Linux, Cobalts, GUIs, and such (Re: [cobalt-users] anonymous ftp on raq 4I)

["E.B. Dreger" <eddy+public+spam@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> Date: Sun, 27 Jan 2002 10:34:06 -0800
> From: Paul Jacobs <paul@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

> I am not very linux or unix savoy, but I have worked with
> some.... The fact that you have to install a virtual NIC for
> every I.P. that does not have a physical NIC slows the OS down,
> I have found past 50 I.P.'s on any linux box slows it down badly.

I'm running 86 at the moment on the machine from which I send
this.  No slowdowns here.  Loadaverage almost never even makes it
to 1.00 unless I'm compiling something.

I'm actually curious (no flame bait intended) why you're seeing
these slowdowns.  Can you provide more details on the config and
use of the boxen that you've used?

> Not wanting to start a holy war here just sharing my
> problems....

I'll respect that.  You've been more open-minded than I ever
thought (seeing you on a *ix-related list, I honestly did a
double-take), and that's definitely a good thing.

> As for the cobalt boxes.... everything is passed through a
> database loaded on the box, and everything is referenced from
> it for all hosting functions, so adding anything to the box
> for hosting needs to pass through the database??!.

Not everything.  Again, one _can_ operate without the GUI.
Sure, you'll lose GUI management for that portion of what you're
doing.  But the world doesn't end if you don't use the GUI.

BTW, I don't even think that GUIs make things easier or prettier.
I greatly prefer a good command line to any GUI that I've ever
used... and, to be blunt, I'm quite adept at Windows.  I've had
countless clients comment on that.  It's not that I'm bashing
something I don't understand.  But GUI-vs-commandline is another
thread... I'm already straying a bit.

> the cobalt boxes are so proprietary as far as the OS config
> goes you should call them a Packard bell (a hardware reference
> of a system that died out because it was so hard to program
> drivers for there hardware)

The "pretty face" is proprietary.  What's beneath the hood is
not.

That said, I'm not a big fan of the eye candy.  I've never gone
for RedHat or other SysV-ish Linux.  If someone wants an account
on a Cobalt or to colo one, fine... we can do it without breaking
a sweat.  (Apologies for probably crossing the line to a plug
with that one.)  But I don't use a RaQ for my hosting.


Eddy

Brotsman & Dreger, Inc. - EverQuick Internet Division
Phone: +1 (316) 794-8922 Wichita/(Inter)national
Phone: +1 (785) 865-5885 Lawrence
--

Date: Mon, 21 May 2001 11:23:58 +0000 (GMT)
From: A Trap <blacklist@xxxxxxxxx>
To: blacklist@xxxxxxxxx
Subject: Please ignore this portion of my mail signature.

These last few lines are a trap for address-harvesting spambots.  Do NOT
send mail to <blacklist@xxxxxxxxx>, or you are likely to be blocked.