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About mkitwrk
Expertise
Expert: Creating and managing *nix database/application servers for use with dl4/unibasic/mysql/apache/thoroughbred applications, espcially in medical environments. Strengths: scripting, backup and disaster recovery, routing, samba/smbfs/cifs, LPRng, CUPS, telnet/ssh/sftp, vsftp, rsync, new system preparation, system duplication, database design, system conversions (AIX/SCO-OS5/Linux) Familiar With: apache/apache-ssl, mysql, php, c, awk, sed, gnome, nfs

Experience
I've been head of development at our company since 1984. Our OS's at that time were Point 4's IRIS and Altos' Xenix. Then: SCO Xenix, SCO Unix, AIX, SCO-OS5, Caldera, RedHat 7, Debian Sarge, RedHat ES4, Debian Etch, Redhat ES5, Debian Lenny. I've migrated our clients through those various versions with minimal interruption while preserving their investments in hardware and staff knowledge over time.

Education/Credentials
1980 BSBA Washington University, Saint Louis, Missouri

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Unix/Linux OS - 64 bits OS

Expert: mkitwrk - 11/3/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hello,

I want to build a PC with several OS in it. At least Linux, and Windows (not sure which Windows version yet).

I'm going to use the machine for programming with open/free source tools, so it's going to be a small database and web server, and a client at the same time. I have an old PC with Fedora, and some friends use Ubuntu, but I know there's something new every day, and I'm confused. Which distribution should I use?

I want the machine to be 64-bits. How do I make sure the Linux distribution supports 64 bits?

How is better to install these two oper. systems?:
  a. Main OS Windows with option to multiple boot?
  b. Main OS Linux with option to multiple boot?
  c. Have an independent boot utility?
  d. Or other..???

Thank you in advance.

Sincerely,

Rick

ANSWER: Hi Rick,

I have little experience with setting up and using dual-boot systems, but I have lots of experience setting up development environments on Linux and Windows.

Current tools I have set up recently under RedHat ES5 64-bit, Debian Lenny 64-bit and Windows 2003 Server 64-bit:
Apache2 2.2 (with https enabled) (and StrawberryPerl under windows)
OpenSSL 0.9.8k (0.9.8i under windows) (scripts to gen CA and Server keys)
MySQL 5.1 (docs to ensure portability from *nix to Windows and back...)
MySQL ODBC with SSL encryption with read-only database access (scripts to set up access keys)
DynamicXport CGI (proprietary tool that allows migration of legacy IRIS Basic apps to n-tier)

So, as to which *nix to use...

All the *nix distro's have a 64-bit version in their download listings. Look for things like "x86-64" and "amd64". My Debian Lenny distro is "2.6.18-6-amd64" and one of my RedHat distro's is "2.6.18-128.1.6.el5 x86-64". My Debian Lenny on my home PC has "openvz" in the kernel label as well, since it has been compiled to support virtualization.

The base kernel is currently 2.6.xx on all of my 64-bit *nix boxes. So, the kernel, glibc, ld, libc, gcc, etc. are compatible across them all.

So, it comes down to your personal preferences. I like to use the distros aimed at the "server" market vs. those aimed at the "desktop" market. So, I use Debian and RedHat instead of Ubuntu or Fedora/CentOS. I prefer Debian, simply because the updates are free forever (they will never become a commercial entity) - whereas with RedHat, there is a subscription service you have to pay to receive their updates. But, since Dell, etc. can deliver RedHat servers semi-preconfigured, I keep that platform in my mix. (if there were a 64-bit, open source OS/X, I would add that to my mix as well, especially since the tools I've chosen run on OS/X as well...)

If you are used to using the command prompt (in windows and linux) to get things done, then you have a good handle on scripting (in both environments) and will do fine on whichever distro you choose. If not, then you will be after you document the process of getting things set up and convert that info into automation scripts for the next round! (I'm about half-way through converting my docs into scripts from setting up the items listed above...)

I chose to utilize the same tools on all platforms so that everyone involved with the applications we write would not have to learn variants like IIS, MS-SQL, Postgre SQL or Oracle... Just learn Apache and MySQL (and our special CGI) and deal with them independent of the hosting OS.

And, when writing the applications, I ensure that no programs have to ever execute on the client OS -- only browser functions -- no remote procedure calls (like ActiveX, etc...).

So now my applications can be run from any client that can run IE, Firefox, Chrome, Safari or Opera. I've tested them from the following clients: Debian (Iceweasel), RedHat (Firefox), Windows (all 5 of them), OS/X (Safari) and even my iPhone (Safari).

Now -- As to which version of Windows...
Just don't use Vista (it's in the category of Windows ME - nobody wants it, nobody will support it). If you are developing server software, install a server OS. Windows 2008 Server has a lot of the Vista UI in it, but it seems stable. Windows 2003 Server looks more like Windows XP and is stable as well. Windows 7 may be the way to go, but that is just a guess at this point. (I don't think MS will screw up twice in a row though, it would be like a "first nail in the coffin" for them.)

Now -- Which OS to put on the first partition(s)...
Linux doesn't care, so, to be safe, I'd put Windows on the primary partition, since it can be fussy about that... As to which boot tool to use? - I have no idea... Linux uses GRUB these days (sooo much better than LILO) and it can be set up to handle dual-booting, I've just never done it. - If I were to give it a try, I'd set GRUB up so that the default boot is the Linux system and set the auto-timeout to be 30 seconds so you have time to select the Windows partition when you want it. (i.e. I'd set up Windows first, leaving space for Linux. Then I'd install Linux and configure GRUB -- hoping that the Linux installation process auto-discovered the Windows partition and put it in the GRUB menu automatically...)

If the tools I mentioned match the tools you were considering, let me know and I can provide some info on the installation and setup of the tools once you get underway.

Hope that helps!
Larry

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hello Larry,

Thank you for all the explanation, and congrats for your accomplishments.
I'll follow your advice, it makes a lot of sense.
Doesn't Devian have a GUI like Fedora?

You mentioned "My Debian Lenny on my home PC has 'openvz' in the kernel label as well, since it has been compiled to support virtualization" which is very interesting b/c I've never used virtualization in a nix environment. Does this toolcreate a file like the windows virtual machine?

Thanks in advance,

Rick

Answer
Debian's default GUI is the Gnome Desktop. RedHat's is as well. They just dress up the desktop differently and provide somewhat different choices for applications...

OpenVZ does create files that are booted into virtual systems, much like the windows virtual machine. Certain logins get access to the root server and others to specific instances of virtual servers. -- OpenVZ does not provide a framework for virtualizing multiple OS's though, just the one installed on the root machine.

Enjoy!
Larry

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