Re: Best overall machine - Linux ready?

["Robert G. Brown" <bob@xxxxxxx>]

Krista Landon <bastet@nettaxi.com> wrote:
>>Hi everyone, 
>>A quick question.  What would you recommend for the best overall 
>>machine for a company to buy, that wouldn't have any hardware 
>>conflicts with linux?  Do you know of any companies that 
>>specialize in such a machine?  Dell?  Gateway?  Being a complete 
>>novice in Linux, though interested in having a low-cost server for a 
>>computer lab LAN, I want to start out without any little things like 
>>that causing trouble.

Bruce Smith <bruce@armintl.com> Wrote:
>There are companies that well PC's with Linux installed, and
>specialize in hardware that is the best supported under Linux.
>They can cost a little more than Dell or Gateway, but it can make
>life a lot easier.  One example is  www.varesearch.com
You will find that while the cost of these systems is high, the serive
is first rate. We can help you assemble a custom system for a more modest
price if your funding does not allow this. Several KLUG members have
assembled very cost effetcive machines, configured as Linux servers.

>>I wrote the list awhile back about the non-profit organization I work 
>>for setting up a computer lab for Seniors in the Kalamazoo area.  
>>What I've proposed to the director is the server running Linux, 
>>though all the other machines would need to run Win98, as the 
>>Seniors will be working toward things like Microsoft Certifications.  I 
>>know you're probably all groaning but it is delicious irony, don't you 
>>think?  Teaching people so they can pass Microsoft's little tests on 
>>a system thats backbone is Linux? :)
With the growth of Linux being what it is (determined at 218% last year,
according to an industry trade source, and picking up support almost every
day from some large players in the industry, Todays being Hewlett-Packard)
you may want to look into the Red Hat Certified Engineer Program, at:
  http://www.redhat.com/rhce_overview.phtml
         or
The Caldera Linux Traning program, at:
  http://www.calderasystems.com/aboutcaldera/
               publicrelations/html/1998/19980928training.html

As Linux grows, good people are going to be in demand. Perhaps you would
consider offering BOTH types of certification at some point; your WIN98
workstations can be configured to dual boot...

>>I need to hunt through my mail from those of you who responded 
>with offers to help with this project.  We will need someone who 
>>knows Linux inside and out to do it... and at this point that isn't 
>>me.  
Over the past year, this mailing list has been a place where over 800
questions have been asked, AND ANSWERED. Very. very few of these questions
were not answered. I see very high confidence that the group can answer
nearly ANY question that comes up in relation to setting up such a network,
and we have ready access to resources that can answer any issue we cannot.

>>The organization is Green Thumb, Inc....  
>I don't remember your previous email, but I'm willing to help.
I have your original messages, as well as replies sent to you at the time. We
were interested in forming a team (including Bruce) to set up the network.
At the time you were asking about dual-booting a Win95/98 PC. Again, there
are a number of people who can help. Bruce is one, I'm another, and there are 
more.

>>The basic questions here are, though, what's the best machine to 
>>get for running Linux?
>I've heard good things about varesearch, but never used them personally.
One of my customers has a machine from VA Research, and they are very pleased
with the machine and the support they've received. I have used this machine
(A dual 450 mHz Pentium II), and it's a very nice environment indeed (I could
say it's fast, but that's probably obvious! :). This machine functions quite
well as a compute server and small database box on a network of over 75 SUN
workstations, and several NT workstations.

>>And would Linux do a good job being the 
>>server for a LAN of computers that run Win98?
>Most likely.  I can't say absolutely without knowing exactly what
>you want to serve.
Agreed. Your network would need some configuration work (I'm thinking in
particular of a package called "SAMBA") to really get it going in a seamless
fashion, and performance would depend on a number of things. This is most
probably the right path.

We would do best to form a team of people to do this, then arrange to 
sit down with you and see how we can proceed.

                                                       Regards,
                                                        ---> RGB <---