Bare bones linux in windows

[JodoKaast]

Is there any way to run a kind of stripped down, bare bones kind of linux, while in windows?

Let's say all I want to do is run an apache webserver. Nothing big, just a little fun project. Well, anything that's worth anything is done in linux or other *nix variations, so I would like to do it from linux somehow.

Well, I use win2k extremely often, and hardly ever even boot into linux. Is there any way for me to just run a shell or something that could mount a directory or something as linux use somehow?

I've recently used cygwin, but i don't know if it would be able to do what I want...

Any help would be appreciated!

Brian

[FoBoT]

you can get a win32 version of apache, so it would make more sense to run that in winders than try to run apache through linux on winders boxen

not sure what exactly would suit you otherwise, but this (http://www.armed.net/index.htm) looks sorta interesting

ps->OT
how big is Bartlesville?
a friend of my wife lives there, i think

[ 20 July 2001: Message edited by: FoBoT ]

[JodoKaast]

Yeah, I'm running an Apache server in windows right now, and it works surprisingly well, but the problem is with lots of things being distributed in source only format with no win32 binaries. Specifically I wanted to run the 2.0.0 version of Slashcode (http://slashcode.com/), but I haven't found any way to compile or get any binaries for win32.

So perhaps a more prudent and direct question would be does anyone know how I can use a makefile in something like vc++? I've been looking around for win32 versions of gcc, but they haven't been too much help really... Not exactly a commonplace thing I suppose.

Bartlesville is about 40000-50000 population. Not big by any means, but not too small... The main thing here is the headquarters for Phillips 66 Petroleum Company. Just about every family has at least one person working for Phillips or have at one time in living here. If Phillips were to pull out of Bartlesville, the town would die. Seriously.

[ 20 July 2001: Message edited by: JodoKaast ]

[evulish]

I think it'd be easiest enough to get another computer. It doesn't have to be great...(You can get a pentium pro for 7 bucks..hehe)

I'd recommend a 386 or 486. Get a switch box for your monitor and make a lil network. Apache will run fine on a small box.

[Sweede]

get another computer (for the love of god, do not serve webpages on a 486, especially if you plan on running slashcode+mysql !), probably around a pentium class MMX (200-233 w/64-128 megs of ram).

and install debian,

[FoBoT]

i concur, apache will run great on an oooooold box, if you are just doing it for "practice/learning"

good luck! :)

[JodoKaast]

Alright. Just gone and bid on a 100 dollar PII 233mhz compute with 64meg ram and a 2.1gig harddrive on ebay. It's only got an hour left, and it didn't have any bids on it, so I'll be I'll win it...

Think that should be able to run a server no problem? I can see that the amount of ram might be a little low, but I'm not planning on having any massive base of operations here or anything... And the computer won't be doing anything else, so I would think it would be fine.

Where can I get one of these fabled monitor switches? I've never heard of them before... I've often thought "It sure would be convenient if I could just flip a switch and change my monitor from one computer to the other..."

Thanks!

Brian

[FoBoT]

$100 for that isn't bad
i use KVM switch at work, big 16/4 unit
i bought a small 2/1 unit for home use about 1 month ago, only got around to ordering cables for it last week, so haven't used it yet

if you are only going to run apache, why not just ssh into the box and only plug up your monitor when needed?

if you want to get a switch used, check the trading forums on www.arstechnica.com (http://www.arstechnica.com) and www.anandtech.com (http://www.anandtech.com) , you should be able to find a 2 station box like mine for about $40-$60 without cables

good luck! :)

[ 20 July 2001: Message edited by: FoBoT ]