Good 'Small' distro for file server?

[sebmaster]

Hi,

I am intending to build a simple file server with main administration done through Webmin. I have pretty much chosen Debian as the distro to use.

I want to use KDE/Gnome when working on the server itself but to disable them until needed. The file server will run on average/few years old PC hardware, and the install will be on a CF card with IDE adapter due to the small form factor, high speed and low power consumption.

When completed the install only has to run a few services (Webmin, SAMBA, simple webserver, etc), but I would like to set it up so the installation configuration is stored on a seperate device such as a USB key or one of the data hard drives, due to the limited write cycles of the CF card.

Does anyone have any ideas about how I might start going about this?

Also, I would like to take regular backups in the form of a disk image so that should there be a problem I can simply restore these to a new card via a windows PC without having to install a base OS to restore the backup, I wouldnt suppose anyone knows of any software that would do this?
Just out of interest, what do Linux users usually do for backups?

Thanks!

EDIT: How do I change my thread title I have since decided on the good 'small' distro using the stuff in the sticky (Debian)?

[bidi]

I am intending to build a simple file server with main administration done through Webmin. I have pretty much chosen Debian as the distro to use.

Good choice, that's what I'm using as well.

I want to use KDE/Gnome when working on the server itself but to disable them until needed. The file server will run on average/few years old PC hardware, and the install will be on a CF card with IDE adapter due to the small form factor, high speed and low power consumption.

Any reason why you want to put a full DE, or ever X on a server? Also, the CF card to IDE converters are not that fast, actually might be even slower than a regular ATA.

When completed the install only has to run a few services (Webmin, SAMBA, simple webserver, etc), but I would like to set it up so the installation configuration is stored on a seperate device such as a USB key or one of the data hard drives, due to the limited write cycles of the CF card.

You can put different directories in different partition/disks if you want. Just choose to manually partition the drive when going through the install and let it know where you want things to go.

Does anyone have any ideas about how I might start going about this?

I created my server, which is a very simple NFS server, using the stuff in Debian Linux Tutorial - Beginners Guide To Linux Servers and Networking Installation and Set Up with Instructions On How To Configure A Home Server! It was very helpful to start with.

Also, I would like to take regular backups in the form of a disk image so that should there be a problem I can simply restore these to a new card via a windows PC without having to install a base OS to restore the backup, I wouldnt suppose anyone knows of any software that would do this?
Just out of interest, what do Linux users usually do for backups?

I think most people use tar to make backups, that way you're not dependent on the partition. If you search the forum you will find quite a bit of info, I'm not a home right now, so I can't link to the thread I used as a starting point.

Good luck!

[sebmaster]

Hi bidi,

Thanks for your very helpful reply, I didnt know you could select different partitions for different sections of the OS, is this new or just my fuzzy memory?

I didnt acctually consider the speed of the adapter, that is a good point, however what I mentioned in my first post arent acctually the only reasons for using the CF card, with the exception of the HDDs, im intent on building a solid state server (no fans to replace), mostly for the technical challenge of doing it, ive spent the past week looking at all the different - and some very extreme - cooling options however I think the CF card should be the only impact this has on the OS.

Im sure this is probably a dim question, but what exactly are DE and X, are they alternative GUIs?
I originally decided on KDE/Gnome as I had seen them before and since they wouldnt be running very often the amount of resources they required would not be that important.

Thanks for the TAR command, im reading up on it now, looks like what I need.

BTW, how long as TurboLinux been a commercial distribution!? The last time I saw it was when it had a black and yellow logo and could fit on a floppy disk!

[bidi]

Im sure this is probably a dim question, but what exactly are DE and X, are they alternative GUIs?
I originally decided on KDE/Gnome as I had seen them before and since they wouldnt be running very often the amount of resources they required would not be that important.

That would be Desktop Environment and X Window System (it manages the graphic displays), respectively. KDE and Gnome are just libraries + programs that run on the X server. For a server you don't need any of it seeing as you're not going to be using GUI (at least you don't need to as it would be a waste of resources).

[sebmaster]

Ah OK, I assume though that I would be able to disable X server until needed? I.e. the server boots up with just a prompt and loads all the wanted services in background, then I run a script from the prompt to load up X server and a DE such as KDE?

That way I can admin the server locally using an environment that im more familiar with, but most of the time it will be via Webmin so they will not consume any resources apart from drive space.
Thats my thinking anyway, I dont see how it could consume resources when its not running but then im probably still in a very 'Windows' state of mind, it might work a little differently in Linux.