[ale] What are the minimum requirements for a CentOS server to learn on?

[Robert Owen]

Thanks for all the suggestions. You all have confirmed what I
suspected, but I just wanted some support.


On Tue, May 4, 2010 at 1:32 PM, Damon L. Chesser <damon at damtek.com> wrote:
> On Tue, 2010-05-04 at 11:45 -0400, Robert Owen wrote:
>> Hi, All, I haven't posted to the list in several years, so please
>> forgive my "lurking" most of the time. My son-in-law is studying at
>> home for the RHCT exam and wants to know what motherboard and
>> processor, and minimum amount of memory he needs to set up a server to
>> learn with. Initially, it will be for a home network, but later, maybe
>> on . . . ? It must be able to set up virtual servers, too.
>
> most any box that will load linux will work in general, now when you
> talk of virtual machines, then you will need hardware virtualization in
> the cpu.  Not all boxes sold support that (mfg turn it off in the bios).
> I purchased a Dell low end tower server, a T105
> ( http://www.dell.com/us/en/business/servers/pedge_t105/pd.aspx?refid=pedge_t105&s=bsd&cs=04 )
> for about $250 on some sale.  It does work for centos/RHEL just fine and
> will do virtualization (KVM) flawlessly.  I run Proxmox VE
> ( http://pve.proxmox.com/wiki/Main_Page ) on it.  This allows me to set
> up virtual networks and various virtual machines to do what I want
> (using KVM) with a minimal of configuration.  Proxmox is based off of
> Debian stable and takes 10 min to install.  Keeps the focus on learning
> what you want to learn rather then trying to figure out how to run a
> virutualization product.  If you prefer you could also run VPSs on it as
> well.
>
> HP would have a similar machine for a similar price, I am just not
> familiar with HP.
>
> In short, you don't NEED a server box to run CentOS or RHEL to learn how
> to be a RHCT, any box would work that will install CentOS.  IF you
> wanted to run server hardware, the T105 or equivalent would work fine
> for most any "home" use.  If you add "virtualization", then you can add
> virtual disks at will and learn complex disk management, you can add
> NICs and play "network" games at will, etc.  You would not be able to
> play "games"on a T105 as the graphics are not designed to do that (if
> that matters).
>
> HTH
>
>> Thanks for any help given.
>>
>> Bob
>> --
>> Bob Owen
>> 770-540-4920
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>
> --
> Damon
> damon at damtek.com
>
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-- 
Bob Owen
770-540-4920