Forum Home
PC World Chat
 
Thread ID: 102680 2009-08-28 02:29:00 Ideas for an old server nofam (9009) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
804889 2009-08-28 02:29:00 We're in the processing of decommissioning our old Point-Of-Sale server, and moving to a new RHEL platform, which leaves me with the task of finding what to do with the current server.

Problem is, it's an IBM pSeries (RS6000), which uses a PowerPC (RISC) architecture to run AIX

Are there any Linux distro's that run on this architecture?

We paid $40k + for this 5 years ago, and other than being out of warranty, I'd hate to see it sit there as a paperweight! ;)

Any ideas? Will certainly look at selling it of course if necessary.
nofam (9009)
804890 2009-08-28 02:43:00 What's the hardware specs like? ronyville (10611)
804891 2009-08-28 07:26:00 Yes, there are plenty of Linux distros that will run on PowerPC systems. What's your level of Linux experience?

I assume you're also aware that RHEL is available for PPC?
Erayd (23)
804892 2009-08-28 08:38:00 Yes, there are plenty of Linux distros that will run on PowerPC systems. What's your level of Linux experience?

I assume you're also aware that RHEL is available for PPC?

Didn't actually know that Erayd! :blush:

Level of linux is pretty basic; learned Unix (AIX) first on the above, and know enough not to get into trouble (which is half the battle on Linux/Unix!)

Are there many apps available for PPC/Linux-based servers?
nofam (9009)
804893 2009-08-28 09:00:00 Didn't actually know that Erayd! :blush:

Level of linux is pretty basic; learned Unix (AIX) first on the above, and know enough not to get into trouble (which is half the battle on Linux/Unix!)

Are there many apps available for PPC/Linux-based servers?
Yep, there are squillions of apps available. Most stuff you can get for x86 is also available on PPC - the benefits of having open-source code means that most times all the distro packagers need to do is recompile the source with a PPC compiler. Obviously there are a few architecture-specific packages (e.g. wine) which won't be there, and most proprietary packages won't be available - no source code means they can't be recompiled for PPC.

If you're looking for a free distro rather than paying for RHEL (sadly CentOS doesn't maintain a PPC port), I'd recommend Debian - they have a *very* comprehensive PPC port, with pretty much everything you're likely to want already compiled and in the repositories.

Stay away from Ubuntu - it breaks. Reliably.

If you don't mind getting down & dirty with the innards of your system, then you can't beat Gentoo :thumbs:.
Erayd (23)
804894 2009-08-28 09:28:00 +1 for Gentoo :) Chilling_Silence (9)
804895 2009-08-28 09:33:00 Yep, there are squillions of apps available. Most stuff you can get for x86 is also available on PPC - the benefits of having open-source code means that most times all the distro packagers need to do is recompile the source with a PPC compiler. Obviously there are a few architecture-specific packages (e.g. wine) which won't be there, and most proprietary packages won't be available - no source code means they can't be recompiled for PPC.

If you're looking for a free distro rather than paying for RHEL (sadly CentOS doesn't maintain a PPC port), I'd recommend Debian - they have a *very* comprehensive PPC port, with pretty much everything you're likely to want already compiled and in the repositories.

Stay away from Ubuntu - it breaks. Reliably.

If you don't mind getting down & dirty with the innards of your system, then you can't beat Gentoo :thumbs:.

Indeed - the whole realization I've come to since learning Unix is that Windows' propensity for hand-holding (at server level) is a hindrance rather than a help. Quite happy to chuck myself right in the deep end!! :thumbs:
nofam (9009)
804896 2009-08-28 09:36:00 Indeed - the whole realization I've come to since learning Unix is that Windows' propensity for hand-holding (at server level) is a hindrance rather than a help. Quite happy to chuck myself right in the deep end!! :thumbs:
Absolutely agree with you there :2cents:.
Erayd (23)
804897 2009-08-30 12:30:00 Re ideas for an old server, - - - the Sunny Acres Rest Home has a wing exclusively for retired waitresses and waiters. R2x1 (4628)
804898 2009-08-31 04:48:00 Youse guys! "Ideas for an old server"

Yez cracks me up with this lingo!

We retire our maids and waiters and butlers in a nice sunny clime and send them monthly checks for 3/4 of their usual wages until they die .

What do youse guys do to your domestic servers?
SurferJoe46 (51)
1 2