What Linux OS To Use

Jon Boy UK - Wales
Jon Boy UK - Wales
Joined: 23 Feb 07
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Topic 193746

Hello,

I would like to use a 8x Xeon HT server to crunch on.
I don't have much money/limited budget to spend on an OS but woundered if perhaps a linux or simillar will work?

The server basic spec is as follows:

8x 2.8GHz HT Xeon CPU's
10 Gb Ram
36.4Gb HDD

What linux operating system can i use on an 8x way HT server or other free distro?

Also am i right in thinking that as the server's cpu are all HT the 8x physical cpus would be seen by the OS as 16x logical cpu's pumping away so to speak?

With the right server OS could i run 16X instances of Einstein WU's at the same time?

Many thanks in advance for any help and advice you give !!

Kind Regards,

John

th3
th3
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What Linux OS To Use

Just download Debian x86 DVD-1 and install it, at the boot promt you type "expert", then choose a bigmem kernel when asked (late in the install process) and you are good to go. Debian is a highly stable and fairly "easy" to use Linux distro with a big user base so you can easliy find help whenever you encounter a problem.

http://cdimage.debian.org/debian-cd/4.0_r3/i386/iso-dvd/debian-40r3-i386-DVD-1.iso
debian.org

Bikeman (Heinz-Bernd Eggenstein)
Bikeman (Heinz-...
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RE: Hello, I would like to

Quote:

Hello,

I would like to use a 8x Xeon HT server to crunch on.
I don't have much money/limited budget to spend on an OS but woundered if perhaps a linux or simillar will work?

...
Also am i right in thinking that as the server's cpu are all HT the 8x physical cpus would be seen by the OS as 16x logical cpu's pumping away so to speak?


Yes, you will be able to run 16 instances of E@H in parallel, but only after making a small change in the global settings of your account.

In the field labeled "On multiprocessors, use at most __ processors", you'll have to set this to 16. Note this will apply to all your PCs. More recent versions of BOINC clients have a way to override the setting locally for individual PCs (in the client BOINC Manager, go to Advanced->Preferences).

As far as a budget is concerned, be warned that the electricity costs for this rather big server will probably exceed the costs for an OS licence very quickly. Having said that, running Linux on the sysetm is a good idea regardless of licence costs, in terms of stability and client performance.

CU
Bikeman

Jon Boy UK - Wales
Jon Boy UK - Wales
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Hello, Many thanks for you

Hello,

Many thanks for you help and advise given so far.

The server only has a cd-rom drive:

So i went to the following website: http://www.debian.org
and done the following:

On the home page clicked on: CD ISO Images
Clicked on: Download a minimal bootable CD image

Under the Sub Heading/Paragrapgh: Official netinst images for the stable release

Clicked on: [i386]
The url for the above is: http://cdimage.debian.org/debiancd/4.0_r3/i386/iso-cd/

Then downloaded the 644MB ISO image: debian-40r3-i386-CD-1.iso

The above iso file name was the 5th one down the list of the parent directory.

Do i also need to add the following/first 4 files(s) of the same parent directory: also to the cdr .. ?

MD5SUMS
MD5SUMS.sign
SHA1SUMS
SHA1SUMS.sign

So when NERO has finished writing the disk it will have 5 files on it one of them being the ISO as mentioned above ..?

Kind Regards,

John

Jon Boy UK - Wales
Jon Boy UK - Wales
Joined: 23 Feb 07
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Hello, I forgot to say

Hello,

I forgot to say that i read somewhere....

That by installing this first cd (minimal version) the other packages needed would be downloaded during / after installation..

Thanks...TH3 for pointing me in the right direction !

Thanks.. Bikeman with regards to the (16 CPU's) global settings of my account.

Kind Regards,

John

tullio
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RE: Clicked on: [i386]

Message 82599 in response to message 82597

Quote:

Clicked on: [i386]
The url for the above is: http://cdimage.debian.org/debiancd/4.0_r3/i386/iso-cd/

Then downloaded the 644MB ISO image: debian-40r3-i386-CD-1.iso

The above iso file name was the 5th one down the list of the parent directory.

Do i also need to add the following/first 4 files(s) of the same parent directory: also to the cdr .. ?

MD5SUMS
MD5SUMS.sign
SHA1SUMS
SHA1SUMS.sign

So when NERO has finished writing the disk it will have 5 files on it one of them being the ISO as mentioned above ..?

Kind Regards,

John


No, you must burn only the iso image on a CD. I don't use Debian, but I can download my SuSE distro either on a DVD or on 5 CDs. The single CD is usually a minimal live distro just for sampling a Linux version without installing it on the hard disk.
Tullio

Thunder
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RE: The single CD is

Message 82600 in response to message 82599

Quote:
The single CD is usually a minimal live distro just for sampling a Linux version without installing it on the hard disk.
Tullio

Tullio,

In this case, the "Net Install" version that fits on less than a single CD only includes the files necessary to boot up an installer that then obtains the remainder of the files necessary for a full install as the installation is running. Personally, I find it to be the simplest method to use since you only have to burn one CD (or get creative and unpack the files and put them on any old 256M or bigger USB stick). It won't be a limited install in the end.

Jon,

The file you actually need for the net install is debian-40r3-i386-netinst.iso but you managed to get to the correct page to obtain it. It's down near the bottom.

You actually downloaded CD 1 of the set of CD's necessary to do an offline installation.

Using Nero, you would open that .iso file and Nero should pretty much take it from there step you through creating the CD from that image iso. I'd be more specific, but it depends what version of Nero you're using so just message back if you have trouble.

I'd try to walk you through the rest of the install but it's actually been a long time since I've set up a new Debian install so the others that have responded would probably give you better advice on that. So far everyone has given good advice. :)

Good luck!

DanNeely
DanNeely
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RE: Do i also need to add

Message 82601 in response to message 82597

Quote:


Do i also need to add the following/first 4 files(s) of the same parent directory: also to the cdr .. ?

MD5SUMS
MD5SUMS.sign
SHA1SUMS
SHA1SUMS.sign

So when NERO has finished writing the disk it will have 5 files on it one of them being the ISO as mentioned above ..?

You only need the ISO. MD5 and SHA1 are cryptographic hashes that can be used to verify that your ISO was downloaded correctly (and not maliciously tampered with). I've never seen them before, but I believe the .sign files are using public key crypto to confirm that the hashes were generated by teh debian team.

When burned the ISO will be converted into a file system on the CD, in some ways it's similar to a zip file.

Mike Hewson
Mike Hewson
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RE: RE: Do i also need

Message 82602 in response to message 82601

Quote:
Quote:


Do i also need to add the following/first 4 files(s) of the same parent directory: also to the cdr .. ?

MD5SUMS
MD5SUMS.sign
SHA1SUMS
SHA1SUMS.sign


Windows per se doesn't have an MD5/SHA/etc checker, so you'll need one of those to verify your download before burning - which I strongly recommend - see here.

Cheers, Mike.

I have made this letter longer than usual because I lack the time to make it shorter ...

... and my other CPU is a Ryzen 5950X :-) Blaise Pascal

tullio
tullio
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I usually go to

I usually go to software.opensuse.org where I can choose between a 32 bit or 64 bit OS, to be downloaded on 5 CDs or 1 DVD, using ftp or BitTorrent. I have never done a netinstall, so I can't give any advice on that method. I can also download a live CD, either with the KDE or Gnome GUI. I prefer KDE, but that is a matter of personal taste. Cheers.
Tullio

Ed1934158
Ed1934158
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Here's a link for Debian

Here's a link for Debian http://www.debian.org/CD/http-ftp/#stable, just download this CD, you should download 64bit version, not 32bit if you have more than 4Gb of RAM. I would also chose Debian because it's highly stable/secure (I also use it on my server) and it's easy to install Boinc, just type:
apt-get update
and then
apt-get install boinc-client boinc-manager
You can find boinc manager under applications then. Also check does your computer runs on full speed, Linux kernel, if processors are capable, slows cpus down to save energy, and you don't want that if running boinc. :)
Btw, here is one of many Debian forums you can use to get more help:
http://forums.debian.net/

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