Debian is a one of the greatest Linux distros and has been ported to many platforms. Debian's ARM platform port is responsible for me running Debian on my Zarus PDA and now it's responsible for me running Debian on my NetWinder.

This once outdated, near useles RHL 5.0 box is now running Debian Sarge and it's flexability has increased ten fold! I have now been able to set up an X server on the NetWinder and run Blackbox for a GUI. Running Debian means I no longer have the NetWinders web based admin software available, now I have the more superior Webmin, a web based sever admin tool and ISP Config, a cPanel like web server admin tool.

Setting up Debian on the NetWinder was enlightening, it took around 30 minute's to install and was the first time I had ever had the need to perform a diskless TFTP boot (no CD-ROM drive to pop a disk in here ). Setting up the TFTP server on my main Ubuntu Breezy box was a breeze (no pun intended, honest). The NetWinder uses some odd proprietary BIOS come pre-boot CLI system from which you can induce the diskless boot. That again was pretty straight forward. Infact the hardest part was finding the documentation. I had heard putting Debain on the NetWinder was do-able I just didn't know how on earth one goes about doing it. A few mailing list searches later and I'm on the right track.

Soon I'll have this server running 24/7 however one unanticipated problem is how loud the fan is, it's much louder than my desktop system even though it only has one fan and so certainly wont be stopping in my bedroom which means a cabling job is needed. Either that or I use a much larger and slower RPM external fan with a tube attached to where the old fan used to be. Running it as a headless server is entirely possible but it is nice to have it set up in my room with my 10" LCD screen, mini keyboard and mouse



For now the server is up most of the day at kalsus.alphabox.com but down when I sleep. I hope to sort out a proper home for it over the weekend.



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