Linux Laptop Server?

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Original post by DogCity So, is a linux laptop server a good idea? I want a nice low power, low noise, not particularly fast server, that can also reprise its role as a mobile computer for when I'm roaming. Are there any configuration issues with linux on laptops? Would I be able to use one of the 'plug and play' distros without any hassle? Do you have any advice on particular hardware to focus on. I have no need for advanced graphic processing, but i'm sure a good deal of RAM wouldn't go amiss. medium price range.

doesn't sound like a farfetched idea, I'd probably get a fanless mini-ITX but that's just me(not as mobile as a laptop though)

And there are tons of configuration issues in linux using laptops, as most 56k modems, video cards, and wireless cards won't work without tweaking, if you look up the hardware in the laptop you're getting on like linuxquestions.org just to see how linux friendly the hardware is. If you really need assurance I'm pretty sure HP still offers preloaded linux laptops

It's not a bad idea; Tadpole used to sell a bunch of Sparc SMP laptops for just this sort of purpose. Hilariously, they managed to pack a UNIX workstation for complex scientific visualization into a smaller and cooler case than most of today's gaming behemoth laptops.

Most of the 'plug and pray' distros should work (including 3D video support), though there are often configuration issues due to the large amount of custom hardware laptops are packing. Take a look at the Linux on Laptops page for more details on what works well (Hint: Macs, IBM).

You may run into some configuration issues with wireless, so be forewarned and forearmed.

You may not particularly need super-strong hardware to run a laptop server; I've seen people adequately serve SVN and light webpage stuff from a Thinkpad 500 with the monitor torn off (available on eBay for pennies).

Yummy, thanks for the info gents. I'll update this thread with results if I remember. Sweet zombie Jesus, linux on an ibook.

When considering Linux go with a popular model of laptop. Usually more common and popular laptops will have more/better support and comunity resources and stuff like that. I sapose taking a look at Ravuya's link should help out a little. When you choose a laptop try googling something like "Linux on [laptop]" (without the quotes) and hopefuly you will find pages and forums where people will often explaine issues/ concerns about linux running on that specific laptop.

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Original post by DogCity Yummy, thanks for the info gents. I'll update this thread with results if I remember. Sweet zombie Jesus, linux on an ibook.

Buying a year or two behind the curve on any OEM will often get you hardware that's exceptionally well supported; my 12" Powerbook was almost completely supported (minus the Broadcom wifi) by the time I upgraded.

Presumably you won't be getting a cutting-edge machine for this. Linux is extremely hit & miss on laptops - on many it works extremely well.

On a few (particularly newer) models however the thing crashes and burns horribly (usually due to hardware or bios bugs which are sometimes fixed with flash updates etc).

Device drivers are also variable; some vendors just don't make good ones. Video is particularly problematic as most laptops use ATI. I'm not aware of any machine where the ATI video driver suspends & resumes correctly under Linux (You can of course use the open source non hardware-accelerated one instead which resumes correctly).

Most non-video hardware is supported by open source drivers which tend to be stable.

The devices which typically don't work so well are the internal modems- but who HONESTLY uses them any more?

Mark

not to beat a dead horse or something, I feel like all I talk about these days is virtualization, but:

If you are worried about hardware compatibility and want the unit to double as a functioning laptop, then I would suggest you just get a decent laptop with XP Pro. Leave XP Pro on and use VMWare Server or VirtualPC Server to run your linux server. If you use network bridging, it will appear to the network like a completely independent machine. You won't know the difference between it and a "real" computer.

When you go mobile, I would just shut down the virtual machine and use your laptop like normal. When you get back, plug it back up to the network and restart the virtual machine.

Unless you just really want to try to get a working linux laptop. I had relatively decent success installing Fedora Core on a Fujitsu laptop, though the ATI drivers are far from fantastic. It definately can be done.

Well I found some cannibalized thinkpads, but I do need monitors so I think I'll probably go with a 12" PowerBook too, so Rav you had no trouble installing? What did you install? Do you know some good resources for setting up dual booting?

Kryat: Yeah i'm kinda feeling a bit experimental, but i'll guess I'll use virtualizing if I cant install :)

Another option for very cheap/cool/small servers is a mini-itx motherboard and case with a via cpu.


Mini-ITX mobo next to a cd to use for size estimation.

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Wikipedia Mini-ITX is a motherboard form factor developed by VIA Technologies. Mini-ITX has similarities to ATX, microATX, FlexATX and BTX form factors, but is significantly smaller - the motherboard dimensions are only 170 mm by 170 mm (6.7 in by 6.7 in). Mini-ITX boards can often be passively cooled due to their low power consumption architecture, and are ideally suited for use in home theater systems, where the noise generated by a computer (in particular, the cooling fans) can detract from the cinema experience.

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Original post by tstrimp Another option for very cheap/cool/small servers is a mini-itx motherboard and case with a via cpu. IMAGE Mini-ITX mobo next to a cd to use for size estimation. Quote: Wikipedia Mini-ITX is a motherboard form factor developed by VIA Technologies. Mini-ITX has similarities to ATX, microATX, FlexATX and BTX form factors, but is significantly smaller - the motherboard dimensions are only 170 mm by 170 mm (6.7 in by 6.7 in). Mini-ITX boards can often be passively cooled due to their low power consumption architecture, and are ideally suited for use in home theater systems, where the noise generated by a computer (in particular, the cooling fans) can detract from the cinema experience.

I have one of those in a small metal case. It's pretty sweet, but the fan on the PSU is loud, i need to change it out or something.

More on topic: I've sent you a PM, Dogcity.

Probably the best hardware you can get for a Linux Laptop.

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Original post by John Schultz Probably the best hardware you can get for a Linux Laptop.

Ahoo, I was searching for this...

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Original post by DogCity Well I found some cannibalized thinkpads, but I do need monitors so I think I'll probably go with a 12" PowerBook too, so Rav you had no trouble installing? What did you install? Do you know some good resources for setting up dual booting?

I installed the latest version of Ubuntu. Absolutely no problems, except for the wifi not working under Linux (fucking Broadcom) though I've been told there may be a driver for it in the future. I think the latest version of Ubuntu fully supports the special keys on the keyboard as well as hibernate and resume (before, you had to install a third party kernel).

Dual booting -- nothing to it. Install OS X first, then boot off the Ubuntu CD and install that. It'll install Quik (the OF bootloader) which will ask you "OS X or Linux" at every bootup. Dead simple. The Ubuntu site no doubt has a tutorial on it.

It is a PowerPC, so some Linux applications may not be available for it. One notable is the Flash player for Mozilla -- it's only Linux/x86, though you can dualboot into OS X for that kind of fun.

I also don't know about 3D acceleration support. NVIDIA may not have PPC versions of their binary driver. I personally was never in Linux for 3D stuff as opposed to light cross-development and Java work.

Not sure where you can buy a 12" Powerbook now; Apple's moved on pretty firmly. It is an excellent, very reliable and trustworthy machine, however, and won't let you down.

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Original post by lethalhamster I have one of those in a small metal case. It's pretty sweet, but the fan on the PSU is loud, i need to change it out or something. More on topic: I've sent you a PM, Dogcity.

The one I have doesn't have a PSU fan, it has an external one exactly like a laptop AC adapter. There often isn't room in the cases so they have to be external.

Well I'm all sorted for a laptop now! Lethalhamster got in contact about this little beastie:




320mb of RAM, 500Mhz G3, Airport, DVD reader/CD burner and all the stuff you see on the side there. Cool [smile]

Ah, excellent. I remember helping him set that thing up in the first place. You should be OK for running Ubuntu on it, but I'd try to upgrade the RAM first.

You could probably even get away with running a semi-recent version of OS X with the glitz turned off.

Yeah, i'll have to pick up a UK power adapter and I guess a new stick of ram wouldn't go amiss. What speed will this use? And for that matter, what adapter should I be looking for?

Yeah, Ravuya is an infinite pool of Apple knowledge. It runs OSX 10.4 fairly well. Much better than I had anticipated. I think you can check out iFixIt.com to get walkthroughs on all the hardware, including the RAM if you want to change that out.

I'm writing this as the final bits of Ubuntu are unpacked and installed on my oldnew ibook. In a moment it's going to finish, restart, and amaze me with how well it works, then i'm going to boot to tiger and grin as I find out the HFS+ resizing went without a hitch...

Damn, this install is taking ages...

As soon as the postie arrived with the ibook I booted it up and began customizing stuff and trying to get a read on it's capabilities. It actually runs Tiger damn well; the search and dashboard are super fast and the various other graphical niceties actually don't go to slowly either.

I installed the Warcraft III demo, it was playable but still struggled with everything on low. Anyhow, that's not why a bought a mac ;).

Wow, what the hell is this installation doing?...

So after customizing all that stuff I had finished downloading and burning the Ubuntu PPC install and threw it in there. It booted up fine and all was well till I got to the partitioning stage. I assumed it would allow me resize the OSX partition but it had other ideas and refused. A bit of a google found this guide which walks you through forcing the resize with Parted's minimal support.

While searching for the HFS+ resize solution, I also found this article: "No Reason Not to Be Dual Booting Linux and OSX" Which specifically talks about all the supported features and the general coolness of it, which I dig. [smile]

Anyway, 60 minutes later.. Here's some shots. This thing is going to be so damn handy to have around.