[TriLUG] Re: White Box /RHEL 3 on a Mac?

[Paul Howarth]

linux r wrote:
> 1.  I need to set up a mail server and also apache with a tiny site. 
> Can I run this on a G4 or G5 without too much of a headache?  I have
> never really messed with Mac's but I know there is a lot of friendly
> overlap between the linuxes/BSDs etc, and macs in terms of software. 
> I am not a developer, more of a sysadmin, and if I have to spend too
> many hours messing with it, forget it!
> 
> 2.  If so, would I need to get another <distribution> to run on a mac?
>  Would that be the wise thing to do here?  Or can I just get a version
> of White Box ?  I don't think there is another version out there, but
> I am wondering if that is necessary, of if I can just load with the
> 'regular' i386 version that I have.  [In case you are wondering I do
> not have the machine with me, otherwise I would try it myself.]
> 
> 3.  If you read the White Box site, it has some pretty attractive
> message about being able to avoid the 'upgrade treadmill' until at
> least Oct. 2008.  Your thoughts, please!
> 
> 4.  And let's say that I DO have to pay Red Hat for one server
> license.. out of curiosity....any idea what that might cost?  This is
> a nonprofit-to-be and there are absolutely no funds at the moment and
> for the foreseeable while.
> 
> I am trying to get this thing started asap.  Any info is appreciated !
>  Thanks in advance !

Whitebox Linux is only (AFAIK) built for i386 and possible x86_64 and ia32 
architectures. Your Mac is I believe a PPC architecture so Whitebox is a 
non-starter.

Red Hat Enterprise probably has the same issues and would cost you several 
hundred dollars unless you qualified for an educational rate.

I'd suggest looking at the Mac Linux links page at 
http://www.lowendmac.com/linux/index.shtml and checking out LinuxPPC and MkLinux.

If you have MacOSX on the Mac then you already have a Unix OS and don't need 
Linux at all to run a mail and web server.

Paul.