It’s a keeper!by Jim

Tue
30 Sep 2008
6:09 pm
2

Linux Server Uptime

The long search is over.  I’ve finally decided on my official Linux server distro: ArchLinux.  I’ve spent the last few weeks (and many, many hours) trying out a few different distros and have found the one I want to stick with.  Recently, I installed a trial copy of Windows Home Server after hearing a few recommendations.  This meant that my Linux server (where this blog is hosted, among other sites) would have to make room for another OS.  I don’t think I could survive without a Linux server, though, so I chose to take the virtualization route.  I tried out a few different virtual server programs and found Microsoft’s Virtual Server the most useful.  I wanted to use Sun’s VirtualBox, but Microsoft’s product has a web interface for configuring and controlling your servers: very cool.  Besides, it also automatically starts up as a service, just like it should.

Anyway, I would have used the same distro I had on the machine before installing Windows Home Server, but my version of Ubuntu didn’t seem to like being virtualized and it would freeze nearly every morning.  I got tired of reseting it, so I started looking for more distros.  I tried Fedora: too bloated — especially for a virtual server.  I tried Debian, but it didn’t like living in a virtual environment either; it couldn’t get anything from the repositories.  Then I found Arch (thanks to Antony).  It was just what I wanted: robust, but simple.  Simple meaning complexity, not ease of use.  Arch is not for the faint-hearted.  I consider myself a fairly experienced Linux user, so I gave it a whirl.  As you can see, Arch doesn’t have the freezing problems Ubuntu had.  I’m glad I finally found something that works well.  Arch is here to stay.

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A Close Callby Jim

Tue
11 Dec 2007
12:12 am
0

Well, after having so many issues with my server in Utah the last couple days, I decided to move the Wishlist to my own server here in Cali.  Less than 5 minutes after I got it up here, I tried to get back on my server in Orem, and my connection was dead.  Fortunately, the transition went smoothly and only took a few minutes.  (Otherwise I would have had to wake up Jon at 1 AM to go kick my server and reboot it.)  Anyway, now that it is on my (apparently more reliable) server here at home, there shouldn’t be any more hitches.  Have fun Wishlisting!

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