On Tue, 01 Jun 2004 11:13:47 -0500 "Johnny Fulcrum" <johnnyfulcrum at mn.rr.com> wrote: > anybody have a super cool formula for figuring out the specs a linux > box should have for certain jobs? > > The recent "pop3 server recommendations thread" got me to thinking - > if I were to build a box that would be a email server for a group > of 20 folks - I probably would not drop by Walmart on my way into > work and pick up a $200 special... > > I may be helping out a buddy by bringing more Linuxy stuff into his > > consulting gig.... so I need information to crossover/translate from > the end user desktop linux system (my simple hacked up boxes) to > the server class or "this stuff's important" linux system. Most basic serving needs do not require a whole lot of horsepower, with the exception of perhaps a hard hit Java Application Server or Oracle database. An email server for 20 users with POP/IMAP/SMTP and webmail could easilly be a Pentium III or even a PII. If this is the only function of the box, save even more cycles but not installing X or a Window Manager and use ssh to remote manage or log into a console. The real high-end machines, PIV/Xeon 3.0 Ghz+ are more for gaming/graphics and real heavy load servers (100's to 1000's of users). Would I take a PIV over a PIII? Heck yeah, but there's no need to go out and buy anything new, keep an eye out on the TCLUG classifieds, I think someone had a nice PIII for $80 that probably has Debian/Slackware email server written all over it. :) I've run MySQL, POP/IMAP/SMTP, Apache on a PIII 450 for 2 dozen users for a couple years now, never heard any complaints about speed. This system used to be able to even play a DVD while running (though I don't do that anymore). Email/httpd servers essentially serve up and store files, mostly textual in nature except for attachments/images so it's not a huge load unless you get into real heavy Spam/Virus filtering. I don't have a specific formula to go by, maybe some of the more seasoned folks will chime in. Anyway, that's my thought on it. YMMV. Josh _______________________________________________ TCLUG Mailing List - Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota Help beta test TCLUG's potential new home: http://plone.mn-linux.org Got pictures for TCLUG? Beta test http://plone.mn-linux.org/gallery tclug-list at mn-linux.org https://mailman.real-time.com/mailman/listinfo/tclug-list