Considering installing Linux on my server.... Now running win2008R2
Posted: 2021-08-23 01:23
Hi all
I'm thinking of installing Linux on my server and I honestly do not know where to start.
------- Some background ------
I started with Linux desktop in March 2018 with Mint18.3 and then switched to LMDE3 around summer of 2019(as i didn't like ubuntus influences in mint 19) and now since April 2021 I started use Debian Buster and learning how it works.... so I have gone backwards to the root of the distro tree.
win2008R2 is now running on my server since it was almost new(secondhand 1year old when I got it). I then get 2012R2 and it was rubbish in my taste.. too win8 gui, so I went back to 2008R2.... But my server is not exposed online so EOL is not relevant anyway.
Now I'm going to upgrade all six disks to larger disks late next month... and when I have migrated my now working system to the new disks, then I am thinking of using the old ones to try to take the first step into the Linux server world... it is hotswap so easy switching back and forward for some experimenting without affecting my daily system too much
Today my server is used for PXEboot (for rescue environments/system partition recovery and installs), for network drives to my computers, to my mediacenter, and for my computers network backups.
It is not remotely manageable, so no SSH needed, only locally with it's own screen and keyboard for increased security.
My Cisco firewall is managing the DHCP service and redirect traffic to my server for pxeboot. (in the future it will be replace with a pfSence firewall)
It's a HP server intel based. two Xenon CPUs, 64GB ECC ram, six disks Hotswap SAS 3.5" 4TB Raid5(hardware raid)
My idea in 2019 was to run centOS as it was good for +10 years/installation. but IBM sabotaged the centOS life-cycle so it is no longer an option.
Since I have had Debian based distros since 2018, maybe Debian server is the best soft way start into the server world?? and I think my knowledge is starting to mature enough for this step. The keyword in that sentence is "I think"... I don't know.. it's a little scary step
I've never in my entire life touched a Linux server. and my Linux knowledge is limited as you have probably seen here on the forum.
My big, big Linux weakness and Achilles heel is....that I am really good at windows.
I started with computers 1987 with MS-Dos.. then all windows from 3.11 up to win8.1... I refuse win10 and newer.
I am certified for XP and win7.... I'm not certified for win2003server and win2008server.. I have only learned those two for my own needs.. But windows is windows since win2000 up to win11 server or not..
This makes me spoiled, really spoiled with many different win-tools that are 99.9% GUI based. it has created many bad habits and workflows and it's thousands of companies developing various GUI-tools for just about everything for windows environments.. So Microsoft has made me GUI lazy and spoiled like a child, so I'm not getting along with terminal commands and it's monochrome environment.
So this for me, makes some things completely backwards way of thinking for troubleshooting and solutions when it comes to, get in to how Linux works.. and it bothers me.. big time.. it bothers me a lot.
But I am trying my way forward slow but steady even in to the deep end of the pool.
---------
So...with that said
I will have some questions mixed with thoughts now during the colder months, when it's more time to sit inside at the computers....
And you all are more than welcome to bring up your own suggestions and opinions and thoughts on things..
It will become a slow thread, as I'm not so often can sit for longer periods of time at the computer for testing and learning things.
My first question is..... Is there any specific Debian ISO for server installs?
Windows-server has a lot of server tools and services built in.. Does Debian server environment have that too?
And what do you think I should start with?
and do not forget that my english is not the best one and I have mild dyslexia... So have a little oversight with my use of the language and typos and wrong words i sometimes chooses.. browser spellchecking can't do magic all of the times
I'm thinking of installing Linux on my server and I honestly do not know where to start.
------- Some background ------
I started with Linux desktop in March 2018 with Mint18.3 and then switched to LMDE3 around summer of 2019(as i didn't like ubuntus influences in mint 19) and now since April 2021 I started use Debian Buster and learning how it works.... so I have gone backwards to the root of the distro tree.
win2008R2 is now running on my server since it was almost new(secondhand 1year old when I got it). I then get 2012R2 and it was rubbish in my taste.. too win8 gui, so I went back to 2008R2.... But my server is not exposed online so EOL is not relevant anyway.
Now I'm going to upgrade all six disks to larger disks late next month... and when I have migrated my now working system to the new disks, then I am thinking of using the old ones to try to take the first step into the Linux server world... it is hotswap so easy switching back and forward for some experimenting without affecting my daily system too much
Today my server is used for PXEboot (for rescue environments/system partition recovery and installs), for network drives to my computers, to my mediacenter, and for my computers network backups.
It is not remotely manageable, so no SSH needed, only locally with it's own screen and keyboard for increased security.
My Cisco firewall is managing the DHCP service and redirect traffic to my server for pxeboot. (in the future it will be replace with a pfSence firewall)
It's a HP server intel based. two Xenon CPUs, 64GB ECC ram, six disks Hotswap SAS 3.5" 4TB Raid5(hardware raid)
My idea in 2019 was to run centOS as it was good for +10 years/installation. but IBM sabotaged the centOS life-cycle so it is no longer an option.
Since I have had Debian based distros since 2018, maybe Debian server is the best soft way start into the server world?? and I think my knowledge is starting to mature enough for this step. The keyword in that sentence is "I think"... I don't know.. it's a little scary step
I've never in my entire life touched a Linux server. and my Linux knowledge is limited as you have probably seen here on the forum.
My big, big Linux weakness and Achilles heel is....that I am really good at windows.
I started with computers 1987 with MS-Dos.. then all windows from 3.11 up to win8.1... I refuse win10 and newer.
I am certified for XP and win7.... I'm not certified for win2003server and win2008server.. I have only learned those two for my own needs.. But windows is windows since win2000 up to win11 server or not..
This makes me spoiled, really spoiled with many different win-tools that are 99.9% GUI based. it has created many bad habits and workflows and it's thousands of companies developing various GUI-tools for just about everything for windows environments.. So Microsoft has made me GUI lazy and spoiled like a child, so I'm not getting along with terminal commands and it's monochrome environment.
So this for me, makes some things completely backwards way of thinking for troubleshooting and solutions when it comes to, get in to how Linux works.. and it bothers me.. big time.. it bothers me a lot.
But I am trying my way forward slow but steady even in to the deep end of the pool.
---------
So...with that said
I will have some questions mixed with thoughts now during the colder months, when it's more time to sit inside at the computers....
And you all are more than welcome to bring up your own suggestions and opinions and thoughts on things..
It will become a slow thread, as I'm not so often can sit for longer periods of time at the computer for testing and learning things.
My first question is..... Is there any specific Debian ISO for server installs?
Windows-server has a lot of server tools and services built in.. Does Debian server environment have that too?
And what do you think I should start with?
and do not forget that my english is not the best one and I have mild dyslexia... So have a little oversight with my use of the language and typos and wrong words i sometimes chooses.. browser spellchecking can't do magic all of the times