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Linux PalaceServer Starter
I just started a Linux Palace server a few weeks ago, so perhaps it's an idea to post my impressions here?
I have hosted A palace server under win2000 for a year now, and it was running allright even with about 30 chatters online, but i knew it was going to be a problem with more chatters because sometimes there were delays on the server.. for instance text was appearing a few seconds after typing. Ofcourse the problem was that there was also a busy webserver running beside it. There were also no developments for a better palaceserver for Windows and ofcourse no plug-ins available. So after a lot of hesitation and not really willing, it was time to switch to Linux :) .
I bought a Magazine, named LinuxStarter with a complete Fedora Distribution. This Magazine is in Holland Available (about 9 euro) but i think similar magazines must be available in other countries too. Everything you need to know about installing Linux is in the magazine with some tips and links to handy websites and explanation of Linux terms. I made the Linux installation on an old 400 mhz pc with about 384 mb memory. In the magazine i read that 700 mhz and 256 mb was needed if you want to run things smoothly and 400 mhz and 192 mb was an absolute minimum. I have had no problems with my 400 mhz pc but i think that is because i only run the Palace Server on it. Perhaps when you do other things on it as well, it can become slower.
When i installed it, i got an option for a desktop or a server installation. I thougt it was wise to choose for a server installation and i think that was a good move because some programs could become handy. You can also choose some desktops, GNOME, KDE and some others. I choose GNOME and KDE both, but for me GNOME have a few options that were right for me, but that is personal taste. The installation didn't gave any problems and went smoothly. The only problems i had was that my network card, an old eisa card, wasn't detected. I tried everything, searching forums etc.. but nothing worked. After a lot of frustration i bought a new network card.. those things don't cost very much and that thing was detected with no problem at all so i don't think this is going to be a big problem for most Linux starters.
The Palace Server installation went very smoothly as well, there are manuals available to guide you through that process. To make the server running was not much of a problem, but i had the advantage that i had experience of installing the PalaceServer under Windows.. some things are similar. So i think when you are new to installing a palace server then it can be more difficult. Ofcourse you have to open some ports in the firewall, but that is described in the magazine as well.
One problem that i ran into was that the build in Apache webserver of the Palace Server wouldn't start.. i found that after some searching in pserver.log ( a log that isn't there with a windows palace server). I don't remember with what error it wouldn't start. I knew it was possible to use the apache2 webserver that was installed with the fedora installation instead so i used that one. You must have experience with configuring an apache webserver to make that thing work. I had experience with running an apache webserver under windows and much things are similar between the Linux and Windows version. I think it can be possible to make the build in palace apache webserver to work.. if that works then you have no problem i think.
With the Fedora installation there was a program installed called OpenSSH. You can use that if you want to communicate between a Windows and a Linux machine. You can even use that to start scripts under Linux. This is now very handy because i can control the linux server from my windows machine because the Linux Server is now upstairs with no monitor ;)
To make use of that, you have to install a client on your Windows machine.. i use Winscp, but you can use Putty as well. With Winscp you can use batch scripting too, and i use that in the task schedular of windows to copy files between my Windows and Linux machine on certain times and to stop and start the Palace Server. I even use it to synchronize directory's between Win2000 and Linux. Ofcourse you can use Cron under Linux for scheduled tasks as well. You can read everything about SSH and where you can get Putty and Winscp in that magazine as well.
These were my impressions of installing a Palace Server under Linux.. and it runs very smoothly now i must say. I don't think everybody can do this, because i had some experience so i could solve some problems. But with that magazine and perhaps asking some questions in forums... perhaps in this forum, you can get a long way. You have to put very much time in it and don't give up if things don't work immediately, and ofcourse read the magazine... that helped me a great deal.
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