PDC Linux distribution?

z4ziggy · 2007-05-24 14:27:37

Hi,

ive been looking for a Linux/BSD distribution to act as a Windows PDC for our office. I want a simple, without too much bloat (ie, unneeded services, packages, etc) distro, which provides a web interface configuration tool for the not-so-techie people in the office to be able to use (start/stop print service in case of a problem, etc). Seems a basic request, no? Well, I couldnt find any. Ive tried several distros, non of them is suitable for our requirements.

atm, my best solution is to use a plain debian installation with installing Samba on it (aprox size = 300mb) - but swat only gives web configuration without starting/stoping services... also, it still has some useless packages which i cant remove (gcc for example) and i dont want them installed on the server. another solution is using IPCop with samba addon (aprox size = 60mb !! exactly what i want) , but it seems stupid to install a firewall just for the web interface.

Any ideas, suggestions, will be greatly welcomed!

Thanks in advance.

Last edited by z4ziggy (2007-05-24 14:28:27)

bones · 2007-05-24 21:03:09

Depending on how much time you have, Myself I'd be inclined to try and build something from LFS. You can make it small and have only the apps you want, also it would be a great way to learn the ins and outs of linux. My guess - if you really got stuck into it maybe a week to have it up and running. I built a small home server for my sister's busness like that. All it does is store her documents and streams music through the office. No connection to the outside world.

z4ziggy · 2007-05-24 22:33:56

thanks.
yea, i was thinking about LFS (actually i thought of creating a uclibc based system with only samba on it, which will get me the tiny size i wanted... and its very easy with buildroot) but i wont have a configuration web interface, and upgrading samba means compiling it myself - while i would like to have one of the office users be able todo "apt-get update && apt-get upgrade"... so i dropped this idea. any more ideas?

Ruckus · 2007-05-25 02:12:26

Why not use a trimmed down Arch, its fairly minimalistic with great repository's, if LFS proves to be to troublesome that is, I have been meaning to try an LFS build my self, but havn't found the time recently.

cactus · 2007-05-25 02:22:38

z4ziggy:

Some options..
1) Use debian base install, and install webmin on it. Rip out the modules you don't need.

2) Write something simple in php for restarting/starting services.. and use something like arch with apache and samba.

3) Use something like domainix. that seems quite old.. but maybe there is something else out there (I turned this up in a quick google-goggle).

4) profit!

z4ziggy · 2007-05-25 11:53:12

Heya Cactus!

thanks for the advice. i might follow on those ideas... atm im playing with ClarkConnect - much bloated, but works as i want (wen interface, updates, etc).

if i had known html/php i would write some web interface - but i dont :\

about domainix - yep, i've stumbled upon it, and its exactly what i want - too bad its latest iso is from 2002...

if i would know some php coder, i might built my own uclibc based system and ask him to build the interface...

anyway, thanks for the suggestions. and a BIG offtopic - 3384 posts? whow... someone here must have been very active!

cactus · 2007-05-25 16:18:38

depending on the requirements for the web interface, you might be able to recruit somebody on the forums to help...
There are quite a few programmers around these parts..

Arch Linux

#1 2007-05-24 14:27:37

PDC Linux distribution?

#2 2007-05-24 21:03:09

Re: PDC Linux distribution?

#3 2007-05-24 22:33:56

Re: PDC Linux distribution?

#4 2007-05-25 02:12:26

Re: PDC Linux distribution?

#5 2007-05-25 02:22:38

Re: PDC Linux distribution?

#6 2007-05-25 11:53:12

Re: PDC Linux distribution?

#7 2007-05-25 16:18:38

Re: PDC Linux distribution?

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