Changing the kernel

smids

smids

smids

Soldato
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First, I'm a very inexperienced member of the linux community. I can do basic tasks but really am still a GUI user.

I'm setting up a fileserver at home using an old itx thin client. It's based on the VIA C3 800Mhz 'Samuel' processor and has 512MB RAM. It's obviously for low power. I have an alternative, which is a PIII-S 1.4Ghz Tualatin with 512MB but I am trying to avoid using the latter as it consumes almost exactly double the power (something like 30W vs 65W). Considering this may well be a 24/7 job, this is a big difference (unless I can use the PIII, which is preferable, but invoke some low power states like WOL etc).

Anyway, I digress. I want to use Openfiler - a nice little setup for a n00b like me. Problem - tried to install and then found out that OF use a kernel which doesn't support the VIA CPUs as it requires i686 compatible CPUs. Annoying really... I mean it takes away some of the market for people looking to use it for a low power fileserver. The unhelpful admins then stuck in a line to say something along the lines of 'if you are using one of the old processors, tough - it's about time you upgraded your CPU anyway'.

I almost turned away from it then.

...but, I remember that this is linux. Can I change the kernel to a generic kernel (e.g. the latest stable from kernel.org), which will still function with OF? If so, how the hell would I even go about this task? Is it likely to mess something up?

Note, the OS will be installed on a 4GB CF card which is running on an IDE adapter.

If this isn't possible, given that I don't like ubuntu, I think I'll just get CentOS 5 loaded on there, unless someone can recommend me an alternative. I have a soft spot for CentOS as it was the first distro I tried ever of linux (actually, it was slackware on a P133, but I gave that up as it was too slow on 64MB EDO RAM).

TIA.

smids.
 
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Looks like a full OS on a disk. Being a beginner it's probably beyond you unless you really want to push it. Try FreeNAS instead maybe.
 
Hmm... not what I wanted to hear. I had FreeNAS on there before but I want a better filesystem that the UFS(?) that FreeNAS uses. Want something robust and reliable as this will double up as a semi-backup server to the currently RAID1'ed desktop machines I've set up for my parents. I am hoping to change their system which will nightly sync all their data with that on the server.

Was hoping for ext3 or similar as I don't have a UPS (and am trying to keep the costs low). I don't mind trying to change the kernel tbh, just a pointer in the right direction though would be good. I had a stab at re-compiling a kernel a few years ago (that was about the time I switched back to Windows!).

You know what - I may just have to fire up the P3. It's a damn powerful system, especially for something like this and I might as well make full use of it... I'll make up the 35W elsewhere in the house! I'm sure I can switch something off. Maybe I'll look at getting standy (S3) working for this computer whilst overclocked...
 
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I had a stab at re-compiling a kernel a few years ago (that was about the time I switched back to Windows!).
Click to expand...
Hehe.

Openfiler does look very slick and 'easy'.
You could install Freenas and format the storage as ZFS perhaps? Check the Home Server and ZFS threads on this subforum.
Sounds like you want to change to something new but I just thought I'd mention it.
 
Therein lies the problem. I've heard bad things about FreeNAS with ZFS. Apparently it's still very much in the experimental stage....

Oh believe me, I do want to try this kernel stuff. I don't have too much free time though, which does put a spanner in the works. I suppose I might just as well install it on the P3. What do you suggest - I have a laptop 2.5" 20GB seagate in there at the moment - should I switch to the 4GB CF or not? Power is about the same I should think. Will the non-existant seeks make up for any speed difference (133x SLC based flash - 20MB/s or so max).
 
Depends what it needs to do. At the end of the day you need to install something that will install. If you want a dedicated noob friendly UI there's not many useable solutions.

If it's about file storage without a controller then ZFS is pretty good. But it does take a few drives to flex it's muscles. It's still relatively new to most folk and the tools are not very end user friendly, yet. This of course means you have to use Solaris. Which feels pretty much like Linux from a decade ago.

I spend more time playing with tech than settling with anything though :). I'm sure some folk will have more useful advice.
 
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Nice... my options are limited.

So... I've fired up the P3 now - so I guess I can now use openfiler!

Well done, you convinced me to kill the planet faster! I hope you can sleep tonight! :D

It's really just a decent fileserver which will probably also run as a WINS server, and if I can be bothered, a DNS server. All the printers in my house are network printers and don't need a server e.g. my HP P2015DN and for the hassle of using something like cups, I don't think I'll bother. Might think about putting a home website on it and also a mail server eventually which will have exchange like abilities (Zimbra maybe?), then have access to my personal mail on my phone.

That's the big plan. Nothing major, as there would only be 4 users max on it. It's easily powerful enough for this - I'm just not knowledgeable enough to work it...
 
A quick idea before I go to bed, having embarrassingly not read the whole thread:

Install OF on the PIII machine, install a kernel that will work with your processor, then dd the installation into the CF disk and try to boot it with the Via rig.

...The trouble with single-purpose distros like OF and especially the various firewall/router distros is that if you want to use them in a way the maintainers didn't intend you are often up **** creek without a paddle. A general purpose distro like CentOS or Debian is intended to be much more flexible and tolerant of unusual use cases.
 
I know... It's silly in the first place to actively remove support for a whole range of processors from the latest kernel. Any non i686 or later CPU's are out. Why would they do such a thing, especially for something like VIA CPU's which could very conceivably be used. I don't understand it...

Anyway, I think I might just as well use the PIII machine with openfiler (after all this effort, it better be good!) and will wait for ClarkConnect5 or indeed until my skills are good enough to compile my own kernel.
 
The OF developers apparently wanted to use features found only in those later CPUs and didn't want to have a fallback mode. The kernel supports a dizzing array of processor architectures. Heck, Debian has full, installable systems for the following including 20000+ packages available in pre-compiled form on easy-to-use repositories:
alpha amd64 arm hppa i386 ia64 mips mipsel powerpc sparc
Only 2 of which are even x86/"IBM compatible"

EDIT: Not that it's relevant, but what did you find dissatisfying about Ubuntu when you used it?
 
I don't know - just didn't like the feel of it. When I used CentOS, I almost felt more secure. It's probably some irrational subjective thing but I just felt like CentOS worked better, was more responsive and just cleaner. I know it's because CentOS is an enterprise distro but I just much preferred it.
 
Be aware that simply recompiling the kernel for the Via C3 may not solve all your problems. If the binaries for Openfiler were compiled for i686 then you may not be able to run them.

The reason for this is that i686 refers to anything newer than a Pentium Pro. However the Via chipsets did not support all the features required (I always thought MMX was amongst them, the C3 did not support this until Nehemiah, but Wikipedia appears to disagree with me) for a full i686 implementation.

In short - if the binaries were compiled to i686 then changing the kernel will not allow these binaries to run on your system.

[And yeah, I do realise you've gone for the P3 option, but I'm with you on the power usage. I'm using an AMD Sempron 3400+ laptop for my server as it only uses ~40W under load. :P)
 
A-ha! Thank you for the info. So it may be futile to change it...

Well, I've got openfiler running now. Everything seems to work OK except the software RAID! I've setup seems to crash the system when powered on. Unplug it and everything works fine and dandy.

Meh! Still, OF is a nice system - I'm very much liking it, if only I could get it to work with a RAID1!
 
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