Minimum requirements for Linux machine

[locash]

I am planning on putting together a Linux box for a cabinet and I want to make the OS as bare as possible.  I plan on running Mame, ePSXe, and Daphne.  What is the minimum I can get away with; i.e. do I need xwindows?

Also, is AdvMAME better than xMAME?
Any FE recommendations?

For what its worth, I tried going to the ePSXe site and they tried to dump a trojan horse on my machine and the Daphne site seems to be down.

[paigeoliver]

Why do you want to run a server OS on your mame cabinet? Just wondering?

[locash]

I don't understand the question...are you trying to say that linux is only good for servers?

If you are wondering why I chose linux over MS, its mainly because I have a machine without an OS (surplus from work) and rather than buying a full OS, I thought I'd use one I can get for free especially since I don't need it for anything besides my cabinet.

[paigeoliver]

No, I didn't say it was only good for servers, that is like saying Windows NT is only good for servers. I just said it was a server OS.

I have run Linux and NT both in non-server environments, and both are very poor gaming operating systems. Both are great server operating systems though, so I refer to both of them that way.

If the computer is a Dell, Compaq, Gateway, IBM, or any other namebrand then it CAME with Windows in the first place, so you are pretty much OK in copying the correct windows for the computer. Microsoft wouldn't have a leg to stand on in trying to sue you.

Microsoft lawyer. "HE doesn't have a license for that copy of windows".

You. "It is a Compaq, it was produced in 2001. Compaq has had a contract with Microsoft since 1996 and every Compaq since then has shipped with Microsoft Windows".

Judge "Case dismissed".

I am very much about honesty, but I have no problem reinstalling an old version of windows on a wiped "name brand" computer, because said name brand computer CAME with Windows in the first place.

[whammoed]

well, if you want to run advmame on newer hardware linux is the way to go.  You won't be able to take advantage of the hardware in dos and you are very limited video card wise in windows.  Linux + advancemame = sweet.  You don't need to run x to run advmame.  Is there a version of daphne for linux though?
Anyway, not saying you should use linux necessarily in your case, but it can make a kick --I'm attempting to get by the auto-censor and should be beaten after I re-read the rules-- mame box.

[gregor7777]

No, I didn't say it was only good for servers, that is like saying Windows NT is only good for servers. I just said it was a server OS.

I have run Linux and NT both in non-server environments, and both are very poor gaming operating systems. Both are great server operating systems though, so I refer to both of them that way.

If the computer is a Dell, Compaq, Gateway, IBM, or any other namebrand then it CAME with Windows in the first place, so you are pretty much OK in copying the correct windows for the computer. Microsoft wouldn't have a leg to stand on in trying to sue you.

Microsoft lawyer. "HE doesn't have a license for that copy of windows".

You. "It is a Compaq, it was produced in 2001. Compaq has had a contract with Microsoft since 1996 and every Compaq since then has shipped with Microsoft Windows".

Judge "Case dismissed".

I am very much about honesty, but I have no problem reinstalling an old version of windows on a wiped "name brand" computer, because said name brand computer CAME with Windows in the first place.

That's true and I agree with you if you just need to download the software(no cd but stilll have the key), but if it doesn't have a cd key on the tower somewhere you would need to use a pirated or stolen CD key. Or a corporate copy which didn't originally ship with the system.

Tough situation in that case.

[paigeoliver]

The CD key numbers on pre-XP windows don't matter. There are a zillion of them out there, and you can just use the same one over and over and over again. The fact that the sticker got peeled off or the CD or the coa got lost does not invalidate the installation.

No, I didn't say it was only good for servers, that is like saying Windows NT is only good for servers. I just said it was a server OS.

I have run Linux and NT both in non-server environments, and both are very poor gaming operating systems. Both are great server operating systems though, so I refer to both of them that way.

If the computer is a Dell, Compaq, Gateway, IBM, or any other namebrand then it CAME with Windows in the first place, so you are pretty much OK in copying the correct windows for the computer. Microsoft wouldn't have a leg to stand on in trying to sue you.

Microsoft lawyer. "HE doesn't have a license for that copy of windows".

You. "It is a Compaq, it was produced in 2001. Compaq has had a contract with Microsoft since 1996 and every Compaq since then has shipped with Microsoft Windows".

Judge "Case dismissed".

I am very much about honesty, but I have no problem reinstalling an old version of windows on a wiped "name brand" computer, because said name brand computer CAME with Windows in the first place.

That's true and I agree with you if you just need to download the software(no cd but stilll have the key), but if it doesn't have a cd key on the tower somewhere you would need to use a pirated or stolen CD key. Or a corporate copy which didn't originally ship with the system.

Tough situation in that case., and

[gregor7777]

I realise that, but the key itself would had to have come from somewhere though, ie someone's key that they may be using, a stolen key from some database  etc.

That would make me unconfortable, that's all I'm saying I guess.

[paigeoliver]

I realise that, but the key itself would had to have come from somewhere though, ie someone's key that they may be using, a stolen key from some database  etc.

That would make me unconfortable, that's all I'm saying I guess.

The key doesn't report back to MS. On some versions of windows 95 you can just type in all ones. The number has no meaning at all on pre-xp versions of windows. I am not even sure if the keys are unique on pre-xp versions either.

You can get a list of THOUSANDS of them just by searching google groups.

[SOAPboy]

I realise that, but the key itself would had to have come from somewhere though, ie someone's key that they may be using, a stolen key from some database

[seibu]

I am planning on putting together a Linux box for a cabinet and I want to make the OS as bare as possible.

[PacManFan]

Let me school all of you on an old MS developer trick regarding keys.

All software from the Win98 era with 15 digit keys allowed you to type in all 0's (zeros) for the software key. Almost all applications across the board allowed this, from Windows 98 install to Microsoft Office.
Next time you're installing, give it a try....

-PMF