Hi,
I'm planning to use linux as a server in my home and I have setup CVS and mySQL server before in linux though I used them only locally.
My question is that what should you take in to count when setting up server to host a MMOG, SVN and MySQL and it's online only few days in a row?
I don't have a clear picture how do you operate a server, does it happen always using ssh from another computer?
My computer (server) does have it's own monitor so would it make sense to install a graphical interface and operate it via that instead?

Thanks, I just want to know the common or easiest way.

All tips are welcome.

PS. I'm planning to use xbuntu as OS since the PC is bit old (1ghz 256 ram) but I could also install FC5 (or some other) if you think it's better?

it depends on how you want to access it. if it has its own kb/mouse and monitor and you don't plan on administering it remotely, you don't even need ssh. but ssh always makes life easier, in my experience, because then you don't even have to switch computers to administer it. you can just log in from your other machines, desktop, laptop, etc. even if it's just locally.

also remember that just because it has a monitor doesn't mean it needs a gui. even if you don't plan to use ssh, you can just administer it from the command line anyway, which (imho) is preferable to using an X-based gui. for that reason, i think plain debian would be a much better choice than xbuntu, and slackware better than FC5. it's basically up to which "style" you feel more comfortable with, debian or slack.

If you don't need want the GUI then I'd suggest ubuntu-server over xbuntu.

What I typically do on servers is just install the xlibs so that if I need to run some gui tools I can do X forwarding through ssh and run them on one of my linux or mac desktop machines.

Thank you for the replies!
This clears it bit, though I knew that you dont need GUI just because you have a monitor But the thing is that linux has lot of commands and that's why I'm propably going to install some GUI. My only concern is the speed when it comes to running the GUI and the server. Oh and since I run windows on this PC I probably can't connect to the linux in any other way than ssh?

you vould use VNC/NX if you've got an X server running on the 'server' machine.

Or you could enable X forwarding and be able to use the X apps remotely.

TBH i have a similar setup, all the initial config i di with m monitor plugged in, once i had set it all up, it's quick to admin it via SSH, you shouldnt have to continually do things to the server that would require it's own physical display though?

Thanks for the tips! I'm just concerned that if I install GUI for the server and let it login in to the GUI how much slower it will be?
And can you toggle between shell and GUI so that GUI shutdowns completely freeing all the resources it took, so that you dont have to reboot the server services (SVN, MySQL)?

it depends on what gui and how you are starting it. if you start it from the local .xinitrc script with startx, you can exit from it either by using any logout function the particular desktop has, or by doing ctrl + alt + backspace (less recommended, won't save settings, etc., but it works).

if you start the gui from a login manager like gdm or kdm, i think you'd have to kill the login manager. otherwise, using c + a + b or a logout button, X will keep running for the login manager gui. maybe login managers have a graphical option to kill it and go to the console, i'm not really too familiar with them, as i most often use the startx method.

unless the computer is really low spec, running a gui (especially a lightweight one like fluxbox, windowmaker, etc.) won't necessarily slow things down *that* much, depending on what you are running on the server, how intensive the tasks are, how many users doing things at once, etc. but together with X they will take up a lot of precious system resources so that if a server app needs them they won't be as available, and that will definitely slow things down. it's usually always preferable not to use X on a server, imho.

That's what I have been thinking.

Thanks for your answer, this helps.