[ale] Moving last win box to linux

Tue Sep 16 02:45:05 EDT 2025

One of the machines is to become the workhorse machine. Currently that 
job fell to the Windows system because of the frequent use of 
Windows-only software including things like Dassault Systemes SolidWorks 
CAD (this is why the multimonitor configuration is important, I 
currently have three DisplayPort monitors running on the machine). The 
working machine has 256 GB of RAM to handle all the CAD and some heavy 
number crunching typically using Python (scipy/numpy/etc). This machine 
also happens to have the LSI card right now because it's the only large 
desktop I have.

The second machine is to be able to move the LSI out of the workhorse 
machine so that the storage can be used more generically across many 
systems. Some of the space will be to run backups of other machines 
(there are 15 other smaller computers running), network storage for 
security cameras, storage for media, and much of my CAD and data files 
that I work on. One CAD project can easily be 50-100 GB and some of the 
data sets that I work on with Python can be 10-100 GB.

None of these go into a data center, they all sit at home.

On 2025-09-15 11:08, Phil Smith via Ale wrote:
> Thanks for your explanation.
> 
> Are you building those systems for a purpose other than fun? What will you use all of that storage for???
> 
> It this machine going to be used in one of these data centers?
> 
> P
> 
> 
> 
> On Saturday, September 13th, 2025 at 6:15 PM, Alex Carver via Ale <ale at ale.org> wrote:
> 
>>
>>
>> This is a recommendation for two different systems. One is the
>> replacement desktop (which would likely run Windows in a VM for some of
>> the software that I need) and the other is a motherboard that can handle
>> lots of LSI SAS cards. I need large storage volumes hence the use of the
>> LSI SAS cards. The Pi is not a suitable replacement for my needs
>> (multimonitor, CAD, data analysis so lots of RAM, too). Plus the
>> computer I have will not run Windows 11 because it lacks the required
>> hardware like the TPM. Donating it to someone would result in it getting
>> thrown away.
>>
>> I currently have over 50 TB of storage and it will likely grow even more
>> over time. Being able to add multiple SAS cards to a full-sized machines
>> (and hold all the drives, too) is important.
>>
>> On 2025-09-12 23:17, Old Old Jimma From the Old Country wrote:
>>
>>> I had a Lenovo desktop that had Win10 and couldn't be upgraded.
>>>
>>> If all you need is a client that backs up other computers in your home, (eg, buy doing rsync over ssh of a network with static IP addresses) I'd recommend this:
>>>
>>> * DONATE YOUR COMPUTER TO A KID THAT CANNOT AFFORD ONE BUT NEEDS A WIN ENVIRONMENT FOR SCHOOL, and then
>>> * buy a Pi 5 to be the client that back up your home networks' computers.Here's one link that explains how to get it done: https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/how-to-use-rsync-to-sync-local-and-remote-directories
>>>
>>> A Pi 3 will be entirely adequate for this and you can buy one used that works fine on Ebay for $20. Or, if you want to feed the aligator, buy a new Pi 5 for $120 on Amazon. I recommend against that Amazon option... you'll need to spend a little more money for the cables and monitor for your Pi 4, and after you've got it set up, you'll never look back and will think you are a genius for saving money. If you don't need the saved money give it away.
>>>
>>> Here is where you can get Ubuntu for a pi 3: https://ubuntu.com/download/raspberry-pi
>>>
>>> Old
>>>
>>> On Saturday, September 13th, 2025 at 12:29 AM, Alex Carver via Ale ale at ale.org wrote:
>>>
>>>> I've got one Windows 10 box left that I have to use for some
>>>> Windows-only software. It's not upgradable to 11 and at this point I
>>>> don't want Win 11 because of the extra tracking it now does (more than
>>>> 10 ever did). I'm going to get the one-year extension to give myself
>>>> some time but I need a few recommendations for building up a new machine
>>>> to be a daily driver. It's been a while since I built up a full, modern
>>>> machine for running Linux. Most of my machines have been older barebones
>>>> hardware with minimal extras.
>>>>
>>>> 0. ATX Motherboard with lots of PCIe slots because I have a few extra
>>>> needs like an LSI 9300 SAS board and video card. Don't need RGB
>>>> fancyness, I just need something that can support several cards, holds
>>>> lots of RAM and isn't going to have an issue with a non-Windows OS.
>>>>
>>>> 0.1 A motherboard with plenty of slots so I can install several LSI
>>>> 9300's to build up a data server. So this one doesn't have to be high
>>>> end since it'll run headless with many spinning drives.
>>>>
>>>> 1. Best video card to support multiple Display Port monitors (at least
>>>> three) with Linux support. The current Windows machine has a GeForce GTX
>>>> 1660. I'm not playing games but I want good resolution support because I
>>>> do things like CAD.
>>>>
>>>> 2. Anyone know of software that would support a Canon LiDE 70 USB
>>>> scanner? I use the scanner a lot and having something like SANE be able
>>>> to support it would be helpful. I don't want to have to buy a new one if
>>>> I can avoid it.
>>>>
>>>> 3. Networked all-in-one printer/fax/scanner (Epson WorkForce WF-3620). I
>>>> don't use the printer portion, I mainly use it because the scanner has a
>>>> paper feed. Supporting the scanner portion is useful.
>>>>
>>>> 4. Networked HP laser printer (M554). This is a commercial printer not a
>>>> consumer printer so I'm assuming it should be fine with its PCL/PS support.
>>>>
>>>> 5. Webcam support. I have a Logitech MX Brio. It works very well and I'd
>>>> like to hang onto it so if it works with something in Linux that would
>>>> be great.
>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>> https://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale
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>>>
>>> Take care!
>>> Old Jimma183
>>
>>
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