G'day Bob

25 Apr 04 10:46, Bob Lawrence wrote to David Drummond:

 DD>> I am writing to you now from a 486DX66 - with an almost
 DD>> out-of-the-packet kernel. It runs fine, but not something you'd
 DD>> want to run a GUI on.... It's my POP3 and SMTP mail server,
 DD>> Fidonet mailer/message editor, along with the garden sprinkler
 DD>> controller, DNS server, DHCP server, SAMBA server etc,etc. 

 BL>  I know Linux does not require much overhead without a GUI, and I
 BL> can see the attraction of using an obsolete box (not!), but I've
 BL> explained this several times...

 BL>  I have three basic problems:

 BL> 1.  My only ISA modem is the Sportster 14400. I'd have to buy an
 BL>    external 56K modem, and the $120-odd is more than the old box is
 BL>    worth. What I use is a cheap PCI WinModem with a Linux driver. 

Geez! If you're that hard up I'll give you a V.54 external modem!

 BL> 2.  How do I network? John gave me two ISA ethernet network cards but
 BL>    I'm short an ISA slot in the new computer and my PCI network card
 BL>    isn't ethernet... I'd rather use wireless anyway.

Wireless is slower than a cabled network - and subject to peculiarities if
you have a steel reinforced concrete/brick house. It can also be adversely
affected by cordless phones and microwave cookers.

 BL>  Where do I run the Linux GUI in your scenario? I see nothing but
 BL> trouble trying to use the old box as a server, when I can have a
 BL> brand-new one for $800 - 2GHZ, 256Mb RAM, cable modem, network, USB,
 BL> and run full Linux at the same time.

Use that as your worksation, and the Linux box as your firewall/gatway.

 BL>  What's an Athlon CPU motherboard worth nowadays, with 256Mb and
 BL> basic video?

Buggered if I know, I've never had an Athalon powered machine.

Regards,
David

--- Msged/LNX TE 06 (pre)