My problem with running a Linux BBS is that I don't really know what kind of routine administration I should do in order to keep the server running correctly. I ended up running out of room on my /var/logs on the old Sanitarium on CitadelUX and it caused a kernel panic... 

Any of you guys accomplished Linux gurus? Got any tips? 

Nnnnnope! I only used Linux for the first time at the end of last year. I liked being able to autocomplete with the tab button. /noob

+1

My problem with running a Linux BBS is that I don't really know what kind of routine administration I should do in order to keep the server running correctly. I ended up running out of room on my /var/logs on the old Sanitarium on CitadelUX and it caused a kernel panic... 

Any of you guys accomplished Linux gurus? Got any tips?

Running out of disk space except where the disk is actually filling up with new, permanent content, usually means something ran away faster than it should have.  Logs are notorious for that, but proper log rotation normally takes care of it.

Some people keep /var on a separate filesystem for just that reason.

Others put /var on a separate filesystem but aren't smart enough to realize that MySQL stores its databases in /var/lib so they crap out anyway.

Day to day?  Just keep an eye on disk space and periodically watch to see what the server is doing.  If it's running at 100% load, it usually means something is wrong.  Either some legit workload is malfunctioning, or some twit broke into the system and is running their own workloads.

Aside from that ... run system updates regularly, and take backups.

Mon May 27 2019 15:41:24 MST from IGnatius T Foobar

 

My problem with running a Linux BBS is that I don't really know what kind of routine administration I should do in order to keep the server running correctly. I ended up running out of room on my /var/logs on the old Sanitarium on CitadelUX and it caused a kernel panic... 

Any of you guys accomplished Linux gurus? Got any tips?

Running out of disk space except where the disk is actually filling up with new, permanent content, usually means something ran away faster than it should have.  Logs are notorious for that, but proper log rotation normally takes care of it.

Some people keep /var on a separate filesystem for just that reason.

Others put /var on a separate filesystem but aren't smart enough to realize that MySQL stores its databases in /var/lib so they crap out anyway.

Day to day?  Just keep an eye on disk space and periodically watch to see what the server is doing.  If it's running at 100% load, it usually means something is wrong.  Either some legit workload is malfunctioning, or some twit broke into the system and is running their own workloads.

Aside from that ... run system updates regularly, and take backups.

 

This is great advice that is easier said than realized by the neophyte Linux Admin. I realize now that I knew this about /var - put it on its own slice... but I failed to do it again when I built this Citadel. There is probably a good chance at some point I am going to lose everything here so far and will need to start again from scratch. 

On the other hand, I found 3 5.25" floppies, so maybe I'll recover my original 1997 Asgard/Novu 86 Cit and see if you can recover the database and feed it back into Citadel Groupware so I can pick up right where I left off. That sounds like an awesome project - really. :) 

In the meantime, all my relatives are in town visiting, so my "Citadel Groupware on a Raspian Pi" walkthrough is probably at least 2 or 3 weeks out. But I'm going to do it. I promise - and it'll work - although you may want to go back and clean it up because mine will be "this is how an idiot stumbles into making it work, " howto. ;) 

I'm not a unix guru, I just know enough to get by and not look like a total moron.  Actually impressed the guys at my last job with knowing how to write aliases lol, that saved everyone a lot of time and headache.

What is "writing an alias"? 

I know the term in relation to PCs - but I think it means something different to me. 

Wed Jun 05 2019 13:45:33 MST from ParanoidDelusions

What is "writing an alias"? 

I know the term in relation to PCs - but I think it means something different to me. 

It's the unix version of writing .BAT files in DOS.  You make new commands that execute whatever you put in the file, usually your .bashrc or whatever you're using for that purpose, mine is in my .zshrc because I changed shells.

For our company we had shortcuts to specific folders, programs run in sequence, and various SQL commands put into our aliases.

Wed Jun 05 2019 20:56:28 MST from TheDave

 

Wed Jun 05 2019 13:45:33 MST from ParanoidDelusions

What is "writing an alias"? 

I know the term in relation to PCs - but I think it means something different to me. 

It's the unix version of writing .BAT files in DOS.  You make new commands that execute whatever you put in the file, usually your .bashrc or whatever you're using for that purpose, mine is in my .zshrc because I changed shells.

For our company we had shortcuts to specific folders, programs run in sequence, and various SQL commands put into our aliases.

Ok. See - to me, an Alias is like a shortcut.... I think that is what Mac OS calls a shortcut... an "alias". 

Wed Jun 05 2019 22:33:45 MST from ParanoidDelusions

 

Wed Jun 05 2019 20:56:28 MST from TheDave

 

Wed Jun 05 2019 13:45:33 MST from ParanoidDelusions

What is "writing an alias"? 

I know the term in relation to PCs - but I think it means something different to me. 

It's the unix version of writing .BAT files in DOS.  You make new commands that execute whatever you put in the file, usually your .bashrc or whatever you're using for that purpose, mine is in my .zshrc because I changed shells.

For our company we had shortcuts to specific folders, programs run in sequence, and various SQL commands put into our aliases.

Ok. See - to me, an Alias is like a shortcut.... I think that is what Mac OS calls a shortcut... an "alias". 

MacOS is the worst and I hate it.  The only thing that makes my mac tolerable is that I use the terminal for everything so I'm using Unix instead lol

I think there are some things that are cool about Mac OS. I dig different OS platforms. Each one has good ideas and crappy ones. :) 

Thu Jun 06 2019 09:40:38 MST from ParanoidDelusions

I think there are some things that are cool about Mac OS. I dig different OS platforms. Each one has good ideas and crappy ones. :) 

 

I mean, the touchpad swiping options are vastly superior, so MacOS has that going for it, which is nice.  That's about all I can come up with.

I feel like those have been stolen by everyone at this point. Most of the touchpad swiping options that I learned on Mac work on most PCs now... 

I liked um... the way windows snapped and multiple desktops worked. That was as cool as the Debian Compiz cube. There was a point, right around that time, when all 3 OS platforms were doing some cool things. 

Then everything turned Fisher Price. 

My PC doesn't do the swiping things, maybe I need to download a program to upgrade my touchpad, or maybe the fact that it's 6 years old precludes the possibility.

6 years ago multi-gesture touchpads weren't unheard of - but they were less ubiquitous than they are now. 

My next computer's gonna be a desktop anyway lol

Start saving your pennies. Desktops ain't cheap anymore. :) 

Sure they are.  My current desktop is an Intel NUC, a couple of generations old, it works just fine.

I'm not sure I'd call a nuc a "desktop". I mean, sure, it sits there - so does my MiSTer FPGA device. :) 

Gonna build a gaming box to replace my 6 year old Alienware.  Recommendations are welcome, I haven't been in the hardware game for like a decade.