os of choice

I was talking with a buddy the other day that was selling a server that he had built and he asked me why I wanted it when I told him he said just to build a master computer. What is the major difference between a "master computer" and a server. I don't understand or was he just giving me *plum*?

I have XP Pro. I'm running a dual boot with Unbuntu 9.04 Jaunty Jackalope.

I just started the Linux thing about 2 months ago. I'd drop my XP altogether, but I still use it for iTunes, and well it keeps the wifey happy

I should mention I just 30 minutes ago pre-ordered Windows 7 Pro.

Never used a mac... I'm still with Windows.

I've never heard of this master computer thing. My best guess at what he meant would be to just build a regular PC but use it in the role of a server. Physically, servers usually have beefier hardware (like multiple processors, tons of ram, huge raid arrays) that are designed to handle the bigger work loads, but if all you are doing is setting up a media server for your house or a small web server to test web pages before you upload them to your host then regular "PC" hardware would be fine.

I think he may be refering to old (but still used /sigh) Netbios windows networking (windows 7 finally has something different.. homegroup).

The reason computers do not show up on network/workgroup is because the master browser computer was not on when the other computer initially said "heeeere i am".

The two things for homes that servers do:
#1 assign static IP's without dinking around on each computer (reservations on DHCP servers)
#2 keep name/ip with local dns services.

With mac/windows/linux it is often a pain to have your macbook open and think Oh I'll transfer the seasons of the office i just downloaded to the beast pc machine, you boot it up and it won't show up on the mac /etc.

With a small $200 dns/dhcp/webserver running 24/7 you avoid a lot of networking issues.. (plus it can be a voip server!)

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If you want to try some linux, download knoppix, it boots off a cd and will let you play with it. Other versions have their own live cds as well.

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As far as "services = server" status.. I wouldn't think about it like that. Sure you can put IIS on a xp machine and boom its a webserver! Not.

imo true linux server = no xwindows, or any other service not needed.
Core, sshd, httpd, postfix, mysql, bind, dhcpd. (and teamspeak, ventsrv, hlstatsx, etc =p) is all you should have running on it.

Debian and Fedora are two major players imo for server due to not packaging extras. BSD is another choice..

Reason I like Fedora: yum easy to use, update their packages quickly, and selinux.

I've never used linux before. But I use both Windows and OSX. Since I use OSX more I am a lot faster on it then I am on windows. There are just certain things that I wish there were shortcuts for in windows that there are in OSX.

I think the biggest advantage of OSX is that the hardware and the software are designed and engineered specifically for each other. Because of that (and the fact that the hardware is pretty robust) things just seems to run faster and tend to run a little more stable for me on OSX.

And oh yeah I hate vista. Hopefully 7 will help, although I am not sure since it is the same basic architecture I've heard.

Well if you use w7 for media center, it is a huge improvement over vista. Didn't need any codec downloads/reg hacks for 95% of my videos unlike vista.

Only mkv files are not natively supported, need to get the divx labs download for that. (will need new ac3 as well for that.. silly).

What type of things? I use nnCron for stuff like hotkey assignment to automation stuff that I want implemented (open this, type this in, which results in X, etc.). I find it pretty useful.

Hmmm, sounds interesting. The only problem is actually doing it. It's all standard on the mac and I am lazy or busy....depends on the day. If its not too hard to set up I will give it a shot. Between the keyboard shortcuts and expose, if XP had them I would be so much more productive.

I like the windows "Run" window. In my opinion, that is the best way to run programs if you know the name of the executable. Just hit Win+R and type something like winmine and hit enter...bingo bango bongo you're playing games faster than clicky clicky.