Re: Advanced Server on low end lap top

[Ed Wilts <ewilts ewilts org>]

On Mon, Mar 13, 2006 at 03:17:45PM -0000, Cannon, Andrew wrote:
> I'm (probably) going to be taking the RHCT course in June (depending upon
> whether the 'bean-counters' approve it) but I don't have a spare computer
> available for me to 'play' with the system.  

But do you have a system with memory and disk to spare?  If so, install
VMware Player (free from VMware.com) and do all of your training in the
virtual machine.  You can install as many times as you want, and if you
nuke it beyond repair, revert to your original configuration (copy the
disk file before you start).

The biggest restriction you have with VMware is that should have enough
memory, but for RHCT training, a 128MB virtual machine should be
adequate for the vast majority of your training - don't install the GUI
and do everything via the command line.

You *can* create virtual machines with the player with the right tools -
see http://blog.lorenzoferrara.net/pivot/entry.php?id=73 or you can
start with the pre-configure virtual machine at
http://www.vmware.com/vmtn/appliances/redhat.html

> I was thinking of getting a cheap laptop and dual booting it with RHAS
> and XP (so my wife can use it when I've finished).  What issues may I
> face getting AS to work on the laptop (probably an Acer 3003LC or LM,
> going for about £400 inc VAT in the UK)?  I know I'll need to add more
> memory to the lappy, but are there any other issues?

I don't know about display issues on the laptop so you want to check
into that. If it was me, I'd not install XP on it at all until after
you're done since you'll be installing many times during your training
(train for the RHCE and "settle" for the RHCT if you don't make it all -
the exam is the same). You're not going to care about modem issues and
if you use just the command line for your training, you shouldn't have
to care that much about the display issues either. You just need a
functional shell and an Ethernet connection.

> Should I try and get an old system off work (6-800MHz PIII or Celeron) or go
> with the plan of buying the cheapo laptop?

This would also work.  You could throw the old systme onto a $20 KVM to save
you buying another monitor or keyboard.  I've got RHEL 3 running in
production at work on a PII/400 with 448MB of ram so you don't need much
CPU nor really all that much memory.

        .../Ed

-- 
Ed Wilts, RHCE
Mounds View, MN, USA
mailto:ewilts ewilts org
Member #1, Red Hat Community Ambassador Program