Distro for gaming server?

[dengar69]

Hi all, I want to try Linux for our game/ftp server at the LAN party I help run. This will most likely host UT2004, Doom 3 (when the Linux dedicated is released), and possibly Counterstrike.

I have a SUSE 9.1 DVD iso here ready to go but I just wanted opinions on any other distros used for a gaming server. My linux knowledge is little to none so I want something n00bish. All I want installed is an FTP server, file sharing (Samba), and the game servers of course. I would also like a GUI that doesnt take up too much resources, I think SUSE only comes with KDE? The server is a Dell Poweredge 1600c with a P4 2.0 Xeon, 640MB Ram.

Thanks!

[habibbijan]

Any distro would probably be ok, so there's not a right or wrong answer here. SuSE should be fine, but you may also consider Slackware, or Gentoo, though those are not considered 'newbie' distros.

I advise you to learn a little more about how Linux works before you start setting up servers. Linux (or anything else for that matter) can be frustrating if you don't have much of a clue about what you are doing. Setting up servers may not be that difficult, but don't take it lightly because of the security holes that ignorance can leave open.

That said, I suggest that you run without a GUI after you set up your server. To do this, you'll need to edit your /etc/inittab file and switch to runlevel 3. We can help you with that if you need it.

[jme]

When it comes to server I would always suggest Debian. Although the install isn't the easiest in the world, it is getting much better with the new installer that is being developed. All of the servers that I run (web, email, ftp, nfs) run Debian. Admin is so simple with apt-get and all discrepencies aree usually sorted for you.

Also, you have massive control over what is on your system and you wont have the bloat that you would get with the rpm based distros. You could basically install the base system and from there on apt-get any of the packages that you need to get your server up and running.

I administer all of my servers over ssh as they all run headless, but if you want to connect a monitor upto it and run a GUI then you could look into fluxbox / open box as a really light window manager that uses very little resources. I personally prefer fluxbox over most lightweight window managers. You could look at installing Gnome/KDE but it would really just be more bloat on the server that you don't need. ;)

HTH

Jamie

[dengar69]

So even if I were to install KSE or Gnome, Its STILL hogging less resources that a Windows 2003 server, no?

[johntramp]

a windows server a far as I know always has to have the gui running does it not?

with any linux distro you can have gnome etc. installed. Use it to set up the servers, and then change the runlevel so there is no gui. So yes.

[dengar69]

Ahhh, I see....ok, I'll install KDE then and see how it goes. Thanks everyone, I'll keep you informed on my progress.