Need Server OS

[midnightwolf]

I picked up an older IBM tower server and it does not have an OS installed. I was looking for some suggestions on a OS to use that has a GUI and supports RHL Enterprise 7(IBM has drivers available for that). Mind you it is Pentium D server class CPU(plan to upgrade it to a socket 765 Xeon soon) but will work for basic stuff. As it was used it a retail store that closed, they had a custom version of Windows XP at the store but the installation disc they accidentally gave me is password locked in order to install so I am forced to look at other options.

[LukeNukem9]

3 minutes ago, midnightwolf said:

I picked up an older IBM tower server and it does not have an OS installed. I was looking for some suggestions on a OS to use that has a GUI and supports RHL Enterprise 7(IBM has drivers available for that). Mind you it is Pentium D server class CPU(plan to upgrade it to a socket 765 Xeon soon) but will work for basic stuff. As it was used it a retail store that closed, they had a custom version of Windows XP at the store but the installation disc they accidentally gave me is password locked in order to install so I am forced to look at other options.

Use ubuntu server 16.04 if your good with linux.

[Razor Blade]

I've had good luck with Ubuntu server on older hardware

https://www.ubuntu.com/download/server

[Guest]

You can either try Windows Server but on that system will be slowy, you can either choose a Ubuntu Server OS

[SupaKomputa]

Ubuntu server got no GUI, try the retail instead.

You can just install windows if you wan't to use it as a desktop.

[jpenguin]

I use headless centos (compatible with RHEL) but I think the installer has an option for a basic GUI

 

I run game servers for supertuxkart.net

donate.playstk.tk

[wasab]

CentOS, done. 

[bloodthirster]

Debian or CentOS.

[tommyshelby]

The OS is not getting supported and the thing is that I have experienced the OS server not responding on my MAC system. BY the effect of it, I am unable to use my iTunes account as well and getting iTunes error 9.

[Don Vielenio]

On 3/7/2019 at 5:59 PM, LukeTheCoder05 said:

Use ubuntu server 16.04 if your good with linux.

I'd say 18.04, has still 2 more years of support

[Nettly_]

CentOS, easy

[not_json]

Since you referenced RHEL and you would like a GUI, the best option I'd recommend is CentOS 7 with GMOME desktop installed on top.

[Breadpudding]

I don't know why people keep recommending Ubuntu Server. Debian-based distributions tend to lack security. I'd recommend anything based on Red Hat such as Fedora, CentOS, or OpenSUSE. While I'm not familiar with Fedora or CentOS, OpenSUSE has YaST which is great if you aren't familiar with the command line.

[jagdtigger]

3 hours ago, Breadpudding said:

Debian-based distributions tend to lack security.

Any OS can lack security if the user is dumb. BTW debian is used pretty widely so i wouldnt say it lacks security...

[Breadpudding]

1 minute ago, jagdtigger said:

Any OS can lack security if the user is dumb. BTW debian is used pretty widely so i wouldnt say it lacks security...

I say that mainly because ports seem to open at random. The software running on the computer can easily request a port to forward and the OS will simply do it. OpenSUSE on the other hand needs to have the port opened manually via YaST. As an administrator, I can't have random network ports opening as that can introduce a vulnerability.

[jagdtigger]

8 hours ago, Breadpudding said:

I say that mainly because ports seem to open at random. The software running on the computer can easily request a port to forward and the OS will simply do it.

Its more of a configuration issue than security IMO. Especially if its behind a HW firewall anyway.

[Revontuli]

Centos 7 definitely. It comes without gui i believe (has been a while since I installed mine) but you can easily install one if you need one. Just pick one yo your liking (https://www.tecmint.com/best-linux-desktop-environments/) and if you don't know how to install one here are some examples on how to do that: https://www.techrepublic.com/article/how-to-install-a-gui-on-top-of-centos-7/

 

However if you think you're able to learn to work it without GUI I would say just try and get used to working the terminal only.

[Ralphred]

1 hour ago, Revontuli said:

It comes without gui

I understand why, but RH's GUI management tools are some of the better ones available IME, even their menu driven command line stuff was ahead of the competition at the time (dunno if they still have those tools).

 

Either way, here's my 2c for CentOS.