Since I had to move my web server over to my windows box after crashing my linux box while trying to update the blogging software, the original 512MB of RAM just wasn't cutting it. I'm finding the Apache/MySQL/MovableType combination to be a pretty hefty memory load on the system so in an effort to (hopefully) speed things up, I went out to Fry's and got more memory - the web server's now rockin' 1.5GB of RAM. We'll see over the next couple of days if that makes the BrainDrain experience any faster when it comes to things like posting, searching, and archiving. I was reading some of the MT docs and it sounds like a lot of the application is kept in memory as it is run in perl, and the modules are loaded and kept hanging around. I seem to recall someone mentioning that upping the memory was one of the quickest ways to boost performance, so that's what I did.
I've been trying to get my old linux box installed with Ubuntu, but it's apparently too old - the Ubuntu installer keeps failing when it tries to load the X server, complaining that it can't detect the monitor or video card type. I've even downloaded the Xubuntu install, which is supposed to be the lightweight installer specifically designed for older hardware such as what I have, but even that fails. I got it to prompt me to load X in safe mode once, but like a dummy I chose to try and detect my hardware which caused the installer to fail and I haven't gotten it to give me that option again. The box is my old Dell Dimesions XPS-266 from college with the Voodoo II SLA rig for playing Quake. Apparently, though, Ubuntu just can't figure out how to run on that card (while Mandrake 7.1 had no problems with it whatsoever). It could be awhile before I get the Dell back up and running and get the 'Drain moved back over to it's isolated home.
And thus, here's to hoping that the new RAM will allow you to have a great and speedy BrainDrain experience, even when I'm jamming out to iTunes during prime viewing hours. If you do happen to experience any problems, drop me an email and let me know, eh? I'd appreciate it. Thanks for bearing with me as I get BD 2.0 on solid footing.
I've been trying to get my old linux box installed with Ubuntu, but it's apparently too old - the Ubuntu installer keeps failing when it tries to load the X server, complaining that it can't detect the monitor or video card type. I've even downloaded the Xubuntu install, which is supposed to be the lightweight installer specifically designed for older hardware such as what I have, but even that fails. I got it to prompt me to load X in safe mode once, but like a dummy I chose to try and detect my hardware which caused the installer to fail and I haven't gotten it to give me that option again. The box is my old Dell Dimesions XPS-266 from college with the Voodoo II SLA rig for playing Quake. Apparently, though, Ubuntu just can't figure out how to run on that card (while Mandrake 7.1 had no problems with it whatsoever). It could be awhile before I get the Dell back up and running and get the 'Drain moved back over to it's isolated home.
And thus, here's to hoping that the new RAM will allow you to have a great and speedy BrainDrain experience, even when I'm jamming out to iTunes during prime viewing hours. If you do happen to experience any problems, drop me an email and let me know, eh? I'd appreciate it. Thanks for bearing with me as I get BD 2.0 on solid footing.
How much memory does the linux box have? I know you can run into some pretty odd errors with ubuntu if you just don't have enough ram. I was able to install xubuntu on a p2 400 with 80 megs only after doing some trickery with creating my own swap before installing, and unloading a bunch of kernel stuff. Also, older video cards can be problematic... I have yet to get my 3dfx voodoo rush detected under a modern linux, for some reason.
1 meg trident cards, otoh, are always detected, natch.
Good luck!
I think I have 256MB of RAM in that box, but I'm not totally positive. Like I said, I even downloaded the Xubuntu image which is supposed to be the lightweight installer for older, lower-spec machines but no dice. The installer seems to keep getting hung up on the determination of video card and/or monitor, not necessarily system RAM or anything like that. The Xserver can't intitialize and it keeps saying to run GDM after I fix the problem (but doesn't really tell me what the problem is or how to fix it).
Someone else suggested that I might try Gentoo, which I might do. I'm not entirely picky because I don't really plan to use the GUI anyway - I go in mostly via PuTTY on the command line. It would be nice, however, to find an installation that already comes with apache and mysql installed so that I don't have to go through the trauma of trying to get it installed (which is what I was doing when I hosed starscream in the first place).