine a Frontrange product which is also a contact manager. The server is hosting the Goldmine app and has a 3 client license. I'm using a switch on 100Mbs network, I'm having a problem when Goldmine retreives email, 2 of the clients running XP Pro have major delay problems getting and deleting mail the 1 98 client has no delay problems. There are no collisions, running Performance monitor on the NT server shows no resource or network problems and also tried changing cables, patch cables, ethernet cards, privileges are the same for everyone in Goldmine and on the network. I've tried as much as I know, any suggestions? Much thanks to Greg, I will try recompiling the kernel, I need all the speed I can get.

Thanks everyone!