The Linux Experiment, Part 2 - Not exactly liking it so far...

Posted At : August 4, 2007 3:55 PM | Posted By : Brian Meloche
Related Categories: Linux
I have installed CentOS 5 on my new (to me) server, and after I got the installation disks working, the install was easy.

Well, now that it's installed, I am not liking it much.

For one, why do I have to be logged in as root to run VNC server? Why do I have to go to the terminal to turn it on? Why do I have to log into the server before I can access VNC? I do not want to have a keyboard and mouse installed on the server at all times. I have a KVM switch, but it's hooked up in a different room. I really didn't want to move the server into that room. My other server is in there, and it makes enough noise, and heat, as it is. I want to be able to VNC without this much difficulty.

And, even more annoying, why is it I have to reboot every time I change the screen resolution??? That alone has caused me more annoyances than I really wanted. I don't want to throw out the baby with the bath water, but how can Linux (or probably more accurately, CentOS) have even these basic conveniences missing?

I am not giving up yet. I figure there HAS TO be a better way, but I don't want an OS that's going to be this difficult for every little task.

Comments (9) | Trackbacks (0) | Print | Send | del.icio.us | Linking Blogs | 3322 Views

Related Blog Entries

TrackBacks
There are no trackbacks for this entry.

Trackback URL for this entry:
http://www.brianmeloche.com/blog/trackback.cfm?3322FA5F-3048-2E57-0AB3AD72ADEB9CA2

[Add Trackback]
Comments
[Add Comment]
Basically centos is really good for a baseline server 90% of your server config in linux is over ssh. of the 4 boxes i have running linux only one even has x windows, kde, gnome on it. That system is running ubuntu which is an easy out of the box distro for personal use. If that machine is going to be hooked to up to outward facing interface make sure you disable root user login and telnet access. Also if you add a user, adduser vnc that user can your vnc process. you can the vnc startup script in lots of places to make it auto start for instance one such place is under /etc/rc.d/rc.local this is last script to execute in the boot up sequence. when you kill vnc make sure you kill each spawned interface. if you need more help send me an email or call I'll gladly help walk you through the process. btw is this a nvidia card by chance. there are specific drivers to nab.
# Posted By john | 8/4/07 7:50 PM
Just use command line and forget about xwindows.
# Posted By LinuxGod | 8/5/07 5:12 AM
I would recommend not using VNC because it uses an insecure connection and has many limitations. If you're administrating only Linux servers remotely try FreeNX. This provides a remove Xwindow session over SSH and is very easy to setup. I've done this on both a SUSE and Ubuntu server and it has worked well over a 30 mile span (between towns). As for needing a keyboard and mouse, unless the computer itself won't boot without them there should be no reason to need a mouse (or keyboard) attached.
# Posted By Robert Gatti | 8/5/07 9:00 AM
Brian,

I wouldn't bother with XWindows/KDE/Gnome, etc., at all either. Not on a server. You don't really need one, especially considering the alternatives, from ssh-based command-line thru to Webmin (which rocks), you have a whole world of alternatives to VNC. Incidentally, I'd only run VNC on a network connection that's not connected to the web.

J
# Posted By Jared Rypka-Hauer | 8/5/07 11:26 AM
if you really need X Window / GNOME ... type
> yum groupinstall "X Window System" "GNOME Desktop Environment"
then start it with
> startx

I just deployed a new Centos 5 install with Apache, MySQL, PostgreSQL, but i've been trying to install JBOSS for a couple of days with no luck ... I'm no linux guru, but it shouldn't be that hard... I believe you can install it via yum (yum install jboss4-all with FC4), but it doesn't work with Centos ... perhaps I need to point to a different server?
# Posted By Rob Gonda | 8/5/07 3:06 PM
Brian,

Most of the issues that you mention can be resolved with some simple configuration changes. I admit - several of these changes need to made via command line - but once they are done - they are done. As for starting vncserver on boot:

chkconfig vncserver on

Feel free to shoot me an email for any more assistance.
# Posted By David Tucker | 8/5/07 6:55 PM
Thanks to all of you that replied.

I have decided to give Ubuntu Desktop a try instead. I don't want to JUST have a server here. I'd also like to consider it as a desktop environment. As I said, this is an experiment.

I may change it back to CentOS later, especially if I don't care much for GNOME and will just use the box as a server.
# Posted By Brian Meloche | 8/5/07 8:21 PM
Check out Kubuntu as a KDE variant of Ubuntu, if you don't care for Gnome.
# Posted By Cliff Pearson | 8/6/07 2:34 AM
palm tree lamp
http://www.jobster.com/people/palm-tree-lamp
# Posted By palm tree lamp | 8/19/08 3:09 PM
[Add Comment]
BlogCFC was created by Raymond Camden. This blog is running version 5.5.002.