which is the best linux distribution, purly for running boinc?
edit: ...for someone who knows nothing about messing with hardware, programming, optimisation and such

Any can do.

General answer:
The best linux distribution for YOU is the one, run by three friends
you can ask silly questions any time, and who will come to visit you and
help you.

BR
Iztok

p.s. My friend just changed from Slackware to Ubuntu. Main reason:
he found me useless as support guy ;-)

which is the best linux distribution, purly for running boinc?
edit: ...for someone who knows nothing about messing with hardware, programming, optimisation and such

sorry, it's probably just me being daft, but I couldn't quite make sense out of that reply. Are you saying the best one is the one i have easiest access to support for?

which is the best linux distribution, purly for running boinc?
edit: ...for someone who knows nothing about messing with hardware, programming, optimisation and such

What is the best flavor of ice cream for someone that doesn't know anything about ice cream ingredients?

Don't take this is sarcasm, but simply as there can't be an objective answer to your question.

My subjective answer, however, would be since all you want this proposed GNU/Linux machine to do is crunch SETI, is maybe (especially if this an older machine) check out Damn Small Linux. Low overhead and you wouldn't even need to use a HDD.

(Yeah, flash memory does have a limited number of theoretical re-writes, but in a real world example I have an old P2 running on a CF card. Its not doing SETI, but is doing some real-world interface applications. Its been running fine off a simple 128MB CF card for years. If and when the CF card finally gives out, it will be so cheap to replace with even a 512MB CF card that it really isn't an issue.)

thank you for your reply, it was the type of answer I was looking for, but ubuntu looked much easier, and because of lazyness I think i'll sacrefice some computing speed for user friendlyness.

sorry, it's probably just me being daft, but I couldn't quite make sense out of that reply. Are you saying the best one is the one i have easiest access to support for?

Yes.

While all distributions run same kernel and simmilar applications,
newby needs some help in setting up the system.

Here comes main difference between distibutions: how you configure system,
update software etc. There is no big difference between xap-3.0.1 and
xap-3.0.2; but distros might different default values for xap-3.configure.

All answers are on your PC (man pages, faq etc) and on the net, but old rule
applies: in order to ask a question, you have to know most of the answer.
So, it helps to have a friend who knows you, and she can lead you a bit
until you are confortable and in control of your computer.

I doubt there is any difference between different distibutions running boinc,
all such claims lack statistical significance. Of course, once you have proper
kernel - watch for single or multi processor system etc.

BR
Iztok

sorry, it's probably just me being daft, but I couldn't quite make sense out of that reply. Are you saying the best one is the one i have easiest access to support for?

That's how I read it, and it seems good advice. If your friends all run Ubuntu then that's where you should go. If they all run RedHat, that'd be a better choice.

If they all run Windows, then you should run Windows.

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thank you for your reply, it was the type of answer I was looking for, but ubuntu looked much easier, and because of lazyness I think i'll sacrefice some computing speed for user friendlyness.

If you want to minimize the resources needed for the OS, and you want to run Ubuntu, I suggest you run Xubuntu.

---

Dublin, California
Team: SETI.USA

sorry, it's probably just me being daft, but I couldn't quite make sense out of that reply. Are you saying the best one is the one i have easiest access to support for?

That's how I read it, and it seems good advice. If your friends all run Ubuntu then that's where you should go. If they all run RedHat, that'd be a better choice.

If they all run Windows, then you should run Windows.

and if they all jump off a cliff...

seriously though. it's a good point.
normaly I run mac, and my friends are all windows. The reason I want linux is because i'm bringing out my old, heavily virus infested pc to do some boinc. i can't seem to find the windows cd and legally downloading linux seems much easier than getting windows, legaly or ilegaly. I also deeply admire all things open source, although i'm quite ignorant of how it all works.

edit: thank you, xubuntu seems to fit the profile quite well.

and if they all jump off a cliff...

Well, if you have a lot of friends, then there'll be plenty of padding when you jump! 8-)

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doyou want to use te linux for gaming and multimedia etc as well, or just run boinc?

doyou want to use te linux for gaming and multimedia etc as well, or just run boinc?

just boinc, and to get to know linux in general. I have a newer better computer for other stuff

Well if you dont want to run any servers like http etc, y<ou can use (k)ubuntu which runs very well from what i've seen. I personally run suse (because it so wonderfull colorful) and gentoo - for performance reasons...

I also have one cruncher running SLAX which is a live distribution. I run a scropt to create a ramdisk and copy boinc/seti into it. the harddrive is switched off to save energy. When boinc is stopped, the ramdisk is saved to a usb stick (so you can restore again after reboot) currently I look for a automated backup solution, and if everything is running well i will make the iso disc downloadable...

My reccomendation is to use whatever distro you like best...try them all....

There are many....


DistroWatch.Org

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My reccomendation is to use whatever distro you like best...try them all....

There are many....

DistroWatch.Org

But... but... but...

There's too many to try all of them!

More seriously, my recommendation to first timers is Kubuntu (similar to Windows desktop) or Ubuntu (similar to the Mac desktop).

If you want to have a play at choosing one or a few more, then try:

The Linux Distribution Chooser


Should be interesting!

Happy crunchin',
Martin

---

See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)

I think their are several good ones. I finally settled on Novell Suse. It just has a cleaner feel to me.

---

Fear will keep the local systems in line. Fear of this battle station. - Grand Moff Tarkin

thank you for all your comments. I have settled for Xubuntu and am writing from it this very moment. However I have failed to get BOINC going.Every now and then the manager says:
"BOINC Manager is not able to connect to a BOINC client. Would you like to try to connect again? yes/no)

i don't know what this means. i thought the manager WAS the client...

When I try to connect to a project, it tells me:
"BOINC Manager is not currently connected to a BOINC client.
Please use the 'File\\Select Computer...' menu option to connect up to a BOINC client.
To connect up to your local computer please use 'localhost' as the host name."

there is no "select computer" under file, however, there is one under advanced. I type in localhost in the host field. there is a password field as well, which i've assumed is the password to the computer...

I would appreciate if someone could help me with this. please excuse my noobness.

Try giving it the PW from the gui_rpc_auth file.

BTW, the Manager is the frontend, the Client is the "brains".

Alinator

Try giving it the PW from the gui_rpc_auth file.

BTW, the Manager is the frontend, the Client is the "brains".

Alinator

could you dumb that down a bit?..
where do I find the gui_rpc_auth file?

LOL, Sorry!

In the Main BOINC directory there is a file called gui_rpc_auth.cfg. If you open it with a text editor you'll find a number which is the PW you're looking for.

Alinator