Trisquel for server questions

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apvp
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Iscritto: 12/10/2011

Hi all!

I intend to build a web/mail server and i've set a test installation using Debian 6 because i like the options available at install time (ability to install without the X window system, make software RAIDs, encrypt all the partitions), but i'd like to use Trisquel instead.

So i have a few questions:

Is there a way to install Trisquel without X (ie, use Trisquel after installation without the X window system) or, at least, to remove X entirely after installing (i have low resources, so i intend to squeeze the most out of my hardware by not installing X and using less resource-consuming software like nginx instead of Apache)?

Encryption/software RAID-0: I want to have a software RAID-0 for /tmp (don't have enough RAM to put /tmp as tmpfs) for improved performance, and maybe also for /swap (i've read somewhere that there's no real gain in putting /swap in a RAID-0 because it can be made as a regular partition and make it mount with the option pri=1 in /etc/fstab, but i don't know if that is so...), but as far as i know Trisquel does not give the option to create RAID partitions. So, my question is: Could i partition my hard disk, make RAID partitions and encrypt partitions using Debian install procedure and then leave Debian uninstalled and proceed with a Trisquel installation on the already prepd hard drive? Will Trisquel handle correctly a software RAID made with Debian?

I'm following the procedures given by OpenNA in "Securing & Optimizing Linux: The Ultimate Solution (v.2.0)", tough it seems a little outdated (May 2001). Does anyone know of a really good free and more recent document/ebook for that purpose, or does that one still look ok?

Initially i was a little concerned about using Trisquel for server because of critical security updates availability and enough kernel optimization for use as a server, but if it is good enough for FSF it sure is good enough for me! On the other hand, those guys at the FSF have far, far more knowledge about tweaking, compiling, etc, than i'll ever have, so, from a starter sysadmin (if there is such a thing :-) ) point of view, how advisable is to use Trisquel as a tight, secure and resilient server?

For the record, i do not use anything other than Trisquel for my laptops and desktops, but there are some critical and specific considerations concerning servers. I do think Trisquel is the best, i'm just not sure if it is the most recommended for use as a server at this time. Maybe i'm ignorant at this but i'd like the most secure and optimized server that i can have and still uphold the real freedom that Trisquel and libre software gives us. I just want to know if it is possible to have all that using Trisquel for servers or if it has to be a choice between maximum freedom and a little less optimization or maximal optimization and not that much of freedom.

Any comment is much appreciated. Sorry for the long rant! :)

apvp
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Iscritto: 12/10/2011

I forgot to place the link related to OpenNA "Securing & Optimizing Linux: The Ultimate Solution (v.2.0)" pdf, and as i couldn't edit my previous post here it goes: http://www.openna.com/pdfs/Securing-Optimizing-Linux-The-Ultimate-Solution-v2.0.pdf

Sorry.

Mampir
Offline
Iscritto: 12/16/2009

You can use the NetInstall image and install with the “Command-line
install” option. It's basically the same as the Debian installation. You
can set-up RAIDs, encrypt partitions and have a minimalistic system with no
GUI.

You can write the NetInstall image to an USB drive. Read:
https://trisquel.info/en/wiki/using-netinstall-image-bootable-usb-drive

t3g
t3g
Offline
Iscritto: 05/15/2011

Many people like the linux-image-server metapackage in Ubuntu for their
servers and I believe Trisquel has an equivalent with the libre kernel:

http://packages.trisquel.info/search?keywords=linux-image-server

Chris

I am a member!

Offline
Iscritto: 04/23/2011

You should be able to use debootstrap to grab Trisquel and only install the
minimal components too.

Mampir
Offline
Iscritto: 12/16/2009

You can use the NetInstall image and install with the “Command-line install” option. It's basically the same as the Debian installation. You can set-up RAIDs, encrypt partitions and have a minimalistic system with no GUI.

You can write the NetInstall image to an USB drive. Read: https://trisquel.info/en/wiki/using-netinstall-image-bootable-usb-drive

apvp
Offline
Iscritto: 12/10/2011

The problem is i have a very, veeery slow internet connection and i don't know the amount of data it would have to download from Trisquels' repos to make a net install. My bandwidth keeps switching from around 16 to 0 K/s.

I may give it a go, but i guess the install will keep failing over and over again.

apvp
Offline
Iscritto: 12/10/2011

The problem is i have a very, veeery slow internet connection and i don't
know the amount of data it would have to download from Trisquels' repos to
make a net install. My bandwidth keeps switching from around 16 to 0 K/s.

I may give it a go, but i guess the install will keep failing over and over
again.

t3g
t3g
Offline
Iscritto: 05/15/2011

Many people like the linux-image-server metapackage in Ubuntu for their servers and I believe Trisquel has an equivalent with the libre kernel:

http://packages.trisquel.info/search?keywords=linux-image-server

Chris

I am a member!

Offline
Iscritto: 04/23/2011

You should be able to use debootstrap to grab Trisquel and only install the minimal components too.