Minimum harddisk size for a Linux server

Whoops, hit submit before answering the last part of your question. Yes, if the environment isn't too terribly complex, you can set everything up with a GUI.

If not include the storge for mail, files and print spool, what is the actual minimum size for such server's component? (Can I not install the XWindows?)

If you install a non-X windows server with virtually no applications? I don't know for sure as I've never done one like that (but I'm pretty sure I could squeeze it onto a 200-300Mb disk). At the extreme bottom end you've got something that will fit on a floppy and you go up from there as you add services and apps. I realize that's a pretty vague answer, but without knowing the minimum requirements and actually putting an install in place that actaully meets those requirements it's difficult to be specific.

If you can tell me that the harddisk size required by the Kernel, SAMBA, NFS server, DNS name server and Mail tools; and also comfirm me if it is possible to run them without XWindows, then I think that I have the answer of this question.

Thank you very much.

Best regards,

Sunny

Can do. I'll do a minimal install for just those services and tell you how big it wound up.

Yes you can manage the box without X. Linux conf, the principal tool, also will run on a standard console screen or over a telnet session to the server in a VT100 terminal emulator.

So, what's the size?

Shortly, give a chance to test it and make sure I've got everything installed that you have to have to run and maintain the box.

I make the as installed size to be 223MB. The size will grow by 5-15 MB as you configure and set up the system.

Okay, it'll fit on a 300MB disk with a little space available for log files and print jobs. Be aware that print jobs from clients have to have spool space, and mail queues will also need space. A 1GB disk would make a more realistic and more usseable server.

I was able to bring up NFS, Samba, mail, and a cacheing DNS server. I didn't bother to configure a real DNS server, as if a cacheing server works a real server will also.

Excellent! Excellent!
You should answered my question, just want to have more info:

Did you using RedHat6.1 and is it difficult to do that?
Please give hints, so I can follow the installation as you.

Thank you.

The way I did it is very easy, as I thought you'd want an easy method. And yes, I used RedHat 6.1 as that is what you indicated you were going to use.

I would recommend that you look at the Hardware Compatibility List and make sure that your hardware is on the supported list of devices before you install it. The list is available on-line at http://www.redhat.com/support/hardware/intel/61/rh6.1-hcl-i.ld.html. Just about any motherboard will be okay, but Linux is a bit picky about ethernet and video cards. Disk drives and CD's aren't usually a problem as long as they aren't ATA-66 drives (ATA-66 will be supported later).

Before starting the install go into the bios setup and turn PnP mode off. Linux doesn't use PnP and it will usually cause problems (it won't hurt windows 95/98 if PnP is off). The ethernet card may need to be specially configured for Linux. If you'll tell me what ethernet card you've got I can probably tell you if needs special treatment.

The install is very straight forward. Do a normal (not "expert") and select "Custom" when it gets to the software section. There will be a list of categories and you simply check on/off the ones desired. I think it'll be very obvious what to do when you get there.

Thank you very much!
Rich of info that for me to follow.