linux os question

[Saturnsix]

I been a windows guy and I want to see what linux/unix can do for me. What is the best os in linux/unix to use overall.

Rathat/Fedora
centos
Freeosb
openbsd
etc....


any kind of info you give will be great.

[janne]

Linux is linux. Take one flavour that have alot of documentation and support.

Why not try Kubuntu and install a realtime kernel into it. (sudo apt-get install linux-rt)
Its an easy way to get a decent 1000-fps-server.

[Patouf]

I have installed ubuntu 8.04 server, to run my tf2 server. I have to install the realtime kernerl too ?

[Saturnsix]

are they both the same or different?

Download Kubuntu 8.04 (Hardy Heron)


Download Kubuntu 8.04 (KDE 4 Remix).

[janne]

Patouf Wrote:I have installed ubuntu 8.04 server, to run my tf2 server. I have to install the realtime kernerl too ?

You don't have to do anything, but a game server should have as low latency kernel as possible.

Saturnsix Wrote:are they both the same or different?
Download Kubuntu 8.04 (Hardy Heron)
Download Kubuntu 8.04 (KDE 4 Remix).

The same. Difference is Gnome in Ubuntu and KDE in Kubuntu.
Once in the Linux world, the options and possibilities are endless

[Patouf]

So I can install this kernel. I don't have to do anything, after installing it ?

[janne]

It depends on how thorough you want to be.
But it gets you a long way without knowing much about Linux.

If you want "the perfect kernel" for your hardware, there are no shortcuts.
Then you'll have to compile the kernel yourself.

[Patouf]

omg i don't know how to compile myselft the kernel ^^

i have rent a server (ovh.com) with ubuntu 8.04, and i am new in linux world

[Saturnsix]

janne Wrote:If you want "the perfect kernel" for your hardware, there are no shortcuts.
Then you'll have to compile the kernel yourself.

question?

do you have to be in front of your server to compile a custom kernel or can you do this remote/ ftp?

[janne]

Saturnsix Wrote:

janne Wrote:If you want "the perfect kernel" for your hardware, there are no shortcuts.
Then you'll have to compile the kernel yourself.

question?

do you have to be in front of your server to compile a custom kernel or can you do this remote/ ftp?

You could as easily do it over SSH. BUT if the machine don't boot, its allways good to have access to the hardware,

[arownious]

Compiling a kernel is bad advice for newbies, no offense to anyone on this thread. I work with linux all day long and even I'm not prevy to it.

As for best linux distrobution, there is not one until you've determined what your wanting to do, and what is important to you. For people new to linux I would HIGHLY recommend Ubuntu. It has a TON of documentation, community support, plus its cutting edge in terms of available packages which make things super easy to install.

I do not recommend Kubuntu as it has a lot of bugs, and has never been as stable and trouble free as Ubuntu, though not to say Ubuntu hasn't had its problems. You'll want to use the newest version which is 8.04 Hardy Heron.

Also, you will probably not want to use a GUI desktop version (having Gnome desktop included) as you will not use it. This is not a Windows box, so GUIs are not mandatory, nor advised on for server applications.

Work on getting the install and config down, THEN worry about optimization. LASTLY consider a different kernel. What company are you renting from? Ask them about the default Ubuntu image they use, and kernel versions. Depending on company, they may already install an optimized kernel for your server's hardware. Do some reading into the differences between binary, and compiled apps and kernels, as well as the differences between Ubuntu's provided binary, i686, i386, etc kernel versions.

I promise you that you will not need to, nor want to get into compiling kernels for a game server. You won't notice the difference in performance, as most of it will be through configuration settings. Just a linux tech's 2 cents.


--edit---

Also, forgot to mention that creating a server on Linux is way more complex as I'm trying to accomplish this right now with DOD:S. Windows GUI configuration is so much easier, but I'm determined to get everything working in CentOS. If you guys find out any information on better setups and more sound configs for a linux ds environment please let me know.